Back to Basics
Billy Bragg · 1987
58 min · 21 tracks · alternative rock
A raw and intimate collection of storytelling folk rock, blending personal narratives with sharp political insight.
Why this album works
This album is notable for its critical reception and its influence on the alternative rock scene of the late 1980s, with tracks like 'A New England' becoming anthems of a generation. It also showcased Bragg’s ability to fuse poignant lyrics with catchy melodies, inviting comparisons to contemporaries like The Smiths and influencing subsequent artists within the genre.
- Best for
- steady pacing for reflective moments intimate storytelling for quiet nights politically charged narratives to ponder
- Context
- Released in 1987, 'Back to Basics' was Billy Bragg's second studio album, following his debut 'Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy' from 1983. At this point in his career, Bragg was establishing himself as a prominent voice in the UK music scene, known for merging folk elements with punk sensibilities and socio-political commentary.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Milkman of Human Kindness Standout 2:48
- 2 To Have and to Have Not 2:33
- 3 Richard 2:49
- 4 Lovers Town Revisited 1:17
- 5 A New England Standout 2:13
- 6 The Man in the Iron Mask 2:13
- 7 The Busy Girl Buys Beauty 1:57
- 8 It Says Here 4:15
- 9 Love Gets Dangerous 2:23
- 10 From a Vauxhall Velox 2:30
- 11 The Myth of Trust 2:53
- 12 The Saturday Boy 3:28
- 13 Island of No Return 3:34
- 14 This Guitar Says Sorry 2:29
- 15 Like Soldiers Do 2:39
- 16 St. Swithin's Day 3:52
- 17 Strange Things Happen 2:38
- 18 A Lover Sings 3:51
- 19 Between the Wars Standout 2:27
- 20 The World Turned Upside Down 2:33
- 21 Which Side Are You On 2:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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