Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2

1	Airline to Heaven / Wilco 4:50
2	My Flying Saucer / Wilco 1:45
3	Feed of Man / Wilco 4:08
4	Hot Rod Hotel / Wilco 3:17
5	I Was Born / Wilco 1:50
6	Secret of the Sea / Wilco 2:42
7	Stetson Kennedy / Wilco 2:39
8	Remember the Mountain Bed / Wilco 6:26
9	Blood of the Lamb / Wilco 4:16
10	Aginst Th' Law / Wilco 3:03
11	All You Fascists / Wilco 2:43
12	Joe Dimaggio Done It Again / Wilco 2:31
13	Meanest Man / Wilco 2:53
14	Black Wind Blowing / Wilco 9:39
15	Somebody Some Morning Sometime / Wilco 5:53

Barnes & Noble

Even better than its Grammy-nominated predecessor, Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 again features lyrics by the late, great Woody Guthrie set to music and performed by Billy Bragg and Wilco. What sets it apart from 1998's remarkable Mermaid Avenue is the greater integration of Wilco's inventive sounds into the mix. Before, the alt-country heroes often played the Band to Bragg's Dylan, contributing stark arrangements to cast Guthrie's lyrics in relief. Here Wilco's atmospheric expertise is on full display, often defining a tune's central mood and motivation. The results are far more diverse and engaging. Together, Bragg and Wilco muster a passion that was only hinted at on Vol. 1, barrelling through cuts such as the blues romp "Feed of Man." "Meanest Man" sizzles like vintage, crunchy Tom Waits, and "Airline to Heaven" soars with a Byrds-adelic vibe that echoes long after its ritual drums cease. Bragg continues his spooky command of Woody's central gift: matching Guthrie's leftist lyrics with melodies simple enough for a child -- or a movement -- to sing. "All You Fascists," sporting the energy of the Clash yet the lilt of a nursery rhyme, cries "Race hatred cannot stop us, this one thing I know. The poll tax, and Jim Crow, and greed have got to go. You're bound to lose. You fascists are bound to lose." Balancing this kind of fire with top-notch musicianship and an irrepressible populist spirit, Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 is a great album, easily one of the year's best. As Woody would say, "Take it easy, but take it." Karl Hagstrom Miller

All Music Guide

Like many sequels, Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 isn't the equal of its predecessor -- that felt fully realized, where this feels a little patchwork -- yet it is still satisfying on many levels. As on the first, the Billy Bragg-written and sung music is the most convincing since he captures the cadences and spirit of Guthrie's music. They sound like classic, weathered folk songs whereas Wilco's numbers are modern inventions, splicing music that is clearly theirs with Guthrie's words. The chasm between the two artists was apparent on the first, but it's more evident this time around, largely due to the fact that several of Wilco's songs were recorded without Bragg after the release of Mermaid Avenue. This gives the record a strangely disjointed feel that isn't helped by the guest appearances by Natalie Merchant on "I Was Born" and Corey Harris whose vocals overpower "Aginst th' Law." Since Bragg and Wilco are pursuing slightly different directions in the first place, the guest artists only add to the patchwork quality of the record. Still, even with its weaknesses, there are plenty of worthwhile things here from both sides of the spectrum. If Wilco occasionally is a little too somber or introspective, they do have moments where everything aligns perfectly. But, as on the first, it's the Bragg-led numbers that truly catch fire, feeling every bit as warm, funny, and vibrant as Guthrie's best work. His contributions go a long way to making Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 a pleasing sequel. Stephen Thomas Erlewine