Broken English

Pleasantly surprised. Really enjoyed the raspiness of her voice, felt the album got better with each track. Standout tracks Guilt, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan and Why'd Ya Do It. Solid 3.5/5

not at all what i expected. kinda cool

Some cool "QUIRKY" ideas but not too into her voice sorry Marianne, 2.75 for me so round up. Could see it growing on me Fav song: Witches Song

Heard it before. Yesterday my album was Imagine and now I get an album with a cover of Working Class Hero? What a streak. Marianne's voice getting raspier made this album sound very powerful. But most importantly she is my birthday buddy 3/5

01) Broken English - 8,0 02) Witches' Song - 7,5 03) Brain Drain - 7,0 04) Guilt - 7,0 05) The Ballad of Lucy Jordan - 8,0 06) What's the Hurry - 6,5 07) Working Class Hero - 7,5 08) Why D'Ya Do It - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,31 (73/100)

Boring 70’s a little whiny voice too

Synth pop with country twang and punk lyrics

The last song was quite odd. The rest was fairly normal. Weird but normal.

Внатуре Брокен

Yet another of Mick’s castaways. Jeez, how many famous ladies did this boink? I don’t think there’s an uglier guy who’s bedded so many hot women without paying for it, unlike Trump. Anyway, she’s a weird chick, and it reflects in her music. If you’re into strange, then it’s not a bad listen. Knock yourself out.

Funky. Great musicianship with tasty guitar riffs and a solid rhythm. He voice is raspy and lyrics can be edgy.

I can see how Miley Cyrus may have been influenced here.

Deep raw emotion. Strong 3/5

Marianne Faithfull has a totally unique, brittle, roughed up vocal style which in and of itself is compelling. She could hang any song off the quality of her vocals alone. I particularly like it when this is paired with the slightly weird, off kilter, shoddy synths and bass guitar combo. When it hits it hits. Broken English, What’s the Hurry? and Working Class Hero all being stand outs. On the first half of the record the music isn’t generally firing on all cylinders, but the vocals save the day. Final track Why’d Ya Do It stands on its own, musically removed from what precedes it. The whole album blooms at the point she grabs the mic and unleashes the last half hour of pent up energy, using her bitterness in its most palpable and attractive form. It’s her angriest and most provocative performance.

No private session used for Spotify. I knew of this album because I like the intensity and crassness of the last track and it's fun to imagine Tina Turner singing it. Back to the album, it's interesting because just listening to i I wouldn't be able to pick when the album was released and I mean that as a compliment.

I’ve heard the name Marianne Faithfully a lot but don’t think I’ve ever heard any music from her before yesterday. This is okay! I think it could grow on me if I listened to it more. She certainly has a one of a kind voice. More like 2.75 but I’m rounding up.

Þetta er fín plata að flestu leyti, en ég er bara ekki nógu hrifinn af röddinni eftir að hún svona illa með hana. Þetta er bara of mikið viský fyrir minn smekk.

Los instrumentales tienen mucho potencial pero la marianne faithfull repite los mismos lyrics todo el rato :( muy distinto a lo que venimos escuchando asi que banco igual Favs: Broken English, What's the Hurry?

Enjoyable, need to spend more time with it.

The first and last sings stand out for me as I remember both from childhood. Overall, her voice was rougher than I remember, which I like.

Þetta var plata sem virðist aðallega vera gerð út á sérstaka rödd Marianne. Mér fannst hún samt ekki það sérstök að ég muni hlusta á þessa plötu aftur. Dettur í meðalmennskuplötulistann

gute stimme. 3.5.

Though I had a few initial reservations about her voice, I ended up liking this album ok. I appreciated how blunt the last song was, though it probably could have been written with a tad more tact. 3/5

It’s ok

I liked it more than I thought i would. 3.5/5

Etwas zu ruhig für mich, aber hätte echt Potenzial. Irgendwie mochte ich den letzten Song sehr, der hatte etwas mehr Energie. 3 1/2, aber ich bleibe bei 3.

Not quite the classic I was expecting. I've heard a lot of noise about this album, without ever listening to it. I've not missed out. It's decent, but not great. Working Class Hero felt authentic. Never an easy task. Why'd Ya Do It was difficult listening.

Day634 - she doesn’t have a very good voice but the songs are pretty good

Pretty good! RIP!!

reminds me a bit of joni's albums from the same era... kinda interesting to track both of their arcs as kinda similar... folk star turned experimentalist obsessed with jazz and funk music haha. but ms faithfull goes a more new wave which i probably attribute to her being british... anyways cool album

I've been guilty of seeing Marianne Faithfull only as Mick Jaggers girlfriend. I heard her describe herself as an interpreter of songs, and this is the proof. It's the voice of a woman who has survived some shit, and it's a a record that stands on its on merits. Best cover of working class hero I've heard, and the last song... fucking great.

Decent album.

Really unexpected listen. Thought this would be some kind of poppy lounge music. This was sleazy art rock. "Why's you do it?" was wild. Overall fun listen.

Decent album overall, a couple upbeat tunes that I could groove to. I particularly liked the solo at the end of What’s The Hurry? Although I don’t particularly enjoy the singers voice, it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of the album.

I don't know this album and wasn't really sure for the first few songs, they really weren't working for me. That cover of Working Class Hero is fantastic. And that last song, Why'd Ya Do It is so good, it's so dirty. Singing of cocksucking and anger of having your snatch spat on. This song is more like she's singing a poem. Great stuff.

Working Class Hero, great. The rest, I dunno. Maybe need more time with it.

Broken English wasn't what i was expecting at all. From the genres listed on the reviews page, i thought that this was gonna be a folk rock album in the same vein as something like Joni Mitchell or Suzanne Vega who i looked at a few days ago. But i guess i should have seen it when i saw the listed genres on it's Wikipedia page that this would be a new wave album but they still caught me off guard. The album is pretty good though as the music is pretty good and the new wave and folk rock elements come together quite nicely. The lyrics are a bit weird though (especially in Why'd Ya Do It, which is a shame as if the lyrics were better, that song would have been my favorite one). It is still a rather enjoyable album for what it is. Best Song: Guilt Worst Song: What's The Hurry?

Cool, sultry, easy record to listen to. Marianne has a pleasant voice and lends nicely to the instrumentation. This is one I'll revisit.

Marianne Faithfull’s career is testament to ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you …’ well, you know the rest. It’s not bad, but is it needed? The production values of the time don’t do it any favours either, especially on “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” which gives a weird disco vibe to a sad tale. Low three, but no worse.

This is one of those for me that has all of the makings of a great album but doesn't quite click. Marianne Faithful had a life centered around rock n roll and paid a familiar price for taking that lifestyle too far. After years of drug addiction and homelessness, she made her comeback. Her experience forever changed her and it's clearly evident in her now raspy, lower and heavier vocals. That alone makes for a great story. The album itself is not quite what I expected. The addition of Steve Winwood of all people definitely threw me. It is an interesting sound though. Sort of proto-80s synth pop clashing with late 70s post punk. I kind of love everything about this album more than the music itself. Two tracks stand out to me as the best though, the title track which sets the scene for what I'd hoped would come, and the album closer "Why'd Ya Do It", which most resembles who I think Faithful is. The latter track was banned from some early editions which must have made it an amazing find for people who sought it out as it's the best of the entire album. It's punk but completely bitter and harsh, as Faithful earned the right to be, but also seems to nod to reggae rhythms. The rest unfortunately didn't hook me though I feel like with the right producer, I might have liked this album a lot more.

Not too familiar with this sound but it grew on me as I listened. Love her voice. Love her songwriting style, even if all the songs didn't land. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan is a banger. Second half kinda dragged. Still a good album.

A bit weird but sounded ahead of its time

Har prøvd å høre dette albumet mange ganger, men alltid gitt opp fordi jeg har kjedet meg. Nå som jeg tvinges ser jeg at det er noen kule ting her. Liker godt new wave-innflytelsen, og skulle gjerne hørt at hun tok den enda lenger. Ellers litt flat plate, men jevn

mediocre, i don't appreciate the programming element, bass programing is weak. It sounds kind of slick and cool in some place, the attempts at deep cut lyrics did not do anything for me either. mid

Ironically, I remembered this name because of a song I didn't like much that was a radio hit. I never heard much else by her and I was pleasantly surprised. The girl's got some edge which I didn't expect.

I really enjoy the instrumentation in this album, the guitar and bass work is very infectious. It retains this quality throughout the album, which is a major positive. However, I really dislike Marianne Faithful's weird voice in this -- not to be rude, but if this were sung by any other major vocalist around at the time, this album would be a point or two higher.

This album was alright. It didn't dazzle me at any points, but it wasn't bad. I was happy enough to do some foot tapping for thirty minutes. I liked "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" the most. It seems like everyone else does too. "Working Class Hero" was also good. 5/10

This was another album where I liked the second half better than the first. The second half was a lot more lively and emotional, starting with The Ballad of Lucy Jordan.

broken english- 6 witches song- 5 brain drain- drain gang. 5 guilt- 5 the ballad of lucy jordan- 5 whats the hurry- 5 working class hero- 5 whyd ya do it- 6

Når man forstår bakgrunnshiatprien her, så er selvsagt plata et reisverk for en kvinne som så lenge var på utsiden av musikkbransjen og livet sjøl. Jeg synes halve plata er fengende.

Así como en Odessey and Oracle de The Zombies amé la historia del disco y con eso le sumé un punto; acá siento que tengo que restarle uno. Y me hace pensar en por qué hay algunos discos que se incluyen acá y otros que no. El disco suena bien, tiene buenos momentos, pero...meh? Tal vez estoy muy lejos para poder empatizar con esto, tal vez si hubiera despertado de mejor humor esto hubiera sido un 4 en vez de 3.

dosta dobro! premda se ne mogu zamislit da slušam

A unique album, with interesting songs. Perhaps worth a re-listen, but looking back wasn't very impressionable.

Marianne Faithful, who I mostly think of giving relationship advice in the Guardian. It turns out she was able to write a pretty decent album too. I'm being flippant here, but actually, having read that this was her comeback after many years of addiction and being treated badly by the industry and many people in it, I think this is a really impressive affair.

Good.

Interesting and unique voice. Some songs sound interesting.

Decent music but, my god, that voice sounds like if you blew air through the dessicated remains of Stevie Nicks.

It's alright. It's nothing groundbreaking or really special. It's just a woman with an OK voice singing over some mildly interesting 1970s beats. She's the lady in the background of Metallica's 'The Memory Remains.' 3/5 I guess.

Quite a weird album lyrics wise and her voice but enjoyed it 6/10

i wish i had no filter like the lyrics of Why’d Ya Do It?

Such a beautiful and talented woman who went through so so much. Love her rough and raspy voice. So bold and honest on this album. Strong contrast to her soothing voice in the 60s. Adore both. Such an inspiring strong woman. Rest in peace Marianne <3

Not something I'd listen to every day, but I'm glad I heard it before I died. 2.75/5 stars

It's a good album just not anything Extraordinary I don't know how this is an album I need to listen to before I die! Even the songs that were played automatically on the station related to the album were better some of the top picks being "5:55" by 'Charlotte Gainsbourg' and "Tom The Model" by 'Beth Gibbson would be better

Jesus christ lmao To begin with I didn't like her voice. After reading up about her personal life and struggles, her voice is forgiven I was pretty bored through it all until the last song started - Why'd Ya Do It. And holy shit the lyrics took me by surprise. Hilarious Highlights include - "she had cobwebs up her fanny" and "every time I see your dick I see her cunt in my bed". I was so shocked at the surprise vulgar language, also cringed at the repeated use of cock and snatch For that song alone it's getting an extra star for entertainment value 3 ⭐️

This one might need another listen. Good but not brilliant.

Perfectly fine. Didn't breakthrough, just background noise. Probably would have been more digestible with more listens. Tbh didn't finish, got bored

Neat.

Barely even felt like I listened to this it was so unremarkable.

Whoa. Not what I was expecting!

I liked some of the songwriting skills she showed here, but some of it just felt kinda preachy and then very repetitive, especially on some of the earlier tracks. Also do not like her voice. I’m really torn between a 3 and a 4 here so we shall see what I give this in the morning I could go either way and live with it.

Wasn't so sure at the start but it kept my interest all the way through.

Pop. Not too bad, the first few songs were pretty catchy.

Great album. Nice cover of Working class hero, very Floydian kind of…

There’s some stuff I really like here and some stuff I’m not wild about. 3.5 or a 3.75

A bit of a mixed bag but overall enjoyable. She has an interesting sounding voice, swears like a sailor and it turns out has lived quite the life(all new to me). Looking past that and focusing on the songs I dug “broken English” l, her take on lennon’s “working class hero”, and “why’d you do it”

3 out of 5. Middle of the road but some good songs here.

Interesting

I think after several lost years, this was a good comeback for Marianne Faithfull. With unfluences from post-punk of the time, it was pretty well received. But for me the album is a bit dull, except maybe the closing track.

Embarrassingly, when I see the name Marianne Faithfull the first thing that immediately comes to mind is "The Memory Remains" by Metallica. Her vocals on that are really upsetting so I was looking forward to this! And so yeah this is a pretty dark album. Her voice has a very uniquely rough texture to it here, very conversational. The new-wave production complements the vocals well, with the chorusy guitar stabs and the gurgled synths and whatnot. Title track's pretty weird. I can't get a hold on the tonal center of it. The lyrics are pretty angry and unsettled across the board. One of the catchiest hooks on the album is her repeating the phrase "I feel guilt" which is a surefire sign that the vibes are not great. "You're a brain drain, you go on and on like a blood stain" is a hell of a lyric. Don't even get me started with the last track. This cover of "Working Class Hero" is really working for me. Makes the song feel like a missing link that should have been on The Wall instead of Plastic Ono Band. Between the bluesy/guitar textures and the overall spiteful mood this whole thing actually does remind me a lot of Roger Waters. Great album cover!

Love her voice. Some memorable tunes on this album as well.

Итс окэй. Потенциал на 4 здесь. Лучшая песня - Guilt.

It was fine

Good

This whole album was written about Len Houmous. They had a brief fling and he accused her of cheating on him. She said it all broke down because she couldn’t understand a word he was muttering on any of his records. We all know Len has the clearest of voices so I know whose side I’m on! Anyway, shortly after their fling ended she released this. 3.4 5/8 Ballad of Lucy Jordan

Nice Broken English.

J'aime bien, sans me faire jeter par dessus bord. J'ai aussi eu le temps, d'aller voir ce que Big Thief avait à m'offrir, mais ça m'a pas tant accroché.

she wrote sister morphine and apparently inspired wild horses. i want to like it. i even do sometimes (brain drain, guilt, lucy jordan, why’d you do it, most of the keyboards). but some voices resonate, and some go right through you. some are intense; others are exhausting.

What a strange singing voice. I actually liked this album, there were times I fell off but overall I found it interesting and had some cool synth noises throughout, I'm a sucker for that stuff. Love it when her voice crack, also a sucker for that. Overall cool album.

This was a nice surprise. I think this was a fairly good album. The songs from her early days were better.

2.5

Did not expect that last track! Fun synth, groovy bass, dug it.

Quite interesting...

First listen

It’s a good album. Never really grabbed me but others love it.

Singer songwriters can be a bit hit or miss… this one had some good moments, but was more of a miss. Favorite Track: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan

A bit melodramatic. Her voice is interesting and different. Not going to be a relisten album for me, but was something a little fresh

It was a nice listen but not very memorable. I never actually knew anything about her until the album showed up. I found her life story more interesting than the album.

This could be a case of being on the list more because of who she was and not so much of what she could do. Still, I thought this album was way better than a lot of the 700+ other albums I've listened to so far.

Pretty cool album, Marianne sung with such attitude which more than makes up for her passable singing voice.

Came in with no expectations because I've never heard of this artist, but felt like this was a good album. Brain Drain and The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan were among my favorites, but the cover of Working Class Hero was easily my favorite song. Love the bass. The guitars and organs come together well in the final song Why d'Ya Do It?, though the singing/lyrics were uh...odd (the "WHY D'YA LET ME SUCK YOUR COOOOOOOOCK" stands out in a bad way). This is an album you can throw in with the rest of the 3's.

This is one of the 1000 albums that you can listen to before you die.

I had a much different idea of new wave going into this album because I thought it was going to be much more poppy. Her voice was really off putting at first but it really grew on me by the end. The last couple of songs were pretty disturbing but the rest of the album was quite good

Brain Drain is a weirdly fun song. I feel bad for whoever this song was written about. Really loving the cover of Working Class Hero. Bass reminds me of One of These Days by PF. Why'd Ya Do That? is pretty aggressive. I like the guitar on it though. Liked this more than I expected. Solid 3.

this album was kind of a mixed bag. didn’t like some songs, really dug others. of note was her cover of “working class hero” by john lennon.

The album is OK but I did not find it very special. A few songs sound reasonable, whilst others have a gritty voice that I dont like much. 3 stars.

Interesting but not enjoyable

This surprised me. I really appreciate her lyrics and they are very pretty songs

Pretty boring Nothings bad but nothing stands out either

2.5/5 round up

There's a great moment on the final track when Marianne angrily sings things like 'whyd ya let her suck your cock' and 'why'd ya spit on my snatch?" Such is the energy of Marianne Faithfull. This was a lot of fun, with an attitude and sound that feels very modern.

Great album! I’d never listened to Marianne Faithful before, but I was pleasantly surprised. There are shocking moments on this album. Some of these tracks beg to be unpacked when you catch Faithful’s lyrics. But everything here is honest, clearly autobiographical, and still sounds fresh. This is clearly brooding tortured artist territory. But it’s authentic, painful, and comes together nicely. A high three stars ✨.

3.5, tien un par de buenos temas

Much like an ex, I enjoy many parts but not the cohesive whole.

Sad story behind the record. Marianne Faithfull’s arc is fully representative of the 60s optimism crashing down under its own weight in the 70s. Her voice and the arrangements embody the tired pessimism of the late 70s for those involved. Tough on the listen to, but a redemptive feat for her.

This was better than I expected. As I began listening to the album I sort of worried that I wasn't going to like it at all but as it progressed there were more interesting things being done, especially with the synths and production, that I though were really interesting and worth spending some more time with. I'm earmarking this one for a revisit, but in the meantime my initial take is a 2.7/5, so I'll round up and give it a 3.

this one was not what I expected. Only thing I know of her is her vocals in “The Memory Remains”. And I hated it. This was so much better. It was like a new wave album. Like blondie before blondie. Way better than I thought.

This really wasn’t exactly my thing and I’m honestly not quite sure whose thing this is. But it still was not too bad. I think my biggest complaint is her voice, it didn’t do well with me, but there were some genuine moments on this album I really enjoyed such as Guilt which was a great song and also the Shel Silverstein track.

This was a good listen. It’s not a personal favorite and I forgot most of the songs once they were done but she has a great voice and it’s clear she’s lived a lot of life.

Quite average to be honest, not off putting but not great either. The cover version of John Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero’ fits nicely as it doesn’t really know what it’s about and neither does this album.

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I wasn't inclined to add any of the songs from this album to my playlist, but I didn't dislike any of them either. Faithfull has a very interesting quality to her voice with pretty consistent vocal cracks that add to the stories she is telling each song. Why'd Ya Do It was a particularly interesting song, which I can only describe as "perfect feminine rage." The topics of her songs are very gritty, and her storytelling had me listening intently to each song. Some I revisited throughout the day just to really take the story in. I would be interested to see what else Faithfull's discography has to offer, and I found this to be a decent introduction to her artistry.

Nah

In contrast to the negative reviews of this album saying it’s only on this list because of its context, although this Definitely helped with the decision, this was definitely an enjoyable album and quite unique albeit containing some more generic bluesy rock in some parts. Her voice, i thought, works well in most parts with the lower tone and crackly voice giving a bit more of a sinister vibe which definitely worked well for the songs aiming for that kind of concept. However, the constant voice cracks in some parts most notably on brain drain were not particularly pleasant to listen to when she was attempting to enter a higher register, I think her voice worked really well on the last song in comparison where she sounded bitter and angry. Musically I thought it was engaging throughout the album for the most part with a cool spin on new wave and punky themes. Overall, a three but a high three (6/10.)

From the other reviews it sounds like this was a 'you had to be there' type of album where it was really good and influential at the time. For me it was a relatively boring album with a couple of highlights such as 'broken English' She definitely has a unique voice, but everything surrounding it was nothing special

Not bad but nothing really stood out for me on this album.

I'd probably give it a 2.5-ish, it was ok but not bad. Definitely a bit weird --sometimes in a cool way and sometimes in a weird-bad way.

Ganske hakkete

It's ok, she's always been just ok to me

This is a pretty interesting set of songs in an intriguing mesh of styles, but I guess the most remarkable thing about it is where the artist was in her life and career at the time of release. I don't know loads about her but from everything I've heard she seemed like a fascinating, enigmatic character who had quite a life. R.I.P. Marianne.

It's not bad, theres not a track I'd skip individually, but this is here because of the context of the album and not the album itself. It's fine, but I can't imagine anyone is obsessed with this album.

Its got a great cover. Was expecting something folky with buttery vocals so was surprised by the electro new wave beeps and the rough as sandpaper vocals. It's certainly a grower and by 3rd listen was really enjoying it. Fav track Ballad of Lucy Jordan.

Broken English I do really like this album, I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for it, despite it obviously sounding a bit dated. But I think it is one of those albums that needs to be taken in context, she was an early adopter of synth/new wave and that paired with her caustic, cracked, scratchy vocals the lyrical bite gives it enough weight beyond the synth-dance-rock surface. The title track might be the worst culprit for superfluous and dated squelchy R2-D2 noises though, but at least it never goes full Jazz Police (and this was released 10 years before I’m Your Man). Thereafter the synths feel more structural and melodic rather than as mere sound effects. Witch’s Song is good, much warmer feeling with the acoustic, but I’m not as keen on Brain Drain. Guilt is great though, it has a bit of a Slow Train Coming vibe and an excellent lyric. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan sounds a lot like We Belong by Pat Benetar to me, but I really like it, it's a great synth-pop version of the song. What’s the Hurry is a nice if slightly forgettable bit of synth rock. I’ve never really been a fan of Working Class Hero as a song, but I quite like this version, particularly as it's more of a tribute than a bit of self-mythology. And that leaves Why’d Ya Do It. The angular guitar matches the contempt and spite in the vocals and lyrics, and it is great hear her sing dick, fanny, snatch, cunt, bitch and pussy Right between 3 and 4 - I’ve always enjoyed it, and it’s on the side of 4 for the genuinely scornful lyrics and vocals, and while I like it musically it is hard to escape some of the datedness of the sound, even with context, and that pushes it down to the threes. I think I’ll go 3, I’ll listen again of course, but it’s not one for regular rotation 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Playlist submission: Why’d Ya Do It?

I'm bored, it's kind of cool though.

J'aime bien sa voix particulière, son attitude juste assez frondeuse, ses revendications pertinentes. Sur le plan musical, ça me semble un peu plus banal, devait être plus «frais» à sa sortie

Never heard of Marianne Faithfull. Has a very 80's sound for a 70's album. Sounds like a movie soundtrack from the mid 80's. "Working class hero" is great.

No real thoughts on this. It was decent. Nothing jumped out as super interesting.

I really like the story behind this album, but unfortunately it didn’t hit for me.

My only exposure to Marianne Faithfull was her early work in the '60s, which, frankly, I didn't enjoy. So I wasn’t too excited for this album—but what a surprise! I never thought I’d appreciate her voice, but it really works beautifully with the musical arrangements. It's a 3.5 for me.

Blondie and Gwen Stefani before they were cool. Not bad either way.

Solid new wave/art rock album. Två sista låtarna klara highlights

It was okay, not my favorite.

marianne faithfull sei troppo cool per questo mondo

Sweary coarse electro funk ballads of pain and emotion. Bit ahead of its time methinks. Gravelly voice and some Bowie type backing.

Working class hero a classic interspersed with great displays of angst - enjoyable

I’m giving it a three, not because I love the album but because I love her story and I love her comeback.

What a journey she went on to get to the point of making this album.

Not bad.

Interesting to listen to this especially as she has sadly so recently passed away 😢

The first/title track was a banger, the rest of the album didn't do much for me

I like her voice. It’s tells a story all on its own; the story of a hard-lived life that couldn’t break her down. There were a couple of absolutely killer songs, but the rest didn’t grab me.

Not bad. Kinda reminded me of the store brand of Stevie Nicks. Last song was pretty good and reminded me a Sonic Youth

Not bad. Simpsons: No

It was OK.

I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. Very interesting stuff. Not my personal taste but still very intriguing record.

I was a bit offput by the vocals at the start, but I decided if I could learn to like Neil Young's voice, I could learn to like this one. Sure enough, by the Ballad of Lucy Jordan I was really feeling the vibe, and by Working Class Hero I was singing along. On a re-listen, I am definitely feeling the groove and now having read the story behind the album it's a totally different experience. I can't rate it higher than a 3.5 because it's really not my type of music, but it's certainly compelling.

A perfectly fine album that doesn't stand out with the exception of the Shel Silverstein penned 'The ballad of Lucy Jordan' and an interesting take on John Lennon's Working class hero'. But, without Maryanne Faithfull being who she is this album would not be on the list. 3/5

I love her "whisky-soaked" voice, which lends itself perfectly to this gritty album.

Interesting listen and powerful voice but didnt get over the hump for me. On the three side of a 3.5

I like the sound and her voice. Some tracks are really good (closer especially), but I probably won’t return to it in album form.

decent sound, reminded me a little of Janis Joplin, 70's era bass and soul.

Fine.

WHY'D YOU LET HER SUCK YUR COCCCKKKKKKKK??????? lowkey the best part on this album why'd she say it like that some good tracks but overall a little uninteresting. feel like i need more time with this album to fully appreciate it because I don't necessarily hate what I'm hearing on this album. last track and guilt are really good, especially the last song, love how spiteful it is.

A decent album, although I think the cover of "Working Class Hero" is my favorite track. Otherwise it was fine with good moments, but not an album I would listen to often. 2.5/5 stars, rounded up.

Barely tolerable. Nothing memorable about it.

I mean, whatever, it's fine. Nothing exceptional, but not bad.

Had never heard this before. New respect for her.

3/5

Someone discovered Patti Smith

During the 2nd track I was reminded of the Metallica song "The Memory Remains" in which an old lady does the same kind of Na na na noises she was doing here. Upon review, Marianne is indeed the vocalist on the Metallica track that came out about 20 years after this album. However, I'm not sure I really dig her normal music. It kind of is a mix of Loos Griffin and Joan Rivers. Unique enough to be appreciated, but some phrases approach nails on a chalkboard for my ears. She has quite an interesting career and apparently her voice was permanently damaged in-between this album and her first couple so I'd like to go and hear the before voice at some point and see if suits my ears better. She is also still alive today and had some recordings in 2020 so would be interesting to see everything from those 50-60 years. All in all, not my favorite but was a lot more of a backstory for the old lady in the Metallica song than I was expecting. Favorite track "What's the hurry?" 2.5/5

First time hearing Marianne Faithfull. Her voice sounds familiar, probably similar to someone else I can't place, like the Motels or Stevie Nicks, but not quite. The songs are unique, though a bit depressing. I hated the last track, Why d'Ya Do It? Favorite track: Broken English.

it's ok 3/5

A fine singer/songwriter album. Dark and moody and beautiful

The songs feel raw and unapologetic, like a quiet storm brewing. There’s this dark, pulsing energy that reminds me of Siouxsie and the Banshees but more grounded. It’s stripped down but still hits hard.

On the one hand, I enjoyed this decently enough. On the other hand, it didn't make a giant impression even with two listens...

Feels ahead of it's time for 1979. 3.5/5

Enjoyable but common with albums around this time I think the synths date it a little 3.5*

Broken English 3.4 Witches' Song 3.2 Brain Drain 3.3 Guilt 3.5 The Ballad of Lucy Jordan 3 What's the Hurry 3.1 Working Class Hero 3.6 Why D'Ya Do It 3.7 Score: 3.35

3.5/5

its interesting and a little weird but I can't really get over the singing voice.

That last song is a doozy.

Good, but not great. After everything she had been through, it's just good to see her still doing ok at this point

Pretty good, slightly odd vibe

Good stuff, quality sound.

Not bad, feels appropriate for the timeframe, but nothing grabbed me.

6/10

"Stretched" voice on folky, poppy music

3.4.

It was bold in spots, I'll give you that.

Cool voice, a bit boring

Not bad

Not to bad

Pretty good, was familiar with Broken English and Ballad of Lucy Jordan. She is an institution.

ok

I always thought Stevie Nicks had a raspy voice but Marianne Faithful takes that prize by a landslide (no pun intended). Broken English had a more New Wave sound than I was expecting. I'm not sure if I thought Marianne Faithful had a Joan Baez sound, mostly because I have heard her version of "As Tears Go By," but also because it was just an assumption on my part. There is some really good music on here. I liked Brain Drain, Broken English, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, What's the Hurry and Why'd Ya Do It. Why'd Ya Do it feels like a pretty dirty song for these times. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan is probably the standout track for me. I like the cover of this album a lot. Faithfull is holding a cigarette and just looking absolutely exhausted with the world. Really cool image.

Meh

I kind of like 1972, I almost like Wolfy

5/10 this certainly is music that is being played. I'd know it anywhere 10-31-2024

This is a decent enough listen. I’m not 100% on her voice, but the songs themselves are good enough. I like the dark synths that crop up on some tracks, along with the more upbeat numbers in general.

Oddly not bad, last song is weird with how it mentions some private things.

Dark moody synths and extremely 80s tone blues guitar set the mood: brooding and sultry. The vocals are nasal and hoarse. It's like Nega-Fleetwood Mac.

4-4.5

The way she sings the word “guilt” is really annoying. Otherwise wasn’t too bad

Chill new wave rhythms A voice burdened but still strong Makes pleasant alt pop

before: no idea what to expect while listening: in the beginning it felt a petit country, but ended with hints of classic rock. overall not my favourite album, but I liked it. her voice control is AMAZING I must say. more rock-ey songs would suit her well.

Good album i loved the vibe in itt but thats all didnt think it was very special so 3star

The music and vocals for this album are good overall. I'm not sure that it would be on this list if the story of the album and how it fits into Faithfull's life weren't so compelling, but it's worth a listen. The production is really good. It feels weirdly influenced by the 70s NYC punk movement, though this is definitely not a punk album 3/5

Why did I enjoy this? 3.125

If Faithfull hadn't found her way back from the trash heap, or if her voice hadn't gone so raspy in the process, would this album be notable? The music is cheese. Her new voice reminds me of Bonnie Tyler and Tina Turner put together. Not bad. But man, her old voice was so much more beautiful. I found the first half of the album kind of boring, though perhaps a little less so her the title track. Her other big tune The Ballad of Lucy Jordan kind of kick started things on the back half. What's The Hurry? had a bit of a Blondie feel and had some good energy. Why'd Ya Do It? would make Alanis Morrisette blush - people got all up in arms about her explicit lyrics in You Oughta Know but that's nothing next to this song. Kudos to her for delivering a strong performance on it. If nothing else, it was in interesting musical education finding out about Faithfull's rise from the ashes. Album average at best.

October 8, 2024 HL: “Guilt”, title track, “Working Class Hero”, “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” I like less than half of this record half as well as it deserves The other half is brilliant

Bit of a weird vocal style and the lyrics were not what I was expecting, but there was enough low-key punk energy and catchy songwriting to make it a decent experience

Way to speak truth. Brave lyrics. Don't care for it musically.

Her voice is super interesting to me and the lyrics, especially on Why’d Ya Do It are absolutely brutal. This is one I might go back to sometime. Highlights were Broken English, The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan, and Why’d Ya Do It.

Well, today we ran the gauntlet from ‘OK this is actually pretty funky’ right down to ‘Good grief, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?!’ I’d listen again, but certainly not in polite company.

Beautiful scene setting music

Ahead of it's time and what a voice.

Meh, the English here is perfectly cromulent.

Avausraita bängeri

In an incredible comeback from years of drug abuse and anorexia, Marianne Faithfull laid down a steady mix of new wave tracks, evolving from the relatively light-hearted earworm of the title track to the angry, explicit vulgarity of Why’d Ya Do It, a truly ballsy way to end any album, let alone your make-or-break comeback. And I for one think she made it. Even the cover of John Lennon’s best song doesn’t ruin it, a new twist with differing vocals makes for an all-round interesting listen. A nice surprise for an album that I hadn’t heard of.

Faithfull certainly has a unique voice, giving her this sort of "edge" compared to other vocalists from around this era. I personally think it sells the emotion better, and Faithfull certainly had a rough go of it in the years leading up to this album's production from the sounds of it. That emotion really culminates all throughout. The closing "Why'd Ya Do It" is probably the stand out track here, as it's basically six minutes of scathing bitterness directed towards an unfaithful lover. To be honest, a lot of this sounds like it could've been released a decade or two later, given the popularity of women in rock that would come later. But alas, this one can certainly be appreciated on its own.

The rock songs are good. The New Wave ones are not.

Surprisingly punky and biting in places. While I liked the first and last tracks, the middle tracks lost me a bit. Highlights: Broken English, Why'd Ya Do It

This went better then expected

Nothing surprising, but also not bad

sure

En ole varmaan koskaan ennen kuunnellut. Viihdyin levyllisen verran seurassa eikä jäänyt poltetta saada lisää.

Lauluääni mun makuun, mutta biisit ei pääsääntösesti iskeny. Kuitenkin solidii tekemistä

Faithfull’s voice has a massive impact but I wasn’t too enthralled with it until the final song, which had such a massive impact that it gained another star for me. What a mega song, especially for it’s time

3/5 ok music but absolutely not my taste

It was a good and unexpected surprise for me. It's not so memorable, but her voice and the lyrics will stay with me for some time.

I like her voice and delivery but I don't think the new wave sound fits with her very well. I really liked the last song "Why'd you do it", but it had more of a reggae/rock feel to it.

#54 - Vivey but I don't think the music really stands up on its own without the context. Not a big fan of her voice either.

That last song had me shocked.

interesting album I was not familiar with sultry voice

Interesting return from MF

like the voice.. she sounds pained at times, but get emotion across...

Hectic last track

I’ve never heard of or listened to Marianna Faithful before. Unique. I kinda like it.

This is an interesting record, to say the least. I was intrigued by the woman singing this, as her voice came off as eccentric, but I got used to it by the second or third song. It was enjoyable, though, especially that last song where she gets explicit. The listening experience was decent. Best - Broken English, Guilt, The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan, and Why'd Ya Do It Worse - no bad songs 3.00-3.50/5

Eeh

3/5. Raspy and a little discombobulated vocals, like she's not sure where she wants to go. I do feel the emotion and passion in some of the lyrics but it's not necessarily great. The disco-esque orchestral music in the background saves this from being bad. It is better than other singer songwriters I have had on this list but not amazing. Last song does bring me back though, great closer. Best Song: Why'd Ya Do It, Guilt, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan

Okay! The vulgarity gets a little over the top but the band was playing nicely

Helt kool

When someone goes through all Marianne Faithfull did it's going to sound rough. It's all about redemption that she managed it. She's no working class hero though - she's a posh kid that clearly struggled with mental health.

Pretty good. I don’t want to review at the moment so this is all you get.

I've never really listened to her. For some reason, I was a bit surprised that it didn't sound like Faith Hill. Kinda dig it. It was pretty creative and had some hints of uniqueness.

Didn't necessarily dislike it, but not something I see myself coming back to.

Broken English The Ballad of Lucy Jordan Why'd Ya Do It?

Lots of good numbers

It’s giving me blondie smokes cigs vibes. I think her voice will grow on me, but I really dig the groovy production here. I had a lot of fun with this one.

Interesting album for the 70s. Lots of cool electronic elements, can see why this would be an innovative, unique release back then. Still holds up mostly today, not exactly my style of music but a fun listen nonetheless.

You can tell this album came from a dark place with a fusion of rock, punk, new wave and dance, with liberal use of synthesizers, along with a newly raspy voice with thanks to cigarettes and drugs. Best: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan Worst: Why'd Ya Do It

Appreciated, rough around the edges new-wave, but album was not consistent enough.

Really surprised how good this was. A good listen

This was really nice.

This album grew on me the second time listening to it. I couldn’t get into it the first time through and almost didn’t give it a second chance. But some albums are just better headphone albums and this was the case for me. I had to delete all the criticisms I had on the first listen because I had none on the second. Once everything felt a little more intimate with some ear buds I completely got the albums vibe. There’s some cool synth and guitars throughout the album, nothing mind blowing from a technical performance point of view but some great choices as a band that knows they’re there to provide support and atmosphere for Marianne. The bass gives the most movement for most of the album while the drums did just enough to keep time. There’s some subtle mixing techniques that were a little ahead of the times on here too. The second time through I paid more attention to the lyrics and I do like the darker themes presented which definitely align with the tone of the album. There’s an instrumental bridge on “Guilt” about half way through the song that I really liked. Almost sounded like Pink Floyd for a minute there. Another thing that was a stark contrast between first and second listen is, I hated her take on John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” on the first listen yet the second time around I loved it. “Why’d Ya do It” is my stand out track. I feel like Marianne’s delivery works the best on this song, she leans more into the attitude on this one. And it makes for a great closer. I listened to her earlier popular songs and it really showed how much she evolved over time. I’m interested in hearing more of her catalog now.

This came out in 1979? It sounds solidly mid-80's, in the height of mini-malls and Rubik's cubes . . . at least, at first start. Impressive. Marianne sings with Cyndi Lauper clarity and sentiment but with more attitude, adding a punk edge to new wave synth sounds. "If I could get away with murder, I'd take my gun and I'd commit it." Whoa, "Guilt." Hit me with more! The highlight is "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan," which is a country song funneled through a synth that would sound just as good with a dobro and lap steel guitar and sung by Dolly Parton or Kenny Rogers. Interesting take on John Lennon's "Working Class Hero." Nothing can beat the original, but I like that she did something different with it, adding some Pink Floyd "One Of These Days" bass and guitar sounds but still able to keep the production snide and minimal. I can't help but hear The Little Mermaid's "Kiss The Girl" in the verses on "Witches' Song." What does it mean, man?!! Of the two, "Witches' Song" goes more interesting places, for sure. Marianne changes form and delivers tough feminism in her best comically dramatic Ursula the Sea Witch in "Why'd Ya Do It," which was a nice change of pace musically, adding organ and distorted guitars to a steady rocksteady. Marianne Faithful embodies numerous personas on Broken English, at times soft and sentimental and other times punk and abrasive. In all, I'm not convinced Marianne drinks her own Kool-Aid. I don't doubt that there is more to Marianne Faithfull than what I'm picking up from this auditory blind date. I believe I can find more if I dug more, but I'm not moved to do so, which is the largest problem with this album: an indifference as to whether or not I'll ever hear it or another one of hers again.

Beyond her Rolling Stones days (“As Tears Go By”) and that time she did a song with Metallica, I never paid a lot of attention to Marianne Faithfull. I'm guessing she's a lot more culturally relevant in the UK. I kind of fell down a rabbit hole reading about her today. For this album, gone is the 17-year-old rock and roll muse, and here she is, older, battle-worn, the previous decade and a half of tumult coming through her low, cracking voice. A lot of the songs reminded me of Stevie Nicks with a slight punk edge. The album was overall quite moody in that way. There was a song written by Shel Silverstein?! And I wasn't at all prepared for that last track.

First off bravo to Marianne for getting off of the white horse and making this album. She was battling drug addiction and homelessness. I have a lot of respect for people who battle adversity and make a turn around. Some interesting things going on in this album. The synthesized parts reminded me a bit of Giorgio Moroder. They sounded a bit ahead of their time for 1979. Her voice is kind of average to me. I think though her performance had some weight to it after reading a bit about what she went through. Standouts for me were Broken English and Working Class Hero. I found myself searching a bit for a 4th or 5th gear in some of the songs....for instance in the Balad of Lucy Jordan I was hoping the song would elevate maybe a little bit towards the end. Maybe Phil Collins has me spoiled with what happens in In The Air Tonight, or what Smashing Pumpkins do in Soma.

So glad to get another female voice this week, no grunge, no prog rock, no bloody Metallica; marvellous. The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan is outstanding; this voice/perspective with the lyrics is really affecting. As a result I cannot imagine what Dr Hook‘s version must be like and am certainly not going to seek it out. Much as I dislike John Lennon, Working Class Hero has lyrics that really cut through a bit of a mediocre melody/rendition and Why’d Ya Do It? made my jaw clang. That said, the rest of the album I found a bit meh. So a mid table 3, though I’ll definitely be going back to the tracks mentioned.

Pretty nice. Awesome Working class hero cover

This one kind of came and went and didn't leave much of a lasting impression. I did like the tone and pace of "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan". The synths have a nice foundation for her voice to sing on top of, but it wasn't enough for me to be wow'd. I also felt like the synths arrangements (albeit still young as a popular instrument at the time) in general didn't do much for me. It felt like a guitarist playing a piano- and then changing the tones of the synth to sound digital. How do I know this? Because I'm a guitarist who can really only play a piano with bland chord shapes so the sound really stands out to me. Like a newbie piano player will spell their chords in really basic ways, (1-3-5 / root - major third - fifth) and when they hit some dominant chords it continues with this super basic spelling (1-3-b7 / root - third - flat7) it really stands out to my ear. I didn't dislike it. Album cover art is cool.

steve winwood: professional afterthought

An idiosyncratic singer songwriter album. Faithful's cracked and raspy voice lends the record a lived-in atmosphere which creates an interesting tension with the electronic arrangements. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan Date listened: 12/04/24

I couldn't decide if I liked it or not.

This album has a very interesting backstory and the mix of new wave and folk is something i have never heard before. I liked some of the lyrics but the overall music is just okay.

Comparisons to Fleetwood Mac seem inevitable as they share the same rolling dance grooves underpinned by acoustic and electric sounds. The songs suit her limited vocals (certainly more than her folky sixties records) and the dark shady tones replicate the cover artwork. It's a decent effort and is well worth a listen but lacks the class of the better known contemporary new wave albums.

Fairly boring, but the last song was enjoyable for its swearing and its crassness!

Her survivor story is more impressive than the record but it seems her voice didn't fare so well. Did get better nearer the end, I liked the John Lennon cover.

Fine. Not bad, but not my thing either.

With her recovery story in mind, this is quite a gutsy comeback album, you can feel the vocal struggles. I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it, but definitely appreciate the body of work.

I really like this style/sub-genre just not sure this album would be in even my top 100 of this style. Voice not all that appealing. But I give credit where it’s due. She was a founder. I loved the music Spotify picked to play after the final song of the album finished…ie, Tom Waits, the Motels..etc.

Fell asleep so not sure if I liked it or not

I didn't find this album to be very exciting or interesting. The vocals were a bit stale and nothing was too memorable.

Interesting voice and a really great album cover, but I found the music itself to be pretty meh.

That last song is pretty sick, but otherwise it’s kind of a wash.

That's not my taste in musik. But ok

More of a "vibe" album than a "composition" album. Good stuff!

One of the most interesting voices I've ever heard, but that was really the most noteworthy part of this album (negative or positive). I'm not a prude by any means but Why'd Ya Do It had both of my eyebrows up by my hairline for six whole minutes

This is largely unpleasant but very middle of the road for the most part. Guilt is a smooth little number with driving bass and backing sax. Very good. What's the Hurry is also good with nice guitar solos and Why'd You Do It has a decent groove to it (with surprisingly graphic lyrics that were a distraction!) Overall held back by the slower plodding stuff though.

not bad

"Broken English" by Marianne Faithfull is a bold departure from her earlier work, showcasing a raw and edgy sound that reflects the tumultuous period of her life. Released in 1979, the album features a mix of rock, punk, and new wave influences, with Faithfull's distinctive voice delivering lyrics that are often dark and introspective. While the album's experimental nature and Faithfull's powerful vocals are commendable, some listeners may find the music and themes too abrasive or challenging. The production, while innovative, can feel somewhat dated at times. Overall, "Broken English" is a fascinating and daring album that marks a significant artistic evolution for Faithfull. Fans of experimental rock and artists pushing the boundaries of the genre will appreciate its unique qualities.

Nothing special for me here.

Interesting. She had a lot to say for her broken years. Sad and gifted.

Not bad, not memorable though. I did not mind listening to this.

I was going to say that Billie Holiday did the “damaged songbird” thing better with her album Lady in Satin but then I got to Why’d You Do It? and fuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh. Faithfull wasn’t a damaged songbird; she was a damaged bird of prey. Damn.

i'm only really familiar with marianne faithfull as being related to the rolling stones, with her hit cover of the stones' song "as tears go by" - in a lot of respects she reminds me of nico, in style and not necessarily in relation to a band. that being said, i didn't know what to expect from a new wave album from her. and what i got was not really all that much. her voice is not your stereotypical "nice" voice, which is alright, but the instrumentation here is so middle of the road new wave that her voice does not really carry this album. the songs are ok, nothing special. her john lennon cover is pretty dull and repetitive (although that's a bit on the source material, but maybe a song that is entirely a folk ballad should not be a new wave song). mostly i just feel like this album doesn't bring anything bombastic or interesting, as i would expect from a new wave album. a lot of her contemporaneous new wave artists were doing very creative, forward thinking things and it just isn't happening here. this album sounds like if you had a really watered down elvis costello album. her vocals are vaguely interesting but not good enough or fascinating enough to make this album worth listening to again. sorry, didn't care for this one.

Pretty solid album delivered with tenacity, yet it remains fun and for the most part interesting. It has a couple pretty standard tracks that prevent it from being a great album. 3.5/5 Fav track: Broken English

Pretty fierce lyricism, delivered with a ton of attitude. Felt predictive of Nick Cave and his contemporaries. Musically it's not quite as interesting for me, but most of the time it provides a competent backdrop for the star of the show. Three and a half. Fave track: Why'd Ya Do It

Picked it up on a whim for a dollar in a second hand CD shop in Los Feliz a couple of years ago, and it seems like a bargain at the time. I don't have anything profound or useful to say about this album, other than that I like it a little but not a lot.

3 stars

This did not sound like 1979. And that is a compliment. It was good. Though I am now thinking back to it and am having trouble remembering the music. Only a few things got stuck in my dumb brain. There are some spicy lyrics in there for sure. But the music itself wasn't too memorable I suppose. This is "good" as far as I am concerned.

Enjoyed the back half more than the front. Her voice is strained and grungy in the best sort of way. Ballad of Lucy Jordan and the Working Class Hero cover were stand outs

First time listening, to this one. I like several songs. It definitely has a 70's vibe.

Charmingly weird. Not great and probably wouldn't listen again, but you can hear a lot of different influences in the music, and for 1979 I think it's kind of cool and holds up pretty well. 3.3.

I bought the single "Broken English/Brain Drain" when it first came out and wondered if the whole album was equally good. The other songs sound pretty dated, missing the mark on the arrangements. She needed a more creative producer.

A little bit punk, a little bit Jean-Michel Jarre, a little bit folk. The last track is FILTH no?

Meh, it was okay. Had some good guitar in places but was generally quite forgettable.

Pretty funky, janky, new-wavy, but somebody is trying a little too hard to be Stevie Nicks.

Pretty decent!

i liked the voice at first but after a lot of the croaks i got annoyed. impressive at first but then it got boring real fast. the music was definitely a very cool sound- especially in the song what’s the hurry- gave doctor who vibes. i’m pretty torn on this because i’ve been trying to lessen the 3s i give out but honestly it evened out to be pretty average.