Without question the best album of 1998

Review Score: (10/10)
The best thing of last year, maybe of the last 10 years. There are few partnerships as promising as Billy Bragg, Wilco and Woody Guthrie, but the supergroup mentality doesn't overtake things here. This is a modest, and incredibly arresting set of songs. Wilco and Bragg both check in with classics. "I Guess I Planted" may be the best vocal performance of Bragg's career, and "Another Man's Done Gone" is without a doubt the best of Jeff Tweedy's. There are rockers:"Walt Whitman's Niece," "Hoodoo Voodoo," "Christ for President,"; great ballads: "Another Man's Done Gone," "Way Down Yonder In The Minor Key," and songs that fall somewhere in the middle: "Hesitating Beauty" and "Ingrid Bergman." This album is essential. Can't wait for volume 2

More Reviews:

• Not meant to BE Guthrie, but this still misses a trick
• Remember; this is not Woody's music.
• 4.5 Stars.... Masterful Mix of Guthrie Lyrics and New Music
• I'll try to be brief, for a change
• Every year we waste enough to feed the ones who starve...
• great
• ...
• A Great Tribute to the Great Woody Guthrie
• WOOO! Grab some friends and sing along!
• Wilco Fans Should Save Their Cash
• Is he getting soft?
• Nothing to add but agreement
• Not Woody...but Darn Close
• Welcome Guests
• Great album
• mesmerising
• best since blood on the tracks
• Whisper on
• Good Collaboration
• Now how about a DVD Audio version?
• A fitting tribute
• It doesn't get any better than this.
• A Wonderful Work
• this one is addictive
• Its about time
• Great CD!
• The Present Marries the Past, Hope for the Future!
• The Best Concept Album
• What an incredible CD!
• Order now!
• Masterful
• Wil-be nothing to Brag about in two for me.
• Not convinced.
• great fun
• Refreshing and Literate
• It is so beyond good
• Don't Miss Classic !
• Something for everyone
• Deserving of Ten Thousand Stars
• ultimate, brain blasting,attrocious album of next millenium
• The Way of the Sirens
• a must for everyone that appeciates music
• A joy, a lesson - it doesn't matter - listen and enjoy.
• They Pulled It Off!
• Do you know how hard it is to JUST ADD LYRICS to music?
• classic "alt.country"
• it's on the top of my list
• The best album in quite a long time.
• a really wonderful album
• Instant Classic
• as if you need to read another review
• Lovely to listen to
• Do you know how hard it is to JUST ADD MUSIC to lyrics?
• woody would be proud.
• Guthrie could not have been presented any better
• My favorite of last year's music
• Nothing short of a classic.
• Essential for any serious collection
• This CD made my ears bleed.
• the most inspiring collaboration ever
• good idea, just unconvincing
• good listen-once recording, never quite caught me
• An american classic
• Wow...
• An intersting approach to Guetherie's jovial lyricism
• Excellent music ... to timeless lyrics of Woody Guthrie
• .....
• Eclectic and Fantastic
• Grammy Bound
• boys done good
• Our Billy Has Done It Again
• One of the years best , a must have
• Way better than expected
• A Stunning Album
• Top Ten of 1998
• A Slow Burn Sure Thing
• Best of the year
• A must own cd.
• Real
• Quietly Perfect
• Easily, Definitely, Without a doubt the best CD of the year
• The power of Woody's words is the reason to buy the cd!
• One of the best albums I've ever heard
• Buy it! The best album in more than a dozen years
• Buy it! One of the best albums in more than a dozen years
• Channeling Woody into the Millenium!
• BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT
• The best recording of the year, you must hear this disc.
• An album for forever
• Spooky, even in its joy.
• Er...brilliant? Will that do?
• Finally something I can really enjoy
• Get it NOW
• Three months later, I can't put it down.
• Lyrics tell the story
• Album of the year
• this album brings out the best in both artists
• Mermaid Avenue is a delightful surprise!
• One of the best in the last three years
• Fantastic match-Woody Guthrie's lyrics & Bragg/Wilco music!!