Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
better than back to basics, 22 Feb 2003
On reading the amazon reviews the general consensus seems to show that most people prefer the direct, raw and emotive power of back to basics. While Victim of Geography may not hit you are hard on the first listen, the album reveals a greater depth to Bragg's songwriting. With this album Billy has matured from incendiary rants to more thoughtful political insights. He shows that he is a fine songwriter capable of writing evocative narratives (Levi Stubbs Tears) and fine social and political commentary (Ideology and Help save the youth of America). However perhaps most importantly there is a great cohesiveness through this set, aided by the fine ear for melody which Billy possesses. Greetings to the New Brunette and Waiting for the Great leap Forwards are both pensive songs dominated by huge feelgood instrumentation, with contributions from Johnny Marr, Kirsty Mccoll and Wiggy, and this is what really sets the album alight for me.
The vocals resound with passion and conviction in his trademark swagger of a voice (and what a fine one it is), and while there are moments of reflection in Tender Comrade the album is dominated by a theme of looking for the positive in a bleak period of British political history.
I fell in love with this on first listen and I find it hard to believe that it couldn't be liked by everyone. You will find something on this album which strikes a chord whatever you are looking for.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Billy Bragg at his very best, 30 Aug 2001
By A Customer
This is Billy Bragg off his leftie soapbox and on brilliant form, with two albums worth of bittersweet love songs and caustic comment. 'Waiting for the Great Leap forwards' is a perfect example of Bragg's skill. It is political, it is opinionated, but you just have to sing along. 'The Price that I Pay' is lost love laid bare, and 'Greetings to the new brunette' is so British ('how can you sit there and think about England, when you don't even know who's in the team) that any of our transatlantic friends might need some translation, but it is all typical Bragg. This is well up there in my favourites list, and if you buy it, you won't be disappointed.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very, very good., 6 Jan 2003
This was the second Bragg set I discovered, about six months after buying (and being thrilled by) Back To Basics.This is quite a departure. Well, that's not true, it's a departure in that BB is now accompanied by a band. And sometimes plays an acoustic guitar. Stylistically this serves to add an overall refinement to the songs and they do come across as well-rounded and thoughtfully considered pieces. Do they lack they immediate passion of Back To Basics? No. Here we hear a logical progression in the BB story. Lyrically Bragg is never on less than top form and "The Great Leap Forwards" and "Greetings To The New Brunette" all showcase the wondrously witty voice which perhaps was lost in the anger of the first albums. In addition you also have "The Only One" and "Levi Stubbs Tears", both of which are excellent, fist-in-your-chest love-songs. Bragg has always come across as a genuine, down-to-earth bloke and this is not lost in his art. Despite the more refined sound, you can still hear Billy Bragg loud and clear on this set.
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