Review by JaredD
4 stars out of 4
Maturity is often seen as death sentence to songwriters in the rock
business. Most songwriters will get stuck in the "boy does it suck to
be old" rut. Still, it works for some: Elvis Costello, Chris Difford
(Lyrical half of the Squeeze duo), and now Billy Bragg. I think that
the people who didin't like "William Bloke" are looking at it from the
wrong angle. Billy Bragg took the events that had happened to him (namely
the birth of his child), and put them into a collection of his most mature
sounding lyrics of his carreer. Songs like "Brickbat," "The Fourteenth
of Feburary," and "The Space Race is Over." He steps back and examines
his political beliefs, and how the years have cemented his, and changed
those of others in "Red to Blue," and "Upfield." Overall, "William Bloke"
is an album that fits well into Bragg's albums, which really take you on
a journey through the evolution of Billy Bragg. For me personally,
"William Bloke" slides in just behind "Workers Playtime" as my second
favorite Bragg album of all time. Those who don't like it should stuff it.
|
