Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Fantastic concept and execution. Inspired.
If you were flipping through a box of albums it would be easy to pass by this one, nothing catchy about the cover, but if you stop to look you realize its depth. Old buildings usually have a fascinating history. One reviewer describes Billy Bragg as a British urban folk troubadour, I normally reserve titles like that as an intro for fighters or wrestlers, but if you're gonna have one this is as good as any.
So much good stuff here! The lyrics written by Woody Guthrie are at times beautiful and at times tragic and at times goofy, and it’s all very charming in the end. The songs crafted by Billy and Wilco around the lyrics are fantastic as well. 9/10
Pretty cool
Three great artists together, and it works great.
I really liked this but then again, I like Wilco a lot, and my main issue with Billy Bragg has been with his songwriting, so having a recording where he's featured but didn't write anything, that's kind of perfect.
Excellent
This was a delight. I had always liked California Stars so it was great to hear the rest of the album. Given the fact how much I hated Yankee Hotel Foxtrot I was pleasantly surprised with this.
Wonderful.
Possibly my favorite Wilco album
I don't really know what to say about this record other than it's just pure magic. Billy Bragg's songs are especially great. "California Stars" introduced me to this album, songs like "Walt Whitman's Niece" made me fall head over heels with it.
I appreciate that the art direction on this was to not make new Woody Guthrie songs, but rather to imagine that Guthrie was a collaborator with Bragg and Wilco. This sort of Americana hits me right in the heart. I'm the sort of person who doesn't register lyrics right away -- the vocals are just part of the music, and there are words, but they don't have semantic value for me until I hear the song a number of time. But these lyrics I hear, clear and evocative. Why did Dylan get a Nobel Prize for literature when it's so obvious that Woody Guthrie was a true troubadour poet? A noble warrior with a machine that kills fascists.
Great album, cool concept (old Woody Guthrie lyrics put to new music), fun times!
Really like this collection of Woody Guthrie songs...updated by Bragg and Wilco .great guests and the follow up is great too
Album 671 of 1001 Billy Bragg - Mermaid Avenue (1998) Rating : 5 / 5 Great album. This collaboration features music set to previously unreleased lyrics written by Woody Guthrie. I first heard the track "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" when I was first listening through the playlist and it has become one of my favorite and most repeated songs. An awesome and unique blend of Americana, folk rock, and alt-country.
En av världens mest underskattade artister. Han har gjort så mycket bra. Det här är inte det bästa men är ändå förbaskat bra.
Will be introduced into my regular rotation!
I first got into Wilco with the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (four years after this release), but I quickly caught up on the back catalog of these 'alt.country' pioneers. Though Wilco's sound has evolved greatly with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot onwards, this recording (and subsequent Mermaid Avenue Volumes II and III) sit perfectly well with their 'Being There' sound of Americana; country without the twang, just as God intended. And what a great project this is! From my understanding: Woody Guthrie's daughter found all of these lyrics of her father's that were never put into songs. The famed folk singer from Oklahoma who penned "This Land Is Your Land" was a protest songwriter, his acoustic guitar brandishing a hand written message that "This Machine Kills Fascists" in the 1940's. The daughter contacted Billy Bragg, similarly a folk songwriter, political activist, and protest songwriter from England, believing he would be the perfect person to take her father's lyrics and add chords and melody to complete the songs. He needed a band, and called up Wilco who were part of the 'new country' for the alternative crowd at the time, and together Billy and Jeff Tweedy completed a series of songs using Woody Guthrie's lyrics in what would eventually become a three volume set, of which this is the first. Jeff also pulled in the distinct voice of Natalie Merchant for any songs that would benefit from a female touch; she sings lead on a handful of tunes throughout the series. The end result is an amazing collaboration of songwriting greats, breathing life into a dead legend's words with their own convictions which align with Woody's, generations ago. Though I entered this recording as a Wilco fan, in the end it was Billy Bragg's contributions and deep voice that really delivered the goods. "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key", "Ingrid Bergman", and "Eisler On The Go" display a vocal approach that can be sentimental or haunting, and there were countless times I pulled out the guitar to play the humorous sing-a-long of "Walt Whitman's Niece". Jeff Tweedy got stuck with the nonsense lyrics of "Hoodoo Voodoo," but he really shines on "California Stars", "At My Window Sad And Lonely", "One By One", "Hesitating Beauty", and "The Unwelcome Guest." Wilco was one of the main reasons I went to Coachella 2004 (along with Radiohead, The Cure, Pixies, The Flaming Lips, Air, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Belle and Sebastian, and many others), and they were the only ones who dropped out due to Jeff's stomach problems which got him addicted to painkillers. When they toured the next album, I saw them at The Fabulous Fox Theatre with the same Coachella friend; and when they played "California Stars," he said, "This is the apology song for Coachella," and I felt it. On another note, I played an outdoor show in Midtown once, and during the last set, a small group of guys stumbled in. I spoke to them and found out that they were a bachelor party and could hear us from their hotel balcony, and they walked the streets trying to find us; we chatted a bit longer and then we went into the next song, which happened to be a cover of "Hesitating Beauty," a song about trying to win over a girl and convince her to marry him. It was pure luck of the moment, but I felt like the universe did me a solid in the eyes of that group. Anyways, many of these songs or lyrics continue to pop into my head over the years. There are occasional timing variations and interesting meters and arrangements, but the strength is really in the collective songwriting and each individual's performance, knowing when to pull out the full band, and when to keep it simple. This project creates, elongates, and captures a moment in American history, but ultimately the backstory is not even needed to appreciate the quality of solid musicianship on Mermaid Avenue.
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 a gem. Billy Bragg and Wilco — and Natalie Merchant! — interpreting Woody Guthrie lyrics. Genius.
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.
I enjoyed this rather a lot - Eisler on the Go and Way over Yonder in the Minor Key were great. Really wistful, really tempered. Billy Bragg has a great voice, loved the political elements, and Wilco contribute massively. Absolute romper.
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
Love this - didn’t realise how much I did until re listening to it - warm fuzzy lovin it
I saw this album pop up today and and knew, this is going to be a great day. I really love this album. I listen to it frequently and have several songs in my regular rotation. So if you came to me and asked me to choose an artist who could take original lyrics from Woody Guthrie and frame them musically in a way that's fresh, yet totally captures Guthrie's complexity as a songwriter... Billy Bragg immediately would be my first pick. Wilco wouldn't necessarily have come to mind, but the partnership they have on this album is so special. In fact, Bragg + Wilco (+ Guthrie) is one of the most compelling musical collaborations I've ever heard. The way they support and complement each other musically is beyond words. Guthrie's lyrics are gorgeously, plain-spokenly eloquent. They're sometimes strident, sometimes quite sad, but also so much fun. But this is Billy Bragg's show, really. His pathos and sensitivity, his humor and cheekiness, these are what drive the songs on this album and really bring Guthrie's words to life. Wilco's presence adds a musicality and pop sensibility that really brightens the overall feel of the album as well. The songs are equal parts joyous and contemplative, funny even at times. They're warm and laid back, and clearly everyone is having a blast. A surprise Natalie Merchant appearance is icing on the cake. What a delight to hear. What. A Delight. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): California Stars, Walt Whitman's Niece, Another Man's Done Gone, Birds and Ships, Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key, The Unwelcome Guest, Eisler on the Go, Hesitating Beauty, One by One, At My Window Sad and Lonely, I Guess I Planted, Ingrid Bergman, She Came Along to Me, Christ for President, Hoodoo Voodoo
I really liked this. I thought every song was strong; there wasn’t a single one that I thought stuck out as weak. I would definitely listen to this again.
This was lovely. What could possibly go wrong, Woody Guthrie, Billy Bragg and Wilco. Eminently listenable!
A great album. Refreshing folk/acoustic style with great lyrics and vocals...obvs with the odd Billy Bragg style you'd expect.
This is so good! I wasn't sure if I liked the idea to attach Woody Guthrie's lyrics to a more modern sound, but they did a great job of making it all gel. It is a new spin on Woody, not trying to emulate in any way except for the welcome addition of a harmonica on one track. Unexpectedly great!
Great album. Really enjoy the concept and the execution is a lot of fun. 5/5
one of my favorite albums of all time - one by one close to a perfect song
Very good!
This was a fantastic folksy, country and Americana-feeling album that is a good listen all the way through. Couldn’t get California Stars out of my head for multiple days.
Very good
First two songs are real good
Still as fantastic as the first time I heard it!
Good
I own this CD. It's a longtime favourite! Great modern interpretation of Woody Guthry songs.
This might be Wilco’s best album… Ingrid Bergman, California Stars, Hesitating Beauty all highlight their “sensitive” side really well.
I don’t listen to this album or Billy Bragg enough
Good folk rock/alt country
Nostalgica~
Started off strong and continued strong, loved it
Billy Bragg is in my head with a guitar and he will not leave. 5 stars.
precioso disco, country y folk, lindas melodias.
Fan-fucking-tastic! I had heard a lot of these songs before but didn't know anything about them or the artists involved. What a phenomenal record, one I'll now be spinning the rest of my life.
Folk rock at its finest. Varied, musical, interesting, and lengthy album.
Love King Billy And the tension between Wilco And some brilliant songs + Natalie Merchant
It feels like this site knows my album collection. It keeps feeding me albums I've listened to hundreds of times. This is one such album. I was flipping channels one day and ended up watching the documentary of how this album came to be. That documentary was the first I'd heard of the album. That was 20+ years ago, probably around the time the album was released, and I've listened to it countless times since. An absolute classic. Btw, I don't remember whose idea it was to have Billy Bragg and Wilco collaborate on this album, but it was a real stroke of genius. And the Natalie Merchant cameo was absolutely amazing.
Like both artists, makes sense they would sound good together. This album is lovely, bouncy and clever.
Wilco
Probablemente el mejor disco que hicieron ambos, Wilco y Billy. En algunos momentos suenan muy Paul Westerberg, qué loco. Gran disco. Me da como calma, ahorita que me siento entre triste, ondeado y emputado.
I like this album. I had only heard 1-2 songs off it before listening.
The first third really took me by surprise. Amazing folk! I guess I should've expected it from Guthrie? I guess I was more eye-rolling at Wilco. But damn, great. Started to taper off as it went on, but ended strong on The Unwelcome Guest. The less than stellar second half of this almost made me give a 4, but I think the concept, execution, and incredible strength of the songs that DO hit keep it a 5 for me.
Incredible gem
This was a total surprise and so memorable. I had heard California Stars before, but nothing else. Loved it.
Interesting concept album. Billy Bragg voice warm and delivered the lyrics well. Started my day off with the listen. Thumbs up
An excellent album with some beautiful moments. Not quite perfect, but close enough to be in my rotation! 8/10
Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: Heartfelt, timeless, and quietly profound. Billy Bragg and Wilco breathe new life into Woody Guthrie’s unpublished lyrics without turning them into museum pieces. The result feels both rooted in history and completely contemporary. Favorite Track: “California Stars.” One of those songs that feels like it has always existed. Gentle, wistful, and unforgettable.
OK, so this is the Billy Bragg album with Wilco. It's been so long since I've listened to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, so I can't really remember what it sounded like, but I don't remember it sounding like this. That said, this is a really good slice of alt-country. Interesting that all the lyrics are Woody Guthrie written. Love the bounce of Christ for President. Might not be something I'd go back to. Really good, but not really for me I don't think. We'll see if I ever do revisit it in the future though.
novamente, meu gosto recente por um countryzinho bem executado me colocou numa situação chata não sei se foi tb pelo wilco no meio do caminho, mas achei bem ok.... dirigiria por horas em direção à minha terra natal com esse tocando em pelo menos algum trecho (definitivamente enquanto tocasse california stars, preferencialmente na divisa estadual)
pior que eh bem forte acho que wilco ajudou nesse aqui, mas o billy bragg tbm eh bom de serviço. ótimas canções, apesar de terem umas 3 bem chatas no meio. ainda eh bem bacana e vale a pena ouvir!!!!
What a beautiful tribute to Woody. A veritable whos-who of 90s folk/indie rock stars…Natalie Merchant, hello! Such an incredible gift from Woodys daughter to ask these artists to bring his words to life.
Heard Before? Yup. Notes: - odd choice for this list. but I'm a lot more interested in the odd choices than the obvious ones. - the Woody Guthrie lyrics are spot on, of course, and they made great choices. - the rough and tumble mishmash of song styles, arrangements and production values feels just right, although they could have gone even more warts n' all and i would have loved it the same or better. - multiple vocalists really sells the whole idea of the project, and adds to the general messy atmosphere and creative tension. i can hear the songs getting pulled in different directions. Verdict: I wouldn't call it essential, but the tossed off aura of this is a welcome reprieve from a run of self-conscious "statement" albums. Listen Again? This one is worth a revisit every few years, and the other two volumes aren't bad either.
I really liked this vibe overall, not everything was amazing but I would listen again and enjoy
Big Dan of Wilco, but this album has the entire Billy Bragg essence and energy. It’s classy and I like it.
334/1001 Billy Bragg and Wilco - Mermaid Avenue Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅️ So the algorithm gods decided to throw me two country inspired albums in a row. There's a stark difference in enjoyment levels between the two. I'd listened to California Stars previously but decided to go into different Wilco albums and this got left by the wayside. Bragg's voice works surprisingly well on an Americana record and combined with Wilco, is a great side project. No idea why I didn't get to this sooner.
Great album, enjoyed it quite a bit.
aside from the first song, I really liked this!
C’était fort jovial ! C’était un album composé de textes de Woodie Guthrie encore jamais interprétés, mis en musique par Billy Bragg et Wilco (totalement inconnus pour moi). Bon, passons sur la question de pourquoi ne pas avoir tout simplement inclu un album de Woody Guthrie à la liste (je parie qu’il n’y en a même pas). Concentrons-nous un peu sur cet album. C’est donc une interprétation moderne à laquelle on a droit. Le groupe a l’air de se faire plaisir et, il faut bien le dire, on dirait même des reprises tellement la musique qu’ils ont écrite est dans la lignée de ce qu’aurait pu composer Woody Guthrie lui-même. Donc autant dire que je trouve l’hommage de haute qualité. J’hésite encore entre le 3 et le 4, on verra bien demain matin.
Wilco been one of my bigger find/dives from this thing - they reign in some of their more creative talents here, but this is a pretty unique and charming record and I think just about worthy of a 4....
Loved this. Way over yonder the highlight. Will be going back
I like it.
Very easy listening summer time vibes
Much preferred the Bragg songs over the Wilco written songs, but appreciated that they both gave their own flavor on here without feeling too too different (although you can definitely tell their are 2 different song writers at play here). Interesting in thay they are taking old songs and re-writing them but keeping the lyrics. Mr. Bragg is coming to folk fest this year, which is pretty cool! Great summertime album, one to roll the windows down to on a warm summers night.
My brother had this album when we were both living in Seattle. It’s interesting to hear something that I actually know extremely well, but never put on myself. Kind of like a visitor from a distant place, time and space. So I suppose I have a special love for it that can’t be separated from that feeling. I don’t know if I would put it on myself, but hearing California Stars today almost brought me to tears. 4 Boolean: yes, very glad to hear again before I die
Awesome folk/country sound. Have not heard of Bragg before this but am very interested in diving into his back catalogue after this album.
definitely a curveball from all my previous listens. this one was very folksy, very twang-y, a loooott slower paced. some parts of it i really enjoyed: woody guthrie's lyrics lend themselves to a unique, kind of timeless quality, something old but yet it feels like it's sort of always been around. there were misses on certain songs, but i more think its due to me not liking the voice of one of the singers. he sings outside of his register often and it makes his voice crack something fierce, which i couldn't stand. the other singers were all perfectly fine though! nice melodies, pleasant guitar + harmonica and violin, some great harmonies in particular. it was nice to have a very downbeat break from all my previous albums, to listen with the window open and the night breeze roll in. i have to wonder how many of these songs were only lyrics and without any melodies to accompany them, or if they had certain melodies written in mind that the performers followed. highlights: california stars, way over yonder in the minor key, birds and ships (this one's a real standout, if you check out this album at ALL at least listen to this one), one by one, the unwelcome guest.
Pretty chill album.
I guess this is a novelty album. Very interesting idea that works better than it should. It must be the Woody of it all that makes it sound old fashioned. I didn’t love it, but solid like.
I didn't know about this album before being assigned it. I found the ways Bragg and Wilco arranged music for these Guthrie lyrics quite appealing - tender, slightly melancholy - reasonably consonant with the musical styles Guthrie used, but sensitively updated. I may listen to some of these songs again, probably not play the whole album, but I'll still say it's Good, 7/10.
Wow. Nice!
8.5/10
The story behind this album re Woody Guthrie lyrics might be the coolest thing I’ve heard music wise in a long time. And I don’t hate Natalie Merchant’s contribution
Such a lovely tribute to Woody Guthrie. Both Wilco and Bragg sound great here and both have their times to shine. Favorite track: California Stars
a good album for long car trips. nostalgic and easy. jury's still out on whether billy bragg can actually sing but he makes good music nonetheless.
Great poet
Favorite Tracks: Walt Whitman’s Niece Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key I broke my rule and added two songs to the playlist today!
Just a 2 or maybe 3 for me, but California Stars is phenomenally great tune, so it elevates it to a 4.
Woody? Billy? Wilco? This is so far up my alley it's unbelievable. And true to form, I really enjoyed it. I admired the way that Wilco had managed to make the music sound like them while still retaining that simplicity and down-at-homeness that Woody Guthrie would have intended. And I really do think that Billy Bragg puts in some of his best performances on here. Finally, what a treat to have a bit of Natalie Marchant on here - her voice is so beautiful and melds really nicely with the instrumentation on her track.
great album
Great concept for an album. I'm a Wilco fan and hadn't realized California Stars came out of this Collab. A slice of Americana and country that sits well with me.
Good
This one really deserves another listen. I really enjoyed Guthrie’s lyrics with Bragg and Wilco’s interpretation.
I didn’t really get this one at first then looked at some of the info about this album. The change in perspective did wonders
Never heard of Wilco before and enjoyed Billy Bragg with an American twang - good stuff
This was great. A pleasant surprise
mooie samenwerking met Wilco en wijlen Woody Guthrie... goeie teksten, goeie muziek...
My familiarity with Wilco is solely based on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which I consider of the finest records of this century so far. Curiously, I never sought out any more of their music until today the gods of randomness blessed me with Mermaid Avenue. At first I was hesitant, but it quickly became apparent that I was enjoying each song more than the last. My rating system starts with an expectation. I expected an above average score, but it kept growing. I don’t think I can give the highest rating, but I will almost certainly listen again and maybe even consider it the equal of YHF. 4 (abd a half) stars.
Kind of a fascnating experiment, especially coming as Wilco was still finding its footing (and two albums before Yankee Hotel Foxtrot). The songs work well, and the lyrics are suprisingly timeless given when Woody Gutherie would have written them.
3.5ish, leaning more into the 4 than the 3, though.
This is a great concept and I really enjoyed several of the songs.
Pretty alright, but Way Over Yonder is enough to pull it up to a 4 for me. Love that song.
I really enjoyed this and saved a number of songs to my faves playlist! Loved the concept too.
Bought this when it came out — liked it then and still like it now. Great idea to set Woody Guthrie lyrics to new music. A solid 4.
Album No. 0190 on my list. I had already listened to another Billy Bragg album on this list (which I enjoyed) and I had been aware that Wilco has a pretty good reputation, but I'm pretty sure that I had never listened to any of their stuff. So i was curious where "Mermaid Avenue" would lead me, even though I had little idea what I was getting into. And the thing is pretty good actually! Only while listening to this did I realize that this was a recording of previously unreleased Woodie Guthrie songs, and some of those are pretty great, actually! Both parties involved did a very good job transferring Guthrie's ideas into interesting songs and harmonized pretty well on many of the songs. This is a cool country-alternative-folk record, and I'm very glad that I discovered it through this website. I'll add "Walt Whitman's Niece", "California Stars", "Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key", and "Hoodoo Voodoo" to my playlist. 4/5 stars!
This was great; might need to start listening to Wilco. ‘Hoodoo Voodoo,’ and ‘One by One’ were favorites on this one.
This album earns its place on the list for being the single most unique concept I can imagine. We have lyrics by the legendary Woodie Guthrie, sung by Billy Bragg, and music by Wilco. I'm actually disappointed that they didn't have Tom Morello play guitar for the project, but here we are. The lyrics are obviously top notch, and Wilco comes through (my minor criticism here is that Wilco is evidently only capable of producing one song, but it fits the lyrics beautifully). Now we have Billy. I don't think any honest critic or even fan would say that Billy should be known for the quality of his voice. It's not unique enough to get a Dylanesque pass; it's just not the best. Or great. Okay, it's not even good. Billy does seem to bring his personal A game for the sake of Woody, so we'll let it go. Influence 2. Hits 2. Intangibles 5 (this is actually an 11). Quality 4. Once the uniqueness passes, there's not much here, unfortunately 3.
The folk genre doesn’t typically get much of a boost from me but something about this album really connected with me somehow. And not in a very clear/concise way either. I’ve had several other albums from Bragg and Wilco throughout the project but I feel this is my favorite yet.
incredible reworking of Woody Guthrie words into amazing songs
I really like a lot of this.
Don’t love folk music and not the biggest Wilco fan, so imagine my surprise that I actually really liked this.
Great concept and Wilson’s great.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? I’m neutral about Wilco, I don’t know Billy Braggs Favorite song(s)? Walt Whitman, California Stars, Hoodoo Voodoo Overall Thoughts: This album cover speak to me, not sure what it is about it, maybe the bit of handwritten typography. This one was fun, I love the story behind it. It was a nice collaboration, kept me engaged the whole time I listened. A lot of the songs were very catchy but also sounded different from one another, at least to me. I’m not a big country fan but this is more folk and I enjoyed it.
He's from England but his music is very Americana. I think this music would be better heard live but this album is pretty good. His voice is pleasant but nothing fantastic about it. It's at least worth a four.
Ist ganz nett für einen sonnig warmen Roadtrip aber Spaß macht es mir nicht sonst ist es ziemlich gut ich weiß das mein Freund es mögen würde…. Ja aber ich finde das eine Lied total schön mit der Sängerin
Chicagoan rock band Wilco (my first run-in with them for this challenge, although I wish I'd received a non-collab from them before this) and Essexian singer-songwriter Billy Bragg were given a rare gift here by one of the most important figures in the last century of American popular music. see, the director of the Woody Guthrie Foundation (his daughter Nora) gave them a trove of unused lyrics from his archives, as well as full permission to create original music to go along with them. Wilco's fondness for country-tinged indie Americana and Bragg's long history as a left-wing activist put them well in line with Guthrie's traditions as an artist, so I think Nora chose quite well. rather than trying to replicate the Woody Guthrie style directly, Wilco and Bragg bring a lot of their own personalities through his words. the highlight is "California Stars", yet another demonstration from the 1001 Albums... roster that, if you're making guitar music, Three Chords And The Truth are really all you need; whatever else you do from that point is a matter of taste. decent 7/10.
I really enjoyed this album. Bragg and Wilco did a great job bringing some worthy Guthrie tunes into the light, and the whole is much better than Bragg or Wilco on their own.
A very interesting concept for an album: 15 songs-worth of unheard Woody Guthrie lyrics put to music by English singer/songwriter/activist Billy Bragg and American alt country outfit Wilco. The story is Woody's daughter, Nora Guthrie, approached Bragg about writing music to a number of her father's songs written between 1939 and 1967, and Bragg (upholding Nora's request to make the songs contemporary and fit for a modern audience) approached Wilco about getting involved. So 'Mermaid Avenue' (named after Guthrie's song 'Mermaid's Avenue) sees Bragg and Wilco vocalist Jeff Tweedy going blow-for-blow on lead vocals, with the rest of Wilco providing the full-band sound to bring the songs into the flesh. It's quite interesting because Bragg's heavily British, socially conscious orations contrast heavily with Tweedy's dreamier drawl, but somehow, they both bring out the best in Guthrie's lyrics. Through songs like 'California Stars', 'Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key', 'I Guess I Planted' and 'One By One', Bragg and Wilco convey a wide range of Guthrie's emotions: Tweedy's voice suits the deeper, more emotional songs, while Bragg's empassioned delivery is perfect for Guthrie's more socially-conscious material given Bragg, in his own right, follows the same aporoach to equality and social change that Guthrie did. It can feel like two different albums at times, as the voices of Bragg and Tweedy are noticeably different, but what they do well is keep the spirit of Woody Guthrie alive by presenting his messages with a more contemporary feel. Apparently Bob Dylan was approached by Guthrie himself to write music to these lyrics, but the circumstances never aligned. So it's almost like Bragg and Wilco were meant to commit these songs to tape. Best songs: California Stars, Way Over Yonder In the Minor Key, I Guess I Planted, One By One
Love Wilco so I was surprised I wasn’t familiar with this album. Fun and beautiful compositions and there’s the interesting angle of all the songs being previously unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics. Overall a nice surprise.
this was a very pleasant surprise
Top Songs: California Stars Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key I Guess I Planted Hesitating Beauty
Nearly a 5 star album, some incredible songs, drags a bit in the middle which keeps it from perfection.
A really cool idea for an album done very well. I really enjoyed the thought and care taken to do this project justice.
good album
This is as much Billy Bragg and Wilco as it is Woody Guthrie, obviously. A really pleasant surprise.
This machine tickles fascists.
I’m a long-time Wilco fan but this is my first time listening to this album in full. It makes sense why these acts are critical darlings; I mean, who’s going to criticize a tasteful collection of Guthrie adaptations? You might even call it a bit too safe, but there are moments of true excitement (the vocal performance on “Hoodoo Voodoo”) and transcendent beauty (“Ingrid Bergman” and “The Unwelcome Guest”) that make it more than just coffee-shop-core. I also enjoyed the format of Bragg and Tweedy trading off vocals.
Solid folk tunes that were only amplified by listening to them while driving through the country.
When i first heard tracks from this i thought there was something very wrong about Billy Bragg doing americana folk, and oh, covers of Woody Guthrie songs? But i was wrong. Its a good album straight up just to listen to without knowing the concept behind it. Thw lix with Wilco shows neither Billy or Wilco are the star, they play as a band (i get that Wilco are a band and probably nothing to prove on that front but it ahows Billly is a competent band member and both have egos under control). Now the concept, Woody Guthrie lyrics but not music, his daughter gets Billy Bragg and Wilco to write the mysic and bring it to your speakers. So much trust and reapect all round to make that happen i suspect. Is it Woody Guthrie, is it Billy Bragg, is it Wilco. No it is aomething that stands on its own but is the sum of the parts.
An album of previous unheard Woody Guthrie lyrics, with music written and performed by British (Bragg) and US (Wilco) alt-country icons. This shit is bound to be good, right? Yes, yes, it is. I’d heard songs from the album, but despite being a Wilco fan, with friends who are fanatics, I’d never heard this album in its entirety. Another situation where a random pick from the book led to a wonderful discovery. I’ll be revisiting this one again. Great stuff!
Alright, but nothing special in my opinion. With one glowing exception, ”Birds and ships” is a subtle masterpiece, Natalies brittle voice is amazing. And this song alone brings it from a 3 to a 4
Nice songs and nice voice from Billy :) 4/5
This is a great record. I think Bragg's political sensibility made him a good match for Guthrie, and while most of these songs aren't political, still, it feels right. And though I don't really know Wilco much though I appreciate them, I like Billy Bragg, with his political British punk/folk work. Of course I'm sure part of what I'm enjoying about it this morning is nostalgia for listening to it all the time when it first came out. I was listening to less noisy music in the late 90s, lots of British and Scandinavian folk and world music kind of stuff. And "California Stars" is still one of my favorite songs; it makes me cry for some reason. 4/5
Solid work,not a huge fan though
Better than I expected the gets better as it unfolds.
...and 16 days later I got another Wilco album. This was fantastic and I played all the songs that came after the album on Spotify for the next 2 days!
I’ve liked this album since it first dropped. It was my first introduction to both Billy Bragg and Wilco and that alternative easy, folksy-bluesy jam sound that now dominates my listening.
Woody Guthrie left thousands of songs worth of lyrics without music behind. Guthrie’s daughter then worked with artists to write accompanying music, including Billy Bragg, who approached Wilco to collaborate on this album. Wasn’t familiar with Bragg, but I love Wilco. What you get are some really great tracks (mostly Jeff Tweedy’s) and some that are just so-so. The big standouts for me are “California Stars”, “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key”, “One By One”, and “Eisler On the Go”. This found its way to the low end of 4/5.
I’m a Wilco fan and have listened to this album many times. What I wasn’t aware of was that there were 2 more follow-up albums, including a performance from Natalie Merchant. I find the Jeff Tweedy vocal’s preferable to Billy Bragg but that’s nitpicking. This album is great and I love the premise behind it. 4 stars. Fave track - Californian Stars.
Kinda dug this and Guthrie’s lyrics are just so good
Had to listen again because I had no idea of the context lol. Second impressions basically the same as the first though, I quite like this. Which tracks, as I like Billy Bragg, Wilco, and Woody Guthrie.
What a great project! I loved this album when it came out, and I appreciated having a good reason to return to it now. Woody’s lyrics are respectfully and thoughtfully showcased by Billy Bragg and Wilco. Special highlights include “California Stars” and “ Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key.” Bragg’s quirky, charming vocals suit the lyrics particularly well. Highly recommended! 4.5?
I love the concept of this album and they did a fantastic job in realising the concept. There are lots of strong melodies and the songs are really nicely arranged.
Was expecting it to be more of the sound of Billy Bragg than it was but pleasantly surprised by this one. I feel like both Wilco and Bragg have treated the songs covered here with sincerity and respect but also not been afraid to do something a little more modern than I suspect the originals would have been performed like. Particular shout out to ‘one by one’ which I particularly enjoyed with the use of slide guitar and Rhodes piano in. Overall, a really lovely album that I’d like to listen to again.
Pretty solid listen for me. California Stars is a heck of a tune and I've listened to it plenty of times before. This makes 3 (2.5?) Wilco albums on this list thus far for my listening group, which _seems_ like a lot of Wilco...?
Just a fantastic recording, and the Woody Guthrie tie-in is really cool. Super impressed.
Folksy protest music? Fuck yeah. Also listened to the Wilco half of this album and liked that too, which is funny bc I gave the other Wilco album 2 stars.
Starts a bit twangy but that goes away. Really enjoyed it. Can't remember any lyrics aside from Ingrid Bergman, but enjoyed the vibe of the album a lot
I knew a few of the songs off this album already, but really enjoyed the rest of it. Thought there was enough variation to stay interesting throughout and I also just really liked the style. Would definitely listen again. Fav song: Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key Least fav: Hoodoo Voodoo
Like the first song, even though I can see people finding it annoying. Gets a bit folky at times but still enjoyed. I think I liked billy Bragg more than Wilco for sure. Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song - Walt Whitman’s niece Least fav - Eisler on the go
✨connecting to my american roots✨ I do tend to quite enjoy folk music tho, granted it doesn't necessarily have to be american folk 3.8/5
This album is a collaboration not only between Wilco and Billy Bragg (and Natalie Merchant) but also Woody Guthrie whose daughter gave them these lyrics that Woody had written some 50 to 60 years before this album was recorded. There is sometimes a noticeable difference in the songs with music written by Wilco vs Billy Bragg but I enjoyed both the softer and more upbeat songs, however the transition from Birds and Ships to Hoodoo Voodoo was jarring. I heard a couple of the songs on this album before but I like them even more knowing the story behind them and the amount of love and respect that had to go into making this an album. Favourite song: Way Over Yonder In the Minor Key Least: Hoodoo Voodoo or The Unwelcomed Guest
I only knew Billy Bragg from his politics (which I kinda rate) so was nice to hear he also makes music which I kinda rate. You go Billy.
A wonderful album this. I’m not the biggest Wilco guy, but they really add to Billy Bragg’s sound here. I do prefer the tracks where he’s singing though, something about his delivery always stirs an emotional response from me.
PRETY DAMN GOOD
I guess this is a collection of songs written by Woody Guthrie, and you can hear that in many songs. Stripped back with simple yet effective lyrics on some, others have a bit of a alt-country vibe. Enjoyable album with "California Stars" being an all timer
Feel like I’ll end up listening to this one again
This is a stellar idea and collaboration. Many memorable songs combining Guthrie lyrics with Bragg / Tweedy music, played with heart and spirit.
I hate Walt Whitman. Everyone is supposed to just love the guy because he was so BOLD and had such CHARISMA, and HE SHOULD BE ON THE TEN-DOLLAR BILL, but no, I think he's pretentious and egotistical and I would never want to hang out with him in real life, so why would I want to wast emy time reading his poetry? And he killed poetry. Everyone lining up to be the next free-verse, lyric-obsessed, bombastically introverted American voice, that it drowned out everything else. If you didn't like his form of self-ingulgent, ticker-tape crap, then clearly you were some sort of philistine. Poetry isn't for THE PEOPLE. It's for ME. Jesus Christ. Imagine if cinema veered hard in this direction, and the only thing at the cineplex 10 were ten different movies about directors making movies. Forget narratives. Forget variety. Just give me more of that Woody Allen look-at-me bullshit. GOD I HATE WALT WHITMAN. People throwing out "I contain multitudes" or "Barbaric Yawp" - he gets a barbaric NOWPE from me. Self-indulgent tripe.
Hadn't listened to this in a while. Definitely belongs on this list.
Great collaboration both Wilco and Bragg and the Woody Guthrie this is touching, so much feel and soul. And probably closest this list gets to Uncle Tupalo. . 4 Star
I really liked this album. The last few id been assigned were fine but this is a bit more down my alley.
Love this album. Sometimes getting two legends on the same stage doesn’t work, but here it does.
This is a special project, Billy Bragg and Wilco putting to music unpublished lyrics of Woody Guthrie. The storytelling is absolute poetry and Bragg and Wilco play with various incarnations of Americana, folk, and even midcentury rock to bring the songs to life. Hugh quality throughout. My favorite track is “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key,” with a transcendent Natalie Merchant harmonizing.
This was actually fairly enjoyable
Four (California) stars from me, and very nearly five because there’s so much to love. Hits the sweet spot for the balance between reverence for the source material and the irreverence of so much of Guthrie’s writing. Joyful.
A good album, I liked Walt Whitman's Niece, California Stars, Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key and Hoodoo Voodoo the most.
Liked it overall.
I dig how much this list is into Wilco. This is a particularly good choice. Two great artists combined (plus a few assists from Natalie Merchant) - very nice.
A lovely surprise. Perfect Sunday album.
Really, really nice. Feel-good music from top to bottom, and such a unique project too. It really wouldn't be the same without the contributions from Wilco, Bragg, Guthrie, or even Ms. Merchant -- what a wonderful thing to have the strength in a collaboration come from the collaboration itself.
I’ve tried liking Wilco for a while now, but aside from a few tracks here and there, they’ve always felt a bit too “hipster.” I found this album a lot more relatable for some reason. Is it Billy Bragg? Woody Guthrie’s lyrics? Or am I getting more hipster in my old age?
This is pretty good. Much of it is country without the affectation of a drawl. Feels more heartfelt and a lot less formulaic. 3.5* rounding up.
Woody Guthrie's vision came to life by the right people. California Stars is a classic by now,a favourite of mine, Way over Yonder In The Minor Key is one of my favourites as well,very beautiful, Stellar performance of Natalie Merchand i think in Birds And Ships, Hoodoo Voodoo is absolutely fantastic, She Came Along To Me,another great song,thank god for Wilco(again), At My Window Sad And Lonely,the lyrics shine here so bright,divine badjo arp strokes,fantastic, Ingrid Bergman,a starstruck little love song, I Guess I Planted,another song i really enjoyed, One By One,fading in with me longing,i knew from the start this one will be on repeat,my top favourite song,i never wanted it t end, Eisler On The Go is like a very beautiful poem,delivered with sensitivity, Another Man's Done Gone is a short piano ballad,a very emotional piece. I will give it a 4/5 cause this project was definately a challenge and it gave justice to Woody Guthrie's vision.That was way more interesting than i thought!
Favorites: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key. Birds and Ships Ingrid Bergman I Guess I Planted One By One The Unwelcome Guest
4.75
Enjoyed this a lot! Really liked the collab with Wilco, and the general concept of the album. Better than Braggs previous album on the list. Probably because he’s not chatting any of that commie shit. Simpsons: No
Drifted in and out of sleep whilst listening to this, but it was very nice.
Such a great idea for an album. I remember the pairing of Bragg and Wilco seeming odd, but it really works. Both are excellent songwriters.
På et tidspunkt på videregående satt jeg på denne plata og stoppa ved "California Stars". Den har jeg til gjengjeld hørt veldig mye på, og hatt med i utallige lister. Jeg er fortsatt svak for den, og syns det er en av de beste forsøkene på å bringe Woody Guthrie inn i vår tid. Bragg og Wilco gjør generelt en god jobb med å være tro mot Guthrie samtidig som de tilfører noe nytt. Jeg tenkte et øyeblikk at "Hoodoo Voodoo" skrenset litt langt unna, men så kom jeg på at "Car Song" eksisterer. Det er ikke en plate som finner opp kruttet på nytt. Men de pakker sammen noen fine fyrverkeri av gammelt krutt. Det er Billy Bragg & Wilco som låner stemmen til Woody Guthrie. Plata kunne godt fått 5, og det som holder det unna toppen er kanskje bare at jeg også må holde den opp mot andre plater i katalogen til Bragg og Wilco. En sidenote som jeg husker fra Bob Dylans memoarer er at han beskrev at han snakket med Guthrie om en eske med en haug av upubliserte låter som han ville Dylan skulle ha. Han dro for å snakke med kona hans, men hun var ikke hjemme, så han dro hjem. Det hadde selvfølgelig vært interessant å høre hva Dylan hadde gjort med disse tekstene, men jeg tenker han også hadde rotet bort mye av det. Så jeg er glad for at Billy Bragg og Wilco fikk gi låtene liv.
Fint!
Really enjoyed this. Great mix of tunes and vocals. Always a joy to hear Natalie Merchant’s voice
This is the sort of thing I love discovering through this project. An album I don’t suppose I’d have ever listened to otherwise which would have been a real shame as I really liked a lot of it. Think Wilco probably edged it for me but I liked the alternative, different styles between them and Billy. California Stars is a great track.
What a cool project! Guthrie was a legend and I love seeing his work brought to life in a more modern way, while still preserving the spirit of his music. I like the Bragg tracks much more than the Wilco tracks, but it's all good nonetheless.
The Wilco songs are great. Wasn’t as much of a fan of the Billy Bragg stuff.
Not a fan of Wilco, but boy do I like Tweedy’s non-Wilco stuff.
This sounded great - their voices and styles are really good together.
Completely missed the existence of this album. Much better than expected.
Wilco is cool and this is an interesting concept for an album. What's not to love?
Better than I thought it would be
I listened to this album probably four or five times. At first, I didn't get it. The second time I moved more into the musical space and liked it a lot more, but I still didn't really get it. Listening to it as an isolated set of streaming files stripped the work of all its context. OK, I'm vaguely aware of Billy Bragg and applaud his political stances. Many of the tunes here recalled Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, the Carter Family and others. They sounded then, at least as far as I knew of Billy Bragg, that they were likely written by him. BUT I didn't learn they were all previously unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics reimagined by the musical contributors because any indication of the music that Woody intended for them had been lost--until I found a PHYSICAL CD copy. The actual recording object, not just the files containing the sound information, is crucial for a fuller appreciation of the context of this artistic work. Context matters. If folks answering this challenge just go to their streaming service to listen to this and other recordings, they are not going to get the full picture.
California Stars is perfect, the rest of the songs are not
Teehee… seaman. Really cool idea and a good way to keep Woody Guthrie’s legacy alive. The two styles don’t mesh the best, and in general the Wilco stuff is better than the Billy Bragg stuff, but on principle this album is great.
Cool album. I liked the variety in singers and styles. I would definitely listen to this again
chillig, konnt man sich anhören. Hatte n schönen Klang
I enjoyed this. Never heard Bragg before but these songs were jaunty.
Kind of surprised at how earnestly rootsy this seems. Wilco has a kind of indie cool factor, and (as far as I'm aware) Billy Bragg was mostly a folk punk poet type character before this. But, united perhaps by their love of Woody Guthrie (which I must infer) they basically lay down 50 minutes of really wonderful Americana on Mermaid Avenue. I'm not sure that I am confident in my ability to review this one, there's like 15 songs here, from showstoppers to little vignettes, and I think they all deserve a little time that I probably can't give. But, I can talk favorites. Walt Whitman's Niece is a fantastic opener, it's earnestly Americana, but it certainly has something wry and clever, and almost a little weird about it: great song. California Stars is one of the more popular cuts here, and I think it deserves it, this is a song for driving through the great plains region of the United States, which is a type of song I have a sort of affinity for. Birds And Ships is another more popular cut, and it also pulls it's weight with Natalie Merchant providing beautiful guest vocals. I think I like Hoodoo Voodoo, but regardless, it's hard to not talk at least a little about. Christ For President has a *particularly* rootsy folk stomp that I enjoy quite a bit. One of my absolute favorites is Eisler On The Go, which is banjo driven and particularly sad. We end with Another Man's Done Gone and The Unwelcome Guest, which are both worthwhile slow jams. Everything else here is at least decent, but there are a couple of more forgettable songs. But, all in all, the experience of Mermaid Avenue is really great, and the seemingly unlikely mixture of Wilco and Billy Bragg is really natural and potent: cool stuff if you like Americana.
It's interesting to hear some of Woody Guthrie's previously unrecorded songs in such a different style. I can't say I loved the album, but will listen again.
Day596 - the combo of wilco and billy bragg works great. california stars has been one of my favorite songs for many years.
8/10 pretty good! I had fun :)
A great way to honor Woody's legacy! Great album!
Thank God Bob Dylan didn't get hold of these texts! Billy Bragg rendered them intimate and beautifully, especially the opening track and the Minor Key song. Some of the songs didn't work for me - e.g. She Came Along to Me had touching lyrics but the singing is mechanical. Also it's a bit front loaded and the 2nd half of the album were lost on me.
I enjoyed this one a lot. I had never heard of it before. It is really helpful to read up on Woody Guthrie a bit before listening - the style and lyrics make a lot more sense in context.
Nice album i like most of the instrumentals
Love the backstory, concept and execution. Billy Bragg is an heir apparent to Woody Guthrie’s socially conscious folk, while in Wilco the project finds a rootsy, musically adventurous band and arranger. A few songs are less successful than others, but I’m glad these boxes of unsung lyrics finally saw the light of day. Put the carpenter in!
Whoa. I'm not a Wilco fan (I'm a bit of a hater if I'm gonna be real), but I loved this.
Quite liked this. Felt like music that would be sung in a pub. 3.6/5
Great concept that I didn't know existed - a great tribute to Woody Guthrie. I think i liked the Wilco songs more than the Bragg songs, but overall this was an enjoyable experience! Liked Songs Added: California Stars Hoodoo Voodoo At My Window Sad And Lonely One By One Hesitating Beauty
Rating: 7.5/10 First three songs are amazing, then it slowly starts to get less and less interesting as it progresses. Still very enjoyable, the country style meshes with Wilco quite well.
Gooed meandering background music, has an occasional uptake in tempo and atmosphere
An album I’d never heard of but enjoyed
It’s too hot to think. This album from one of England’s finest troubadours and the American roots-rock Wilco turns Woody Guthrie’s writings into lovely and memorable songs. Here’s a better-written history: https://albumism.com/features/billy-bragg-and-wilco-mermaid-avenue-album-anniversary
Good album, I used to love the songs that were sung by Jeff Tweedy and skip the ones with Billy Bragg singing, I like almost all of the songs on this album now and the back story is interesting. Jay Bennet deserves a lot of credit for making California Stars into an absolute classic. I love one by one too.
A wonderfully unique project. 4/5
there are a couple clunkers but overall i like this album quite a bit. makes me feel good
Probably a hot take to say this is better than any Billy Bragg or Wilco album, but F it, we cookin
Funny timing, hearing Billy Bragg two days in a row. This one was a surprise. Pairing him up with Wilco to breathe new life into Woody Guthrie’s unused lyrics is such a cool concept, and they actually pulled it off. It doesn’t feel like some museum piece or forced tribute either. The songs sound natural and fresh, like they were written last week instead of decades ago. Bragg’s grit and Wilco’s laid-back alt-country vibe balance each other out in a way that works way better than I expected. It’s got heart, it’s got soul, and it somehow manages to connect three generations of music without sounding like a history lesson. Solid album with a cool story behind it.
I love Woody Guthrie, and this is a great concept for an album. "Walt Whitman's Niece" is a fun song. I love spoken word story-telling vocals over some foot tapping folk music. I also love the harmonizing. It sounds like a bunch of friends making some music together. "Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key" was a funny song. The vocals were great. Nobody did sing like you Woody. I'm not hearing a lot of Wilco influence on the track. Natalie Merchant has a beautiful voice. "Birds And Ships" is a nice relaxing slow song. "Hoodoo Voodoo" is a jam. This song is kickstarting my morning. "Chris For President" is a funny song. Woody Guthrie would be just as on-point today. "The Unwelcome Guest" goes so hard. The song is about a Robin Hood type, riding his horse and robbing the wealthy to give to the poor. Not every song was a banger, but many were really good. They didn't feel so much like a fusion of Wilco and Billy Bragg, but rather like one or the other. I love Woody Guthrie, and we need another one of him today. 8/10
Better than I thought it would be. I thought it would be too folky protest songy but I enjlyed it.
WILCO! omfg this is so funny, Nick LOVES Wilco and I know he's talked about this exact album before but I couldn't tell you which of these songs I've heard. JK I've DEFINITELY heard California Stars lol. It'll be really interesting to rate this one because it's not my usual taste in music but it reminds me of Nick so that makes me love it more. It's not bad at all, it's actually very good. Especially the melodies, they're so catchy. And I am partial to country so this has more than enough twang for me. I loveeee Natalie Merchant's voice. These are like traditional folk songs!! Nick has never played me the songs that I feel like I'm loving the most. I can't believe that this came out in 1998. It's a very very good album but I don't think it's a 5 for me personally. I love it for other reasons besides just what it sounds like.
love woody guthries lyrics love the music love the voice. cant believe i havent heard this album before
California Stars At the Window Sad and Lonely One by One The Unwelcome Guest
Chill. Easy, driving to the beach music.
This collaboration (and all the subsequent ones) are awesome!