Billy Bragg

[Jon]

The solo disk sounds ok in parts, in parts it sounds tired and while the a capella song doesn't work, Nearly Killed you does. There's a good mix between both CDs.
I like the Blokes, a lot of the folks on Braggy's site aren't keen - the previous album was swamped with music that doesn't sit well on a BB song, however the band CD has some cracking moments, clearly the Blokes have been reined in.

[Rich]

I agree that the a capella song doesn't work. But then I didn't like the a capella song on Workers Playtime, either.

I need to go listen to both discs again. I listened to them several times in the couple of days immediately after they arrived from Amazon UK, but then put them aside and haven't played them all the way through since. My mp3 player has randomly spat a few scattered tracks from the album out at me in the last few days, but I think I really need to listen all the way through again.

[Jon]

I agree that the a capella song doesn't work. But then I didn't like the a capella song on Workers Playtime, either.

I need to go listen to both discs again. I listened to them several times in the couple of days immediately after they arrived from Amazon UK, but then put them aside and haven't played them all the way through since. My mp3 player has randomly spat a few scattered tracks from the album out at me in the last few days, but I think I really need to listen all the way through again.

Tender Comrade works as a capella because it's 'sung' with 'passion', on the solo disc is sounds like he's marking the track.

[kgrunt]

Billy is coming to Montreal in June to play an intimate show at Club Soda. Last time I saw him was with a full band (and Wiggy) at a much larger venue (1991). The cool thing is I actually won 2 spots on the guest list from a sports radio show...So I went to the Pogues in March, will see Billy Bragg in June, I guess the pixies are just around the corner...

[kgrunt]

Hay, Happy Mayday to Billy Bragg

[Billie]

Dinnae like the acapella song. Loved the first cd, the solo one works good on some tracks, other seem to be there only to acknowledge that Billy is a guitar-and-voice-man.

[firehazard]

Mr Bragg is playing the Cambridge Folk Festival this year.

He'll be playing with The Imagined Village.
He will also be playing with himself. If you see what I mean.

[Billie]

Mr Bragg is playing the Cambridge Folk Festival this year.

He'll be playing with The Imagined Village.
He will also be playing with himself. If you see what I mean.

Stop playing with yourself
in hard currency hotels

[kgrunt]

Dinnae like the acapella song. Loved the first cd, the solo one works good on some tracks, other seem to be there only to acknowledge that Billy is a guitar-and-voice-man.

I must say that I also am not fond of the acapella song. I just bought the double CD and ripped them onto my iPod, it works out that the band songs and solo song follow one after the other,which makes comparing them easy. I think that some songs sound better with the band and some sound better solo...over all it’s not bad. I really like the band version of 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'. I do like the concept of the two albums. I just remember him being angrier, it’s all a bit mellow; I wished the band versions kicked it a bit more. Either way I feel it was not money wasted, mellow or not he is just as clever and I am really looking forward to seeing him in June. Billy’s always best live.

[Jon]

Billy 'reviews' the album on http://www.braggtopia.com, it's quite insightfull.

[kgrunt]

Billy 'reviews' the album on http://www.braggtopia.com, it's quite insightfull.

I tried but the link does not seem to work, However I have discovered (and I am sure that others are aware) that on Billy’s website there is a great series of Podcast that cover his career from the beginning onward, it is peppered with all sorts of songs from the box set...I did not even know there was a box set...
http://www.billybragg.co.uk/wordpress/category/podcasts/

[kgrunt]

Billy 'reviews' the album on http://www.braggtopia.com, it's quite insightfull.

soo the link did not work but I played around and found the following message:

THE ULTIMATE BILLY BRAGG WEBSITE
BRAGGTOPIA DESTROYED...BUT RETURNING!
Update 26th May: The Braggtopia! website has been down for about 8 days thanks to the incompetancy of the web hosting company Globat.com. It appears they had a server disc failure and when they put in place a back-up they discovered that data was corrupted. Unfortunately this has wiped out Braggtopia! - however it is slowly being pieced back together from our own back-up copy. Apologies for any missing bits - it should all be back online in a day or two.

wow,I guess we will just have to wait

[kgrunt]

Went to club Soda in Montréal last night... My wife was not interested in going, so I brought a buddy (Shawn) that I use to go to a lot of shows with back in the day. The opening act was a guy called C R Avery, who I thought would be some Stan Rodgers type guy (his album is called Magic Hour Sailor Songs), He comes on stage looking like a jazz version of Elvis Costello, and starts reciting poetry (with a voice like Tom Waits) mixed with Beat box and keyboards and harmonica...It was definitely original and by the end of the set, he actually had the crowd singing with him. Shawn and I ran into him between the sets and had a good conversation about Seattle/Jimmy/ and Dylan. He is a really nice guy who was a bit nervous about playing to a "folk" crowd. He did a song called "Folk Singer" that actually made fun of the genre; his introduction to the crowd was "Now here is a song that may not be your cup of tea" , Good Canadian kid I should have bought his album (Crap).C R Avery Definitely thinks outside the box.

The main attraction was classic Bragg, he was really on top of his game, although he did claim to be suffering vocally, he did just fine. My buddy is now one of the converted (Big Time). After the show Shawn just keeps going on and on...it was awesome. I really think that Braggy is one of a kind with his banter, rants and ability to really fill up space with his voice and a guitar.


Songs played:

1. This Guitar Says Sorry
2. The Warmest Room
3. Farm Boy
4. The Myth of Trust
5. Greetings to the New Brunette
6. I Almost Killed You
7. The Space Race is Over (which I seem to like better live)
8. Sexuality
9. Superstar (The Carpenters/one verse)/ Don't Think Twice, its All Right (Dylan)
10. Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key
11. I Ain't Got No Home in This World Anymore (unreleased Guthrie song)
12. O Freedom
13. Old Clash Fan Fight Song (which I actually enjoyed/ first time I have heard it))
14. I Keep Faith
15. There Is Power in a Union (really brought down the house)

ENCORE:

16. The Price I Pay (fan request)
17. Waiting For the Great Leap Forwards
18. A New England


18 songs does not seem like much but the show lasted about 2 hours...next time I will push my wife to come along, anybody that sees him live will easily be converted.

Montreal Gazette review http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/artslife/pg/largetemplate.html?topic=June18BillyBragg&g=9 C R Avery link http://www.cravery.com

[Rich]

I just got front-row tickets to a Billy Bragg gig in my hometown in November! I've been a huge, huge, gigantic, his-songs-changed-my-life saddo kind of fan for over 20 years and have never managed to see him live, so I'm so excited I may throw up a little.

[kgrunt]

I am sure you will not be disapointed,I hope you have a blast