Mermaid Avenue

Three great artists together, and it works great.

I can't. I know it's "folk" or whatever, but it sounds an awful lot like country. Too much slide guitar and twangy shit. It's really annoying.

Great idea for an album. Some good songs, some not so good ones.

Not a huge fan of either of these artists, but this works. "Mermaid Avenue" augments Bragg's miserable onanism with more authentic alt-country rock, and gives Wilco a more intelligent and political edge. So it turns out two negatives can make a positive.

I like both artists individually - but something is missing here....is ok

Folk is not necessarily the genre that I particularly like. The music didn't bother me, but it didn't excite me either. The album was playing in the background and it was only when Rufus Wainwright was mixed in that I became aware of it again. 3/5

I'm not American or British, so I have absolutely no idea who any of these people are. I fully accept that there might be some context that turn this into a masterpiece, but my impression while listening was mostly confusion.

I truly do not understand how an album like this made the list. The lyrics are subpar. There's no amazing musical ability on display. Who did this influence?
This did nothing to change my view on past albums, or my perception of future listens. It did not provide any insight into the evolution of anything.

I actually am a big fan of this. I thought it was quite a nice and easy listen

I’m a fan of Billy Bragg and have seen him live multiple times dating back to the 1980’s. So I am happy to see he has two albums on this list. It is just aggravating that one of them is this one, and not Workers Playtime, which is one of my top 5 albums ever. Check it out if you have time.

This album contains songs that are found lyrics of Woody Guthrie, put to music by Billy and the members of Wilco. It’s a good album, very good even. Taste of Americana via Britain. Billy is a student of American labor history (huge workers’ rights advocate) and of American folk music. He does Woody justice with these songs.

I liked this more than I thought I would, although I feel like these interpretations of the lyrics were a bit on the nose. How cool would it be to do something more rock ‘n’ roll, punk, or heavy metal with these lyrics?

Huh, just had Yankee Hotel Foxtrot a few days ago and said there that the only Wilco I'd previously listened to was this album. Bought this when it came out largely because of Bragg, and I'm finding I like the Wilco aspects of it more now than I did then. You know what, maybe it's because I just had to endure Alexander 'Skip' Spence, but this feels like a five. Highlight: "She Came Along To Me"

I can appreciate Woody Guthrie, I can appreciate Billy Bragg, I can definitely appreciate this.

California Stars and Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key are two of the best contributions to the alt-country cannon and At My Window Sad and Lonely, Hesitating Beauty, and One by One are just a tier below. The arrangements and performances really sparkle, in different ways they're all sing-along songs with a poignant sense of missing out on a better life going on elsewhere without you, accompanied by a woozy slide guitar. The rest doesn't hit nearly the same level though - competant mid tempo acoustic rock that just chugs along unobtrusively. The idea of turning Woody Guthrie's old lyrics notebooks into 20th century songs is a cool project and this is a very logical pairing to carry out, but I can't help thinking I'd like it more if it was just a Wilco project. The Jeff Tweedy sung songs are the strongest, his voice conveying the tender lonely country feeling works much better than Bragg's more rigid delivery of the propaganda songs.

When I first encountered “Mermaid Avenue,” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, as the music enveloped me, I found myself pleasantly surprised.

The artists did an exceptional job of weaving Woody Guthrie’s poignant lyrics into beautiful songs. It’s more than just an album; it’s a heartfelt homage to a folk legend.

The album boasts a captivating mix of musical styles throughout. From soulful ballads to foot-tapping tunes, each track carries its weight. Listening to “Mermaid Avenue” feels like embarking on a musical journey—one that deserves a spot on this list.

3.33 per track. Enjoyed this. Reminded me of Corb Lund and early Cake at times.

I feel like for most matchups, I tend to like british interpretations of what "folk music" is, compared to americans', so there was a part of me like "man what are you doing" at Bragg doing American-style on this

Very interesting concept for an album. I enjoyed it. Not sure I would go back to it as it’s not really my style. Favorite songs were Walt Whitman’s Niece, She Came Along To Me, and I Guess I Planted.

Just the right mix of fun folk funny and camp. Good times. Nothting truly captured me, but it was a nice listen

En daar hebben we Wilco weer. De samenstellers zouden een max per artiest moeten doorvoeren... Wederom: drie is teveel. Maar als ik moest kiezen tussen die drie, zou ik deze erin houden.

De samenwerking is sterk. Het levert wel een heeeeeel erg Amerikaans album op. Voor de country-liefhebber... Tegelijk is het én heel volks én heel degelijk. Totaal niet mijn smaak, maar toch drie sterren voor de kwaliteit.

Pleasant listen