Workers Playtime by Billy Bragg was released back in 1988 and to this day I would hold it up as an example of an album that is full of well crafted songs. Like John Martyn's Grace and Danger or like Sinatra's Wee Small Hours, it's one of the most wonderful break up albums you'll ever hear. Despite being known best for being a folk-punk symbol for the anti-thatcherite movement in the 80s I feel Bragg has more to offer than most will give him the time for. This album is an example of him showing his chops as a songwriter whilst focusing not so strongly on the political views.
Bragg gets the tone just right for the whole album, it all fits. It may all fit but it lacks edge, the edge that makes Billy Bragg, Billy Bragg. There's no--as a friend of mine would put it-- razor blade guitars in the arrangement, these have been replaced with soft pedal steel and gentle melodic strums. To me this means the political songs lose their impact with the exception of "Tender Comrade" where the softer arrangement is necessary to give the reverence that Bragg is trying to achieve whilst maintaining his point of showing the hollowness and unecessary nature of war. This said his stock trade of politicking songs are some how the less satisfying and less natural sounding on the whole of this album. As many critics note Bragg has trouble encompassing the varying musical styles on this album but to be honest I think it gives it a certain charm and it shows Bragg trying to embrace (somewhat) his new found "popstar" status at the time.
There's no doubting the earnest nature of his songs throughout and the standout tracks for me are:
"Life With The Lions": Cleverly written punk folk country. Yes that's ridiculous but it's accurate
and with an opening line of "I hate the arsehole I've become when I'm with
you" It's not bad.
"Must I Paint You A Picture?": Honestly the best song on the album, a great ballad (I'm aware that's an oxymoron) and it's so bloody earnest that you can't help having a certain degree of sympathy for Mr Bragg.
"Waiting For The Great Leap Forward": I chose this as a standout track as it's the only song off the album that's political and yet still is worth a damn. It gets a bit trite toward the end with a big choir backing him and making it sound like a school sing-a-long but for the most part it's a good wee song and starts Bragg in getting on with what he does best which is making clever political statements.
Overall not a bad album and worth a listen if you're hung up and heartbroken.
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