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Like many sequels, Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II isn't the equal of its predecessor -- that felt fully realized, where this feels a little patchwork -- yet it is still satisfying on many levels. As on the first, the Billy Bragg-written and sung music is the most convincing since he captures the cadences and spirit of Guthrie's music. They sound like classic, weathered folk songs whereas Wilco's numbers are modern inventions, splicing music that is clearly theirs with Guthrie's words. The chasm between the two artists was apparent on the first, but it's more evident this time around, largely due to the fact that several of Wilco's songs were recorded without Bragg after the release of Mermaid Avenue. This gives the record a strangely disjointed feel that isn't helped by the guest appearances by Natalie Merchant on "I Was Born" and Corey Harris whose vocals overpower "Aginst th' Law." Since Bragg and Wilco are pursuing slightly different directions in the first place, the guest artists only add to the patchwork quality of the record. Still, even with its weaknesses, there are plenty of worthwhile things here from both sides of the spectrum. If Wilco occasionally is a little too somber or introspective, they do have moments where everything aligns perfectly. But, as on the first, it's the Bragg-led numbers that truly catch fire, feeling every bit as warm, funny, and vibrant as Guthrie's best work. His contributions go a long way to making Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II a pleasing sequel.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Jeff Tweedy, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Composer, Guitar, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Percussion, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Guitar, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Natalie Merchant, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Composer, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Organ, Piano, Tambourine, Vocals, Baritone Guitar, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Composer, Organ, Nylon-String Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Leroy Bach, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Composer, Organ, Piano, Hammond B3, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, ComposerLyricist - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Electric Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bob Egan, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Corey Harris, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Guitar, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - ELIZA CARTHY, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Ben Ivitsky, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - JOHN STIRRATT, Baritone Guitar, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Coomer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Jeff Tweedy, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Boys, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilco, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - JAY BENNETT, Bells, Drums, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, Author - Robert C. Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bragg, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Grant Showbiz, Producer, Recording Producer - Jonathan Parker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
Album review
Like many sequels, Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II isn't the equal of its predecessor -- that felt fully realized, where this feels a little patchwork -- yet it is still satisfying on many levels. As on the first, the Billy Bragg-written and sung music is the most convincing since he captures the cadences and spirit of Guthrie's music. They sound like classic, weathered folk songs whereas Wilco's numbers are modern inventions, splicing music that is clearly theirs with Guthrie's words. The chasm between the two artists was apparent on the first, but it's more evident this time around, largely due to the fact that several of Wilco's songs were recorded without Bragg after the release of Mermaid Avenue. This gives the record a strangely disjointed feel that isn't helped by the guest appearances by Natalie Merchant on "I Was Born" and Corey Harris whose vocals overpower "Aginst th' Law." Since Bragg and Wilco are pursuing slightly different directions in the first place, the guest artists only add to the patchwork quality of the record. Still, even with its weaknesses, there are plenty of worthwhile things here from both sides of the spectrum. If Wilco occasionally is a little too somber or introspective, they do have moments where everything aligns perfectly. But, as on the first, it's the Bragg-led numbers that truly catch fire, feeling every bit as warm, funny, and vibrant as Guthrie's best work. His contributions go a long way to making Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II a pleasing sequel.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:28
- Main artists: Billy Bragg Wilco
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Craft Recordings
- Genre: Folk/Americana
© 2000 Craft Recordings. ℗ 2000 Craft Recordings.
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