2000 Great Songs #1237: But I'm Different Now

Yes, The Jam's incredible 1980 album Sound Affects has more familiar--and probably better--songs, like the "Taxman"-mimicking "Start" and the operatic "That's Entertainment," both of which I'm as shocked as you are to discover haven't made the list yet. But I've always had a soft spot for "But I'm Different Now," a bit of a throwback to their earlier records, the sound of a Pete Townshend-lover applying punk rock energy, and amphetamine velocity, to a 60s mod-pop track. It's over before it reaches the two-minute mark, but that's still plenty of time to throw in some Beatles-quality bridges and for the entire trio to show they were always more than just a Paul Weller joint.

Live 1981:

Cover by The Shambles:

Slowed-down cover by the Mysteries of Life: