| Mr Love & Justice | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 March 2008 | |||
| Recorded | Band version: September 2006 – March 2007 Solo version: September 2007 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Cooking Vinyl,ANTI-,Shock | |||
| Producer | Grant Showbiz | |||
| Billy Bragg chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Mr Love & Justice | ||||
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Mr Love & Justice is the twelfthstudio album byfolk-rock musicianBilly Bragg, and the second to be recorded with hisbacking band The Blokes. The title is taken from the 1960 novel byColin MacInnes.[1]
Two versions are available on CD. The first is a single-disc album featuring The Blokes, the second is a limited-edition double-disc release. Disc one is the same as the standard issue, but is referred to as Band Version; the second disc, Solo Version, contains the same twelve tracks performed just by Bragg with electric and acoustic guitars.
The album was recorded at Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire in March 2007, with additional recordings taken from a session that was recorded at The Butchers Shop, London NW5 in September 2006. The solo version of the album was recorded by Bragg at Mojo Sound Studios in Devon in September 2007. The cover photograph was taken at 474Broome Street, SoHo, New York City by Anthony Saint James.[2]
The first single to be released from the album was "I Keep Faith" which was released on limited edition 7" on 17 March 2008.[3]
The second single from the album was a double a-side of "The Beach Is Free" and "I Almost Killed You" which was released as adownload single on 21 July 2008.[4]
Franz Nicolay, ofThe Hold Steady, listedMr Love & Justice as one of his favourite albums of 2008.[5]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (71/100)[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [7] |
| Crawdaddy! | (favourable)[8] |
| Drowned in Sound | (4/10)[9] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [10] |
| musicOMH | [11] |
| Observer Music Monthly | [12] |
| Pitchfork Media | (6.5/10)[13] |
| PopMatters |  [14] |
| Punknews.org | [15] |
| Uncut | [16] |
The album so far has a score of 71 out of 100 fromMetacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[6]Filter gave the album a score of 82 out of 100 and said, "Flourishes of horns add to the traditional band instrumentation, giving Bragg a solid foundation on which to convey his message."[6]Paste gave the album a favorable review and said that "Rather than being a return to form, it’s a leap forward in maturity, depth and nuance."[17]Billboard gave the album a favorable review and said of Bragg, "Whether you prefer him shouting vitriol on the picket line or whispering sweet nothings in the bedroom, you'll find plenty to enjoy here."[18]The Village Voice likewise gave it a favorable review and called it "classic Bragg: frequently fantastic folk-rock that keeps both the faith and your attention."[19]The Boston Globe likewise gave it a favorable review and stated, "Bragg colors his brilliant Cockney-accented discourse with Appalachian folk on the Woody Guthrie-influenced 'O Freedom,' where he protests, 'Freedom, what liberties are taken in thy name?' On 'I Keep Faith,' which features Soft Machine legend Robert Wyatt, he taps classic soul."[20]
The Phoenix gave the album three stars out of four and said it isn’t without its misfires [...] but it is Bragg’s most assured statement since hooking up with Wilco a decade ago to give life to lost Woody Guthrie lyrics."[21]The A.V. Club gave the album a B and said that while Bragg "doesn't scale the heights he achieved on earlier albums, at least the mountains are visible from here."[22]Spin gave it a score of seven out of ten and said that "Bragg gets the balance of message and music just about right."[6]
Other reviews are pretty average or mixed:Q gave the album three stars out of five and said that the Blokes "too often impede [Bragg's] thoughtful lyrics."[6]Hot Press gave the album an average review and stated: "Bragg is taking stock. He’s now doing it for himself, at his own pace. Those in search of revelation from an old punk with a new perspective will be left hanging."[23]BBC Music gave the album a mixed review and said it was "not at all bad, but compared to Bragg's ownTalking with the Taxman About Poetry orWorkers Playtime it doesn't fare at all well."[24]Now gave the album two stars out of five and said that it "finds [Bragg] in his comfort zone provided by the Blokes and producer Grant Showbiz under yet another title copped from novelist Colin MacInnes."[25]
All songs written byBilly Bragg.[16]
Japanese bonus tracks
