Talking With The Taxman About Poetry - Billy Bragg

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Talking to the Taxman about Poetry was Bragg's third album and released in 1986, he hasn't compromised his left wing politics in this album but some how it's just a wee bit more mellow than Brewing up with Billy Bragg. The politics is intermingled with bitter sweet love songs that only Bragg could do so well in my humble opinion.

Musically Bragg in this album as taken a step away from the jarring guitar and monotone ...
...They are still there but to sofen it we have additional instruments giving it a more mellow feel. Prehaps the mellowness was a statement of the times post 1984 miner's strike

The opening track "Greetings to the new brunette" is a typical Bragg love song accompanied on vocals by Kirsty MacColl. even in a love song Bragg manages to intermingle it with politics.

"Train Train" - the second track is ... more

Now stop thinking jeeeez this woman has appalling taste! I know I have look I even own a Dire Straits Cd ( but shhhhhhhh we won't talk about that now will we?)

Billy Bragg in his pre Woody Gutherie cover versions days was very much an acquired taste! His monotone neo chanting style of singing accompanied by him strumming along on his guitar wasn't every ones cup of tea - my mum particularly hated him with a vengence this might have due to the fact I like to sing along with our Billy! Now if you thought Billy was tone deaf you should have heard me singing along at the top of my voice! My Mum thought of him as a busker who got a record contract some how!

Talking to the Taxman about Poetry was Bragg's third album and released in 1986, he hasn't compromised his left wing politics in this album but some how it's just a wee bit more mellow than Brewing up with Billy Bragg. The politics is intermingled with bitter sweet love songs that only Bragg could do so well in my humble opinion.

Musically Bragg in this album as taken a step away from the jarring guitar and monotone vocals which were his style in his first 2 albums. They are still there but to sofen it we have additional instruments giving it a more mellow feel. Prehaps the mellowness was a statement of the times post 1984 miner's strike

The opening track "Greetings to the new brunette" is a typical Bragg love song accompanied on vocals by Kirsty MacColl. even in a love song Bragg manages to intermingle it with politics.

"Train Train" - the second track is a cover version musically it is prehaps one of the better tracks on the album. But it just doesn't quite cut it for me.

"The Marriage", this is a very clever look at the whole concept of marriage as Bragg states " marriage is when we admit our parents were right!" again you have Bragg strummimg his guitar but we are treated to additional trumpet playing and a flugel horn!

"Ideology" is for me the first old style Bragg political song on this album. We take a bitter look at politicians, instruements of capitalism and the fact that people actually expect a little more from the people they put into power in the first place. This track tell you that you have the right to question and the people in power aren't right ( well apart from their politics!)

"Levi Stubbs tears" is my favourite track on this album. This tells the bitter sweet tale of a woman who is trapped in an empty shell of a life loving a man who deserted her. The opening lines tell you how she bought a mobile home with the money from her accident it isn't till the third verse that you realise that the accident was her husband trying to kill her. With the lines "It hurt her more to see him walk through the door" you realise this woman would have done any thing to keep her man.

"Honey I'm a big boy" now see's Bragg accompanied by a tinkling piano - sorry but this reminds me of a pub singer! Lyrically the song is weak.

"There is power in a union" - see's Bragg do what he does best sing a political song! This has a classic protest song feel to it. Lyrically this is one of the strongest songs on this album. We have hints of the old flag waving guitar strummimg Bragg style as seen in his previous two albums.

"Help save the youth of America" - again another raw passion filled political song about american capitalism and the effects it has on the rest of us.

Unfortunately the later part of this 12 track album (- Bragg always like to give you value for money by packing in loads of tracks on his albums. He also had a fair price policy on his albums with big Pay No More than x pounds.) is weak it's as if Bragg felt the need to fill the album to give value for money.

As I said previously Bragg is an aquired taste, one that I aquired in the mid 80's along with the abiltiy to be able to fly post a bus shelter in 2 minutes accompanied by an old friend who will remain nameless!

Should you want a taste of Billy Bragg pre his Woodie Gutherie period then I would highly recommend this album as being your best bet! I'm just off to bung it on the CD player again.....

 

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