← Back

This Is the Modern World

by The Jam

Released: November 18, 1977

New wave, punk rock, mod revival, rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

"This Is the Modern World" is the second studio album by British band The Jam, released in November 1977, just under six months after their debut album In the City. For the album's cover, photography was handled by Gered Mankowitz and David Redfern. The front cover features the band standing beneath London's Westway, capturing a stark, urban aesthetic.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

The Modern World

"This Is the Modern World" is the second studio album by British band The Jam, released in November 1977, just under six months after their debut album In the City.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

The Jam - This Is the Modern World

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

The album's only single, a censored version of "The Modern World", peaked at No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart. Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics upon release, This Is the Modern World has since been seen as an album with "far more light and shade" than its predecessor.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"This Is the Modern World" is the second studio album by British band The Jam, released in November 1977, just under six months after their debut album In the City. The album reached No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart. Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics upon release, This Is the Modern World has since been seen as an album with "far more light and shade" than its predecessor.

The album's only single, a censored version of "The Modern World", peaked at No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart.

For the album's cover, photography was handled by Gered Mankowitz and David Redfern. The front cover features the band standing beneath London's Westway, capturing a stark, urban aesthetic.