Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

I'm glad one of the reviews said this album only has 12 songs. The link brought me to a double lp on spotify. I'm too happy this is over earlier than I thought for me to give 3 stars. I dislike his voice and the music just doesn't grab me. This project has already shown me that I can't really stand singers who can't sing and Billy Bragg is one of them.

Un album et un artiste dont j’ai jamais entendu parler. Selon wiki, mélange de folk et de punk rock : intéressant ! En tout cas j’aime bien la première, ça ressemble aux Smith en bien (heheheh) Aïe j’ai l’impression que c’est peut-être ni assez punk ni assez folk, c’est peut-être pour ça qu’on le fait pas J’aimerais aimer, comme « there is power in a union » par exemple. Mais je trouve ça ni énergisant ni beau, ce que je pourrais trouver dans le punk ou le folk. Je trouve ça un peu chiant, je pourrais écouter un barde du moyen âge chanter ça. En concert ça peut être marrant cependant. Des sons ressortent quand même : « Help save the youth of AMERICA » ressemble à « I fought the law » des Clash. Ça me fait quand même penser que je préférerais écouter les clash là. Est-ce que je dois être plus dur car il est basé et que ça me fout les boules que ce soit pas mieux ou au contraire valoriser ça ? Je pense ça part sur un 3, 5/10 Le cd2 c’est carrément du country, bizarre ! The track of my tears : bien ! Greetings to the new brunette aussi. Allez ça prend un 6. Arf il y a quand même des moments où je m’ennuie sec et des chansons que j’aime vraiment pas : 5

Not what I expected. I knew ~nothing about Billy Bragg, and based on the name I assumed it was country, LOL. Actually it was more like The Smiths.

I think I like the idea of Billy Bragg better than I like his music.

His voice is so annoying, it’s impossible to hear his political messaging.

Boring music, nonsensical lyrics.

Like Beatles balads, but with a female singer.

Kind of sounds like an album of demos. I get the Woody Guthrie comparisons, but I don’t really think Bragg measures up lyrically or melodically. Some decent moments, but I wasn’t particularly impressed.

This featured some greater range than the stuff of his I'm familiar with, and while it didn't all work for me, I can't away with a greater appreciation for his whole vibe.

I'm told I'm supposed to listen for Dylan and The Clash, but I mostly hear a try-hard version of Elvis Costello. I hear the appeal, but maybe there's a better album to start with? (Came back for a second listen of "Levi Stubbs' Tears" though.)

I wanted to skip too many for this to be a 3. I love Guthrie but I don’t like this guy much.

Low expectations but actually not bad. Production doesn’t sound too dated.

I saw Billy Bragg late 80s in the Batschkapp/Frankfurt and I was suitably impressed he seemed like The Clash solo. “Life’s A Riot” is my favourite album and of cause the Mermaid Venue Sessions with Wilco. I was not familiar with this album. I love and knew “There is Power in the Union” and “Levi Stubbs’ Tears” and I learned to love “Greetings to the new Brunette” featuring Johnny Marr on guitar. He writes songs that actually mean something. However I don’t think it is an album you need to listen to before you die and it shows that Tue 1001 listings very heavy UK biased. “Levi Stubbs Tears” is one of his greatest songs he ever recorded.

Meh. A double album of songs that all sound the same. Pretty boring.

Delightful - the spirit of Bob Dylan born out of Barking, Essex. As poignant now as it was in the 80s. Bravo, Billy 👏

🤷‍♂️

I've been listening to Billy Bragg for a long time. I discovered him through the Mermaid Avenue project. I also love the album he did with Joe Henry. His solo albums are little more obscure for me. I tend to think he has a few gems on each album and a lot of stuff that kinda runs together. Really sitting down with this one is a rewarding experience, however. Billy, or whoever he was working with, was able to flesh it out a bit and keep it interesting.

Interesting album cover - I quite like that illustration. Looks like I've got another folk album on my hands going by the album name. Likely folk rock given that this released in the 80s. Guess I've got nothing more to do than get into this one. Here goes. What the fuck. A jangle poppy/country/rock album with a parlor song influence and cockney vocals. Apparently I'm on the money with my folk prediction, but I'm not sure how this qualifies - there's a subtlety to folk which isn't at all present on this album. This was pretty shit. Jangle pop is one of those genres that I want to appreciate but just can't. I respect the earnest sound, but the signature jangling guitars are just so stiff and stale. Pair that with some horrid cockney vocals and you have yourself a complete swing and a miss. Even worse is the songwriting and lyrics. When this album isn't proselytising you with blunt, dull, dated politics the lyrics are so horrific in their lyrical content, rhyming conventions and vocal flow to the point where I start feeling cagey and irritated. Horrid album. Couldn't wait for it be over. Book time. "Billy Bragg has always stood at the crossroads of the public and the private, exploring political issues and matters of the heart with equal passion." "...the most successful synthesis of his interests." "...the best songs here explore the emotional consequences of politics." I guess the contemporary albums on this list weren't the only ones to make it in on political grounds, huh? Wikipedia says this album was bigger and more complex than his previous outings and garnered a respectable reaction from critics. The singles had modest chart success, but the album doesn't appear to have charted at all. I've been pretty forgiving of the British nepotism picks thus far, but come on. It's obvious that the listmakers are only letting this album through because they like Bragg's politics. He isn't iconic. He isn't particularly successful. The music is dated and shitty. I doubt he's influential and the critics are only moderately favourable towards this music. Again, likely due to his politics. We're pulling this one. In place of this album, I humbly submit Lounge Designers Killer by Capsule for inclusion on the list.

Good record, Billy Bragg is awesome. This isn’t my favorite but it was a nice listen on a Sunday.

nah

Cok iyi

Als ambient Musik fein, hatte danach allerdings keine Muse es nochmal aktiv zu hören. Außer "There is power in the union" - Schöner Gewerkschaftssong. Dafür gibts einen Stern mehr

British singer-songwriter folk music. There are a couple of cool songs, like the opening track but most of it is meh for me. It's not bad just nothing exciting and didn't hold my attention through the whole album

I was not familiar with Bragg before this, but I must about I’m intrigued to hear more.

I wish music was real...

This was a great album! I quite enjoyed it while sitting in the car driving around

Lyrisch zijn het goede klassieke protestnummers, maar muzikaal is het nogal veel onnodig kabaal. 3

I mean, the songs aren't bad, but some of them beat you over the head a bit, and his voice is definitely an acquired taste, and it just keeps going on and on and on.

Musicalement c'est pas dégueu, mais la voix rend ça affreux.

Folksy, but subversive. Kind of like an English version of John Prine. I love me some John Prine, so this one was very listenable despite the double length of the album. 4 stars

Never listened to a full Bragg album before. Quite good, political and musical, down to earth. 4 Heard before? No Owned: No 59/242 (24%) Will I get: No

249/1089 this album was alright, mostly it felt like music i’ve heard before so didn’t particularly excite me i guess. i like the last 3 tracks the best, they were the sort of things i was hoping for more of 29/100

Why is it. So. Damn. Long.

Not to interested in what he was singing about just like it

I've now had two Billy Bragg albums in the last few weeks and I fell asleep listening to both. FWIW

I just can't be arsed with this one, I love his politics but his voice is just... he tilts his head back and opens his mouth wide and SINGS EVERYFINK IN THA SAAAME WAAAAY. The backing music is nothing special, the lyrics are amazing on paper. They're just not songs, they're poems bellowed tunelessly over sparce uninteresting jangly music. I just can't be arsed.

Not a fan of folk generally, but the alternative folk artists often appeal to me, especially from the other side of the pond. Would probably be a "4" if not for how much I've always disliked Bragg's voice.

Although written in the 1980s, the song ideology remains relevant because it addresses structural issues that still shape our politics today.

This just didn’t connect with me. I can hear the quality in the singing, the guitar playing, and the songwriting. But something about it doesn’t work for me. Maybe because it’s only vocals and guitar? I don’t know.

Good time, though didn’t really move me more than a 3.

Started out strong. Evened out to a three.

Interesting English folk/indie/rock album from the mid-80s, sounds wise it reminded me of The Smith possibly because of the production of the time, plus they are from the England. Music wise it's not quite I would regularly listen to but it's not bad either, it was a quite pleasant morning album for me. The voice is a bit off putting. Overall 3 stars.

Extremamente britânico, por bem e por mal. Gostei da sonoridade, da voz, das letras, é tudo relativamente agradável. Não gostei da duração e da sequência do disco. Álbum longo demais, que rapidamente causa monotonia, por mais que as composições em si não sejam totalmente ruins. Queria ter gostado mais, é um disco legal, mas bem difícil de ouvir. 3

Thoroughly enjoyed

It just as well I agree with his politics because I don't think his music is particularly good. The exception I've found is Home Front. IDK, I understand why the man is important, but I don't particularly care to listen to his music.

Awful

This was pretty fun. An album I hadn't heard before. It was really a bit all over the place but an enjoyable listen.

Nice calm album, Sarah recognised the tune from pride

Prior to listening, I had read some previous reviews. I disagree with most of them. This is not such an egregious album to merit the vitriol, but I also don't feel it to be a masterpiece. I didn't mind his cockneyed vocal style, nor his musical subject matter. I thought the songs were quite enjoyable. I think there will be a time soon where I could explore more of Billy's repertoire, and perhaps even come back to this album and improve the rating. But this is where I am at today.

I'm not gonna put myself through this.

3/15 Was okay. Nothing interesting

started rly good but honestly felt a bit bloated by the end, idk how necessary the second disc was. i'm also maybe being hypocritical bc ive historically disliked music of this type from americans but im embracing british bias i almost gave this a 4

primera canción y no, siguiente

Decent overall. Always love some strong leftist lyrics, but the vocals can be hit or miss at times. The best songs are just Bragg singing with his guitar. Certainly could use some more calls to action in today's world. Top tracks: Ideology, Levi Stubbs' Tears, There Is Power in a Union

You know how there’s only so much time to listen to music and sometimes you take a long time to get around to listening to an artist you know you’ll like? Yeah that’s Billy Bragg. I love his style of folk music. And I’m a huge fan of Wilco. Yet I have never listened to his music until today, including Mermaid Avenue. Pretty dumb am I. The point is, this was such an excellent listen, a collection of wonderful songs with varying levels of production and instrumentation. Bragg sings with a voice somewhere between Morrissey and the guy from Fontaines D.C., very expressive. Stunning lyrics of course. Great album, must-listen #308.

Angry, feisty album I needed.

Day797 - this is how you give the middle finger to the man

Kind of same-y as a whole, but some interesting sounds & rhythms throughout. Aggressively British.

Great stuff

Aðeins of hrátt, verður rosalega einhæft

Kannski hörð stjörnugjöf en það er ekkert þarna sem lætur mig vilja tékka aftur á þessu.

Interesting to listen to but I didn’t like it?

This was interesting. First track and I had an immediate negative reaction, but this was an album that the longer it went on the more I liked it. It had some tracks I didn’t like, a couple I really did. Overall, not too bad. 3/5

Levi Stubbs' Tears song of all time

Wasn't a huge fan

Good

I admire his political activism. I just really didn’t like his music.

2.5/5

You can definitely imagine this playing on tape in your divorced Dad’s car. Loved the lyrics, but not the biggest fan of Bragg’s voice. Favourite track: The Home Front

This sucks lmao

I enjoyed this. Overtly political, which is fine I guess, but there was a variety of styles.

More polished sounding Bragg on this album. Tight collection of short songs that punch mostly above the belt.

This was a weird one - in a good way.

I found it to be repetitive and not really worth another listen. Not a huge fan.

Heard some songs from this album before. And I think I'm not in a mood for protest songs today 2/5

Really good folk from an artist I wasn't super familiar with. Solid tunes throughout. Interesting to hear perspectives from the other side of the pond. Really really like "Ideology"

More than Dylan, Billy Bragg is the true heir to Woody Guthrie, and he shows it here with a solid selection of both protest songs and love songs. Dylan may have felt some kind of way about the Mermaid Avenue records, but I don't think he would have done as well with the material as Bragg (and Wilco). He excels as a writer in both areas, and delivers his performances as if he were the world’s greatest busker. It gets a bit samey after a while, and this record probably would have benefitted musically from a full band, but that would kill the busking spirit at its core. A solid record that I will probably never revisit

I liked this. Reminded me of something I have listened to more recently. Will need to look in to it.

I don't know if I've ever listened to British Folk music before. I liked the combination

Another one I wasn’t familiar with. I’d head of Billy Bragg but didn’t know he was kind of electric folk and from England. Good stuff. I need to explore the lyrics more

God... I usually move past the idiotic political views when the music is good, but this wasn't the case. Boring music, it almost made it insufferable.

The album is fine, I don’t think there are any songs that particularly stand out to me. This music was great background noise more than anything. I liked the lyrical content and the production but it seemed very average to me.

Nice.

Nice variety, engaging listen. More worthy of this list than a lot of the shite I've endured lately.

Pretty good

There’s a point at the end of the second disk of this album where the singer, Billy, outcries that he doesn’t know if he can go on. I think that line really spoke to me on a sort of spiritual level. It was a direct allusion of what I had to go through making it that far into the album. This album was fucking miserable tosh, and I resent the entire country of England for producing it. I was going to give this a 2, but it went on and on and on and on and on and by the time I got to the ending, I couldn’t turn it off fast enough. I really hope the original pressing only had 1 disc, because Spotify has a second disk which is even worse and makes the experience last for well over an hour, which is another point against this album. I rather enjoyed the cool violin on “Train Train”, but dude, the vocals on this album are terrible. If I never have to hear a grown man sing about being a big boy again, it will be too soon. God, I was hoping for something good this morning. Instead, I got this. Bad. Bad album. He’s got a second one on here as well. Please help me. The worst part is that I’m actually in a great mood today, this blokes god forsaken singing just makes me want to vent and get it all out. So, for the free therapy, I thank this album for being as bad as it is. I’m going to go through the other 1 stars again real quick to see if something is finally going to join them. This one might be worthy. It makes an excellent case for being overwhelming shit. I’m upset that the other aspects of the album like the guitar playing, violin and brass are pretty cool so I can’t outright detest it entirely. I do not relate to this album in any way, and with this whiny, annoying singer, I absolutely do not care to either. “Train Train” was bearable, so that’s my pick for best one on this album. Now let’s never speak of this album again so I can get on with the rest of my life. Please. All I can do at this point is hope I get a better album tomorrow.

4/10… singer-songwriter / protest / *1986

I liked the urgency and the music but his voice grade on me be side I think his “working man” accent is put on (or at least exaggerated beyond my tolerance) and his politics are puerile.

Wonderful vocals, great guitar, and really powerful lyrics. 1st time hearing this and absolutely not disapointed

what does the taxman know about poetry?

The boy who cried niche

Meh 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not for me.

Very strange, vacillating wildly between alright and not particularly impressive.

Folk rock punk som er meget politisk. Det er angiveligt sådan at han repræsenterede arbejderklassen. Synes også der er noget solidarisk over hans stemme som er sådan lidt højtråbende på en eller anden måde. Måske er det sådan lidt sing a Long agtigt og det gør det? Jeg elsker også guitaren. Percussion guitar tror jeg det hedder. Kan rigtig godt lide det.

Not really my type of music, but ok I guess

3.0 2x listening while driving to Asheville. Couple good songs and shanty pieces

Billy comes across as a really good lad with really good politics, but sadly the music just isn’t that interesting

This one didn’t really do it for me, but I like the general sound.

What great supporter of the laborers and human rights! I love his collaboration with Wilco using Woody Guthrie lyrics 🎸

Not what I was expecting. Liked it.

Loved

3 stars

Probably deserves more

Frábærir textar og góð lög. Flott plata sem ég hef ekki heyrt áður.

Heimurinn þarf fleiri Billy Bragg.

Handgemachte Musik ist immer gut. Auf Dauer etwas eintönig.

she had her sisters hands and eyes when you speak of her you speak in past tense weighing her parts and speaking nonsense selfconsciousness was her madness part the bread and quickly hand it stay safe and dont up the ante we were lonely and empty handed dont you waste the world weve crafted dont you waste the sins of your mothers broken as they pass when you speak of her you speak in past tense

6/10 - Light 3. Not an album I’ll listen to again, but overall alright. Not very high or low on anything here but better than a 2.

I like the message and theme of this album, but really only would go back to a couple songs (Greetings to the New Brunette and The Warmest Room). I can see how this is an important album, but it's not one I would throw on from front to back. Light 6/10

Instrumentally this album is definitely interesting, particularly the guitar work, which is vibrant and well performed. But what really lands on this album is how politically charged it is. “Ideology” hits you in the face with it, and this carries through the whole record. Overall it's a good listen, if slightly let down by the vocals that at times are very jarring.

Quite melodic and engaging lyrics

I enjoyed the beginning of this album but got a bit bored by the end. Surprised this was a 2000s album felt very late 80s-90s British indie/britpop. Nice social themes that are especially relevant today.

I only knew him previously for the collab with Wilco. This was a real treat - one that I'll be happy to come back to. Some great stuff to just croon along to and really chew the lyrics.

This was an awesome album. A lot of the music was foretelling / prescient for today.

= the Beatles

His third album. Rock / Folk / Punk. At the height of Thatcher's 80s Britain where we were told there is no such thing as society, a voice like Billy Bragg's was needed. Collectivism and a message that we really are all in this together. The songs are well written with some great and charming lyrics. His vocals can grate somewhat after a while but nonetheless the messges are clear.

I'm only familiar with Billy Bragg from his Mermaid Avenue sessions he did with Wilco, I'm a huge fan of those albums so I'm excited to listen to this album. There are some great songs in there but it became a bit repetitive. Could have used about half the songs.

strong lyricism, great cover art, but also major yawn

It's the 80s. Margaret Thatcher is in the middle of her interminable stint as PM, a former actor is in the Whitehouse. And Billy drops this. Yes, his voice is mildly irritating (although it's not far off an accent I grew up hearing all around me). Yes, it can be a bit in your face. But this is such a statement of its time and how a lot of the country were feeling.

Lowkey didactic.

Nothing here

I don't know why it took me this long to find Billy Bragg, but I'm glad I finally did. 5/5 Highlights: The Marriage There Is Power in a Union The Passion The Warmest Room

Good stuff from the Essex Woody Guthrie (Brentwoodie Guthrie?). I've always appreciated his politics and his lyrical sharpness. And I find I enjoy Bragg's plaintive, impassioned delivery more with the passing of time.

It starts strong, but becomes quite samey. Solid effort nonetheless.

Not worth your time!!!!

Mostly unfamiliar with Bragg’s work outside of the Mermaid Avenue collabs with Wilco, but saw him live once and he was great. A fun listen! This is the record with “There Is Power…” classic! Some tunes have a surprising chamber pop vibe.

Had never really explored Billy Bragg before. Pleasantly surprised

facts billy but perhaps you are a songwriter and not a singer

I really enjoyed the recurring theme of the album, which I assume is supposed to make you angry about the political situation of the 80's, but with a sound that's older, likely calling to some nostalgia workers may have. That being said, the music was just okay.

Songwriting-forward with enough interesting production choices to elevate it. (I particularly liked how the guitar sounded on “Levi Stubbs’ Tears” and the synth and horn towards the end of that song.) An evolution and continuation of the work done by folk greats like Guthrie. I could see Bragg’s voice being divisive, but it’s the kind of conversational British drawl that works for me.

why another political album. why. wait a second they have a johnny marr feature. but still why. anyway this pisses me off. 2/5

Aggressively British Strong political messaging

this album came out on my year of birth! but i don’t like it. sorry. i wish it was more of a rock album, i feel like it would fit his voice more? but there’s a distinct lack of drums and i don’t like that.

I really enjoyed this. I will listen to it again. 4.5 stars.

Some great lyrics and observations. A true poet.

Nice

Totally cool. Our modern Woody Guthrie

Don't care

it’s so long.. picks: greetings to the new brunette, levi stubbs tears

I would have loved this in high school

Felt like a long list of depressing and forgettable bar songs

Love live the revolution

This is the quintessential Billy Bragg record.

nope

I thought I would’ve been more into this. I respect Bragg as a politico-punk troubadour, but this didn’t hit for me. I really can’t pinpoint why.

Lyrically it was pretty rad, but musically I was bored. Sorry, Billy!✌️

Kinda endearing, not in a classical music sense, but in a listening to a drunk man in a bar in Leeds, England sing karaoke passionately but poorly kinda way.

The instrumentals were not that bad. But I just couldn't stand the vocals.

An album stuck between the 30's and the Decemberists. Wonderful, although I wish the sound was more complex. 3.5/5

Solid stuff. I enjoyed it.

Meh, lost a lot of respect for Billy Bragg when he voted Lib Dem in 2010 and it tarnished the message of his music as a result.

Good folk anthems

literally no idea what this is going to sound like lol. the album cover looks like a modern day rap album but this is from 1986. and the title of the album is throwing me off. here we go, very folky and enjoyable

Značajno bolje nego onaj, za mene, užas s Wilcom. Tekstovi su navrat nanos ali činjenični, muzika je meh, pjevanje je kao slabiji Paul Weller; podnošljivo.

I picked up this album not long after I first heard Mermaid Avenue. I felt happy to get to know Billy Bragg better, but it didn't change my life. I hate to say that decades later I feel about the same. Solid songwriting and I couldn't agree more with his politics, but it also feels like it's missing some vital component that makes me fall in love with an album. The weird thing is that I know Bragg can do it, because I do feel that way about Mermaid Avenue and some of his other songs. So altogether even though I am happy to see my old friend Billy, I'm also a little surprised to see this album on the list.

Just wasn’t crazy about this. So much dissonent guitar and British isle pub themes for my taste. Amazing this is the same Billy from the epic Wilco collab - hope that cracks the top 1001!

meh

An album that noone has heard of, and had zero commercial success. I can't listen to 22 tracks of this. Sorry Billy.

Perfect album.

I liked it. Guitar work was surprisingly superb and I quite like Billy's voice, and what he has to say. A good egg singing good songs.

Nope

I enjoyed the first song but it went downhill from there for me.

Is this a joke?

Good folk and signing about stuff that connects with the common man. I didn't have time for a deep listen but it seemed alright.

I really liked this. I don't think it's a five, but I would like to listen to this more. The minimalist song creation with electric guitar and his great working class voice are right in my wheelhouse.

well it's alright

It's mostly acoustic folk-y stuff with some electric guitar driven songs. I can tell he's inspired quite a bit by Simon and Garfunkel in terms of instrumentation. The lyrics are mostly political, with some being not so political. Overall a really good album.

Way more misses than hits on this one. I liked the "There is power in a union" song, because, well it's true. The second half was a bit better than the first. But it was a struggle to get through.

I listened to 8 of the 22 tracks and decided this is not an album I need to hear any more of before I die.

The first disc was painful at times. The second disc was better but still not all that enjoyable.

Very distinctive English voice. Songs are minimal with lyrics populist in nature. Despite agreeing with much of the message, I enjoyed the ones that weren’t so political much more. I’m not sure if the double disc release was the original or the deluxe but that one is a bit long with many repeated versions. Decent album overall. Just not completely my style. 2.4/5.0

I like this, but I kinda expected to like this more. This was marketed to me as folk punk, but the problem is that this was kind of forging ahead before folk punk was really established, so it doesn't *feel* like folk punk. But it *is* folk punk, in the strictest sense of the word, in that it feels like a combination of singer-songwriter music and like class of '77 songwriting. And there is a lot here I like, the songs themselves are really cool, and combine these two worlds in a really unique way. My favorites here were Train Train, Levi Stubbs' Tears, There Is Power In A Union, Help Save The Youth of America, and The Home Front. These all prominently feature the combination of great songwriting and razor-sharp political lyricism that this album features at its best. I will say, my biggest problem here is the production. There is sort of an echo-y, new wave-y sheen on this album that I don't think suits it especially well. It sounds fine on some songs, my favorites tend to be the ones that wear the aesthetic well. But as a whole, it imparts a kind of strange sound, and I think I would prefer it with a more stripped down presentation. All in all, it's obvious that Billy Bragg is talented, and I like his songwriting quite a bit. It doesn't fully come together, but it's a cool listen all thr same, and I see myself coming back.

Decent album, quite raw and politically heavy 3/5

pretty good, I'd listedn to it again

I haven't heard of this artist before and had no expectations, but this was still a surprise. I read a bunch of the reviews that complained a lot, and usually I'm the complainer that doesn't like what everyone else says is great. This time, I thought the album was great and it seemed like most reviewers didn't. Maybe I I have a soft spot for folk music, English accents, and sparse arrangements? Kind of reminds me of a stripped down Clash I don't know what it was specifically, but this album went into my collection during track two or three without a bit of regret by the time it was over. I'll be coming back to this, for sure. THERE IS POWER IN A UNION!!! ✊✊✊ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

British folk

Well, this marks my final album of the list. Always knew this day would come. All in all I must say that this project has made the past three years quite enjoyable, even if the list itself is moreso good than great. Way too much Elvis Costello, way too much Madchester shit, and not nearly enough global representation beyond the Anglosphere and their colonies. Still, the album a day process has really broadened my taste for weird shit. I grew to love post punk and whatever the fuck The Residents were doing, so shoutout to them. Also, Junkyard is a 10/10 album and I will die on that hill. Even though no one asked, I’m listing my personal top ten on the list as a point of record. Because after all isn’t that what this project is all about? 1. Fleetfoxes - Fleetfoxes 2. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire 3. LP1 - FKA Twigs 4. Dummy - Portishead 5. Locust Abortion Technician - Butthole Surfers 6. The Archandroid - Janelle Monae 7. Kind of Blue - Miles Davis 8. The White Album - Beatles 9. Since I Left You - The Avalanches 10. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Some Nazi, idk Oh yeah, and this Billy Bragg album is okay I guess.

[Raises fist] There's Power in a Union. I also liked The Warmest Room a lot.

Surprisingly good. I’ve never really listened to Billy Bragg before but this album was solid.

Meh

I admire the hell out of Billy Bragg, I just don't love his music. This is purely a matter of taste. I'm not a huge folk guy, although when it gets into the pure protest, defiance-mode I find it moving ("There Is Power in a Union" "Help Save the Youth of America" "The Home Front"). He's a real one. I want to listen to more in the hopes it shifts my taste more toward him, he rules. Also, when I heard his song about Minnesota, "City of Heroes", I legitimately wept. You tell 'em Billy.

I enjoyed this one. Loved the political content, too.

Pas full ma tasse de thé, ça sonne un peu la marde mais j'ai aimé ça.

Britischer Folk

I love Billy Bragg, and whilst this isn’t my favourite album of his I still truly love it. I proposed to my wife after a Billy Bragg gig so there’s a place in my heart for all his works

Uuuh what

Solid Bragg!

Bragg is the voice of a generation but not enough people were listening.

Billy Bragg- the gravelly folk singer I always need, but forget to listen to. Glad this album made the list.

I hope this doesn't come across as bigoted, but people from Essex should not be allowed to sing in public. It's frankly unreasonable to expect us normal people to be exposed to such sounds.

This album feels like a set of strong ideas delivered in a way that does not always make for an enjoyable listen. Billy Bragg’s convictions are clear from the outset, and there is no doubting his sincerity or his commitment to what he is saying. The problem is that the songs often feel secondary to the message, as if the music exists mainly as a vehicle for opinion rather than something that stands confidently on its own. The stripped-back approach suits some tracks, and there are moments where the directness works in his favour. But across a full album, the minimal arrangements and blunt delivery start to wear thin. A lot of the songs blur together, and the melodic hooks are not strong enough to carry the weight of repeated listens. It can start to feel more like a series of speeches set to chords than a collection of fully formed songs. There is no denying the importance of Billy Bragg as a figure or the relevance of what he is addressing, but as an album experience this one struggles to hold attention. It is earnest, politically engaged, and well-intentioned, but that does not automatically make it compelling. Talking with the Taxman About Poetry feels more admirable than enjoyable, and for me that keeps it firmly in the lower tier.

Better than the other one of his I had

I loved this album! I’m glad to have it on my radar and I think it is such an important listen in the current political climate. The themes of the album with the playful manner they were handled were outstanding.

i’d say i’m a moderate democrat in regards to billy braggs voice. really charmed by everything else

“A nation with their freezers full Are dancing in their seats While outside another nation Is sleeping in the streets” My dad grew up in a small mining town in Derbyshire the son of a miner who voted for Margaret Thatcher in 1979. I have a very distinct memory of him and my mum purchasing “Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead” on iTunes when Thatcher died in 2013. It is then unsurprising that my awareness of Billy Bragg comes almost entirely from him. Until listening to this album I had not actually listened to any Billy Bragg at all. However, I had oddly seen him live many years ago at a small Christian performing arts festival my parents would drag my siblings and I along to every year with our church. I remember little about the performance except that my dad was excited to see it and that even to my young ears it was extremely political. As I’ve got older my political views and my taste in music, and art in general, have often intertwined. I will always remember blasting Rage Against The Machine’s “Take the Power Back” in my first year university accommodation the morning I awoke to find Donald Trump had won the 2016 Presidential Election. However, when it comes to protest music my tastes have generally leaned towards songs that express anger at the establishment and discontent with the system. That is not what you get with Billy Bragg. Bragg comes across as a man with an astonishing optimism whose music largely serves not as a cathartic expression of rage but as a call to arms for the working classes. The songs feel like jubilant reassurances that en masse the people have the power and that if we are active, take to the streets, and make our voices heard then we can effect real change. Bragg has gone on record previously saying that as a country we can reclaim the concept of being proud of our Britishness from the far-right and you can feel that pride here. The lyrics are extremely intelligent and are backed up in their sincerity by Bragg’s well documented record of political activism. Delivered with his strong accent everything about his messaging feels authentic. Musically there is nothing out of this world going on. You can hear the folk influences of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie that have not particularly been further developed. That does not necessarily matter though if you accept that the music is largely serving as a vehicle for the lyrics and more importantly the message. I am glad to have finally given Billy Bragg a proper listen and if my dad were here it is something I’m sure we would delight in sharing with each other.

Not a fan of the vocals

Seems good, didn't listen to all of it.

The working mans poet. Enjoyed most of the tracks, but they were all very similar, can't get too excited about the album.

Album No. 0092 on my list. “Talking With The Taxman About Poetry” was a completely new album for me. Indeed, I had never even heard of Billy Bragg before. But I did enjoy the album! I liked its simplicity, the reduced style and Bragg’s way of singing. His songs reminded me of other socially conscious singer songwriters like Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger, just with a more modern, rock-influenced style. “Greetings To The New Brunette”, “Levi Stubb’s Tears”, “Help Save The Youth Of America”, and especially “There Is Power In A Union” were my favorites. The latter is a pretty good working class anthem. Good album! 4/5 stars.

I came in knowing zero about this artist and it was a very pleasant surprise. The Wikipedia article calls this “folk punk” which I didn’t know was a thing. To me it is the successor to the protest songs of Woodie Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Of course, there’s more personal stuff too. I liked all the music and, in the end, chose “There Is Power in a Union” to my Generator playlist.

You know what you’re getting with Billy. It was the first time Georgie had heard his music (“I’d only ever heard him interviewed before”) and it ticked all the boxes. Not for everyone - if you don’t get the politics then the music isn’t going to grab you but I admire him for what he has done musically and for being a voice of reason in an increasingly bonkers political landscape.

I’ve a huge amount of respect for Billy Bragg the man. Someone who has done the working men’s clubs, the small scale festivals, and so with a huge degree of authenticity about the power of the collective. Billy Bragg the musician however I don’t particularly enjoy. I get that the lyrics are supposed to be the focus, and just a guitar and singing can be a powerful way of getting the messaging across but I don’t think Bragg is necessarily strong or powerful enough to convey it and it was easy to get bored and lose focus on the content of the lyrics as a result. It did strike me that this is the kind of messaging that wouldn’t go amiss with the labour movement at the moment, rather than pandering to the reform flag wavers, that this messaging of a United Kingdom might cut through instead. A very Anglo-centric inclusion though to this list. Be interested how some non-uk listeners would find it if not familiar with its politics or folk traditions.

Levi Stubb's Tears. What a tune! I feel a sinful pride (is that redundant? If so, let's just say weird pride) that I first discovered that song via The Redskins, who were simply the greatest and most criminally underappreciated socialist skinhead soul band, if not also the ONLY socialist skinhead soul band. In fact I can't continue without listening to it and so must you: https://youtu.be/Sqf6fyZxevU?si=AaSGLaOpAuxyOvpZ That performance is so powerful it can make me cry and I've watched it possibly a hundred times. That's the thing about Billy Bragg, his version, the original, is great but still, if he's sort of the British Bob Dylan then the Redskins' version of Levi Stubb's Tears is to Bragg what Hendrix's version of All Along The Watchtower is to Dylan. If you asked an alien, they would tell you the cover version is the definitive version. Another way he's the British Bob Dylan is that you will never, ever mistake his voice for someone else's. But Bragg was never (yet) big enough for a lot of people to cover his material. If I were a performer I would definitely raid his catalog - huge opportunity to make novel hits without having to write anything. But yeah, listening to this is just reminding me that today is a great day to play The Redskins' one and only album (the truly great Neither Washington Nor Moscow - speaking of albums that SHOULD be on this list...) on permanent rotation until my family begs me to take it off. Until then, Keep On Keeping On!

I've always had a soft spot for Billy Bragg ever since a professor in an "Early Modern Political Thought" class played Bragg's version of "The world turned upside down", so I was excited to get one of his albums. I guess it's pretty much what I expected, but it didn't do much for me, and while I appreciate his long-lived activist voice, the 80s production quality was a little much to bear (at least with headphones). I enjoyed the video that accompanied the somewhat vapid "Greetings to the new brunette", and there were bits and pieces throughout that were interesting especially "Train train"), but overall it felt like yet another British singer/songwriter who sings primarily about the plight of the working-class, with a bit of weirdly campy songs thrown into the mix too. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.

Didn't get into this--his voice is too harsh for me, but I bet he's a huge star among some Brits--you can imagine people in a pub singing along to anthem-like screeds against the establishment.

I enjoyed many parts of this, but it was pretty uneven musically. The lyrics were mostly pretty well written. Just missed a 3.

3.5/5

I don't really like this at all Will I listen to again: 0%

Solid rock pop

Nice songwriting, energy and political lyrics

heard the name, maybe heard a track or two. meh, sub par for me

# Album Name: Talking With the Taxman About Poetry # Artist: Billy Bragg # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Very english swagger to this album. Not bad. Low 4. # Top Tunes: Youth of america / Ideology # Would I listen to it again? Yes

I will always have a soft spot for Billy Bragg.

Decent.

It is good, but not something that I would really return to. He definitely has a unique style/voice, but personally I am not really into this genre of music, I do think it is one of the better ones though. Mid 3.

Billy Bragg’s album Talking with the Taxman About Poetry was weird. Part of me really appreciated the broken down, bare bones, one man – one guitar motif he brought on. He is definitely got some talent. The song Honey, I’m a Big Boy Now almost had a ragtime vibe, while There is Power in a Union felt very historical as well. Vocally it reminded me a lot of Morrissey, it felt very English. If I was a true Billy Bragg fan. I could see where this album would feel revolutionary. But as a standalone, I felt like there was something that I was missing. The Warmest Room was very upbeat chill, and Help Save the Youth of America was a fun anthem. Overall, I don’t know if there was anything that would bring me back but it was a good listen.

Random thoughts: * Not sure why I never checked out Billy Bragg solo since I'm so familiar with the Mermaid Avenue stuff with Wilco. Maybe because I don't really love Mermaid Avenue in the discography of Wilco leading me to think that Billy Bragg was the drag. I was definitely wrong. * Billy Bragg solo is really good! I've been sleeping on him. No wonder Wilco chose him to do the Mermaid Avenue work. * He does have a modern English version vibes of Woody Guthrie sine he sings about unions, taxes, politicians, and the such. * It was a bouncier and upbeat sound than I was expecting. * I will definitely listen to this one again as it was very enjoyable.

I sat on this one a long time. I tried once, then, 130 albums later, I finally came back to it. Billy's voice can be grating, his lyrics occasionally dumb. Ideology is somehow both too diffuse and a well versed protest song. I alsonfound some of the songs on disc 2, where Billy's singing is less accented and the music more folk/Americana to be better than some of the disc one songs.

I liked it enough, but wouldn't listen again. The instrumentals throughout were solid, but not enough to save it.

Best Song: Levi Stubbs' Tears. There's a nice brooding quality to the guitar and the sort of hushed vocals. Worst Song: Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now. Wasn't a fan of the ragtime piano. Overall: There is something about this kind of "shouty" folk music that I find endearing. It is politically interesting, albeit quaint, and it's delivered with an earnestness that I can't help but like.

A favourite of mine since hearing my dad's cassette copy in the car as young teen, then owning it myself on cd (and later original vinyl - slightly warped!). As I commonly see in reviews, the political aspects on here aren't so strong, but what is - and what have always been - are Billy's "slice of life" personal songs. There are so many great ones here such as "The Warmest Room", "Greetings to the New Brunette" and "Levi Stubbs Tears". The added bonus is the guitar of Johnny Marr (who was breaking up with the Smiths at this time), as well as Kirsty MacColl of course.

This artist is entirely new to me. At the start, I wasn't really feeling this album, but as it went along, I enjoyed it a little more. It's not quite rising to the level of "I think I'll listen to this again" though.

Complicated relationship with Billy Bragg. When I first ran across this (there was a girl; it didn't work out), it was during the most ironic of times, and his earnestness chafed a bit. But time passed, and I wanted to believe in something, and the stuff Billy Bragg believes in seems OK. Except for when it starts to sound a little Stalinist. But I really do want to believe there's power in a union. And Levi Stubb's Tears is pretty close to a perfect song.

80s folk-rock. Story-telling over strummy guitars.

No ty buddy

Only exposure to Billy Bragg was with the Mermaid Avenue albums. It’s definitely an album that benefits from being able to read the lyrics along with the songs, and his voice can be an acquired taste but I think it works. Overall not bad!

Political folk music - can't go wrong with that

I liked this album fine. I feel like there were parts of it that I enjoyed more than others. I liked how this album dove into deeper issues like politics, love, and social issues and I enjoyed the punk folk rock sound of Bragg. But most of it felt like him yelling into a mic and singing off key which brought more rawness and feeling to the album but rubbed me the wrong way a bit. Overall, I enjoyed this album but I’m not sure if I would revisit it soon.

Great fighting songs.

2/10

I like Billy Bragg and he continues the great tradition of story telling and support for causes. However, overall I prefer he music in smaller portions.

Perhaps his Magnum Opus. 4.49 Stars

Quite repetitive to be honest, some occasional songs that do something different but on the whole was quite a drag to get through. The repetitive melody and spoken word-like singing just felt almost abit preachy at times. Wish it was more creative with its attempts to convey messages.

Love the message and some absolutely great songs on here, I'm off to join a union.

Really like the message, really like lots of the instrumentation, but oh my god his voice I can't handle a whole album of it

3.5 stars, if I could.

Bliss. Someone singing, but not in a fake American accent. Or a real one. And lyrics worth listening too!

Heard it

Great album from an artist I was hitherto unfamiliar with. Love the pro-union stuff. Definitely going to explore more of his work on my own.

Good, apart from the country & western bits

Not for me

I was into this. Good song writing and interesting lyrics. Power in the unions!

Very UK rock....those lyrics are still utterly relevant to modern society. Reminds me of listening to early UK rock as a child

I’ve always found Braggs voice annoying and I still do, but there are a few decent almost listenable songs on here. However that doesn’t mean I’d listen to it again!

Best Joe Strummer imitator I've heard all day.

Muss ich nicht hören

Listening to revolutionary anthems while riding your bike to and from work in a city where assholes Park in bike Lanes is not a good idea if you don't want to get into fights.

So chuffed to see this pop up. Bragg is one of the most underrated artists of all time, so completely caught me off guard to have this as a selection.

Legitimate politics but terrible fucking vocals. I guess that's a three stars? I don't understand the mindset of people who cannot sing at all and decide to become a professional singer. Just be a poet or a writer or something.

Pleasant surprise, bonus points for the guitar tone throughout the whole record.

Interesting and does sound like something I would've listened to when it was released if I had known about it. There are a couple of songs I would return to, but this will not be making its way into my daily playlist. Just a good solid three for me.

Enjoyed this more than I expected.

Billy Bragg is somewhat like a sincere version of Elvis Costello. His lyrics dont include sarcasm or irony and often there is deeper story hidden in pop song's clothing. This album has the blue print of a Billy Bragg album, indie pop married with folk and lyrics with strong fight for the working class vibe. Good stuff!

This is folk. However slightly modernized, it's still folk. I can't stand it.

I'll never listen to this again, but I'm glad to have heard it once. I kept hearing other artists in the songs (some were written by others) but redone in a manner that I did not find appealing. Overall, too country leaning for me.

I like the themes and the rawness of the albums, but it’s a bit shouty for me. Again, I think if I listened to it more, and if I was in the right headspace, I could rate this higher. Probably 3.5 stars from me.

Can not bare his voice, God bless him

this happened to my friend tim once

Aggressively British folk/punk. The voice is a bit over the top and didn’t really resonate with me, but I totally get how people could love this. For me, it’s just fine. Great messaging in the lyrics

I liked this a lot. Pro Union, Anti Thatcher , acoustic rock with a heavy English accent. Steve Earle but not as good.

Billy Bragg is a very talented singer-songwriter with a quirky Folk-Punk (or is that Punk-Folk) style. I can get past his politics which I don't always agree with, but I find that his whining vocals just grate on my nerves.

We need more dudes like this and less overproduced crap.

On the front of double five songs, this is a compelling crossover record for BB, sounding like himself but with some powerful tunes and lyrics that stick with you.

Well.. The album name sounds boring and uninspiring. Let's give this a go. Oh boy, the first thing I hear is "Shur-lee" and I am in for another unfortunate treat.

Stark and deeply human reflecting the places that Bragg is writing about and the people who live there

Billy Bragg has a dreadful voice and fantastic lyrics. Love this.

This was actually a little better than I expected as I've never really liked his voice and always found the music a bit middling. Which is a shame because I have a lot of respect for him, his political leanings and as person; I've even frequented his curated stage at Glastonbury on a number of occasions. So whilst this was a fine listen, it's just not really floating my boat in any meaningful way. I'm unlikely to return to it.

Nice songs voice is a little hard to get used to

If there was more Billy Bragg in the world it would a better place. He is a british Dylan with a grounding in traditional folk, rock and speaking truth to power. He stamps and plays and sings with every fibre of his being and it makes his songs compelling. Im sure some of the americans here will take offense to his 'woke' position but he does good in the world

This was completely underwhelming and made me wonder why in the hell this record was on this list, which is, more often than not, the gold standard for this list.

The heavy English accent coupled with average music just isn't that enjoyable

really warm, reverbed rock music... definitely more punk and less of the folk in my opinion. the sound is a bit humble and kitschy at times, it's kinda giving an abc family special that aired in the 70s. some songs about love and happiness, some about the political state of the world. arrangements are simple and minimal, but it's enough to convey a message. it's pretty good if you like indie, alt, or punk rock. it has a wide enough range in sound where i feel like it'll appeal to a lot of listeners.

No. 323/1001 Greetings to the New Brunette 4/5 Train Train 2/5 The Marriage 4/5 Ideology 3/5 Levi Stubbs'Tears 3/5 Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now 3/5 There is Power in a Union 3/5 Help Save the Youth of America 3/5 Wishing the Days Away 3/5 The Passion 4/5 The Warmest Room 4/5 The Home Front 4/5 Average: 3,33 Not my favorite voice tbh. But I really liked the instrumentals and songwriting on this album.

type shit

Greetings to the New Brunette // Ideology // 2.5/5

4/5

Not Bragg’s best but pretty good. He’s great at capturing the everyday angst of unrequited love, and this were my faves - Honey I’m a Big Boy Now, The Warmest Room. Gotta love the pro union stuff too. I enjoy his overly British voice so to me it’s a solid listen. Light 4.

Haven't listened to this in at least 15 years. Forgot how much I liked it! British Folk-Punk at it's finest. He has a lot to say and he does it with extreme sarcastic criticism. Ideology should be a political anthem for young people, made all the more stinging set to Chimes of Freedom. The non-political songs are excellent as well. Would have loved to see him and Joe Strummer work together.

Pretty cool how full his sound was without drums! He had a lot to say but said it well. He really got us in “Help Save The Youth of America”. I was glad to see Dylan has a writing credit in “ideology” because I felt like I was losing my mind before I saw that.

Enjoyable, but mot memorable

always nice

Definitely a little different.

It was ok?? Reminded me a lot of a combo of later Beatles stuff with some of the Smiths in there, however the vocals were not my vibe and really took the album down a lot for me. Some interesting jams but not for me unfortunately.

♪ booa wata choosdie innit ♫

Folk is so hit or miss for me. This was a miss.

Good message, but pretty mid all round.

How am I just hearing this now. Sounds like the stuff that inspired neutral milk hotel

4.0 I like Billy Bragg, but not enough to give this a 5, very influential but I never thought he had 'one great album.' This album is good as he collabs more (Johnny Marr, Bob Dylan etc.) I really like a few songs on this album. Ideology (and the 2006 alternative) still as relevant today 40 years later. With the 2006 reissue, edited to a single disc, I think this, in a theoretical world, could have been a 5. Deportees (Woody Guthrie), The Tracks of My Tears (Smokey Robinson) etc. and edit out some of the 'filler' but the rules of 1001 albums are 'original release format so. . . . 4

Not his best, but feel the quality.

Добре ми дойде за фон

Поредната британска отайка :D и въпреки, че е малко над останалите такива в класацията, не бях достатъчно пиян, когато слушах този албум

Decent album overall, but the singer’s whiny voice annoyed me from the very first track.

Started out promising, quickly devolved. As grandma used to say, he can’t carry a tune in a bucket.

This was a pleasant little folk punk record not a bad track on the record just overall very enjoyable

Should spend more time with Billy Bragg. Good stuff

What a voice, what lyrics. Wish I had known about him sooner.

morrissey für arme iwie. 2.5.

Enjoyable.

Folk punk? Yes, please.