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Title: A Sequel that Works
Review: This followup to Volume 1 finds Bragg and Wilco continuing to do their best work (Bragg, especially) with the help of Woody Guthrie's great lyrics. Wilco have the best moments: the combo of "Secret of the Sea" (which is the albums best pop moment) and "Remember the Mountain Bed" are their peaks. While Bragg doesn't get anything as classic as the first volume's "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key", he nevertheless gets off 2 great ones with "Hot Rod Hotel" and "Black Wind Blowing". As they were on MA1, Natalie Merchant and Corey Harris are back. Merchant's contribution is on the melancholy "I Was Born" (w/Bragg on acoustic guitar). It's a must hear. Corey Harris' "Aginst Th' Law" is a jaunty blues piece pitted against a politically charged Woody lyric. If the initial discovery of volume 1 is lost at first listen, give the record a couple of more spins (and then play it back to back with volume 1) and you'll then find that this is indeed a worthy sequel. Buy 'em both.
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