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Mermaid Avenue - Billy Bragg & Wilco CD Review

Billy Bragg & Wilco

Mermaid Avenue Vol. II

(Elektra)

Three and a half Stars

They've done it again. Apprehension is understandable for part two of this collaboration, but it is just as good as the first one. It might actually better. This album, like it's predecessor, combines lyrics from the heyday of American folk with a style of music that is a direct descendant of that period. It is a perfect tribute and salute to the man who was an inspiration to so many.

Woody Guthrie wrote music about the everyday lives of the people in this country. His words were honest and real and full of the grit and realism that he saw on his travels from one coast to the other. He observed and offered criticism as only one with his watchful eye could. These lyrics are still applicable today. They come from a time when lyrics still meant something and are discovered and performed by musicians who still feel that they should.

Billy Bragg and Wilco add a good deal to these words too. They bring an amount of electricity and color that Woody could have only imagined. They have the benefit of being aware of the evolution that music has undergone and apply it full force. While the songs written by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett have a tendency to get a bit poppy at times, Billy Bragg provides a smooth balance with his baritone vocals and fondness for simplicity. They are a near perfect team.

Without having any music to work with, they bring their own melody to the work allowing for a collaboration that would otherwise have been impossible. It is a group effort, spanning decades with everyone providing something unique creating something new that could never have existed otherwise. If Woody were alive he'd be pleased

So grab a beer, sit on the porch (everyone should have a porch), put this album on and enjoy. When it's over, rinse and repeat. Do this until you can't work your CD player any longer and you are guaranteed to be happy.

- Zack Armstrong