Tweet

Album Details

• Artist: Billy Bragg
• Album: Must I Paint You A Picture: The Essential
• Label: Outside
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-12-05

Billy Bragg is indeed today's Woody Guthrie (ironic seeing that he was chosen to record a lot of Woody's rare material with Wilco). Billy is a man that can be seen with just a guitar onstage, rattling through his classic catalog. Sure, he can rock out as he did on last years England, Half-English with his band called The Blokes but if you go to see Bragg, you will be treated to just him and his guitar for the most part. He has always bordered on mainstream success where many people know about Billy Bragg but people would have a hard time naming a song by the man. He had so much success with his Mermaid Avenue album that he recorded with Wilco that a lot of people started taking note. Bragg has always taken a political stance on more than most people are even aware. Listening closely to the lyrics of pretty much any song of his reveals a great insight into his political stances. Sure, he is a romantic like any singer/songwriter but his heart is really in politics and making people aware of different issues. This double disc is actually broken out in this way, first disc is all just Billy and his guitar (for the most part) and the second disc Billy is being accompanied by one of his bands he's had over the years. This is more than an introduction to one of the UK's greatest songwriters and troubadours, it is almost a replacement for all of your Bragg CD's, depending on your commitment to the man. My favorite songs, "Moving The Goalposts", "Ingrid Bergman", the full-on "Accident Waiting To Happen" and "There is Power In Union" are all here plus so many more. There are even a couple tracks from last year's Blokes album. Complete. Early versions of this double disc will also include a bonus CD with 10 rare Billy Bragg tracks. That is 50 Bragg songs for the mere price of a double CD.

User Reviews and Comments

Log In or Register to Rate Albums