Mermaid Avenue

Not much to Bragg about

During the spring of 1995, Woody Guthrie's daughter Nora contacted British urban folk troubadour Billy Bragg about writing music for a selection of completed Guthrie lyrics. This was no minor task -- Guthrie left behind over a thousand sets of complete lyrics written between 1939 and 1967 that had no music other than a vague stylistic notation. Bragg chose a number of songs to finish, as did Jeff Tweedy of the alt-country band Wilco (often with bandmate Jay Bennett). Nora Guthrie impressed a common goal upon them: Rather than recreating Guthrie tunes, they should write as if they were collaborating with Woody, creating new, vital music for the lyrics. Both artists completed more songs than could fit on Mermaid Avenue, which is neatly split between Bragg and Wilco, with Bragg taking lead on eight of the 15 songs. The results are almost entirely a delight, mainly because all involved are faithful to Guthrie's rowdy spirit -- it's a reverent project that knows how to have fun. There are many minor, irresistible gems scattered throughout the album, and most of them come from Bragg. Where Wilco's fine contributions sound inextricably tied to the '90s, both for better and for worse, Bragg's music sounds contemporary while capturing Guthrie's folk traditions. That's not to say Wilco's contributions are failures -- it's just hard to imagine Guthrie singing the plaintive "California Stars" or the plodding "Christ for President," neither of which quite fit the lyrics. Nevertheless, their hearts are in the right place; more often than not, they come close to the target, and their joyous playing invigorates Mermaid Avenue. The blend of Bragg's traditionalist sensibility and Wilco's contemporary style ultimately illustrates that Guthrie's words, ideals, and aesthetics remain alive in the '90s. It's a remarkable record that deserves a sequel.

Woody Guthrie was always one of those artists that I'd spoken about in reverence but never really took the time to listen to until a few years ago. It took the teacher of a lettering workshop I attended talking about Guthrie having been a sign writer travelling where the work took him in the days before he became a recording artitst for me me finally listen closely. I became a staunch fan after that. So I finally listened to this album after side stepping it for so long. It is one of the few albums on this list so far that I would say is a truly important one. It is not only great music split between Wilco and Billy Bragg but it brings to life these lost lyrics. And they tell a story of a forgetten America and showcase how powerful what Woody had to say was. It also showcases what a fun and clever writer the man was. So good to hear his legacy at work. Now to go listen to some more Billy Bragg and Wilco as I have neglected them for way too long

Sometimes I read other people's reviews and wonder if they were listening to the same album as me. I guess different people have different tastes, which is fine; nothing wrong with that. This was fifty minutes of turgid and depressing dullness, truly awful from start to finish. There were no stand out tracks, apart from maybe Hoodoo Voodoo, which was a definite low point and where I would have normally given up listening if I hadn't promised myself to endure to the bitter end. It didn't get any better and if anything it actually got worse.

Listened to this in a Travelodge at about 11pm after working since 9am. Not conducive to making much sense of what I heard (but at least it happened before I used the complimentary shampoo that somehow made my hair feel dirtier). Luckily, I know this one fairly well already. So, from memory... It's always a pleasant surprise to hear two artists I have little interest in outside of this collaboration liberated from the tyranny of their own material--so often the thing that holds decent musicians back. Bragg doesn't come across as such a try-hard punk and Wilco don't constipate themselves trying to force melodic brilliance because Guthrie's deceptively simple material carries all the weight for them. That's all I got.

California Stars alone is an all-timer, and everything else is an absolute joy. Somehow it's a perfect mix of Bragg, Wilco, special guest Natalie Merchant and the unearthed Woody Guthrie lyrics. Jay Bennett was always the secret sauce in Wilco (the band was never considered "dad rock" until he and Jeff Tweedy parted ways). He always seemed to bring out the best of Tweedy. Back to the aforementioned California Stars. It's obviously a 5, such a great timeless song that it became a signature song for Wilco. It still closes out many of their concerts. Woody Guthrie should write more songs for Jeff Tweedy.

Wouldn't normally like Bragg but this one was quite pleasant. Perhaps it was the involvement of Wilco which improved it.

What a wonderful album. Soulful, significant and spirit-raising, all at the same time.

Really solid album throughout. I like that they had multiple people contribute to the songs which give all of the tracks a slightly different sound but you can tell they are all related. Definitely putting on my list to come back to

A collaboration like none other (at the time)... Bragg and Wilco were tasked with completing music to accompany completed lyrics Woody Guthrie had left behind. The result is an album that doesn't sound like any of the three components. Fun and diverting.

Billy Bragg was definitely the right choice for this project. And Wilco is an interesting backing band for him. Billy Bragg's voice has the right amount of weight and range to capture the spirit of Woody Guthrie, especially on Way Over Yonder with Natalie Merchant backing him. Wilco manage to make the songs their own, especially California Stars. I think I'd prefer a 2 disc affair with all the Billy Bragg led tracks on a disc and all the Wilco led tracks on another. Overall I think I lean towards preferring the Billy Bragg tracks. An interesting experimental cocktail but one I wouldn't come back to repeatedly (and I should know cause I own this one on CD).

Was a 2 star until I learned all the lyrics were just nicked from someone else. Commie bastard.

Amazing album. So honest. I felt like Billy Bragg is my friend telling me life stories. A lot like Matt Munhall. Really enjoyed listening to it.

Loved it. Billy Bragg took a load of old lyrics of Woody Guthrie's and put these songs together trying to imagine how he'd do them if he were alive today. Plus there are two more of these albums.

Outstanding folk rock. Woody Guthrie’s lyrics are funny, inspiring, depressing.

I have already heard some Wilco albums and did absolutely not enjoy them even a single full song. So my hopes for this album were not really high but when listened to it, I was surprised! These songs were written by American Folk legend Woody Guthrie, known for albums like Dust Bowl Ballads. He died in 1967 and his daughter Nora decided to start multiple projects in which artists record previously unheard lyrics. And this is the approach by Wilco together with british singer Billy Bragg. The songs feel honest and warm, something I didn't often feel when listening to Wilco. I think it's mainly the "simplicity" of the lyrics that do not Try to be good, they just Are by touching you emotionally. From the first song on I knew that this album had the potential to change my opinion on Wilco. 'Walt Whitman's Niece' is a nice, up beat country piece that puts you in the mood for the album. It works really well as the opening track. Followed up is that by the lead single 'California Stars', which is arguably the best song on this album. The sentimental and introspective lyrics work perfectly with the multiple instruments used and create a song that sounds like the song title reads. 'Way Over in the Minor Key' is instrumentally very stripped down, compared to the previous two songs but due to the usage of an accordion that doesn't fell too much out of place. The harmonies in the chrous also add a lot to the enjoyment of this one. Although it gets a lot of love and praise 'Birds and Ships' is not a song I am very fond of. Songs like this have to be done right but this is not how I like to hear a song like this. 'Hoodoo Voodoo' not only sounds like a silly song, it is silly. But in a good way. It is fun and the voice that genuinely sounds like he should better take some cough syrup than sing, adds a lot in my opinion. 'She Came Along to Me' is a very standard country rock song but I like it because of that. Again the music feels genuine and honest, not like what a lot of Wilco felt to me before. The first half ends with 'At My Window Sad and Lonely'. A beautiful and very sentimental song that is easily another highlight of this album although it is probably not as good as 'California Stars'. Very emotional lyrics that are sung ontop of a beautiful and mellow Folk Rock song. The second half meets us with the very short but interesting 'Ingrid Bergman' that sounds like a classic country song from the early to mid 50's. A bit like if there was only one of the Louvin Brothers there. Still nothing too crazy. 'Christ for President' follows with interesting Alt-Country instrumentals that all together kind of fall short from a mediocre performance both vocally and instrumentally after a while. The following song 'I Guess I Planted' suffers from a similar fate although it can hold itself much better and remains much more enjoyable through out. I actually really like this one for its hitting drums and bass work. 'One by One' starts by slowly fading in and the moment that it is there it just feels like a normal Wilco song. This is the moment where the album slowly fades into the worse parts. Although this song is still fairly enjoyable it does mark the point of where the album looses a lot of what it made for me in the first place. And it wouldn't take long because 'Eisler on the Go' is the first song I actually don't like at all. The start sounds very promising but after a little while you realize that more doesn't happen. It stretches with not even three minutes of playtime and when a song feels tiring for someone who's favourite songs are pretty much all 10min+, it's not a good sign. 'Hesitating Beauty' is much better. It's a classic country sounding song with a nice text and structure. Just fun country that isn't too crazy or too annoying. But the last two songs are at the level 'Eisler on the Go' was. 'Another Man's Done Gone' is pretty much that but piano only. You'd be better off listening to what ever there is on the charts right now, as there is probably more "geniune emotional value" in there than in this song. The closing track 'The Unwelcome Guest' feels like an average Wilco song but without any risk and any enjoyment. It is streched and annoying to get through. But with so much negativity it is important to remember how strong the start was and that just three out of the last four songs put this album down. Overall I gave 6 songs a rating of 6 or lower which explains why I'm still liking this album. If I listen to a Wilco album in the future there is a chance that my opinion on them has changed for the better. favourites: California Stars, At My Window Sad and Lonely, Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key, I Guess I Planted, Walt Whitman's Niece least favourites: Another Man's Done Gone, The Unwelcome Guest, Eisler on the Go Rating: light to decent 7 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

My heart sank the second I hit play since I'm already sick and tired of folk music less than 40 albums in, but Woody Guthrie's lyrics went a long way towards making this a more-than-tolerable 50 minutes. There are moments on this record where it sounds like pretty standard stuff, but elsewhere, Wilco and Bragg's sound meshes with Guthrie's playful and progressive wordplay to create an intriguing musical time paradox that feels impossible to date one way or the other. I can't even be too mad about the tracks I didn't like, because a ditty about wanting Ingrid Bergman to touch your junk is even funnier following the maudlin "At My Window Sad and Lonely" (and Bergman doesn't even contain the best dick joke on this record; the opener sees Guthrie building up to an even better knockout blow). My weariness for folk is probably still informing my score here, but I can see how someone could read these lyrics and think that it just has to be turned into music, and for the most part, they do it justice. Key Tracks: Walt Whitman's Niece, Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key, The Unwelcome Guest

2/5 Not really appealing to me, no tempo, quite boring

A listenable one

meh. folk stuff for people who hark back to a mythical time with crazy strong rose-tinted glasses.

Do I like Billy Bragg? No. Do I like Woody Guthrie? Also no. Do I like this album? Absolutely not. Dirge after dirge, I'm turning this hogwash off.

Straight fuck this

good

New for me. Need to listen to more from Suzanne Vega

I actually am a big fan of this. I thought it was quite a nice and easy listen

Another one that hit big when I used to listen to WXPN all the time. I knew those first 3 songs pretty well already. Turns out the rest are (mostly) really good too. This is the kind of quirky interesting stuff that belongs on this list.

Wilco is one of my top 3 or 5 favorite bands of all time. I basically revere them and love about half of their records and, at worst, really like the other half. California Stars, off of Mermaid Avenue, is one of the first Wilco songs I ever heard and still one of my favorites. That said, the album itself has never been one that I've listened to much. When I tried in my younger days I couldn’t take Billy Bragg’s vocals (I used to feel the same about Springsteen, now another artist I revere), and I couldn’t help but think all the songs are inferior to California Stars. I’m so glad this album is on this list, because after giving it three dedicated listens I’ve realized that I absolutely slept on this album for years. It’s a masterpiece, one that was right in front of me for so long. I’m not sure why I was so dismissive of Bragg on this. I actually now think he’s very effective at channeling Woodie Guthrie, it’s easy to imagine it’s Guthrie singing on songs like Walt Whitman’s Niece and Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key, two of the album’s best. The album’s first three tracks (these two and California Stars) are absolutely incredible. Walt Whitman’s Niece is an amazing song and hilariously racy for Guthrie’s time. There are many other great moments. Natalie Merchant’s take on Birds and Ships is fantastic. Hoodoo Voodoo is a fun take that would have fit right in on Being There, Wilco’s first masterpiece album. I Guess I Planted and Hesitating Beauty are also highlights to me. Of albums that I had heard before on the 1001 albums list, I think my opinion of this album was most improved thanks to a dedicated listening. It’s enjoyable experiences like this that keep me going through this list each day.

One of the best folk albums of all time IMO

Solid

Goodness this album is incredible.

Huh, just had Yankee Hotel Foxtrot a few days ago and said there that the only Wilco I'd previously listened to was this album. Bought this when it came out largely because of Bragg, and I'm finding I like the Wilco aspects of it more now than I did then. You know what, maybe it's because I just had to endure Alexander 'Skip' Spence, but this feels like a five. Highlight: "She Came Along To Me"

Woody Guthrie was an amazingly prolific songwriter, leaving a collection of over a thousand songs in a box after his death. Apparently Bob Dylan went looking for them in the late 60s but it took another 40 years before Guthrie’s daughter uncovered the trove and passed the works over to Billy Bragg and the band Wilco to set some of them to music. The end result is inspiring, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable, and the politics are as relevant as ever.

Love “California Stars” and had no idea this was a whole album of Woody Guthrie lyrics. So good.

Brilliant doesn’t describe this. A lyricist with few peers, calling out from far beyond the grave, reminding us of what timeless means. Then, a then-modern twist, that somehow feels both of Guthrie’s time, and of our own, played exquisitely. This is a masterpiece.

Really solid work! I did not realize Wilco was around that early

Best Song: Way over yonder in the minor key Worst Song: Christ for president

Woody Guthrie, Bragg and Wilco. It’s fantastic.

This album is so fucking great. The concept was excellent, and the execution is flawless. I actually slightly prefer the second volume, but I'd listen to this any day.

I used to discuss music with a co-worker of mine and one day he gave me a flash drive full of albums so I could listen and choose which ones I wanted to keep. One of the albums I chose was this one. This is a really great album and I didn't even know they were Woody Guthrie songs until I had listened to the album a few times. There are two (ish) other versions of Billy Bragg and Wilco collaborating on Woody Guthrie music, but this is the best one. At My Window Sad and Lonely, California Stars, Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key and Christ for President are all great songs. I knew very little about Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg prior to this album, but this is a fun collab album that doesn't feel as old as the lyrics really are.

5/5 - actually really pleasant. Good day-indoors type music

A brilliant reimagining by the perfect heir to Woody’s aesthetic. This album remains current, vibrant and fun.

Pretty much the best case scenario for creating a new Americana style of music while still being yourself.

Großartige Songs. Klasse Album und für mich wieder eine hörenswerte Entdeckung!

I love this album. California Stars is one of my favorite songs ever.

Amazing album, highly recommended

4.7 The rating of the album might be boosted by my familiarity with it but its one of my favorites. I have never really gotten into BB but with wilco it is the perfect mesh. Top marks!

really good tribute to blues/folk

Woody!

Awesome album. Each song sounded different from the others. Really cool album.

Really enjoyed. Alot of my favorites sight Billy Bragg as inspiration and it shows why.

Need to get this average up. Saw both acts in the last year. Probably 2 of the few on this list still touring small venues. Wilco one of the best live bands ever. Billy Bragg always worth your time. You might not agree with everything but he has plenty to say to make you think.

Absolutely beautiful. I love the variety of sounds here, yet the whole album still feels cohesive.

I dont think I had ever heard this guy, but I really liked it, listened to it a couple of times.

Una de las mejores colecciones de canciones country realizadas en Estados Unidos, incluso con la colaboración de un británico. Nostálgico y actual al mismo tiempo, Woody Guthrie revive a través de las interpretaciones de Wilco y Bragg. Realmente un indispensable.

One of my top favorite artists and album

ok, not my preferred genre

One confesses a deep and abiding love for this record, and not just for reasons of time and place. The whole project is beautifully conceived and lovingly executed. It's the best sort of homage, to a fully deserving honoree, with appropriate but original seeming interpretations that amplify the results to major, and even occasionally touching, effect. The Bragg-Wilco combo is extraordinary and Natalie Merchant adds a lot. The loose and fun bits – "Walt Whitman's Niece" and "Hoodoo Voodoo" and "Christ for President" – work exceedingly well and the soulful bits – "Way Over Yonder" and "Another Man's Done Gone" and "The Unwelcome Guest" – are authentically affecting – oh, the melancholy of the elegaic tone for a lost era; oh the futile hoping for a better life for workers. There's a sincerity of intent and genuine earnestness born of love and admiration for WG that fuels the effort. Everything in between is worthwhile, too, with the extraordinary "California Stars" and "She Came Along to Me" and "Ingrid Bergman" each delivering major mid-tempo impact. Scarcely a note wrong on the entire record and the level of excellence is maintained throughout. It meant so much all those years ago, and still does today. What more sign of greatness does one need? (Side plug: Tweedy's memoir of a few years ago is a terrific read.)

Nice interpretation of a legend

loved it

Great folk music! Especially liked Birds and Ships & Ingrid Bergman

Fire

Gus McRae tells his stories outside a motel 6

The spirit of Woody Guthrie reincarnated as excellent alt-country band. Excellent! 10 Oct 2023

Extraordinary in multiple ways. The fit between songwriter and players/collaborators is near perfect, the attitude of the homage is respectful but authentically loose, with more than a little fun, plus tones of soul, exquisite melancholia, and powerful emotion. And for fans of Bragg, Wilco and 10kM's – what could be better? One can scarcely recall a record that felt as much like a museum piece, but was at once so entirely enjoyable (not to mention deeply and personally meaningful back in the day). Haven't listened for years, but it still feels spot-on, rich and lovely and deep.

Amazing. Just perfect.

What a great listen. Whilst I'd heard some of the singles, the others were a fantastic surprise. Hard to believe that the music was written many years after the lyrics. It's like they were meant for each other. A great album

What an amazing project this was! And how well it was done! I loved this very much.

This was a neat project to hear about. For me the end product was quite nice to listen to.

Warm and cozy. Love this collaboration.

Wow this was a great mixing of the old and the new (at the time, new). I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I really enjoyed this one! I would absolutely listen again.

Dad rock at its finest

What can I say about this album? I love this album, I have listened to it countless times in my life, and it holds such a nostalgic sway over my opinion that it seems impossible for me to say that even objectively this album is beautiful and perfect. Very pleased to pull this today. Also listened to Volume 2 and 3 of these recordings as well, which I highly recommend.

It is great when a concept album works. And this one does. Lyrics from Woody Guthrie that did not have known music were given to Billy Bragg who brought along Wilco and set them to music. The result is an excellent record.

The bard of Barking on top form

I love this album so much.

This is a great concept. An unexpected pairing of artists that works incredibly well. The addition of Natalie Merchant's vocals makes it even better. Have loved this since it came out!

This album was an ambitious concept that was well executed. To take the scraps of someone else's unfinished work and to turn it into something that sounds simultaneously modern and classic is not an easy thing to do. The one critique might be that a lot of this just sounds like a Wilco album, but I liked the other Wilco album a lot. Maybe if I knew more Woody Guthrie songs I'd feel more qualified to judge the execution but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt in my score. Would do a 4.5 if possible.

I love it, it even feels like time went by faster!

real pleasure to listen to

Liked it a lot

What a beautiful confluence of style and talent. I love Billy Bragg so my heart leant more into the songs he sang but it’s such a well-rounded album. This passed me by the time but I’m delighted that this BB and Wilco collaboration unearthed some gorgeous songs with those doleful, gut-wrenching Guthrie lyrics.

The concept for this album was interesting and the execution was fantastic. I heard that tensions ran high between Billy Bragg and Wilco while making this but they all must be happy with how it turned out. Some songs are somber and mournful, some are raucous and bawdy and then there is the glorious cacophony of Hoodoo Voodoo. These are songs that seem like they would be played at a hootenanny. One that I would be happy to attend. Natalie and Billy singing on Way Over yonder in the Minor Key is beautiful.

What a fun album! Wilco is very hit or miss for me (I think they're great, I just don't always enjoy their stuff), but this was fantastic. I'm not terribly familiar with Woody Guthrie's work, but judging from this, I'd say he's a great songwriter. I really loved the vocals and instrumentation on this album, and "Walt Whitman's Niece" was the perfect opening track.

I was surprised by how much I liked this. I didn't previously engage with Bragg or wilco or woody Guthrie. Yet I found myself tapping my toe to most of these songs and enjoying the lyricism.

Tooonnnn

Lost songs brought back to happy life.

Love this album. Listened to it for the first time about 3 months ago. My sister in law was telling us about Ingrid Bergman song. So I looked it up. Really love the melodies, instrumentation and the over all sound. Gonna rate this one high.

I own this, I love it. There's almost no downtime in here for me - this is all great. Everything good about these musicians is on this record. Love it.

Wasn't sure what I'd make of this as I've always found Billy Bragg hit and miss, and I've never latched onto Wilco either. Woody Guthrie, obviously, is a legend for good reason, so I was very intrigued. It well and truly won me over, a really warm and engaging, and unique record. I love a musical project that brings artists together across decades, and borne out of love. Wonderful stuff. There's at least 2 other volumes of this which I will have to check out.

I remember when looking at the Wikipedia for this book, I was surprised at how Woody Guthrie didn't have an album on here (he does have music recorded, after all). If this is as close as it'll get, I don't mind. I previously got "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" on here and discovered I really enjoyed it, but I'm not as familiar with Billy Bragg. I think the idea is great and it's executed well. Despite the fact that Guthrie has been dead nearly 100 years, he can still connect. Even being... let's say agnostic, I enjoyed the pro-Jesus anti-politician "Christ For President". My, how times have changed, eh? Favorite tracks: "Way Over Yonder In a Minor Key", "At My Window Sad and Lonely", "I Guess I Planted", "Christ For President"

This is an incredible album. It's like you can feel the bridge in time between Woody writing these lyrics and Billy Bragg and Wilco writing and performing the music. The songs are incredibly strong and cohesive. The lyrics are amazing, full of evocative scenes and witty double entendres, a fine testament to Woody Guthrie's genius. Classic. 5 stars.

- Never listened to this before even though I like Bragg and Wilco - Genius idea that works really well - California Stars stands out as the best track but consistently really good - Fav songs: California Stars, The Unwelcome Guest, Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key

nice

I love everything about this album. It makes me want to move to some remote place in the mountains and just chill with a guitar on a porch. Favourite tracks except for the obvious first track and California Stars are One by one and Eisler on the go. 5/5

Incredible album. Cannot wait to revisit this one.

I love this. It vacillates so nicely between Bragg's sweet and folksy approach to Wilco's moody atmospheric style. Billy Bragg and Wilco really seem to understand Woody Guthrie and what's at the heart of his songwriting. They've interpreted his lyrics beautifully here for a newer audience. I feel like part of something special listening to it. And I love love LOVE this album cover! I love looking at it, it reminds me of all the times I spent walking around my city, wandering, finding cool hidden gems all by myself. But I won't say which ones! If you could bottle the feeling of walking through a city you love with no plans and nowhere to be, I'd pay anything for it. This album is close enough for now.

Great shit. If I wasn't a day behind I'd listen to it again right now. Loved this album.

This was fantastic

Just plain slaps. Hits all my buttons