Customer Reviews

William Bloke

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit, I cannot ever see giving a Billy Bragg album less that five stars. He's always brilliant in my opinion, and so his newest albums always seem to be my favourite. No exception here. This one combines all he's come to represent so far in his career--there's his rather newfound domestic ease, his bittersweet sensibilities, his mockery and indignance, and of course, his very Red inclinations. Pop tunes, folky rock and lullabies are all here...he hasn't been so diverse on one album yet. He's one of the best songwriters I've ever heard. And thank god he's still Red.

About 3 years ago, my sister took me to see Billy Bragg at Irving Plaza. Since then I've seen him 3x. And now I own 4 CDs. What makes Bragg so charming, I believe, is the sincerity of his 'socialism of the heart' . . .

Of the 4, this is my favorite. It is not so punk as BACK TO BASICS, but mellower and more tuneful. Best tracks are probably 'Space Race Is Over,' 'Northern Industrial Town' and 'King James Version.' But if you like punk, try 'Pict Song,' his rendition of Rudyard Kipling. WARNING! Listening to this CD is addictive! :)

In this 1996 album, Billy Bragg mixes the old and the new. There are several songs about growing up ("The Space Race Is Over," "From Red To Blue") and being in love ("Brickbat," "The Fourteenth of February,"), topics that seem to dominate his songwriting since he started raising a family. But his earlier style of singing with nothing but an electric guitar accompaniment (like on his earlier albums) is present here as well, in fantastic songs like "A Pict Song" (with lyrics credited to Rudyard Kipling, this moving song also features some of Billy's most vicious guitar playing) and "Northern Industrial Town" (one of his best working-class anthems).

Like on his previous release, "Don't Try This At Home," Billy expands his instrumentation a bit, but the one problem with that otherwise excellent album is that he tried a few things - musically speaking - that, in my opinion, just didn't work (hints of dance music in "Cindy of a Thousand Lives" and an overblown arrangement in "The Few"). Here, Billy seems to have found his footing and the record sounds both comfortable and biting. He even has fun with horns on soul-influenced songs like "Upfield" and the hilarious "Goalhanger."

I've been a BB fan since 1988, when a friend lent me a tape that contained "Back to Basics" and "Talking With the Taxman About Poetry." For some reason, I passed on "William Bloke" when it first came out. But I'm very glad it's part of my collection now. If you like Billy, You'll love this album. If you've never heard of him, this would be a very nice introduction.

After a hiatus of over 6 years, Billy finally released an album...and it was good...very good.

I have been a fan of Billy's since 1989, when my college roommate played "A New England" for me. Since then, the depth of sincerity, the heartfelt songs, and the lightness of his humor have kept me coming back.

This album truly details Billy's growth as a human. It is introspective and less outwardly brash and tubthumping (meaning preachy). While I love all those things about his previous works, this album touched me.

From Red To Blue really talks about how one deals with changing views and shifting priorities as we get older. It details how some friends become more conservative and some of us become more pragmatic. "Should I vote red for my class, or green for our children?"

The Space Race is Over truly addresses the bridge between ages and how our goals/dreams have changed. Billy talks about dreaming about reaching the moon (about the time it was happening): "When I was young I told my mum, I'm going to walk on the moon someday...". Yet his son doesn't get it: "My son and I stand beneath the great night sky, and gaze up in wonder.
I tell him the tale of Apollo, and he says, "Why did they ever go?"

One of his most Braggish moments is in Northern Industrial Town. Billy vividly describes life in a North Industrial Town...warts and beauty marks and all. However, he ends it with a classic bang [or heavy irony], which leaves you thinking (and is STILL poignant to those who have followed the peace talks in North Ireland).

"But it's not Leeds or Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield nor Glasgow. It's not Newcastle-on-Tyne, It's Belfast. It's just a northern industrial town.

Merry christmas, war is over. In a northern industrial town."

Finally, two songs (Brickbat and The 14th of February)that truly wrap up what being in a loving relationship is about, love (of course) and nostalgia.

Brickbat, a truly touching song about how being in a loving relationship and growing old/up go hand-in-hand. "I used to want to plant bombs at the Last Night of the Proms, but now you'll find me with the baby, in the bathroom, with that big shell, listening for the sound of the sea..."

The 14th of February. This sums up the whole song and captures the wish that we all have:
"I wish that I could remember the first moment that we met.
If only I could remember that sweet moment when we met.
If I knew then that I would spend the rest of my life with you I imagine I would have held your gaze a little longer when first our eyes met."

Billy sums up the whole album perfectly in The Space Race is Over: "...I can't help but feel that we've all grown up too soon"

So, for all you Billy Bragg fans, this is truly a wonderful album. For those of you who are not YET Bragg fans, buy this, you will thank me...and you will thank yourself.

Bragg the commie that lives in denial... Rocks out in this his most sedate and modern sounding of his disks. I don't think it's nearly as good as alomost any of his earlier stuff (internationale was weak.) Yet his folksy voice and surfer guitar style pull the disk through. I have seen Billy Bragg at 5+ shows and all I can say is if u like the disk YOU MUST make the attempt to see him as he loves playing live. He has a very witty repetoire and lyrical changes. He was in Austin playing at the big music fair. He will walk around w/ Mary Poppins like drum/ guitar/ harmonica/ cymbol get up that's pretty cool. Too bad he fails to understand that freedom can not by anothers hand. One day maybe he will embrace capitilism and realise that being your brothers' keeper is just slavery.

xis