Artist: Billy Bragg Album: Brewing Up With Billy Bragg

Year: 1984
Duration: 0:0-1

Brewing Up With Billy Bragg: A Critic Review of the Album

Billy Bragg is an English singer-songwriter who is regarded as one of the most important voices of the punk, new wave, and folk movements of the 1980s and beyond. His second album, Brewing Up With Billy Bragg (1984), established him as a political songwriter who combined the passion and power of a punk rocker with the sensitivity and intelligence of a folk singer. In this post, we will take a critical look at the album, assessing its strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact on the music industry.
The album opens with the song It Says Here, which sets the tone for the rest of the record. Its lyrics take aim at the media's role in shaping public opinion and its allegiance to the powers that be. Bragg's voice is sharp and urgent, and his acoustic guitar playing is fueled by righteous anger. The next track Love Gets Dangerous, is a mid-tempo number that showcases Bragg's ability to write catchy hooks and memorable melodies. The song's themes of love and loss are universal, and Bragg's delivery is heartfelt and sincere.
One of the standout tracks on the album is A Lover Sings, which features Bragg's lyrical and melodic talents at their best. The song's chorus is anthemic, and the verses are filled with poetic details that evoke the complex emotions of a romantic relationship. The album's title track, Brewing Up With Billy Bragg, is a radical departure from the rest of the record. It features Bragg rapping over a sample of a James Brown song, making it one of the earliest examples of a hybrid genre that would later become known as folk-rap. The song's lyrics are humorous and self-deprecating, poking fun at Bragg's image as a serious political songwriter.
The most innovative part of the album is Bragg's use of a cassette recorder to layer multiple guitar parts and vocal harmonies. This DIY approach to recording gave the album a raw and organic sound that was very different from the slick and polished production of many of Bragg's contemporaries. It also allowed him to create unique arrangements that added depth and texture to his songs.
However, the album is not without its flaws. Some of the tracks, such as Ideology and Bad Penny, feel repetitive and formulaic compared to the more dynamic and varied songs on the record. Additionally, the album's political themes can be overwhelming at times, making it difficult to engage with on an emotional level.
In conclusion, Brewing Up With Billy Bragg is a landmark album that showcases Bragg's skills as a songwriter and performer. Its blend of punk rock energy, folk sensibility, and political awareness made it an essential part of the 1980s music scene and beyond. Although some of the album's tracks feel dated or formulaic, its best songs remain powerful and compelling to this day. Above all, it is an album that speaks to the enduring power of music to provoke thought, inspire passion, and create change.