At first inspired, then disgusted, by Punk's quasi-Leftist posturing, Billy Bragg looked back to protest songsters such as Woodie Guthrie and Phil Ochs for inspiration. Picking up where Ochs left off, Bragg's recordings juxtapose intelligent social critique and tight, resonant melodies. Though in most cases he gives equal weight to these priorities, Bragg's hand is often forced by his radical political sentiments -- something which has guaranteed him a mixed reception in his native ...  [+]