The Jam is totally unheralded, but it is one of the most interesting groups to come out of Britain's punk scene. The group's obsession—probably guitarist/vocalist/writer Paul Weller's—with the Who is only slightly veiled: the band even goes so far as to cover Neal Hefti's "Batman Theme," which is definitely Keith Moon out of Jan and Dean if you ask me. And the title song [of In the City], of course, is modeled after Pete Townshend's song of the same name from the first Who LP.

Jam has a penchant for vulgarity unrivaled by anyone save Patti Smith, though this group's point is less poetical. The promotional copies of the LP carry a warning, advising DJs that "Art School" and "Time for Truth" contain "language that segments of your audience might find offensive."… Such a word to the wise ought to be sufficient.

Dave Marsh...