Billy Bragg – Mr.Love and Justice

Billy Bragg is a prolific writer and musician. Throughout the past two and a half decades, the english born wordsmith has released a dozen albums, he’s been cited as a major influence from many political punk bands and has worked with bands such as Wilco and Less Than Jake. In fact, one of my favourite Lifetime songs is a cover of Bragg‘s New England. He’s a respected and much love musician which makes me feel so ashamed to say that Mr. Love and Justice – his twelfth album – is actually the first record I’ve heard by the man all the way through.

With that in mind, know that I am unable to compare Mr. Love and Justice to anything he has released prior and after reading a few other reviews it seems that this record actually pales in comparison to his older work. From the few songs I know of his earlier material I can understand why some would say that but as it is, Mr. Love and Justice is still well worth the listen.

A slightly poppier version of Greg Graffin‘s Cold as Clay, Mr. Love and Justice is a folk album from front to back. The best moments of the album are when Bragg‘s slightly accented (although not nearly as accented as one would have thought) vocals are sang softly over the strum of an acoustic guitar like on You Make Me Brave. Of course, he often expands on that with his help from his backing band, The Blokes. This means that most of the songs have a fuller sound than what would be accomplished with just Bragg and his guitar and for the most part it works. Sing Their Souls Back Home soars with the help from May Fitzpatrick on backing vocals and the use of a hammond B3. That combination also works wonders on The Johnny Carcinogenic Show. Other songs see the added help of piano, lap steel, harmonica and more. It makes for a diverse sound seeped in an honest, laid back vibe.

Probably the biggest disappointed I had with the album is the lyrical content. Considering Bragg is known as a political activist that became famous for writing riveting protests songs, Mr. Love and Justiceseems relatively calm. Many of the songs are simple love songs, like Me for Me, Something Happened, If You Ever Leave and I Almost Killed You. While they are all well and good in their own rights, they are missing that venomous angst. And while The Beach is Free may be one of the more memorable selections on the album, its a song about the under usage of beaches and it just seems like a weird topic from anyone.

When he does tackle the politics though, Bragg shines. Sing Their Souls Back Home is a passionate anti-war song. O Freedom tackles the topic of extraordinary rendition from the point of view of someone who was accused of terrorism and The Johnny Carcinogenic Show is a tongue in cheek attack on today’s television standards. These songs tend to not only be the strongest lyrically but also musically as they seem to have a stronger back bone compared to the slightly softer amorous tracks.

Looking at the record as a whole, Mr. Love and Justice is probably not Bragg‘s strongest effort and I’m slightly disappointed that there isn’t that Clash like angst that I’ve heard so much about. Nevertheless, the record has enough shining moments proving that Bragg still knows his way around the guitar that makes the album well worth a listen if you’re a fan of folk.