What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

BILLY BRAGG "workers playtime" 1988,cd.

this is the fourth album from the "big nosed bastard from Barking"(as he is affectionately known)....
personally i call him "the 80's Dylan", for he was to 1980's political apathy in the UK ans Dylan was in the 1960s.
and "no"!, i do not believe comparrisons Billy and Bob are exagerated, from his great poetry put to words, his unique look on life and social issues, through to the fact that neither can be called 'singers' also, in fact Woody Guthrie's widow thought enough of him to hand over numerous unrelaesd poems to put music to on the "mermaid avenue I & II" albums with Jeff Tweedy(wilco) in tow for the ride!
anyway, this album isnt quite as politically charged as his previous releases, although there are several tracks which still are. the majority of the album deals with the ups and downs of personal relationships and Billy is very clever in his wordplay and observations of life in general.
there are a couple of country tinged tracks here but the majority are his usual folky style.
the best one here for me is the autobiographical "waiting for the great leap forewards", several great tracks here, sone good ones and only one i dont like, which IMO is standard on all his early albums, unfortunately, his studio albums gradually slipped in overall quality after this one...so this was the last truly great Billy Bragg release.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: tender comrade
best track: waiting for the great leap forewards

tracks:

1. she's got a new spell **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pguvMxwzm14 live
2. must i paint you a picture ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnwQ6zvoG4g audio
3. tender comrade *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1MPF6gOHXc audio
4. the price i pay ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciewh7b5SvA audio
5. little time bomb **
6. rotting on remand **
7. valentine's day is over ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-MH9nRSXAg audio
8. life with the lions **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDedlvw4hSU audio
9. the only one ***
10. the short answer ***
11. waiting for the great leap forewards ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknxIkLbn7E live (not original version but a rewrite)

3s=6
2s=4
1s=1

rating: 2.4