Broken English

Great post punk album, and yet also like a more interesting 80s pop star than the ones we ended up with, even before that decade began.

I would rather listen to Vogon poetry.

This is fucking crap

She's fun. Would have loved to this rock and roll hot mess in the 70s.

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

I just couldn’t.

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

A bit boring really 2

It was fine. I thought reading about the background of the album was more interesting than the album itself. Some of the songs had a great groove. Standout songs: Guilt and Why'd Ya Do It

Deep raw emotion. Strong 3/5

An interesting listen but not something I would come back to.

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.

Today is a high 2 for me, much of it passed me by but I like the production and the sound of her vocals.

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?

He leído su biografía porque me sonaba el nombre y me he quedado loca. El sonido que hace es muy inteligente y seductor, recoge el movimiento futurista-emancipador de los 70s-80s y a la vez consigue separarse del resto de grandes cantautoras de la época de una manera que no sé explicar. "Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV. And you think you're so clever and classless and free". Me cae bien Mariana. Favs: Brain Drain, The Ballad of Lucy Jane, Working Class Hero

Mi primer contacto con la voz rasgada de Marianne, que en sus notas más altas y entusiastas me recuerda a Stevie Nicks, y en las más discretas y melancólicas, a Julee Cruise. Es decir: me gusta, y mucho. Obviamente no me transmite tanto, pero puedo ver perfectamente su appeal. Canciones directas y electrizantes con sonidos potentes, oscuros, casi teatrales, y perfectamente sostenidos por una producción que juega entre sintetizadores (let's fucking go), percusión seca (let's fucking go) y guitarras incisivas (mis favoritas jeje, let's fucking go). Por esta época el art pop que populariza Kate Bush ya empezaba a forjar su legado, así que me alegro de escuchar representantes del género tan interesantes como Marianne. Favs: Broken English, Working Class Hero, Why'd Ya Do It

A very good and introspective record with interesting sounds on it. This kind of record is why I am in this challenge. It’s exposes me to everything especially things like this that I should know.

It sounds too much like what I'd think of when I hear people complain about there being an overrepresentation of random british new wave, it's easy and listenable but it doesn't reach any particular highs or compel my ears much, something something but what about the lyrics something something

The ballad of Lucy Jordan is really good. This album is ok. I don’t hate it. I wouldn’t seek it out either.

Didn’t really like it much at all.

Enjoyable, need to spend more time with it.

Standouts Guilt

I was severely disappointed in the lyrics, not fond of the vocal delivery (more spoken word than it is singing), and pretty meh about the music. I will say it was well-recorded. I had high hopes for this, given the hype about the album and the artist. Kind of a bummer ⭐⭐

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

Surprisingly progressive, with electronic sounds and almost an 80s feel to it, but I struggled to get into it.

Classical Album.

I already knew since 30 years ago since it is considered a Classic! Lennon's cover so good and Broken English has that neurotical punche that rocks.

gute stimme. 3.5.

I've never really listened to Marianne Faithfull. I stand by that decision. 3/10

“Released in 1979 following periods of homelessness, heroin addiction, and scandal, Marianne Faithfull's opus recovered her from exile and captured a generation's disillusioned comedown.” — Lindsay Zoladz, Pitchfork https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17565-broken-english-deluxe-edition/

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

#728. If I could specifically get less of this, that would be grand. 2/5: nah

It’s ok

I immediately knew I was going to love this album. The title song is absolutely brilliant, as is Witches' Song and The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan. What a powerful album.

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.

This album is how I imagine ABBA would sound if they forgot how to write good music and rebooted with a tone deaf Miley Cyrus as their lead singer. No disrespect to Marianne Faithfull – she had a distinct voice, made an audience for herself doing this kind of music and clearly didn’t have an easy life. At the same time, I’m glad this is her only album on the list because I don’t think I could take another batch of tracks like these (even if it’s as short as Broken English is). The one redeeming factor for me is that a couple of the tracks ("Why’d Ya Do It," for example) have SOME compelling instrumental moments. However, they’re few & far between and don’t save the songs from being completely unreplayable in other regards. Never again. Highlights: N/A

Really didn't like this one - especially the electric blues tracks.

if stevie nicks and tom waits had a love child who released an album. If that's your thing, you'll love this album. It's not mine though.

Très cool vibes, jolie voix très crunchy.

Overall I enjoyed it

My first response was that this kind of felt like someone's mum - albeit a very cool mum - has had enough of this sh*t and decided to tell it like it is through the medium of a new wave album. Perhaps because I did find this an uncomfortable listen in places. It's heartfelt and quite a tough listen at times. To quote Mark E. Smith "I don’t particularly like the person singing on this L.P. That said, I marvel at [their] guts". Not one I would play often, but I am glad it exists.

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.

Eh

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

Wow! This album kept surprising me! The first track was solid, the next two were kinda meh for me but by the synth-funk breakdown at the end of “Guilt” I realized this was something a little more special. The rest of the album is super strong, I am sold. Marianne Faithful sounds so effortlessly cool. The album cover is fitting because of her raspy vocal delivery, I imagine her holding a cig in the recording booth while pumping this out. 8/10 Favorite tracks- “Broken English” “Guilt” “

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

Quand même un vibe. Certaines chansons feelent comme des monologues

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.

When Marianne Faithful released her first single in 1964 a song called 'As Tears Go By' written by Mick Jaggar (her soon to be lover) she was an ethereal looking 17-year-old golden-haired, fresh-faced schoolgirl. By 1970 Mick & her were separated both her music & movie career were at a standstill. She would record a handful of singles, act in a handful of movies and get lost in the dark blur that is heavy drug use, homelessness & mental issue. In 1980 she released Broken English looking/sounding completely different than she did just a decade earlier her voice a hoarse mess due to endless cigarettes, whiskey and health issues. It was a shocking reinvention that somehow worked. Broken English with it's at times gritty confessional lyrics backed with loungey/new wave/punk-ish music put her back on the map where she stayed until her death earlier this year. So long, Marianne. I much prefer her 1960s work in fact the first time I heard this album few years ago I HATED IT I wanted the pretty songbird that I could relate to not this messed up looking lady looking like death warmed over & singing about nodding off while giving head. Years later (today) I heard Broken English again & I liked it a great deal more- it made sense.

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.

This is #day411 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… honestly, I've had a complicated relationship with this record. I initially rated it low, but it kept lingering in the back of my mind, so here I am, revisiting it. For me, it often starts with the cover, and Broken English is one of those that instantly grabs your attention. It's up there with, say, The Marble Index... that kind of striking, unforgettable image. Musically, this is exactly what I like about the late '70s-early '80s: a perfect new wave backdrop, dark and brooding to boot. I also get the sense that this record tells a story of the resurrection of an artist pulling herself back from a low point. Personal highlights: the title track and especially "Guilt." Guess I'm finally landing on a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day412.

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.

great start

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?

I LOVE the album cover, and it's a cool album overall

Una sorpresa para recordar

Great album

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

Went back for a second closer listen.

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.

Love this album — has a dirty, sleazy vibe throughout, with sleek late 70s/early 80s production and the unmistakable Marianne Faithfull's raspy delivery.

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.

it's just.. not.. that.. interesting... zzzzz

I'll have to listen to her stuff earlier in her career to see what she sounded like before the drug use took a toll on her voice. Unfortunately, I'm just not a fan of the vocals on this one. Musically, it's solid (although I'm not huge on the blues of Brain Drain and the bluesy new wave of What's the Hurry?). It's odd that this album is described as new wave though. Mostly sounds closer to a bluesy/folk post-punk on certain tracks (Broken English, Guilt). Definitely an album that's weirdly all over the place genre wise, but also feels pretty cohesive. Guilt kinda feels like a punky Pink Floyd, if you can imagine that. But the vocals just aren't doing it for me, and even the backing vocals don't gel with the leads. So yeah. Good musically, unfortunately not my thing vocals wise. Broken English and Guilt are probably the only tracks I really like, despite her vocals.

A great voice and lyrically interesting album. It absolutely has a place in this list.

Limp, weak songs, nothing jumps out, just wallpaper for her to moan and groan over.

I know that we tend to lionize people who overcame drug addictions or other bad situations, and in some cases that’s totally fair. But in other cases, we make it more than what it really is. That feels like the case here. She reminds me a bit like Stevie Nicks, but she vastly pales in comparison for two reasons: 1. Her voice is inferior and not nearly as interesting. 2. Her songwriting is not good. This album was pretty bad as a result, leading me to wonder, if she wasn’t a drug addict and lived on the streets for a while, would anyone really care?

Pas ma vibe, et la voix est juste non. L'instrumental est raisonnable, pour ça 2/5.

Similar voice inflections to the mom from Mary Poppins.

A bit weird but sounded ahead of its time

If you told me, this was early demo tapes of Cyndi Lauper, I would believe you

Baller. Ikke egentlig det jeg tenker på som New Wave, mer inspirert av golden era Pink Floyd art rock. Trodde at dette måtte ha kommet i kjølvannet av Edge of Seventeen, men neida, det var vel heller Nicks som dro en Faithfull enn vice versa.

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

Dette var slapt. Hun prøver også å være edgy og tøff, men tror ikke helt på det

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

One of the greatest comeback albums ever.

Meh, couple of okay tunes I remember from the time. But somehow that cool chic is now just sort of lacklustre.

Not a fan of the nasally vocals

Once I get past the raspy voice, I understand the depth of emotion in the lyrics. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan is good, and the profane rage of the betrayed lover in the final track gives an energy that breaks from the introspection that precedes.

I was so jazzed when I saw this was the album for today. It's an absolute banger, I'm shocked the reviews are averaging below 3.

Remember that one time your friend's mom with a voice that sorta sounded like Stevie Nick's made a demo at the mall? Yeah, well we found it.

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.

Surprisingly good album to listen to, quite fun and very poignant. One I will revisit but not all that often

Sleepworking....

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.

I haven’t heard much else from Marianne Faithfull, but I know her earlier albums were more folk-based. For me, this one didn’t quite hit the mark. I understand she was trying to explore post-punk and new wave, but the execution felt uneven. Some songs work better than others, but overall, it feels like she stepped a bit too far outside of her comfort zone. Her gravelly voice and singer/songwriter approach don’t always line up with the music, which made the album feel a little off-balance to me.

Enjoyed the first half, I like the voice a lot as well as the mellow rhythmic vibe. Second half was a bit weaker but not bad. Favorite song was Brain Drain. 7/10

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

At the beginning of Marianne Faithfull's album “Broken English,” the song of the same name sets the tone: sequencer bass, synthesizer, guitar with lots of reverb, and, of course, the monotonous drums typical of new wave, where you're never quite sure if it's not a drum machine playing—and, of course, Marianne's distinctive voice. Unfortunately, this formula remains unchanged throughout the other seven songs, and the mood stays pretty much the same throughout. It's a shame, but in the end, what remains is mainly boredom.

The kind of voice you get from smoking all the cigarettes.

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

Nothing about this was captivating to me.

I thought this was pretty good. 3.5

What a musical journey.

I didn't really like Broken English, but the rest of the album was solid.

Dark, sparse.

Meh

While I appreciate this was a comeback album from a troubled life she lived, the Pop-Rock-Folk-Country genre just doesn't do it for me. Favorite Track: "Broken English".

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.

Forgettable

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.

Langweilig

Caustic, raw, emotion-filled. I liked it.

Superb! I know this is considered her masterpiece, but I wonder how much of that is due to its being considered her comeback. In my mind, anyway, 1987’s Strange Weather was a touch stronger. (And it has a redemption angle, too.) Anyway, I love Broken English’s early-ish New Wave sound, and the songs are strong from start to finish. Of course, Faithfull’s world-weary vocals are always the draw. If I could, I’d give the album 4.5 stars.

dosta dobro! premda se ne mogu zamislit da slušam

I probably need to listen to this quite a lot more. Not sure hmmm

An overlooked album with a fascinating backstory.

pretty good

Surprisingly good

Didn't dig it. Sort of a crummy pop album.

On initial listen, never hearing of Marianne Faithfull, it honestly sounded like some cheesy early 80s wine-mom local radio soft rock that snuck onto this list somehow (I now see it was released in Nov '79). After reading a bit about the highs and very-lows of Marianne's career, its importance seems to make more sense. The record is more of a redemption story from starting as a young pop singer, actress, and socialite -- known for her distinctive melodic voice -- then her highly publicized relationship and breakup with Mick Jagger, losing custody of her son, years of heroin addiction, anorexia, and homelessness... and getting back into the business again with her new permanently-altered voice which gives a whole new sound and impact to her music. Learning more about the story behind the music gives me an added appreciation to its sound, and I am intrigued to know more about her life and career. To me however, the context of this album still seems to be the main driver for getting high review scores and making this list. Without that, it sounds like wine-mom suburbs jams.

While I like her worn vocal style I thought this dance rock outing by Faithfull was pretty bland.

Marianne’s ability to come back and make a solid album after years of crazy life experiences is impressive, but only carries the music so far. There’s a few gems in this otherwise meh album though! “The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan” is a fun story with an instrumental that very much sounds like it’s out of the New Order playbook. Like, this is very “Your Silent Face”. “Working Class Hero” has a scathing view on class struggle and societal structures/stereotypes. The closing “Why’d Ya Do It” is just crazy especially given it’s time, just listen to it is all I can say. Everything else was very fugue and forgettable. Not bad, but not notable to my ears. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve had a universal slam dunk album, or much lately thats beyond the year 2000. Firm 2/5 on this one. Just wish there was more substance to latch on to

I admire the vibes but this chick's voice sounds like if Stevie Nicks had a frog in her throat

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.

classy but nope

Listening blind I would conclude this was a cool, tight little band and perhaps dated them a couple of years later. Faithful’s backstory has a hook that could trap a lesser record into a trite comeback narrative - Rick Rubin has made this an industry - but the bite of the songs, kicked off by a pair of ambiguous, ominous stories, the gloomier chords predominant, the confident synth-drums-guitar motor, lowkey and smoky, and finally that voice and enunciation, carries this to the top tier, triumphantly European too. Asides to Si: 1. Fab “WCH” cover, the rhythm of those lines are immortal, instantly recognisable. 2. Feel the Haines connection is more than the Baader-Meinhof reference: bitterness, chord choice, romanticism. 3 . Mudhoney’s cover of Sonic Youth’s “Halloween” sounds like a litigation-bait homage to “Why’d Ya Do It”. The original, strangely, not so much.

I've owned this forever but don't usually get beyond the magnificent "..Lucy Jordan" (fun fact, written by the same person as "The Giving Tree"! Quite a career that dude had). It's all very good, very new-wave-synthy with extraordinary delivery throughout ("Why'd Ya Do It") and Stevie Winwood on keyboards (2nd time he's popped up unexpectedly recently, also on "Berlin"). RIP Marianne - go read the various tributes in the UK press; beloved by musicians and film-makers old and young.

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

Enjoyed listening to this album immensely. A person who was very much part of the British Invasion. Her voice says it all. New Wave? Yes Wave.

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

Ahhh jeez. An album that feels like it’s on here because of the tragic story rather than the actual quality of the album.

Day 31 I have listened to this record maybe two times before. Absolutely LOVE Marianne's voice and I have been obsessed with the ballad of Lucy Jordan for years! The new wave influence and her raspy voice blend perfectly and sounds gorgeous. (4/5)

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

Muy buena la onda del álbum. Sonido retro pero bastante dark a la vez. La voz es muy rara, por momentos me encanta por momentos no me cierra para nada

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

:D

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

I feel bad because she obviously poured her whole being into this album but I didn't really enjoy it and I think it verges in forgettable

She sounds like the precursor to Natalie Merchant, et al.....meh.

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 ⭐️

Damn, it sounds like she's seen some shit

80s synth pop. Not my thing at all.

4.3

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

Entirely unremarkable and no standout tracks for me.

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

Eh kinda boring and feels like she's trying to be edgy but maybe she was back then :shrug:

Neat.

Bad

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

Whoa. Not what I was expecting!

Unfortunately this feels like one of the instances where the artist may be more interesting than their art :( I don't mind her deeper voice, but I'm struggling to get behind the often messy quality of the backing. I also don't think that the lyrics are nearly as inspired as some people interpret them to be.

Good English

I have mixed feelings about this album. it's certainly an experience but it falls flat in a number of ways. it's like that kind of artist that doesn't really sing when they're performing but instead speaks musically. I don't have a lot of examples of that that I like. there are few interesting and solid songs but everything is quite same-y. I like her cover of working class hero even though she is no such thing. Best: Broken English and Why'd You Do It

Decent

Why, why, why is this on the list. This is horrible.

Her voice just became worse over time. I don’t really want to listen to a chain smoker sing

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.

um, no. why is this on the list??

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

Much, much better than I expected. Her voice is not great, but it works. Cover was Working Class Hero was great.

I actually kinda liked this one. Working class hero is a jam.

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

Her desperate copycat vocal stylings of Stevie Nicks except the cracking voice is out of tune, lifeless and follows the same listless melody.

It's such an impressively great album. It has a very interesting combination of sounds, even though the album has a main blues rock sound. Faithfull's voice matches so good the songs, giving them a very original touch.

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

This was pretty awful. She’s clearly only famous for who she slept with.

No thank you. Famous for being pretty and having a famous boyfriend. If i was given 7 albums and a host of famous and talented friends id produce better. The voice is weak, the lyrics are meh, the playing is fine, the cover at the end isnt really of value and usually I consider a short album a sign of something well edited with consistent high quality but here its just that she had little to say.

I get the mystique. I saw her over the years on TV and knew about the Jagger connection. But just not much of a voice. She sort of sounds like a singing goose on this. Not for me.

Fav songs in order: Why'd Ya Do It; Broken English; Brain Drain I have complicated feelings about this one. I actually really, really like it. The song choices, production, tight length are outstanding. Provocative, powerful, sad. However there are moments, many moments, I wish her voice wasn't so shot through. "Broken English" is where I would like someone else to be singing this song. She's reaching for notes her voice cannot truly find. Her voice works better when she is spitting anger and bile in "Why'd Ya Do It". The album art is '80s cool before the decade arrived. Love it.

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

Oh wow I realllly don't like her voice, her delivery. The lyrics are intense, the arrangements good, but I can't get past the singing. The album cover is cool, she seems cool, I want to like this, I don't.

I saw the phrase "raw emotion" come up a lot when researching this album, and that seems like a fair descriptor. Went in with no knowledge of this album or of Faithfull, and found it a pretty captivating listen. Hovering between 3 and 4, but I'll go with 4. A very cool, very human album. If this came up on shuffle, I'd be delighted.

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”

Oh this was a tremendous discovery. Dark, moody and synth - this slots in next to albums like Bowie's Low and Reed's Transformer in my head. I'll have this on repeat for the rest of the day. A very high 4 - on another day it might be a 5.

Why does this sound sleazy to me?

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

2,5

This was such a fascinating album to listen to. Some of the lyrics would certainly raise some eyebrows today, let alone in the 70’s. It’s very graphic, and very lyrically punk. The music itself doesn’t feel punk, but the vibe is very much so. It’s almost as if Carole King and Joan Jett fused into one person.

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.

This lady stinks, background music was ok

People must have been really polite in the 1970s, because apparently nobody explained to Marianne that her voice was absolutely shot. She was 32 when this album was recorded...she sounds like she's at least in her late 60's. Don't do drugs, kids. Faithfull herself described it as her masterpiece. Yeah, it's a piece of something alright.

I understand the context of her struggles, but I don’t feel like the target audience for this one.

Such an interesting raspy voice.

Expected to like it but didn't

Album 826 of 1089 Marianne Faithfull - Broken English (1979) Rating : 3.75 / 5 I first heard this one about a year ago and ended up buying the vinyl—not what I expected from Marianne Faithfull, but in the best possible way. This album is harder, edgier, and more punk-influenced than I ever imagined. If you only knew her earlier work or hadn’t kept up with her career, you might expect something more poppy and subdued—but this hits with grit and attitude. The musicianship is solid all around, and Faithfull’s voice adds a rawness that fits perfectly. Her cover of “Working Class Hero” is a standout, and overall this one was a very pleasant surprise. One of the many great women rockers I’ve discovered (or rediscovered) during this listening project.

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!

noooot sure why this is even on this list. production wise it was good, vocals and delivery wise not the greatest. I only knew her as one of Mick Jaggers girlfriends for the longest time, had no idea she had a musical career...and I guess now I know why no one mentioned her music....

Great album, I like the production and the vocals are fantastic

This album is the equivalent of being fluffed by Hylda Baker for what seems like an eternity... before Gemma Arterton slinks into the room and sits on your dick. It was a real dirge, dull songs, uninterested vocal and bad arrangements, plodding along down one-star street until BAM! just when you think you can't take any more you're smacked in the face by ‘Why D’ya Do It’ at the very end. Was the whole album a set up for the sucker punch? Why D’ya Do It is a sneering, vulgar, emotional masterpiece of a tune and worth the wait (just). From bumpy one-star street I can’t now give the album more than a 3 - after all it’s basically one great song - but that song is a 5.

Not for me. 1/5

Based on the reviews, this is apparently one where you need to understand the backstory, time and place to "get" this album? I wasn't at the time and place. And I don't know the backstory. And I don't really love this one in and of itself.

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

The album was okay, but a lot of it just droned. I was also surprised that on an album that was only 37 minutes, there was a cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero".

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

beautiful beautiful album… especially the original songs… i love her

It was fine

She reminded me of Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks. Deep emotional lyrics which speak of pain and hardship. It speaks to feelings many woman have as we age and reflect on the negative things that have made the harder parts of us and coming out stronger.

This is a pretty cool album and she seems a bit ahead of her time. Never heard this artist before. I liked the John Lennon cover. And I think the music to Why'd Ya Do It is fantastic. Her lyrics are totally vulgar but damn. I'm seriously impressed that she went for it back in 1979. rock on!

I really liked this. I’ve never heard of Marianne Faithfull and she just died earlier this year. RIP, I wish I would’ve discovered her sooner. Her voice has Cyndi Lauper vibes, and turns out Cyndi was influenced by this album and had a lot of love for it. Neat! I like her sound and the feeling and depth she performs with. The Working Class Hero cover was so dark and cool. What’s the Hurry and Why’d You Do It were other faves. I dug this.

Good

Sucks

She might be cool and she has a history with rock and roll, but I didn't like her music or voice.

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.

Not a fan, too 80s synth

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.

Did not expect it to be that bad… Fav: -

Another favorite

The life phases of a Boomer songwriter... Phase 1: "Look at all the crazy things I have done! It's like the universe was speaking through me, maaaaan!" Phase 2: "I ruined my life by doing all the crazy things! Look at the pain the universe has caused me!" Phase 3: "I've grown as a person, and now I need to get back to doing crazy things again! The universe needs me!"

Very raspy voice, and it's all a bit samey. I feel like people rate this more for the sob story than the music

jävlar vad bra detta var med bra hörlurar. tighta 37 minuter. måste lyssna igen.

It's warranted a second listen

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.

Es ist ein kompromissloses Album voller rauer Emotionen und düsterer Atmosphäre. Mit einer markanten Stimme und mutigem Stilwandel hin zu *New Wave* und *Punk* gelingt ihr ein Werk, das auch heute noch unter die Haut geht.

Not for me

This one's a head scratcher. She doesn't have the most enjoyable voice, the songs sound like one's that come from the $1 bin at the local record store. Every track was kinda boring. So it's not songwriting or vocal prowess, I don't think it's the backing band or the production, what got this album added to the T1001 list? It has a decent amount of listens on Spotify, with one "hit" (in what country?) in "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" at 40M listens. It was as weak as all the others, this must be a British thing. How happy was John Lennon with her cover of "Working Class Hero"? The final track is god awful, is it the rawness people liked on this album? It's raw alright, like fresh rugburn. This was a complete miss for me, I can't justify how this made the list. 2 stars, maybe closer to 1. I'd never listen to it again.

An absolute treasure from an addict.

The story around the album was really intriguing but the music itself didn't really connect with me.

I can't imagine a rawer, more moving album. She had been through six kinds of hell by this point in her life, and she turned it into true art.

2.5

3.75

A good album, I liked Guilty and Working Class Hero the most.

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

Easy to listen to, fairly solid album. Just not my style currently

Quite interesting...

Interesting to learn about her background, her voice is a lil brutal

First listen

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

One of those pieces of art that changed the way I looked at the world. Seeing To Kill a Mocking Bird and then reading the book when I was in Year 7. Seeing a Mark Rothko and realising there was more to the world. Hearing the White Album and realising I knew nothing. And in 1980 pulling Broken English out of my sister's boyfriend's record collection. The good thing was I had no knowledge of her backstory, so I came to her cold. Everything about this exemplified a woman in pain, who expressed her experience through song. The cover of Lennon's Working Class Hero turns the song on its head. Brain Drain, Guilt, the story of a woman's struggle was laid out in the most perfect way. Now her performance is extraordinary but crucially it is backed up by some fine playing and great arrangements. The Ballad of Lucy Jordon is one of those great moments in western culture, a whole lot of elements coming together to make a perfect moment, a breath, a pause, a little grab of life with all its glories and miseries wrapped up in one bundle. Shel Silverstein popped up a few weeks ago having written Boy Named Sue. Here he is again throwing down the gauntlet to the ridiculous notion that you can only write from personal experience. If middle aged Jewish blokes were banned from writing about women we'd have no Say a Little Prayer and no Ballad of Lucy Jordon, think on that. And while we are thinking, it is incredible to think that the only accompaniment to Marianne is Stevie Winwood on a synthesizer! Just the two of them, it is an extraordinary performance from both of them. This is an album for the ages, so long Marianne.

I worked for a few years in my early 20s at Scratches Records in Newtown, which was for a long time, the only store in Australia to allocate equal shelf space to female artists as men. This was a pretty radical stance in the 1980s, although I believe there is a store in Tasmania now that only stocks female artists. Peter and Janette, who owned Scratches, introduced me to 'Broken English', as a case in point of a female artist making a strong artistic statement from a female point of view. They also taught me to watch out for Australian pressings of Broken English that omit the track 'Why'd Ya Do It?' The story behind 'Broken English' is well documented. I am uncomfortable with the way the legends of some albums are inextricably intertwined with the story of their creation, usually involving the suffering and/or death of the artist. But while 'Broken English' is clearly informed and affected by Marianne Faithful's tumultuous personal history (you can hear it in her voice, so much more worn than her 60s pop voice), the album is not presented as a form of trauma porn. It much more a tone of "I've seen some shit and I have some things to say, and you'd better listen". I love that Marianne, fully expecting that nobody would ever let her make another record, leaves it all out on the floor. She hides nothing, holds nothing back. But it's not a form of exhibitionism -- The Ballad of Lucy Jordan is clearly the story of a character with a very different life than hers -- but she understands the loss and pain and anger and experience and can express those so eloquently in her singing. The original songs are really strong (including the title track and Why'd Ya Do It?) and they fit well as a coherent body of work with the covers, some obscure and some well-known. It is a musically fascinating album too, very musically forward at the time. it is clearly strongly informed by post-punk and new wave. It sounds of its time but has aged well. I think a lot of that comes down to the great playing that always keeps Marianne in the spotlight. The music always serves the song and her performance of the song. I often complain about the under-representation of female artists on the 1001 list, and this is an excellent example of a great work of art that could only have come from a great female artist. More like this, please.

Her great comeback after she lost custody of her son, struggled with heroin addiction and anorexia and lived on the streets as a homeless. Her past is all in her voice on this album. It's a very nicely made new wave and bluesy folk collection of songs with unique textures and great production that stands out. I like that it is a short album that doesn't overstay its welcome.

Strange singer, strange voice. One hit wonder.

Meh. Whiny. Nothing I would listen to again.

Not for me, happy it's over Will I listen to again: 0%

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

I enjoy the backstory to this record but feel like it lacks direction, and the early New Wave aesthetics along with her voice are a tad unsettling The title track rips though.

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.

People love a comeback.

Best when she is bad ass. Glad this was on the list I never would have listened otherwise. It sounds surprisingly fresh and I like her rough voice.

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

last song is wild

A 1979 new wave backdrop with a singer/songwriter overlay that largely succeeds. “Guilt” and “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” were the strongest songs. Opening song (title track) was dull and the angry closing track was vile, leaving a total of 4 other songs that largely succeed. A pleasant surprise. I’m rounding up to 4.

This is a very interesting albums with solid tracks and some misses. I'm rounding up from three (3) to four (4) based on a degree of difficulty. I always thought of her more as an actor/model/character over a musical artist, and in the wake of a pretty crazy lifestyle emerges with a very solid album. I was crazy about her take on Working Class Hero (Lennon), but it's better than most Beatle/former Beatle covers. I don't usually single out tracks in album discussion, but Guilt was my favorite. This was a surprise for me.

Had only heard individual songs from Marianne Faithfull, but I liked this. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan was a highlight for me, as was her cover of Working Class Hero.

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.

Digging the instrumental out of the gate on Broken English. Love the confident strut with warbly shit in the background. Vocals are not my favorite, but they also aren't particularly off-putting. I am finding that I enjoy the song structures and instrumentals themselves -- very groovy and satisfying (writing this as I listen to the pocketed groove on Brain Drain). I've definitely heard Working Class Hero before -- ah yes, its a Lennon song. I enjoy this spin on it. Really enjoyed this one. Vocals were the lowest point throughout, but the instrumentation more than made up for it. 4 / 5.

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.

Great album. Didn’t know what to expect but this was raw and gritty and emotional, but it also felt like you could dance to it. I love the duality of that.

decent

Really nice album.

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.

Kinda rough, ngl

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

I’ve been reading a fair bit about Ms Faithful in the music press after her recent demise. I played this album not really knowing what to expect but I have had it on twice already today I can say I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

Fantastic album, RIP this fantastic artist

Marianne Faithful is fucking cool. En dit album ook. Nog nooit beluisterd, buiten The Ballad of Lucy Jordan of course, maar echt een wijs album. En een fucking coole cover van Working Class Hero! Why'd Ya Do It klinkt trouwens echt als een banger. 4.5

Beautiful.

Pretty boring Nothings bad but nothing stands out either

Cool, moody, slightly off-kilter rock. Very enjoyable. Favorites: Broken English, Guilt, Working Class Hero, Why'd Ya Do It

what was this 🥀 I mean seriously how does something like this drab end up on this list

5/10 I didn’t really love her frail voice and I’ll probably never come back to this on my own. However there were some good lyrical moments of going against deadbeat significant others.

Can't stand her voice

2.5/5 round up

I'm sure this was cool at the time. There are some groovy guitar and bass lines. Really liked the last song.

A bit bland. Can't really see anything special in this

I saw someone write that this album is here due to the context, not the content. That feels right to me. It isn't that it is a bad album. But it doesn't feel specific. It is a generic form of female led pop...and I can't tell if it is the start or the end of the genre. It is just really not much more than average...maybe even slightly below.

Nice surprise! Warm vocals

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 ✨.

It’s fine

And Your Bird Can Sing

3.5, tien un par de buenos temas

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

Jarring, intentually so it would seem. But give this a little time. Still jarring, but you might recognize a lot of depth and importance.

Great album from a great voice, love the title track, "Ballad of Lucy Jordan,"and that final kiss-off with lyrics that made me blush. Was that Keith Richard's playing on the last song?

I really enjoyed this. Interesting lyrics from someone whos clearly seen some shit, genre bending tracks, and a really cool john Lennon cover. Love how the last track just keeps going. Had only vaguely heard of Marianne Faithfull but I'll definitely listen to this again and check out more of her stuff

Ooh. this was the kind of album I was looking for, something unique that I wouldn't have found on my own

Wiw the closer Why Y'da do it was pretty intense and got this up a star. It got better as it went on maybe needs another listen

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.

So, can gastrointestinal issues be used as an instrument? The sound at the start of Broken English sounds a lot like flatulence. Her voice isn't much better. I'm starting to think the author of 1001 albums just wants to see how much crap people will listen to.

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.

What an album! Guilt is incredible, and The Ballad of Lucy Jordan was exactly what I needed.