Mermaid Avenue
When you first heard that Billy Bragg and Wilco were teaming up to set someWoody Guthrielyrics to music, you knew it'd be an interesting project. But did anyone realistically thinkMermaid Avenuewould also wind up being one of 1998's finest albums? That's exactly what it is, a distinction it pulls off by simultaneously honoring Guthrie and blasting away any folksy expectations we might have of his music. Walking Guthrie's World War II-era lyrics into the 20th century's second, rock & roll half, Bragg and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy take turns on lead vocals, and the entire group collaborates on a sound that draws on folk- and country-rock, fromBob Dylanand theBandtoGram ParsonsandUncle Tupelo. The results are nearly flawless, ranging from yearning laments and playful children's rockers to horny ballads and brave protest songs that are not merely political but also profoundly moral. Like all of Guthrie's work,Mermaid Avenueis music to live better by.--David Cantwell