During the spring of 1995,
Woody Guthrie's daughter
Nora contacted British urban folk troubadour
Billy Bragg about writing music for a selection of completed
Guthrie lyrics. This was no minor task --
Guthrie left behind over a thousand sets of complete lyrics written between 1939 and 1967 that had no music other than a vague stylistic notation.
Bragg chose a number of songs to finish, as did
Jeff Tweedy of the alt-country band
Wilco (often with bandmate
Jay Bennett).
Nora Guthrie impressed a common goal upon them: Rather than recreating
Guthrie tunes, they should write as if they were collaborating with
Woody, creating new, vital music for the lyrics. Both artists completed more songs than could fit on Mermaid Avenue, which is neatly split between
Bragg and
Wilco, with
Bragg taking lead on eight of the 15 songs. The results are almost entirely a delight, mainly because all involved are faithful to
Guthrie's rowdy spirit -- it's a reverent project that knows how to have fun. There are many minor, irresistible gems scattered throughout the album, and most of them come from
Bragg. Where
Wilco's fine contributions sound inextricably tied to the '90s, both for better and for worse,
Bragg's music sounds contemporary while capturing
Guthrie's folk traditions. That's not to say
Wilco's contributions are failures -- it's just hard to imagine
Guthrie singing the plaintive "California Stars" or the plodding "Christ for President," neither of which quite fit the lyrics. Nevertheless, their hearts are in the right place; more often than not, they come close to the target, and their joyous playing invigorates Mermaid Avenue. The blend of
Bragg's traditionalist sensibility and
Wilco's contemporary style ultimately illustrates that
Guthrie's words, ideals, and aesthetics remain alive in the '90s. It's a remarkable record that deserves a sequel. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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