I gave up on Epinions long ago, but I just happened upon its only review of this very important album and found it completely lacking-- New Age, my butt! "Talking With the Taxman..." deserves better, and I'm here to bring it.

Long before Billy Bragg collaborated with Wilco on the high-profile "Mermaid Avenue" project, he had recorded a large catalog of incredibly poignant songs. TWTTAP really embodies all of the themes that make Bragg so important.

Bragg's songs can be pretty cleanly divided into two types: songs about politics and songs about relationships. A Leftist, Bragg has always worked to advance the causes of working people with songs relating to organized labor and the concerns of the working class. Even if you disagree with his fundamental stance, anyone with an appreciation of a well-turned phrase or a clean analogy has to admit that the guy is GIFTED. He applies the same intelligence and insight in songs describing the nature of relationships. TWTTAP (it's an ugly acronym, but I'm lazy) is pretty much split down the middle in terms of theme.

The album begins with the brilliant "Greetings to the New Brunette." Johnny Marr, the man who composed the music of the Smiths, plays guitar and does a great job adding flair to the music. The song is a deft description of the giddiness surrounding a new relationship:

Shirley, it's quite exciting to be sleeping here in this new room
Shirley, you're my reason to get out of bed before noon
Sometimes, when we're as close as this
It's like we're in a dream
How can you lie there and think of England
When you don't even know who's in the team?

See what I mean? Six lines in and the tone is set, plus we get references to both soccer and Victorian sexual attitudes. Also, if you listen closely, that's the late Kirsty MacColl on backing vocals. It's tempting to forgo actual analysis of the album and just quote lyrics.

Political songs include "There is Power in a Union" set to the tune of folk classic "Rally 'Round the Flag," and "Help Save the Youth of America," a poignant song gleefully warning about the excesses of Western youth.

Other relationship songs are "The Marriage" ("So drag me to the altar/And I'll make my sacrifice"), and my personal favorite "The Warmest Room," which so accurately describes the pull of the right woman or even the right-now woman. TWTTMAP closes with "The Homefront," which, brilliantly, could be about life during World War II, the Cold War or right now.

So the lyrics are great, but we must address the music. Bragg's sound got larger with every successive release, culminating two albums later with "Don't Try This At Home." Billy was still pretty sparse here-- his guitar, a bass, and sometimes an organ, horn and Marr's guitar. There's no percussion on the album, but I didn't realize that until years after first hearing it. I think that the music is always appropriate to the material-- the lyrics should be the primary focus. I don't want to suggest that the music is by any means lacking-- it's good, it's involving and it's very often marvelous in its simplicity. Just keep in mind that you're not buying a Prog Rock disc.

This album is revered by more people than just the adoring geek whose opine you're currently reading. New Music Express recently called this one of the top 50 British albums of all time. I don't know that TWTTMAP has universal appeal, but if it clicks with you, you'll treasure it.


Recommended: Yes