LouieB Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Jeff should login sometime and just tell us out and out who we should like and dislike. I hate all this grey area. Maybe pin a thread or something?Jeff has already told us (indirectly...) who to vote for for president. As far as Billy is concerned, both have written great songs and there is no reason for us to hate him, unless you want to, in which case...frankly I don't care....I enjoy a Billy record from time to time.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keeprighton2 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Well, I'm sorry to hear you have (apparently) heard directly from Jeff that he thinks Billy Bragg is a cunt, but I'm mystified as to why that should affect my opinion of the man... Doesn't bother me - like them both as it happens Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moonchief Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 As far as I'm concerned, Bragg's progression as a songwriter, musician, political analyst and social orator has taken a non too steep curve since he 'burst' on to the music scene. I'm sure others would disagree. He couldn't hold a tune in a fucking bucket. Wilco have, at least, shown the ability to develop in the time they have been together. As for Mermaid Avenue 'breaking' Wilco, I think that is overstating the case. I dont think that it did them any harm but the critical approval of 'Summerteeth' certainly made their name in the UK. Its fairly clear when you watch 'Man In The Sand' that Bragg is completely outclassed as a musician on the project, and I think that his insecurity is the reason he tries to assert his authority a little stronger when he realises this. My view on it, anyway. This guitar kills emotional fascists! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 As far as I'm concerned, Bragg's progression as a songwriter, musician, political analyst and social orator has taken a non too steep curve since he 'burst' on to the music scene. I'm sure others would disagree.Yup. Its fairly clear when you watch 'Man In The Sand' that Bragg is completely outclassed as a musician on the projectNope. Meh. To each his own. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 This thread could be at the Ryan Adams Archive. Wilco uber alles!!!It is laughable that people have such strong anti-Bragg opinions on this issue. What others have said is true. Bragg had a fine career way before Wilco. He invited them to the project. He says that he has no hard feelings. Why is it so impossible to believe that he genuinely has no hard feelings? Wishing that he wasn't on the Mermaid songs baffles me. Do you really think the songs where he sings are pieces of shit? Or do you simply dislike him because of the Mermaid drama?It is obvious that he isn't the musician that Jeff is? Wow. Have you ever seen him live? Billy Bragg is a heck of a player. All that makes sense to me is that the anti-Billy faction didn't know of him until Mermaid therefore coloring their opinion.To each his own but even if his music isn't your cup of tea, it shouldn't be difficult for a music fan to recognize his talent. I totally dig them both.Buy "Must I Paint You A Picture". Excellent retrospective. Hell, PM me and I'll piss off the RIAA in your honor with a PMed link. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Jeff should login sometime and just tell us out and out who we should like and dislike. I hate all this grey area. Maybe pin a thread or something? I thought Carlos was in charge of talking to Jeff about this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 and vote for ObamaBoth Billy and Jeff would approve a vote for Obama.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 "Billy" is more known in Europe for his prehistoric communist ideas.He Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 i got to meet and talk w/ Billy on a handful of occasions during the RNC here last month... the guy is totally amazing, both musically & personally Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunken mountain Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Please, that old Red Wedge and Socialism shite is totally 1980's. Bragg, apart from his music, is known now for being a bit of a talking head on historical shows and documentaries about England and nationalism. In particular, his book A Progressive Patriot is a fine read. Oh sorry,I forgot his books! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 i got to meet and talk w/ Billy on a handful of occasions during the RNC here last month... the guy is totally amazing, both musically & personally Why do you hate Wilco? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jesusetc84 Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Here's the problem with Billy Bragg saying this... You don't record with Wilco, Wilco records with you. The come into your house in the middle of the night, dressed in ski masks and abduct you, take you to the loft and record with you. Then they bonk you on the head and you wakeup back in your bed with your shoes tied together and your box of donuts missing. That's rock n' roll. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blureu Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Here's the real problem with Billy Bragg...performing for a lobster. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PpNFqiW1AGQ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basil II Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Here's the problem with Billy Bragg saying this... You don't record with Wilco, Wilco records with you. The come into your house in the middle of the night, dressed in ski masks and abduct you, take you to the loft and record with you. Then they bonk you on the head and you wakeup back in your bed with your shoes tied together and your box of donuts missing. That's rock n' roll. Touche'!!!! -Robert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quosh Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Lobster action here: http://www.antilabelblog.com/?p=1009 Sweet version btw.Alex Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Billy Bragg Teams with Rosanne Cash, Joe Henry for New Album Bragg acknowledges that the project in some way parallels his two "Mermaid Avenue" albums with Wilco in 1998 and 2000 -- when they crafted new songs from unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics -- though he adds those sessions were not as acrimonious as has sometimes been reported. "People always talk about the problems between me and Jeff Tweedy," Bragg notes. "There wasn't any problem except neither one of us had ever worked on a record in which somebody else had say in what the mix would sound like. But we worked our way through it, and since then I've been more relaxed about it. The great breakthrough working with Wilco, for me, was how great it is to be in the studio with someone else who can bring ideas. On my subsequent two albums with the Blokes [2002's "England, Half-English" and 2008's "Mr. Love & Justice"] were very conducive to that." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tweedling Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Tweedy could try for the rest of his life and still not write a better song than Billy.Too late. He already has. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barbkm Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 i couldn't care less (or "could care less" for the resident morons) how many songs they recorded or if another album will come out etc etc. I just want to know if Natalie Merchant and Billy Bragg did it. And if Nora was jealous. See...this is imporant stuff. Is it bad that I think that if I ever met Natalie Merchant she'd annoy me? In My Tribe is probably in my all time top 50, but I have a feeling she'd get on my nerves. That she'd give me the evil eye for eating lamb chops. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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