Billy Bragg - 'Volume 2' (Cooking Vinyl) Released 09/10/06

Following the success of Billy Bragg ‘Volume 1’ released in March of this year, the celebrated and quintessentially English singer songwriter has made a further four of his albums available once again through the release of a box set, Billy Bragg ‘Volume 2’, which features eight CD’s and a DVD. Concentrating on the second half of his career, ‘Volume 2’ sees Bragg move away from his signature electric guitar rebel rousing political racket and instead concentrate on a largely one-man acoustic display which outlines and highlights his personal struggles of love and life.
 
The first featured album is the 1988 top twenty breaking ‘Workers Playtime’. His heartfelt, bittersweet, yet openly hopeful thoughts illustrated through ‘Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards’ and ‘Must I Paint You A Picture’. His regional vocal so distinct and undisguised, it could only be rivalled by Paul Weller. Indeed if you didn’t know much of Bragg prior to listening to ‘Volume 2’ you’d swear it was The Modfather’s long lost brother. And that fact is accentuated on the bonus disc that accompanies ‘Workers Playtime’ which includes a homage to and cover of Weller’s ‘That’s Entertainment’. There aren’t many people who could get away with it, but Bragg does to perfection.

The second of the sets albums is the critically acclaimed ‘Don’t Try This At Home’. Reaching number eight in the UK charts and featuring guest musicians such as Johnny Marr and Michael Stipe, Bragg explores themes from personal tragedy to racism and football hooliganism, and includes the hit single ‘Sexuality’ and fantastic ‘Tank Park Salute’. ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ witnesses a reborn, stronger and re-invigorated side to Bragg, his deep rooted honesty unquestionable and his mesmerising vocal talent still as strong as ever. Another bonus CD and yet more classic Bragg, ‘This Gulf Between Us’ and another cover, this time a frenzied break neck version of The Beatles ‘Revolution’. Again, there are not many artists that could pull it off, but once more, Bragg does in his own experienced style.