Reviews (page 7 of 8)
I felt a Jim Croce, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie vibe. Simple accompaniment which added to the feels.
Drôle d’album, faut s’habituer à la voix du chanteur, mais après c’est du bon indie avec des paroles weirds
This was just kind of a funny album. Honestly, some of the songs sounded like when in a movie, a character singing and it’s clearly bad. This album was just weird to me because to be brutally honest I didn’t really hear any talent L O L.
I saw Billy Bragg open up for the Barenaked Ladies back in ~1995, sat front and center as he came out playing just a guitar and I felt for the guy - he was so fng passionate and earnest and yet seemed so *nice*. Not sure the BNL crowd was the right audience for his socialist working-class music - it's not that the crowd were rude, just more...indifferent and more-ready to fire boxed of Kraft Dinner in an hour than hear about Levi Stubbs' Tears. I would definitely have said it wasn't my thing but hell - he was fantastic; played a bunch of songs from this album. Which is far better than a previous (later release) entry on the list; his music and message hit so much harder for me when it's mostly just him and his guitar - and I more often go in for big sounding music i.e. completely over the top prog or heavily produced. Bragg is the rare (truly) solo act that I'll listen to. Stick it to the goddamn MAN, Billy. 7/10 4 stars.
This would be great to listen to in a bar - live that is. I can see myself drinking a beer and enjoying this show.
Billy Bragg. Auto 1 star.
The dude is later known for being a second hand collaborator to Wilco had an established discography beforehand. He wasn't in a famous band, always being a solo artist. And this album is nothing more than a dude telling cute melancholic stories in a folk format with minimalist production beyond sparse guest musicians and his guitar's chorus setting cranked to max. His voice is a typical New Wave style, modeled after the likes of Elvis Costello, which got annoying really quickly. Got increasingly boring as it went on. Favorites: Greeting to the New Brunette, The Marriage, Levi Stubbs' Tears
It’s so over the top British it seems like satire.
I think this is fully new to me. I might be the first to notice, but there are very subtle political messages slipped in to some of these lyrics. Fine album, but obviously represents a moment and a place that I have no connection to, so its impact on me was fairly limited.
4/10. Love it when I finally hear a good song but it's a cover and wasn't even on the original album. Loses a point for being painfully Bri'ish, gains it back for being Pro-Union.
Fucking abysmal. 3/10
Kind of enjoyed this. Like a punk version of The Smiths, mixed with The Clash. Got a little more peppy in the 2nd half of the album. The style is a bit slow for me and not a single instrument played well. Would listen again, but it wouldn’t get a lot of play. Like Leonard Cohen - if you don't dig the voice, then this guy is not for you. And there was this dude a year above me in school called Billy Bragg. He was an absolute Lad.
Too whiny for my liking
Not really my thing, but interesting.
I'm sure this guy has an audience, but that audience isn't me.
I do like Billy Bragg, but this album was a bit of hit or miss for me. 3.5
Oof, was that second cd really necessary? I only could wish for it to end
Billy Bragg is swagg
Åkå
If we came upon a drunk Londoner singing in the gutter outside a pub at midnight and you told me that was Billy Bragg, I would not question you.
Folk punk. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Grata sorpresa. La siguiente vez prestaré atención a las letras.
I should like Folk Punk a lot more. This just falls so flat. I don't dislike it but I had higher expectations.
This album is so unbearably British it hurts. If AI was to create the epitome of post punk brit rock; this is what it would sound like. Not to say the AI did a good job. More of a mish mash of all things the genre encapsulates. It has little redeemable qualities, but just enough to save it from getting a one star review. 2/5
More songs about socialism and girls, Bragg here is in fine form - sometimes witty, sometimes touching, always passionate.
Well as a union gal there are obviously some anthems on there for me! It's nice to hear vehemently left wing sentiments, even if workers rights are getting worse again and there's the same ol' shit from 1986. I appreciated this, but perhaps wasn't my favourite style I guess.
I do like Billy Bragg a lot but there's only so long I can listen to him. Great songs, well written, excellent sentiments but can get a bit much for me eventually.
Classic Billy Bragg. A mix of political angst, romance, nostalgia and memories. The songs are fleshed out more from his first 2 albums, and there are some fine tunes here. Train train is a bit lost in all this, but the rest of the album gives you plenty to hang your hat on.
I've only ever heard Billy Bragg by extension of Wilco. I have some sense for what to expect, but we'll see how he stands alone here. A bit more sparse than most of his work with Wilco (with the exception of Ingrid Birgman), but just as folksy. I will say with his accent I have a hell of a time making sense of anything he's saying. Even still, I really enjoy Levi Stubbs' Tears -- the super sparse, scratchy guitar shines while Bragg croons something. There Is Power in a Union feels like it was made specifically for playing at a rally. Fine enough song. I'm a hard 2 on this album. While I appreciate Billy Bragg's existence and there are a few standout songs this style of music doesn't do a ton for me. Would have been a 3, but I firmly believe that he should not have touched Sin City by the Flying Burrito Brothers. That was a perfect song in original form and did not need a mandolin laden cover.
I enjoyed the musical aspects of this album. I didn't listen much to the lyrics (again) but I feel like this is an album where the lyrics are most important. Feels very patriotic/anti-establishment. I actually listened to this one twice because I forgot to rate it after the first listen. Probably won't listen to this one a third time, but I have really enjoyed it. It's classified as punk, but doesn't suck!!
The guitar and piano on this album are pretty good. But I can not get over this guys voice he sounds like if someone was doing a bad impression of himself. I don't understand what this album is supposed to be. I am trying to listen more in depth but i just can't get over how ridiculous his singing is.
Kinda sounds like Damon Albarn. Or I guess he sounds like Billy Bragg. Either way this was meh. Nothing special. Honestly trending more towards hate. 1.5 but will give a 2. Won't be coming back Billy Boi.
Un vrai membre de la team
une sieste de plus
I don't have the time to really sit and listen to the lyrics but some of the lines I caught were really good. Maybe one day I'll revisit this album and feel silly that I only give it a 3/5, but today it is what it is.
"Talking with the Taxman About Poetry" by Billy Bragg falls short of expectations. Released in 1986, it aims to combine Bragg's political messages with his folk-punk style, but the execution is uneven. Tracks like "Levi Stubbs' Tears" and "Greetings to the New Brunette" showcase his social commentary, but the album's repetitive themes and lyrical approach might become tiresome. The production, while authentic, lacks the dynamic flair to fully engage the listener. While Bragg's honesty and intent are commendable, some tracks lack the punch to stand out, making the album feel a bit monotonous. "Talking with the Taxman About Poetry" might appeal to dedicated fans of Bragg's unique blend of folk and politics, but for others, its impact could be limited.
It’s fine but it feels dated
Well, my politics have always been aligned with Billy Bragg's, I have always previously found his earnestness bloody irritating. However, having spent the last year striking after 13 years of a government that make the Marcos regime appear the picture of legitimacy and honesty, Power In A Union actually moved me close to tears. Our government is so crap I now like Billy Bragg. That's shocking. They've broken nearly 40 years of resistance. I'd say it's their only success, save maybe getting gay marriage over the line. In short, the only good Tory is a dead one.
The Wikipedia page really turned me on this album with a bunch of possibilities in mind. Yeah, it's good, but I was expecting too much from an album.
Great live. Bit hit and miss here. He has better.
cool
эти акценты и голоса такая Британия тех времён. но фолк панк видимо не мой жанр)
This is fantastic! My love for punk and folk mixed together. Love how the attitude mixes well with the soft nature of the music.
What a big surprise this was, absolutely loved the sound, reminded me a lot of Frank Turner
Buenísimo. Minimalista. La voz del Billy es una mezcla de the cure, los ramones, Noel Gallagher y el cantate de ataque77 jajaja. Está el tema de Jackass. El album no tiene batería. En general solo acompañando con la guitarra, los temas son buenos sino te aburris al tercer tema. El primer disco es un 5. El disco 2 es un 3. pero son 22 temas asi que se merece el 5.
Me encantó y me guardé varias.
That accent is… wow.
Man this is a direct time tunnel to Thatcher era England
Eh, it was okay.
One of those albums that I had been meaning to listen to for a long time. I'm glad that I got around to it.
Lekkere Britse rocks; luistert prima weg, maar is niet heel spannend.
I'm a fan of Billy Bragg since his first LP/EP and though I love his first two releases, his third, Talking With the Taxman About Poetry was a step forward. His sound benefits from minimum contributions other than just himself and still conveys a powerful message and musical power that makes Bragg who he is. Personally, I think it's his strongest album and it's his attempt at a slightly more commercial sound, yet the sound here is still raw and it's catchy and enjoyable before he becomes almost too political and complicated.
not my style
A little protest-y (and a bit lengthy) for my taste, but I did like about five of the 23 songs.
Really enjoy Billy Bragg. A few of the later songs weren't as successful. Still really good.
An easy 5 for me. I loved this album in college, recognizing that Billy sings either about love or left leaning causes. Though i don't necessarily align with his fervor, it well executed with melody and earnestness that makes this a very compelling album. I enjoy it and can listen to it over and over. Levi Stubbs' and New Brunette are fabulous.
love it, I haven't heard this before!
Nice. Some strange instrumentation.
I made it through the first disc of a two disc album. I tried but just couldn't do it
love the song especially the last few songs really just sounds like a guy playing his guitar and singing and you just like could go to sleep to it because it is so nice
Really really forgettable: honestly all memory of listening to this has disappeared within hours of having it on, it was just so incredibly boring and mind-numbing. Okay it wasn't awful and had some bearable tracks but for an album of this length I just felt at the end of the day I was wasting my time listening to it.
I hate this fucking guy.
I loved it a lot more than expected. Very much like the Pogues.
i listened to this when i was polishing glasses and i was so sad this was amplified by this albums exploration of thatcherite misery without any of the solace that meaningful music brings im supposed be a socialist or something but if i have to hear that power in a union dirge again i swear
Hauskoja biisejä, mutta jäivät vähemmistöksi. Yksi soittokerta riitti tälle kokonaisuudelle.
Vähemmällä biisimäärällänolisin pärjännyt. Ei kuitenkaan ajanut ärsyttävyyteen asti, vaikka aikalailla sama boogie joka biisissä
Pretty good.
Musically acceptable, vocally annoying.
Wasn’t my cup of tea
Wikipedia lists this one as "folk punk", which I think is close, but not entirely accurate. It definitely has some folk, and maybe what I'd generously call "punk", but probably call either country or bluegrass, and maybe a little rockabilly. I like the sentiments on the record, but it didn't do too much more to wow me. Favorite tracks: "Honey, I'm A Big Boy Now", "There Is Power In a Union", "Help Save the Youth of America"
A really great album about life, love, politics, and everything in between. 5/5. Favorite Track: The Marriage
A surprisingly robust singer-songwriter LP with some instrumental weight behind it. The chorus-heavy guitar and plentiful accompaniment means there’s a good deal of melodic meat and potatoes here to back up and bolster Bragg’s lyricism.
I gave this one and a half-arsed listens dawdling between sadness and doldrums. The experience was summed up when without thinking I told my one-year old, “shall we turn the boring record off?” I like the man, but the music does nothing for me, and his proclamatory lyrics leave little space for mystery or humour. Listening to his optimistic throating of socialist axioms depressed me; we know how this story is going to go. My heart says three, my head says two. Sorry Billy x
Loved this as an 11yo, due to Smash Hits regularly featuring the Bard of Barking for some reason! Exactly the musician we needed in the Thatcher years, and I for one think his voice is perfect for the material. Shirley!
Love the political message, not the biggest fan of the jangly guitar and voice.
Early into the album, I scoffed at the top-rated global comment, "The voice ground me down to a fine, lubricant grade powder" but now at 75% through it, I can't help but to agree. Even still, this is better than a 1-star album.
Not a big fan. Everything kind of sounded the same.
- Liked about half the songs on it, the other half were pretty boring - Enjoyed the message behind some of the songs - Can only listen to so much folky rock in my life - Train Train, Levi Stubbs' Tears
- Some solid tracks in here - Very political - Wouldn't go back to it
This is the reason I signed up. Never heard Bragg before but was shocked by the depth and breadth of this one.
This was actually really good. The music was good, and the lyrics were interesting, or painted a picture, or resonated. "And marriage is when we admit Our parents were right" "When the world falls apart some things stay in place" "Our place in History is as Clock watchers, old timers, window shoppers" Standout Tracks - Greetings to the New Brunette - The Marriage - Levi Stubb's Tears - Wishing the Days Away - The Passion The album overall was great
Billy Bragg may have the most thoroughly Bri'ish voice I've heard, but I've always liked his stuff. Pretty good album, I think my favorite songs of his aren't on this one though. 3.5/5
This is a great Bragg album to pick for the list, still got enough solo guitar and sandpaper voice Bard of Barking vibes of pre-Don't Try This...Bragg, but with some other instruments now creeping to make it a more varied listen. in Levi Stubbs Tears, Greetings to the New Brunette, The Home Front some of his best songs.
Probably should explore more of his stuff.
10/10 message, 100% based but musically shite
I bought his first album 'Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy' and played it to death. To be honest this is basically the same thing with different lyrics but the same sentiment. I like his voice and the crisp guitar. He speaks from the heart so you can't pull the guy- he's unique. C'mon guys, this is Britain's answer to Bobby Dylan...... lol
there's power in the union
8/10 pretty cool! a little too british but I really liked it!
meh
first time listening probably not something i’d listen to again
WITH THE SOUNDS OF IDEOLOGY!!! wasn’t a fan, but it was somewhat listenable. There were some catchy parts, but definitely something I wouldn’t come back to.
Cat: it’s pretty interesting stuff. I like that it’s so raw and isolated sounding. Storyteller lyrics about people and politics makes me really lean into what he’s saying over the actual music. Some heavy shit. I liked it! AJ: Jaunts. Romps. Simple words with a lot of meaning behind them. Jangly guitar poetry. I’d like to drink a pint with him.
This album had some pretty overtly radical/political music that I definitely identify with but I can’t say I really enjoyed listening to it too much. Like yeah it’s cool that there’s a song about how badass unions are but there are so many (mostly hip hop/60s folk) artists I’d rather listen to for politically charged music cuz this guys voice sucked and the sound wasn’t very notable.
this album is so good!
I desperately wanted to like this one. The folksy lyrics, the simple instruments, almost everything seemed to lie in place, but man I am not a fan of Bragg's vocals! I feel bad, genuinely, because there's more than a few, shall we say, unique vocalists I do enjoy, but alas - I can't say this is one of them. I appreciate this for what it is, and even liked a few of the songs, but I can't say I'm a fan.
Really not my cup of tea
Meh
Pretty good id say, nothing spectacular but I kinda liked it
Oy it's the bloody cure mate. British political music? TRASH. Just kidding. Always remember that an employer asking you to not discuss wages with your coworkers is illegal. Make sure you discuss them especially if you are female. Join a union. Respect your time and your family over work. Fuck the higher ups and fuck the monarchy Score: 80 Art: 60
This album is very British - enjoyed the political message and storytelling.
Wolfie "Citizen Smith" meets Chas and Dave meets Elvis Costello... and spues out political communist protest songs against Thatcher in support of the miners strike in the 80s... I remember thinking his stuff was shit back in the day, we alll did, well apart from my mate Stevie Baker who thought Billy was a cool up the revolution guy, bless him, he didn't know any better, but nah, listening to it again, 40 years later its still shit.
Thought this wasn't bad but I wouldn't ever choose to play it. The cockney accent gets a bit hard to listen to after a full album, but the music isn't bad.
Sparse and delightful. Ideology is brilliant. The Passion is beautiful. As is the Home Front. Billy Bragg is necessary.
Fuck billy Bragg
Excellent folk punk with so much vocal and lyrical excellence. The only thing holding this ever so slightly back from 5 stars is that it gets pretty samey as a whole-album listen.
Oh my sweet jesus, some of that early folk punk. I eat it all up.
Harmillinen kaksi.. alkaa eka biisi huhhuh äännähdys ulos... huhhuh...
can't stand this guy Only morrisey can get away with singing this many fake notes 2
Not a fan of this. Simply put it does not sound good to me.
Why no drums? I wouldn’t return to this, but it’s not terrible.
Elvis never meant shit to me.
10/10 accent and 10/10 Ideology (both his political standing and the track itself). I think I prefer the more stripped down feeling of his debut, but this was really enjoyable.
"Greetings To the New Brunette" opening this album had me hooked. I felt fully encapsulated in the universe of Billy Bragg. Then the horrendous "Train Train" followed and I was pulled back to reality. Billy Bragg is a great songwriter and I appreciate his no-bullshit lyrics - to some extent. The in-your-face style of his writing with an almost complete lack of metaphors at first felt refreshing but soon I found myself bored by his sheer bluntness. There's some great tracks on this. There's some really stupid track on this. The cover is great though.
Just started the first song and fuck me, is this voice gonna be there the whole time? The music is pretty good, especially the guitar... but this fucking voice Jesus Christ. Oh good, we've got a "punk poet" and it's full of politically, socially charged lyrics blah blah fucking blah. The song ideology really sums it up - durrr I don't really know what I'm on about but I want to complain aimlessly and I think I'm smarter than I really am so here's my, uh, scathing account of modern society. lol. What a loser. I gave this a 2 about halfway into the album but fuck, it just wouldn't end. And this is probably the worst voice on the project. I'm on about album 950 so at this point I should know. 1/5.
Liked it a lot
Like a reeeeeaaaally Bri'ish Johnny Cash. Would be a 1 if it wasn't for the lyrics.
His voice really didn't do it for me. But im sure there are good songs in here. 2/5
I really like Billy Bragg. Pleasant vocals paired with rankle-rousing lyrics and acoustic and/or clean electric guitars. Minimalist in the best way.
Rating: 6/10
There's some good lyricism here.
Classic Billy Bragg…
There is some wit here along with the defiant young working man vibe. The first two songs have some charm but in general the lyrics are pretty grim and the activist messages lack a certain subtlety (although the anthemic There Is Power in a Union is pretty good). The album is also way too long. Maybe if it was a little easier on the years it wouldn't be quite so tough to take.
hey i sure had fun
It sounds like a very long demo. About twice as long as it should be. Apparently the original release didn't have as many songs as the internet version. Some songs are good, most are average. The lyrics are better than the music. Favorite song: Greetings to the new brunette.
Madre mía,vaya tostón…pobre recaudador de impuestos(PSP)
eh 6/10
Talking with the Taxman About Poetry is the third album by English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg. This folk punk album contains some of Billy Bragg's best work and was seen as a great leap forward for his music. It also featured more musicians than his previous albums. The album has many political themes about the world, but this didn't affect the music in a negative way. I thought the album was decent, but nothing special. It was a fun album that performed well critically while making some political points. Give it a listen if you like folksy music.
I always find Bragg interesting. It just turns out I enjoy him a lot more with Wilco.
Skemmtileg stemming. Ekki genre sem ég dett í mikla hlustun á samt.
Favorites: -Greetings to the new brunette: 6,8 -Train train: 6,5 -The marriage:6,3 -Ideology: 6,6 -Levi stubbs' tears: 6,3 -Honey, I'm a big boy now: 6,4 -There is power in a union: 6,2 -Help save the youth of America: 6,5 -The passion: 6 -The warmest room:
I vote Labour just to get Billy Bragg to shut up.
Ce Billy Bragg m'a été vendu comme un sacré client par eltrapeze, vous vous doutez bien qu'il n'en a rien été. Passez votre chemin.
Je dois bien reconnaître qu'on est très gâtés en ce moment au sein du générateur, avec une succession d'albums a minima bons. Ceci s'explique assez simplement par l'arrivée annoncée du printemps, qui a redonné des couleurs à Robert, qui ressemblait jusqu'alors à un vieux papier peint décrépi.
Not even so strong musically.. but, I mean, there is power in a union ✊🏿
3 songs in, whinging pom set to music.
Not even going to warrant a full listen on this one, my family love him for some reason, heard it all before, complete and utter garbage
Just didn't do much for me. Pleasant for a few songs, but gets old
I usually love singer-songwriter stuff but I could not connect to this at all
Voice ranged from great to kinda annoying, but really found myself getting into this, a bit silly at times but also oddly powerful
very cockney. enjoyable.
kopija smoths i jos neceg
Standouts: Greetings From The New Brunette Others: The Marriage, Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now. 3.5
Possibly the most grating voice in popular music.
Like a Red Bragg to a bull.
I felt affectionate towards this record, in the same way I would towards a 16-year-old telling me about joining Extinction Rebellion
Not really my thing
Feeling suicidal? Life getting you down? Feel victimised? Don't worry. Billy's got this one covered. Absolute dross.
Джаз-блюз бард с охуенной обложкой и интересными местами текстами. Но как-то мимо меня пролетело, еще из-за сведения
Разговор с фининспектором о поэзии... стоп, Маяковский?!? Что он тут забыл вдруг... Бегло пробежавшись по Википедии понял, что без Genius'a в этот раз скорее всего не обойдусь. Открыв первую же песню, одну из каких-это строк с аннотацией, я улетел конкретно: "I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet". Ну как красиво завернул, а)) И так почти все композиции. Прям отменная текстовая составляющая. Но по музыке - ну, это бардовская песня. И прям вот в классическом её понимании: аранжировки минимальны, где-то вообще всего один инструмент играет. Есть классные блюзовые и джазовые вставки. Но почему-то я уверен, что таких альбомов и так куча. А этот попал сюда из-за остросоциальной лирики, которую я всё-таки не до конца понимаю и не готов ставить этот альбом выше многих других только из-за неё. 2/5. Тема Маяковского осталась не раскрыта. А жаль, я уж думал, будет какой-нибудь оммаж, помимо названия.
Абсолютно мимо
This style of music is just not for me. Favorite track: There is Power in a Union
Boring
Loved this as an 11yo, due to Smash Hits regularly featuring the Bard of Barking for some reason! Exactly the musician we needed in the Thatcher years, and I for one think his voice is perfect for the material. Shirley!
I love Billy Bragg, and I think this is a really interesting album, sort of a transition point from his first two albums that were really raw and sparse, mainly just Billy and his electric guitar. This album retains some of the raw earnestness of the first two albums but adds some nice instrumentation and a bit more subtlety. 4 stars.
The songwriting or the performance isn’t that interesting. kinda bland. It’s mainly 40 minutes of a Bri’ish chap trying to inspire an uprising with his anti-establishment poetry
Maybe I need to be more British to get the full Bragg experience but an enjoyable album all the same. Fave track is Greetings to the New Brunette.
I was wondering why this album was included, rather than "Back to Basics", and that's how I learned that "Back to Basics" is actually a compilation! The shame of it! Anyway, I'm a fan of Bragg's schtick, and even though this album doesn't have "A New England" on it, it's still solid. Fave track - "There is Power in a Union" - still as relevant as ever!
I’d been looking forward to this album since I really liked Mermaid Avenue. I have a lot of respect for Billy Bragg. I’m not sure I’ll return to this album but I enjoyed it all the same.
I found it an in interesting country / folk album, but definitely through a British lens. It's a very odd combination, but England has always had an obsession with American music (the blues, for example). So it's no surprise when they would take something like country and view it through their OWN lens. The second disc (I am going to mention it, although it is not really part of it) was interesting, hearing the songs which varied more. There was more of a protest feel, particularly " Hold The Fort." I appreciated the actual album more, because there was more of a focus in what Bragg was doing there. So yeah, country with a british twang. I dug it.
I've definitely heard of Billy Bragg but I'm not sure I've ever heard Billy Bragg. I couldn't identify a single song of his if you put it in a lineup. That's why I love this list - forces me to actually listen. Look at me and Tom Waits now - we're tight. Bragg is another artist who is acclaimed for a reason - a lot like Elvis Costello I feel. Not necessarily the same style, though they both have a certain unique part rockabilly, part country, part folk, part rock thing. But that je ne sais quoi is cool. Bragg almost has that Celtic feel. Whatever it is, he's got a solid voice that tugs at you, intelligent enough lyrics, and good compositions. Solid album and worth exploring more of his stuff.
Billy Bragg was a name that I had either heard about or read about but this is the first time that I listened to one of his albums. His voice on the opening track reminded me a bit of Andy Partridge. It was different on the other tracks so maybe that was what he was going for there. I really enjoyed the folk punk sound of the album. The songs painted some interesting pictures in my mind while I was listening to them. I think there may have been a few lyrics that would have made more sense if I grew up in England but overall I got the general feeling that he trying to convey. I can't help but feel that if I listened to this on the wrong day it wouldn’t have hit me the way that it did but I finished the album wanting to listen to it again and check out more of his stuff.
There’s a weird association in my head between Bragg and Robyn Hitchcock, which is strange because I listened to Hitchcock in High School and I didn’t discover Bragg until my 20s. Now, though, when I hear either I think of the other.
Heartfelt, earnest and somewhat naive. Still love it.
This was some cool 80’s tunes. Nothing really stood out though
To me the production quality of this album and it’s overall sound seem behind the times, even for the 80s. To my untrained ear, by the time he recorded his most popular track “California Stars” in 1998 his sound had matured considerably. Or maybe he just got a much more talented producer.
Didn’t love it, I’ll be honest… and I really tried to get in deeper. Listened a few times on this road trip. You can’t deny his sincerity… I just didn’t quite get onboard.
This album really grew on me! The first few songs felt pretty uninspiring, so I was expecting more of the same for the rest of the album. But somewhere in there, I totally got it. It really reminded me of the Indigo Girls - it's got that same mix of political songs and love songs, all blended into this style of cute head-banging folk-rock. I'm sure there was some mutual inspiration there, and sure enough, it looks like they've played in concert together several times! "There is Power in a Union" is just such an epic ballad that makes your hairs stand up, almost like Pete Seeger if he was a little more rock and a lot more British. And followed by "Help Save the Youth of America," which just has that infectious righteous-anger energy. And then by the start of Side 2, we take a sudden turn into these beautiful American folk tunes! I had to check that I was still listening to the same album! On the weaker side, I think the album definitely suffers from demo-itus. And to my ears, the awesome and beautiful songs are sprinkled in-between with uninteresting ones that disrupt the flow and don't make too much sense. I think it definitely could have been half as long, with just the essential songs. 3.5/5, but I'll round up to 4 :)
I like Billy Bragg’s willingness to take on Thatcher era politics and be so unabashedly pro-union and pro-working class. The tone of this album seems to oscillate between politics and sad country-ish songs about lost love. The music itself is simple but I think his lyrics are worth highlighting because of their conversational storytelling with a moral message nature. If anything, this album is an I portent document if the anxieties of Billy Bragg’s Britain.
Album #50. Unknown entity to me. Heard the name before, but that it’s. No idea what to expect aside from the album name and cover. Let’s see what we’ve got. Wow, love how this is starting off with Greetings to the New Brunette. Dude and an acoustic guitar, sounding essentially like a live track. Great melody. Heartfelt. Really happy to see the album hold up from start to finish. Love this. Honest. Intimate. Stripped down musical arrangements are one of my favorite styles and this album does this so well. Great album...I'll be coming back.
Quite good, very politically charged in a way that still resonates today in British politics. (As I write this a lot of the country is shut down due to industrial action, and let it be known that no, I do not blame the unions.) The voice took a bit of getting used to - it honestly feels like a football chant. However the songs are great. The one thing that will stop me from going back to it too quickly is the fact that I just wish for a break from all the politics in the world right now, even if not afraid to do my part to change the world for the better. Favourite: Help Save the Youth of America
Very Midnight Oil. Didn't mind it, but don't want it.
Incredible
Huonolla tavalla ei ajaton levy: kumman kuuloset taustat paikoin ja lyriikat aika naivistisiakin.
Ymmärrän idean (The Clash meets Bob Dylan), ja sille voisi olla tilaustakin, mutta lopputulos on yhdentekevä (akustinen kitara meets henkilö joka lukee silloin tällöin sanomalehteä).
Music that captures the UK working class. Pretty good!
There's power in a union! Älskar protestsånger
Extremt blandat. vissa grejer var superbra, medan andra…. not so good
Not really.
This album sucked ass. Just nonsensical singing, nothing catchy, across 22 songs for 1 hour+. 3/10.
Geez
Great rhythm section!
Came in biased (love Billy Bragg!). A nice, predictable set of tunes from the union man.
Folk Punk is a genre that I am into (currently loving what Laura Jane Grace is doing). Billy Bragg is a talented songwriter and there's some real gems here. Unfortunately I find his voice slightly irritating which takes me out of it a bit. I have the same issue with Rage Against the Machine. Great band but Zack de la Rocha's voice is grating to me. Anyway solid album 3.5 stars.
Solid.
I really enjoyed this album, I looked it up and 'folk-punk' seems a perfect description. Bragg is unashamedly left-wing and his songs are full of meaning and purpose. I particularly like the line "How can you lie there and think of England // When you don't even know who's in the team" in Shirley, which I now note features the legend Johnny Marr.
Quel chansonnier intéressant! Riches textes doux-amers qui contemplent la vie, l’amour et la société humaines accompagnés simplement, presque de façon amateurs. Fascinant!
Good music but a little flat, songs end up sounding very similar.
Okay British rock about social and labor issues
Extremely British album. With Bragg's thick accent and intricate guitar work, Talking With the Taxman About Poetry continues to fascinate me with every new song. Each track is like a new vignette narrated by Bragg, exploring new sounds such as the rhythmic chugging along to mimic a train on Train Train, or honkey-tonk piano on Honey I'm a Big Boy Now. I think this is generally good but it's so jammed with different ideas that nothing sticks with me for long before moving on to the next song with the next idea. Additionally, thick British accents tend to annoy me and this was no different. I think there's value in Talking With the Taxman About Poetry, but it's too unfocused for my liking.
Well. This is certainly weird.
Really all over the place, didn't feel like I could get into it. Favorite: Train Train
i always feel like because of his political leanings i should like old billy. but i fucking hate folk nonce music and this is 100% folk nonce territory. its the type of shit that makes me leave a pub when some arsehole starts wailing one of their songs of woe.
Booo
The taxman isn't interest Billy lad, he's into levies and impositions and assessments and such, not poetry you soft sod. If you insist on communicating with the taxman, why don't you play him one of your nice punk infused political folk songs instead of droning on about Keats and Ginsberg and such? Good lad.
one thing this list of albums takes into account is albums that contain very different genres! but sometimes the result is not good. i was apprehensive about a combination of folk and punk and suspected it would be grating, but instead it was good and interesting. it was an even mix and didn't lean too hard in one direction. i was definitely impressed with how frequently his songs obviously reference a political message. not only that, but quite a range of political topics! some even seem early for 1986. folk and punk have a long history of using music as a medium for a political message, and briggs leaned into it.
I won't lie, I definitely groaned when I saw the "punk" and "folk" genre combination here. Something about what this project has brought to the table thus far in those realms had me feeling like this would be a mix that would drive me to drink. Essentially, after hearing the album, I can say that what I was expecting was an album full of stuff like "Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now". Fortunately, that was not the case. This album straddled a nice, palatable blend of the two genres. I found it to be a relatively pleasant listen. The socially conscious lyrics really stood out among all of this, as well.
oh my god this album is so boring. I feel nothing 2/10
He do be spittin there is power in a union
Bragg is badly preachy but skirts doing so bad. It's a good trick, like the sequencing, building political diatribes out of love songs. The instrumentation of the closer is particularly bad, but I found the final, sampled seconds particularly good.
Good stuff, I want to listen to this more.
cool!
Thought this might be a 2 but it just kept going and getting worse. 1 save.
idk
Débuts prometteurs, mais toutes les chansons se ressemblent au final, dans un album beaucoup trop long.
Very folksy.
Sehr chillig zum hören, geht leicht runter, gute Stimme, gute Melodien.
There are some singer-songwriter chops here but Billy's accent just keeps me from getting into anything he's singing. It isn't his voice b/c he's modified his accent for other projects. Who knew that I definitely do not like this particular accent in a singer?
I started to listen, but never finished it. I will come back to it.
Meh. I can’t stand that much of his singing. The sparse arrangements got tiring.
Greetings to the new brunette- perfectly pleasant, feel like it could stand out little bit more 👍 Train train- guitar is fantastic on this The marriage-meh, I don’t think this a hot take Ideology- bob dylan wrote the melody, no wonder it’s meandering. Yet another anti politician song, lyrics fine Levi Stubbs tears- great song, nice storytelling and great instrumental 👍 Honey, I'm a big boy now- good for her, he seemed like a man child. Like music hall feel There Is Power in a Union-apt for our times lol Help save the youth of America-amazing song, criticising patronising fundraiser songs, and very catchy👍 Wishing the days away- cute pleasant song The passion - poignant, atmospheric song👍 The warmest room- upbeat fun song 👍 The home front -nothing has changed in 35 yrs I guess :) land of hope and glory Only listened to songs for original albums. Felt like the political songs are still apt now, which is kinda sad but something didn’t really click with me about them. Took a while for me to get into the music. Some really good songs in here, but mostly just alright 3/5
Okay tunes
On some level, if you voluntarily listen to Billy Bragg, you're going to go into it expecting a certain level of activism and sticking-it-to-the-man. I wasn't prepared for a full-on union anthem, though. I liked it. I imagine someone who disagrees with him or thinks he should tone it down won't enjoy their time with it, but it's a nice enough album. Best track: Wishing the Days Away
I think I gotta be in the right mood to listen to this guy, not bad though
I had Elvis Costello yesterday, so I’m kind of done for cynical, middle aged, poetic singer song writers for this week. Not a big fan of his tone but he’s got a fair amount to say for himself, rather depressingly just a relevant today as it was in the mid eighties.
Fantastic album. Familiar with Bragg through his Mermaid Ave series, but this one had some great finds. Will dig into his discog more. 4/5
Billy Bragg is great
Levi Stubb's Tears is one of the best songs of the 1980s. I love Billy Bragg. However, I only have so much patience for the formula (extremely British guy wailing accompanied by a solo guitar in a very large reverby room)
Excessively British vocals are as grating to me as modern country vocals. There's good album here somewhere but sadly it's buried beneath the sounds of an old Englishman who had one too many at the pub.
I was a big Flogging Molly fan growing up. I always saw Billy Bragg as an influence or similar band. I can see why.
Good album.
Socially-conscious music, eh? Is it crap of me to not want to listen to music as part of my political beliefs? Oh well, I’m crap, then.
Not a fan of his singing voice at all.
Billy Bragg doing what he does best.
A very... ok album. I have little to say about it other than that it is, indeed, music, and that it has very clear political leanings behind it. As far as the album itself goes it is very middling. Ok to listen to but not particularly exciting and nothing about any song really stands out.
quintessential folk
Once again on this list is a selection of songs with some not great vocals. Would possibly get away with it at an open mic but as a recording it's not a good listen.
I enjoy his storytelling. The songs don’t really fit in a playlist but stand on their own as an album
I love Billy Bragg Iove his socialism, the way he creates new narratives away from the mainstream. His music suck though.
A socialist voice has never felt more important or relevant than now
Music to be listened to with subtitles. My little beard had now been smoothed into right-on correctness.
Eh up, yer gonna join the trade union, lad? Sure, but do I have to listen to Billy Bragg?
Not a bad folk/punk album (didn't really think I'd string those two genres together) that's full of the plight of the British Battler. It's quite heavy on the political themes, particularly left leaning, and challenging the societal norms. The musicianship is easy to get into and sounds quite uptempo and the message could quite easily get lost in the vibe. Best: Levi Stubs' Tears Worst: Wishing The Days Away Note: Spotify had the reissued edition & I only listened to the original 12 songs from the album.
Still don't like folk punk, but better than expected. Might even be a 3.5/5.
I love this album and Billy Bragg is a true troubadour. Who else can mix lovelorn Ballads with protest songs with such conviction and perfection
I like Billy Bragg, but his gift is his songwriting and I generally am not attentive enough to listen and parse the lyrics. As a result, all of his songs sound somewhat the same to me.
Pretty good stuff, good lyrics and fiddle playing - but would it kill this guy to have a backing band?
Now, this is more my style. I've been familiar with Billy Bragg forever, but I've never done the deep dive. If you asked, the first song to come to mind would be California Stars, but that's really Wilco. I knew Greetings to the New Brunette and There is Power in a Union, but I wasn't relating either to Bragg. Bell Biv Devoe, now I know.
I really enjoyed this. I always thought of Billy as the guy who plugged into a little Fender amp and sang New England. There’s still some of that here, but every now and then there’s these little auditory surprises.
I can't put my finger on this album about why it seems like something so familiar but it does. Listened to the whole thing in one sitting and didn't have to pause it, or skip a track, etc. Added the first track to a playlist..."Greetings to the New Brunette". Overall, just liked it.
Normally, singer-songwriter albums do not seem to fare well with this reviewer, but where Billy Bragg gets a pass is by making it melodious and sensical, and way less trapped in a coffee shop with no way out. The album may not capture one's heart but it will and should capture one's ear. Musically each song is a safe listen, a good listen, satisfactorily inviting. If the listener does not like it, it is okay, the album still seems to genuinely wish for you the best of the day. Being mid-80s at release, one can still hear the remnant of 70s light rock but there is something quite different in the imagery that the songs provoke. The image and feeling is very much not the 70s, and it certainly is not the pop renaissance of the decade either. If anything, this album is again, a welcoming respite and perhaps a glimpse of what 1980s singing-songwriting could have looked like had the decade not sold itself out to electronically produced instrumentation.
I know many people idolise Bragg. I’ve never really seen the attraction. He was like a pub singer and if I’d listened to all the words I might have discovered a profound truth but I didn’t and it left me cold.2*
Enjoyable. Faded toward the end of the album but the first disc was excellent.
I’ve herd of the name before and I think I’ve seen the artwork so that’s good… The album opens with the song, greetings to a new brunette, it’s quite good to be fair I do feel I have the faintest memory of this but not too sure. I’am not sure about the backing vocals at the end but other than that it’s good. Train train is a good fast paced track a bit heavier pretty short really good simple track. The marriage starts with some really sweet horns then blissfully goes into this it’s got really strong lyrics on this one. Then is ideologically it’s a very good sonic a nice bit of political folk rock Levi Stubbs’ tears is one I definitely recognised has some great guitar moments in the track as well. Just not one of my favourites. Then is the slow little olden days’y Honey, I’m a big boy now now this is definitely my least favourite so far it’s nice to close off the first half but still not great. There is power in the union is another very political song the guitars at the start were kinda American to me which makes sense it’s a very good song to be fair it’s just there’s so many of these songs around. Help save the youth of America is another recognisable one it’s another good political track. Wishing the days away fully slows the pace down and it has some really nice string work just not my favourite. The passion is another slow jam the hook on this song is great and the lyrics as a whole to be fair. The warmest room turns things op just a little bit for a nice penultimate track I can’t put my finger on this one there’s good moments though. The album ends with the home front it is filled with horns it’s honestly an amazing closer to be honest, good smart English lyrics to close a very English album. Yeah it’s good I can see people disliking this but because of that I swear I’ve herd so much of it before I have to give it a 4.
Entre Jam et Television Personalities trop cool! Prefs: Greetings to the New Brunette, The Marriage, Ideology, There Is Power in a Union, Help Save the Youth of America, The Warmest Room, The Home Front Moins pref: The Passion
Genre: Folk Rock 3/5 Quick pop quiz: did you know Billy Bragg was British? Did you know he's a vocal advocate for left-leaning causes in our society? Well, you'll soon find out, pretty much as soon as Talking with the Taxman About Poetry starts. It's the 80s, and we're still singing with traditional melodies, still locking ourselves in a room with nothing but acoustic guitars and a notebook of political lyrics, still trying to craft the perfect folk rock sound. While this is far from perfect, it wasn't bad, and was fairly easy listening for the most part. Billy Bragg's vocals are truly some of the most British sounding I've ever heard. He's not affecting it, I'm assuming, but it's so cockney and twangy that it's like a man straight out of Mississippi singing a country album. It detracts from the music a bit, but not the overall message, as Bragg advocates for youth empowerment and political radicalization in his own musical way. Help Save the Youth of America was an interesting look into how British folks viewed the state of American affairs, essentially hoping that the US can save itself from the Reagan era. Other than that, plenty of British accent, plenty of acoustic guitar and strings, but nothing else that's incredibly interesting. Decent.
I’m going to be honest I hated this album
A better songwriter than singer, i maverick liked billy bragg as I have always felt that politics and music should be kept apart. I’ve mellowed a bit as the years have progressed but I still feel he should stick to songwriting
At first, folk and punk seems like genres lying on two opposite extremes of music. So what should we expect in "folk punk"? Well, folk and punk still have something in common: politically charged tracks. And Billy Bragg pushed the poetic storytelling of folk and the energetic angst of punk to create this album. The title itself summarizes this attempt. It's a genuine attempt, I guess, but it's a weak one. The tracks felt flat and shallow. Also, I don't think weaving those political proses with such an annoying voice is a good idea. DEFINITELY a difficult album.
Quite good. Ibraghs just so earnest and his voice so samey that you can o ly do a couple of tracks at a time. 3
Billy Bragg, whoever that is, has a strong, clear voice. I like his accent and his guitar playing isn't half bad either. Levi Stubbs' Tears stood out. Not that interesting overall, was glad to finish. Should probably listen again to do my man justice.
A few good songs, but far between them on this 2 cd set
Not for me.
Vraiment pas mon bag D'un ennui... j'ai pas terminé Important j'imagine pour le propos engagé parce que c'est sûrement pas pour la musique et les arrangements...
Je ne comprends pas le truc des accents. Des fois, il est full vieux British et au début du 2e disque, il est Sud-ouest des E-U. Autrement, c’est le propos que je devine être l’important. Ce serait un genre de Springsteen Britanique... Musicalement, c’est plutôt pauvre et répétitif. Ce sont des chanson quoi.
C'est un album particulier. Un gars qui chante seul avec sa guitare avec quelques arrangements un peu datés, ce n'est pas un hit instantané. Par contre quand j'ai pris le temps de me concentrer un peu plus sur la chose, j'ai quand même apprécié mon écoute. Comme les autres albums depuis le début de l'aventure, j'ai écouté seulement le volume 1 qui est le disque paru originalement en 1986, comme l'artiste l'avait planifié. Ce n'est pas trop folk, c'est un peu country par moment sans les éléments du style que je n'aime pas habituellement, c'est un peu punk, un peu rock et politique. Ideology poussée autour de 164 BPM avec un band complet pourrait être une chanson de Green Day. Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now avec son piano me rappelle Tom Waits. There Is Power in a Union m'a fait penser à certaines pièces de Japandroids sur l'album Celebration Rock. Help Save the Youth of America ressemble beaucoup à I Fought the Power des Clash. Au final, le minimalisme de l'instrumentation en fait quelque chose qui se démarque du lot et c'est peut-être justement la force de cet album. Pièces préférées: Levi Stubbs' Tears, There Is Power in a Union, Help Save the Youth of America, Ideology
3.5
I was so excited to get this album today because I'm a huge Billy Bragg fan. This album was probably my first exposure to his music. I don't know how Billy Bragg has pulled it off so well, but he has managed to thrive for 40 years as a folk singer with a punk sensibility. No one else really was making music like this in the 80s, but it was as natural for us to listen to Bragg as it was to listen to the Clash or the Smiths. Bragg mixes the personal and the political in surprising ways, but it works really well. This is music of a young man with a point of view, but also the music of a young man simply trying to figure out what he wants in life. Bragg's songs are crisp, concise, with simple arrangements. He's really one of those once in a generation songwriters, with lyrics that are honest and deeply heartfelt. The political songs are strident and sometimes downright acidic, but Bragg balances that with storytelling that is incredibly intimate and affecting. Bragg's not a conventional singer and he may grate on some, but he delivers a line with an earnestness, pathos and humor that really sticks with you. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Levi Stubbs' Tears, The Warmest Room, The Passion, Greetings to the New Brunette, The Home Front, Wishing the Days Away, Help Save the Youth of America, There Is Power in a Union, Ideology, The Marriage, Train Train, Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now
Great album y an undereated indie folk singer. His guitar playing is always distinctive as are his vocals. His politics can get heavy handed at times, but that's easy to overlook. Favourite songs; Levi Stubbs Tears, Help Save the Youth of America, The Warmest Room. 4.4 🌟
The type of music that can pass right under my nose and I wouldn't notice.
Great stuff. Reminds me a bit of Frank Turner. Love the songs and messages.
Really great. Enjoyed it. I knew the first song, that was it.
Pretty good songs, but not for me
Slightly generic mildly wanky folk stuff
Solid
A little bland, but the songs topics try to make up for that. Seeing as though I don't have must stake/interest in England's political situation, much of the songs do not have much of an impact on me. 4/10
Apart from the folk part really good
I've always dug Billy Bragg's vibe more than I've dug the songs, though there are a fair number that I like a lot. A New England is one of those. But I also really love the commitment to just him and a guitar most of the time and how he's able to create pretty potent experiences with just those two things. Sometimes these songs fall into the background for me, but it's something I'd listen to 8 times out of 10.
Unabashedly love this. At Reading Festival one year I had given up watching Blur because they were dogshit and Damon Albarn was a stumbling mess. Instead I dodged into a tent just in time to see Billy Bragg get going. What a performance! Great, impassioned performances and anecdotes that roamed from overtly political to romantic. And that's what I hear in this album, too. Yeah, 'Power in the Union' (comrades! Does this not warm the blood?) is the big one but there's so much here that is honest, big hearted and not without craft. I love Bragg's voice, too. None of this mid-lantic bobbins, despite Bragg's Amerophiliac tendencies (at least, where music is concerned).
I guess I’ll be the outlier here and bring down the rank. If you took these songs and added distortion and drums the criticism would probably be, “What’s the point of this music when The Clash already exists?” To which I would say, “Yeah, but it’s The Clash.” And by that I just mean why choose to be less exciting, ya know? It’s such an intentional decision to go the solo folk singer route as opposed to a full band and I get it - I know dude has the Woodie Guthrie thing - but it feels more intellectually or ideologically driven than emotionally so. Which resulted in a listening experience that, despite loving this guy’s voice and liking a lot of the lyrics, I had no real emotional engagement with. In fact, when it got to the second disc and the mandolins came in I could not hit the stop button fast enough. If he ever puts out a punk record (and maybe he has) I’m there. Until then, it’s just not for me.
Okay not sure I really remember
Fav Song: The Warmest Room
Awesome!
I really dig it
Not bad, but nothing special. I've tried to get into Billy Bragg before and it's just not for me.
Bragg sounds like he's desperately trying to be Ian Dury on some of these tracks, although without the charm, intelligence or charisma. I get that this music is political, but can't music be both political and fun? Oh, the cover of "tracks of my tears" isn't great.
I owned this at some point in the past though I don't think I bought it for myself. I can't argue with the musicianship though it seems like pretty bog standard neo-folk but to me the lyrics and vocal delivery haven't aged so well- song craft these a very definite back seat to the polemic delivery.
All the songs sound basically the same, which is fine, because I like it, but it does mean that the album drags a bit towards the end. Very english, so I'm not sure how it would go across further afield - I'm scottish and don't always get all his references! Help save the youth of America is the best song, I also liked the home front and ideology
Good drunk British music.
I could see myself getting drunk and singing these songs really loud
Kovin on keskinkertaista mun korvaan vaikka usein akustisesta ”flokkipunkista” tykkäänkin. Kai tässä on vähän liian vähän sitä punkkia ja toisaalta folkkia mun makuun. Vähän tällänen kahden markan juttu. Sen mitä taas teksteistä sain selvää niin vaikutti ihan hyvältä. Kansi taas kerran hieno. Kauheen kriittinen mä oon...
Okei nice, musa ei aluksi napannut, mutta veikeiden tekstien ansiosta lämpenin lopulta.
Help Save the Youths of America oli hyvä. Vähän yllätyin, että vaikka luulin tän genren tippuvan mulle, miten kädenlämpöinen fiilis tästä levystä jäi. 3/5
First half was Billy at his best, rough and raw. Second half let it down a bit.
Great
Sweet, empathetic, funny and socialist men will always win in my book and so it goes with Billy Bragg. I love how he wears his politics on his sleeve and keeps his Irishness at the front and center of his work. This was the album in needed in this political climate to remind me of the good fight.
I really enjoyed this album . Great lyrics.
Love the sentiment but the music just doesn't move me as much as I'd like it to. Good bloke though.
Pretty basic music, up and down song writing, but i like most his messages
What I appreciated about this album is that it wasn't all love songs like many albums have. It scores all the points in the relatability category, being in the point of view of a blue-collar man who has opinions, got dragged into marriage and eventually divorced... Good listen overall.
Did not pay attention the lyrics, I probably should have, but the music itself was a bit too boring for me.
Presumably this is mostly lyrics oriented and political, which is not really my thing. Musically it is fairly uninteresting, although I like the vocal + electric guitar combination on some of the songs.
I had friends in college who were Billy Bragg fans. His earlier stuff really was just an angry voice and a guitar. I didn't get into it so much since I didn't think it was great music for a party and I wasn't much for being angry and alone with it. This album is much more musical, and I found that I enjoyed it more now. I'm still not going to put it on for dinner with friends. A few protest songs are timely; a few are dated. The "love" songs express how feelings aren't enough for a relationship. I really liked the last two songs, since they seemed to go beyond lecturing and scolding and get to some more nuance and a little bit of warmth along the anger. "The Warmest Room" and "The Home Front" both expressed uncertainty and the complications between feelings and ideals. The latter definitely feels appropriate to contemporary times.
Apparently I have heard of Billy Bragg before, but I didn't remember, and I certainly had never listened to this album. It was definitely worth the time. Although after my first listen I wasn't certain that this was for me, I did appreciate the album for the musical interest and the lyrical depth. After a second listen, I liked it more.
Everything about this is wonderful, from the title and the cover to his voice and his powerful lyrics. Half the songs have a practical, everyday romanticism to them and the other half protest the oppression of the working class. Every song is terrific. The Peel Sessions Album is one of my husband's favorites so I've heard Billy Bragg a lot but in a much more stripped-down setting --- just Bragg singing and accompanying himself on electric guitar. Very interesting to hear a studio album with more instruments and back-up singers. Love the violins on Train Train and the piano on Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now. There is lots of poetry to talk to the taxman about. My favorite: "Mother shakes her head and reads aloud from the newspaper As Father puts another lock on the door And reflects upon the violent times that we are living in While chatting to the wife beater next door." Oof.
I have no idea what to expect from the album title and cover. “Greetings to the New Brunette” was a nice first Billy Bragg song for me to hear. I quite liked this sweet and thoughtful love song, with its lovely guitar and backup vocals. I’m a sucker for a good train song “Train Train” had me sold when I heard the opening fiddle-whistle. I like where this album is heading. “The Marriage” opens with a nice trumpet fanfare and I’d be totally into having this play at my wedding! I love the lyrics. “Ideology” is a quite an indictment of the British Parliament. Some interesting lyrics here. I was surprised to see Bob Dylan as cowriter of this song, so I looked it up and learned Billy Bragg intentionally borrowed the melody from a Bob Dylan song. “Levi Stubbs’ Tears” tells quite a story with some pretty darn clever lyrics. It’s a pretty stripped down song (as are a lot of the songs), but very interesting to listen to. The piano is great in “Honey, I’m a Big Boy Now”. Almost expect to hear this in a saloon. It tells the story of a failed marriage from the perspective of a deserted husband. I liked this song. “There is Power in a Union” is apparently an old union song with new Billy Bragg lyrics. A good old fashioned protest song that I enjoyed. “Help Save the Youth of America” is a catchy cautionary song about the United States. Pretty impressive song that is as relevant today as in 1986. I could relate well to this song. I loved “Wishing the Days Away” as it examines the futility of a man’s life who is always wishing for a new day. Really compelling. Billy Bragg exercises his impressive storytelling skills in “The Passion” that considers the life of a pregnant girl and her trials. I love the more complex musical arrangement of “The Warmest Room.” It tells a great story of a young man in love/lust. One of my favorite songs on the album. “The Home Front” wraps up the original album on a very insightful note with a detailed look at a home life in Britain. Such great visuals and observations and critiques in this song. Another great Billy Bragg tune with the fanfare trumpets returning again. There are ten additional songs on the 2006 re-release. The songs are an interesting addition and I enjoyed them although I think I will not necessarily listen to them every time I revisit this album. Some pretty interesting things there including remakes of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees” and Smokey Robinson’s “The Tracks of My Tears” (that was a surprise for sure). I really enjoyed this album. It’s got plenty of sharp lyrical observations wrapped in a really interesting package of music.
23rd December 2021 Listened in the shower and while getting ready. Spent the day shopping for Christmas food then came back, played a couple of games and decorated the tree. Gains momentum throughout, powerful, raw and passionate songwriting.
Fun, folky rock. Certainly evokes a time and place.
lidt fesent
Folk punk, politisk, akustisk guitar
Pretty good! Like the songwriting, though I wish there was more percussion.