Billy Bragg

Finding inspiration in the righteous anger of punk rock and the socially conscious folk tradition of Woody Guthrie, Billy Bragg bashes out songs (mostly) solo with his electric guitar, singing about politics and love with equal amounts of skill and passion. He was the leading figure of the British anti-folk movement of the '80s and his early releases boast melodies just as strong and memorable as his lyrics are bitingly intelligent. As the decade turned, his sonic horizons expanded; 1991's Don't Try This at Home is a successful effort to balance politics and pop and 1998's Mer...