Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II (Billy Bragg & Wilco)

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 b... Read more

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... Read more

3 1/2 Admirable collaboration paying tribute to folk hero Guthrie is a serviceable update to an epic legacy, a hard enough feat in itself that garnered much praise. But after this second volume appeared a few years later, perhaps the conceptual accomplishments gave way to seeing some unimpressive songwriting for what it was. The production and attitude is all there to pull it off, especially well for fans of folk rock (mixed of course with the country sounds of Wilco), but to say this would be necessary to anyone who has the first volume and is not absolutely in love with it would be untrue. Having said that, the band continued to present a polished relevance to Guthrie's legacy in the authentic synergy Bragg and Wilco have. Some gems underneath the generic sounding majority may beckon the devoted to purchase this and spin a great mix from the two volumes.

I got this as a present from a friend. I still don't quite like Wilco, but I learned to like Bragg after this. His sarcasm & reticence combines nicely with Guthrie's lyrics. Great songs to shout along to in the car, especially Joe DiMaggio. Black Wind Blowing is sad but well suited to being played very loud.

My younger brother made a good point, I thought, when he told me this album should never have been made. Instead, he said, Woody Guthrie's daughter should have found two other artists--another singer, and another band, even--and had THEM do volume two. Hayden and The Flaming Lips. Soltero and Yo La Tengo. Daniel Johnston and Neutral Milk Hotel. Morrissey and The Postal Service. It could have still used Woody Guthrie's lyrics, but it would have been something fresh...not this...and that format could have gone on indefinitely for any number of albums. This, however, is a rehash of volume one. Thankfully, Wilco went back into the studio to record some new songs--this album's best songs--but all we have from Billy Bragg are the outtakes from the first album, and Natalie Merchant's song on this volume...well...to put it nicely...sucks. "Airline To Heaven" by Wilco is an outstanding song, using Bible verses in its lyrics and an exciting build. "Secrets Of The Sea" is a good one... Read more

The people who rated this album as being "terrible" obviously haven't heard it yet.

What an ingenious idea...definitely commend Bragg and the Wilco gang. And the first track on the album is wonderful. However, it began to lose its touch with me by "All You Fascists". I agree pretty much with what Magellan said, and this does not deserve to be at position 255 out of 394. Poetry of Woody guthrie, musical gifts of Bragg and Tweedy...what more does everyone want? Sex appeal?

My roommate at college got this CD and after hearing it once, I knew that I had to get ot too! It's an appealing, but also deep folk-rock masterpiece. Wilco is one of the best bands to achieve main stream success in the past decade!

Once again, they have teamed up to make a terrific record. First listen through the CD really impressed me, I am excited to keep listening until I wear out the CD. Pretty low-fi compared to the first in the series. I liked the Billy Bragg songs better on the first one, but they are nice here. Will there be a last leg to create a possible trilogy? 'Secret of the Sea' is a beautifulsong on the reocrd as well as in a live performance.. If you wnat to bring a tear to your eye, listen to ' Remember the Mountain Bed' and I hope you find the joy and pain in that song that every man should find when thinking about the love of his life and either missing it, finding it, regret relinquishing it or losing out on it for whatever reason. "Airline to Heaven' takes on a new meaning after you hear it open up a Wilco show. It is crazy how great this band is.

Another good Wilco album, but in my opinion, not as good as the first Mermaid Avenue, or as Being There. I would agree with the user below who says that the Billy Bragg songs aren't quite as good as they are on the first one - and I also despise the Nathalie Merchant "I Was Born" song so much that it actually taints the album.

It took me a while to warm up to the first Mermaid Avenue, but, once I did, there was a two week period where I didn't listen to anything else. After playing Vol. II a few times, the same thing seems to be happening. Apparently the majority of both CDs was recorded during the same sessions, so it's not surprising that Vol. II seems to capture the same spirit as Vol. I.