Best of the year

Review Score: (10/10)
Nearly perfect! Every song is at least very good. A number are great. I would vote for "One by One", "Way over Yonder", and "Unwelcome Guest" as the greatest. "Way over Yonder" is somber, almost heart-breaking. You might not realize it after having read all these rave reviews from Amazon customers, but many music-lovers find the whole Bragg-Wilco project foolish and its result trash. Many a folk-Guthrie purist considers their work as utterly useless, a hack exercise in futility. They seem to think these lovely poems should have been left in the boxes they were stored in. Though you gotta wonder when you read 40 or so gushing comments, in this case, believe these ravers and enlist me with them. No album this year -- and I've heard all the top folk and alt-country candidates -- has grabbed me like this one. The range is impressive, moving from folk to country to rock easily and compellingly. But the lyrics, married to the simple, mantra-like arrangements, are what pull you in and thrill you. Bragg especially does some fine singing and guitar-playing. For those who find this music useless or hackneyed, I say let them listen to what they want. They have missed the boat. For me, I'm sticking with this memorable album and hoping for more. Lastly, I agree that Lucinda Williams put out a fine album this year, but Bragg-Wilco have out-done her by far. What a performance!

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.
• Without question the best album of 1998
• 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
• .....
• Grammy Bound
• Eclectic and Fantastic
• 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
• 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!!