Mermaid Avenue Vol II Music Cd

Wilco - Mermaid Avenue Vol II

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Mermaid Avenue Vol. II      Artist : Billy Bragg & Wilco      List Price : $13.98 USD        Your Price : $12.99 USD      ProductGroup: Music      Release Date : 2000-05-30      Studio : Elektra / Wea      Label : Elektra / Wea      Avg. Customer Rating : (47 reviews)

Reviews Customer Reviews for Mermaid Avenue Vol II      A Grain of Salt, Please, and a Little Patience      Rating:      It's interesting to read the reviews by the detractors of this album. I find them very biased and short-sighted and would encourage anyone who doesn't know either Mermaid album to listen to cuts from both in random order to dispel the idea of this being a "patchy" "sequel" to the first. In my view, it is a sequel only by default, having come second. I listened to and absorbed this entire album before Mermaid I and I could easily have said the opposite, that the first is not as good, sloppy and patchy without ghaving given it a fair shake. Let's pause for a moment to consider the thought, time and work that went into the project as well as where these artists were in their careers at the time and what they've accomplished since. I found the first volume difficult to enjoy as much, at first; however, I have given both plenty of listening hours and find them wonderful compliments to each other. I enjoy songs on both equally. All of the songs from the two volumes could have easily been randomized and released as a two-disc set in 1998 without provoking the reactionaries to mark it as a disjointed effort. Also, read up on the project at Nora Guthrie's site: http://www.woodyguthrie.org/merchandise/mermaidavenuevol1.htm http://www.woodyguthrie.org/merchandise/mermaidavenuevol2.htm Mermaid II is a really textural and varied album and anyone who says it is sloppy compared with the Mermaid I is wilfully ignoring a lot, namely the musical experimentation and advancement of Bragg and Wilco in the 5 years between the two. First of all, these artists are renowned for their abilities to be both musically tight and arranged and still work in a lot of improvisation. They switch back and forth between the two disciplines at will and can emphasize one or the other to produce the sounds they desire. I think this was paramount to conveying the ideologies behind Guthrie's lyrics and incorporating his own folk style, as well. Moreover, it is what makes producing Americana, which is exactly what this is, so challenging and to do so PLUS deciding to include and marry to that each of Bragg and Wilco's own combined styles is really an admirable accomplishment. They make it seem effortless and never allow themselves to forsake Guthrie's awareness, intellect and intent. Both albums contain this "loosely tight" format, yet are wonderfully arranged, traversing various signature American genres, textures and instruments. Bragg (a Brit) brings this around full circle with many of the arrangements and influences in each record having originated from the mountain music of the Appalachias brought over by immigrants from the UK in the nineteenth century. I don't think many people consider this, but it is not lost on the artists. Both of these albums are so much more important than some of the biased and knee-jerk reactions they provoke.     Customer Reviews for Mermaid Avenue Vol II Cd      5 stars for remeber the mountain bed      Rating:      Im writing this because i beleive one song REMEBER THE MOUNTAIN BED is one,if not the most meaningful,sublime, peices of poetry,prose,songwiting i have ever heard..this song has sat with me since i first heard it..actually i only have to think of it and im moved...the depth of understanding of the human condition,love, lose,the earth,the elements, love,humanity,the insights into the purpose of lifeand mandkind, etc etc is so utterly compeling and mind numbing.the greatest love song ever written .i get obssessed about this song, i find myself disolving into another place, void of all thats around me.....how did woody guthrie find himself of such composure,empathy and understanding to reach inside of himself and outside of himself to write one of the most perfect peices of art...and then there is WILCO and JEFF TWEEDY...honoring these words so beautifully..jeff tweedys vocals and the bands sympathetic arrangment make this one of music,c highest benchmarks..as great as anything..by anyone..at anytime..ever recorded oh the other WILCO stuff here is also fantastic..i havent really sat thru the billy bragg..but i will....buy this for REMEMBER THE MOUNTAIN BED alone..wow id love to know what you think