Recorded live with no overdubs in five days at producer Joe Henry's basement studio in Pasadena, Calif., Tooth & Nail is the most musical album in Billy Bragg's long and impressive catalog. Politics, for the most part, lose their capital P for the more intimate human aspects of the heart. Woody Guthrie gets his obligatory nod for "I Ain't Got No Home." "No One Knows Nothing Anymore" sounds more resigned about world situations, but the album's true strengths lie with pedal steel/dobro man Greg Leisz and first-rate session drummer Jay Bellerose; together they ensure Bragg keeps his sights on the music. "Swallow My Pride" captures the feel of a classic soul ballad. "Goodbye, Goodbye" plays like a letter to Bragg's fans for sticking with him all these years. There's something sweet about this premature chance to acknowledge that there'll come a time when Bragg won't be making records anymore. But for now, songs like "Chasing Rainbows" and "Your Name on My Tongue" sound like he has plenty yet to say.