Broken English

That last song had me shocked.

interesting album I was not familiar with sultry voice

This album surprised me. It started out almost tentative and scared, but by the end, it was full on riot grrrrl.

I'm assuming the artist is British and that's why it's on the list. Not a good listen. Don't recommend. Do better, list!

Interesting return from MF

Dark and creepy. This is definitely not her best album. Her life choices damaged a once beautiful voice. Very sad.

While she has a good voice, the album is incredibly lackluster

Just not an enjoyable voice. Some of the lyrics were interesting but the album just couldn't decide where it was going. The music itself was good.

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

decent but nothing remarkable

Hectic last track

<3 women who cannot sing

I wasn't even aware of Marianne Faithfull's album. I heard some of it from friends back then, but never felt the need to own the album myself. I think the voice is great, but it can also get on my nerves in the long run. Alongside Broken English and Workingclass Hero, I particularly liked the track Why'd Ya Do It. 4/5

Oh man, this is fantastic. I had no idea Witches' Song was a cover and this was the original. Wow! This album is definitely for me. I had no idea this 70s alternative electronic rock artist existed. Her voice and musical stylings remind me of bit of Patti Smith. I'm so glad this is on the challenge. I learned to like something new today.

I don't think I can forgive her for butchering one of my favorite John Lennon songs. The rest of the album was meh anyway.

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

Interesting new wave sound but I don’t love the quality of the vocals unfortunately. I found them more distracting than engaging

Little drama

Eeh

really liked everything about this except the experience of listening to it

Ultra lame

Mick Jagger never made a solo record this good... or really, a good solo record, period. Team Marianne all day every day

I found this a bit boring. Seems like it's mostly in the list for the context of being Faithful's comeback. The vocals don't quite have the power to bring the heft to the big moments. Instrumental bits are fine, there are some nice guitar licks and moody electronic sounds and whatnot, but nothing that massively grabbed me. The last track is by far the best on here for the venom and guitar solo, but the rest is dull

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

one of her best album

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

Helt kool

Great album. Had a hard life, our Marianne. My favourite thing about this album is that the NZ release is missing the best song 'Why'd ya do it' due to that pesky C-word. Still very prudish over here right through the 70's.

Cool album, not something I’d ever pick up outside of this list. Can’t say I’d recommend it to someone but pretty cool listen.

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.

Giving these bad reviews is always hard. You still made an album. I haven't. You made one after being fucked over by Mick Jagger in a custody case and wrecking your vocal chords while on heroin. But yet

Reaaally enjoyed this one. Would prob rate it 4.5 but apparently I lean towards being generous with stars on here. :)

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

Yeh idk

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

Probably won't listen again but that was quite enjoyable. Plenty of post-punk goodness in there.

Achei beeem vibes. Gostei da pegada, da super pra colocar pra tocar enquanto trabalha de ficar curtindo o som.

Lots of good numbers

Halfway through, and I am not too sure I like this album.

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.

What are you fighting for. Catchy tune I am not sure what this records impact is. Brain drain feels just like that she is draining all my energy. I think it work well as a record and the covers are awesome buy why'd ya do it is a crazy messy song. A anthem of cheating and also getting cheated on it is crazy two crazy people just calling each other out. I don't think its that iconic. Just okay but fun to listen to for an hour.

weird and interesting historically, not necessarily musically

Best Song: Broken English. Her fractured, breaking vocal quality is quite nice and original, and I felt it was most on display for this song. Worst Song: Working Class Hero. How dare you make me spontaneously think of John Lennon. Overall: She has a pleasant voice, sure, but nothing extraordinary. Plus, all that surrounds the voice is pretty standard fare for the time, so this really doesn't feel like it warrants inclusion on this list.

Its fine

Very cool, I enjoyed this a lot.

Yes! This is awesome!

Fantastic. Just the thing I needed today. Thumbs way up!

Yeah Marianne Faithfull deserves a spot on the list!

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

Not good.

How many writers does it take to write "What are you fighting for"x6? According to wiki, four. Why D'Ya Do It requires an explanation

went from a 1 to a 2 by the time I had listened to 1.5x of the album pointless lyrics and very "I'm such a unique person" art student disease

Just not very good at all.

This was really nice.

Eh it was okay. Didn’t enjoy the fart sounds in the first song. The rest of the songs didn’t have fart sounds but they had other problems. F teir.

Sounds like my grandma doing karaoke

When I was young I pretended to like Marianne Faithfull because I thought she sounded cool and then I was embarrassed when I actually heard her and did not enjoy her music, so I can’t really listen to this without cringing at my younger self. That being said, still not a fan. This album was…I don’t remember hearing anything pop out at me or make me want to listen more than once.

Nothing about the production or songwriting is too bad but the singer's voice is not for me at all. Pretty weird mix of 80's synthpop and a bit of 70's singer songwriter. Not for me

This feels more like someone who is popular for a story or associations vs just the music. 1001 is a lot but not sure about why it needs to be here. Could be missing something.

First impression, I do not find the vocals endearing, but that could change. It didn't change much. Some of the music was alright, but no better than many indie bands I've listened to that never made it big. Seems like an artist you might want to read about, but you don't need to hear this.

I had never listened to the album, I don't recall ever hearing any of the songs. I listened through it once and I hope to never hear any of these songs ever again. Complete and utter mediocrity.

Meh.

Nope I don't get it. And I hate her voice. Some of the tracks has an OK vibe but still - that voice.

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 is another new one for me. I like the music on here, but not a huge fan of the raspy voice. I'll give the rest of her albums a listen. Guilt is my favorite.

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.

love the synths but not a fan of her voice 2.5/5

Good production with lackluster vocals.

To compare this to any other magnificent album on the list is criminal

Favorite Track: Broken English I found this album to be pretty forgettable. No songs stood out to me. A very average album for the most part I rate this album 2.4/5

I never listened to much of Marianne's work. This album was pretty good

Such a touching album. Great songs, the production blends well rock and early Electronica and Marianne's voice is super special and exposed yet strong. The song broken English itself was a favorite of mine for a long time, but hearing the entire album now just makes me appreciate it more.

This is pretty good. I can hear a lot of the sounds I really enjoy in 80s pop starting to form here.

A decent album. I'm glad she recorded it and enjoyed some acclaim. It didn't set me on fire though and I didn't really get a sense of her as an artist, somehow.

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 isn't a bad album, and there were a couple songs I thought were okay...and I can definitely see how it is likely a precursor for New Wave or "proto-new wave." However, I find her voice grating, and I just didn't feel it holds up today, even if it is a good one-time listen "for historical purposes."

Wow this is a really cool album. Synth rock and psychedelic rock with really sharp, interesting lyrics. “Guilt” really grabbed me lyrically. “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” is a sad one. But the music contrasts the story with interesting synth-driven music. Marianne Faithfull’s version of John Lennon’s “Working Clads Hero” is fantastic! I found myself focusing on the lyrics as if the song was totally new to me. It’s such a great song and she totally makes it her own. Whoa, the closing track “Why’d Ya Do It” is incredible. Brutal and bitter but a total jam and a singalong too! I love that this could have been a singer-songwriter album. There’s that focus on songcraft and lyrics. But Marianne Faithfull makes sure that the music is as interesting and distinct as her lyrics. It’s tough to give an album a 5 on a first listen but I feel like I have to here. Rarely has an album on this list stopped me in my tracks like this. A lot of times the albums float past me and I wonder, “Would this have been better if I wasn’t partially distracted and listening on headphones while food shopping?” Today I had to stop more than once while cutting chicken and just listen to the songs. I’m gonna want to return to this album again and I’m so curious to here more by Marianne Faithfull.

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.

An album that I wouldn’t really listen to from the 1970’s that sounds like an album I wouldn’t really listen to from the 2010’s.

steve winwood: professional afterthought

Meh

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

Didn’t really listen. Whoops

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

4/5

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.

Yeah this was a big nope. Hated her voice, hated the music. The last two tracks saved it from a 1.

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 didn't get it.

Some okntracks but there isn’t anything Id ever come back for. 1.5 going down

Not my favorite 70s band or album. Didn’t get much. 4/10

Someone take the mic away from this old smoker lady. 1/10

Interesting vocals but quite tedious

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

Good beat, some explicit language

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.

This was not great. Boring and uninspired. I wondered if there was something I wasn't getting and checked others' reviews of this, and discovered that indeed, there was, but nothing musical. However, Marianne Faithfull's life story unfortunately doesn't make her music better. Not unlistenable to be fair, but the Deluxe Version on Apple Music seems to have the same tracks twice, and I'm just not masochistic enough to let the second mastering play through, even if they're somehow better.

Det eneste som ramte mig ved dette album er luknings nummeret. Rå tekst, rå vokal, en tekst som bliver spyttet ud. Den fik mig til at genlytte Billy Nomates, og jeg kom ikke tilbage til det her album igen.

Et kedeligt lyt, lige indtil coveret af Working ClassHero. Jeg tror ikke jeg har hørt et så velfungerende cover af en Lennon sang før. Men resten var en lang ørkenvandring i ligegyldighed.

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

1. broken englizh - 0 2. uuithchez zong - 0 3. brain drain - 0 4. guilt - 0 5. lucy jordan - 0 6. the hurry - 0 7. uuorking clazz - 0 8. do it - 0

That's not my taste in musik. But ok

The folk bits are kinda forgettable but the title track, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan and Why D'Ya Do It are all dark and snarky new wave. Her ashtray voice only adds to the decadent vibe this album has.

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

Hey, this album is great! Raw and atmospheric at the same time. Just a nice dose of artsy sounds on a post-punkish new wave. Wasn't prepared for that!

I did not like this

This production is strong, I like her smokey voice, but most of the songs just aren't very interesting. Broken English and Why'd Ya Do It were pretty good.

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

I wasn't feeling it. I'm not a fan of her vocals. I'm not sure if it's her voice or singing style. Maybe it's both

i don’t like her voice and it leads me to not enjoy any tracks on this

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

I had never heard this album before, so went in with no expectations. I really enjoyed it. I wonder if she’s an influence on Cyndi Lauper?

The singing is pretty annoying and all the songs just blend into one boring sound. It's really hard to tell them apart or get into it.

That was a really garbage one. Didn't enjoy it one bit.

Don't do drugs, kids.

"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.

Not for me

What a bad bitch. This album hit hard. Loved the lyrics and the ebb and flow of the mood. A fantastic discovery.

This one's cool. Like a proto Rick Rubin american Johnny cash rehabilitation before that was a thing. Her voice is rough, and suits the material perfectly. Excellent snarl and bitterness when needed, or world weary sadness on the ballad of... one. New wavish and punk influenced and likely influencing. I remember her and that distinctive voice from metallica in the late 90s? I thought I remembered her from REM around the same time, but turns out that was Patti Smith on E-bow the letter. Bitching cover too.

I didn't know much of Marianne Faithfull other than the fact that she was classic rock's Courtney Love. I didn't love this at first, and I still think the title track is the weakest one. But it's also out of place. Most of this album has an edge that I really like. I got a lot of "The Wall" vibes from this one.

Broken English Lagane stvari, artsy - od country to electro utjecaja

icon

This was not my jam.

A music major flunkee doing a shitty Prince impersonation. 1 WTF out of 5

I mean it's powerful, but that doesn't mean I enjoy listening to it.

Nothing special for me here.

Yeah not that good

Not horrible but never rose above unremarkable. I found her vocal style/affectations annoying/grating.

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.

Really cool and retro I liked it a lot! Going to check out more of her stuff!

It's a great pop album by a legendary singer. In fact, I find that this electronic sounds really helps to give more of contrast to Faithfull's rather raspy voice than many other instruments she had and would sing with.

Yes, the backstory is sad. I feel bad. So bad. For her and her child. But you really need to know that context to appreciate this album, or really, her voice for what it is. And the music is well done. But the voice is grating. I’m always reluctant to rate female artists poorly. Lord knows the incels doing this project can’t stand listening to any women, no matter how talented. But I’m having a hard time listening past her voice here. It gets points for the musicianship of the backing band though.

Maybe the most 1979 sounding album I’ve heard in some time. Not necessarily a bad thing, the synths are very good, it’s kind of danceable in a laid back way and has a bit of a punk (read: new wave) edge. It wasn’t the most engrossing record I’ve ever heard, there were a few songs that were just sort of there and it felt a little too polished, but overall it was good.

Rock peculiar. Versión de Working class hero. Un 4.

"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan".

I guess not everything on this list can be bangers

Listening with a glass of wine and a book, the catch in her voice keeps catching my attention

I bought this after reading "Faithfull: An Autobiography" c. 1995, and remember liking it, but it could well be 20 years or more since I last listened to it - somehow it slipped between the cracks in my collection/memory. Clearly this was a mistake, as it's as cracking an album as Madame Faithfull's voice (ba dum tish). The production dates it, but this is an album I'll be listening to much more, in anticipation each time of the crescendo of "Why D'Ya Do It" - as good a profanity laced closing track as you could wish for.

So good. A real banger.

Catchy album.

I wasn't familiar with any of Marianne Faithfull's music, but I'm so glad to hear this. The sound/production values are of that time, but very clean and crisp, without too much in the way of layered effects, but the synth sounds courtesy of Steve Winwood really add so much to this, paving the way for the great sounds coming up in the 80s. There is a definite punk influence but getting acquainted with where she was in her life by that point, the voice just befits the sound so well. It's a great listen. All the songs are really good, but my favorite tracks are Broken English, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, and Why'd Ya Do It?

A couple pretty good songs here, overall this was pretty damn underwhelming though.

This LP would be much better off if every track dropped a chorus or two - there are some interesting melodic ideas here, but each track feels bloated and as if there’s a runtime minimum Faithfull is stretching to reach. Also wish the Depeche Mode-like instrumentals from the first track had carried through the rest of the album, most of the remaining tracks feel pretty ho-hum instrumentation-wise

Not for me

Title track is great. Got my hopes up. Fairly weak tea from then on

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.

Marianne Faithfull's story is one of tragedy and perseverance. Having started out as a folk pop artist in the 60's, she had been romantically involved with Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. This fell apart in 1970 and, after losing custody of her son, she fell into heroin. The rest of the '70s would be Faithfull battling her addiction and homelessness. At her lowest, she would record demos with Barry Reynolds that would eventually get her signed with Island Records for her comeback album. Broken English is a radical embrace of the contemporary and forward-thinking music styles of the day. A little post-punk, a little funk, and a lot of new wave makes this a departure from her more folksy sound in the '60s. Combined with her raspy voice now affected by laryngitis, Faithfull had developed a distinct sound that made this album so well-received. Songs like Guilt and Why D'Ya Do It land their emotional impact, emphasizing the hurt in her voice.

it was neat

not bad, but there is a reason why I've never heard any of these songs

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

I’m not familiar enough with the rest of her work to know if this is par for the course or a kind of misstep in an otherwise solid catalogue. There was some lyrics I really liked but didn’t fully connect with this album overall. Not going to write her off though. Two and a half. Fave track: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan

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.

Absolute vibe, just not mine

Pros: only 37 minutes Cons: those 37 minutes were painful

Oof ouch owie my ears

Decent album. Not a favorite.

1.5 stars. Naw. I'll pass. Cool that she was making a comeback after fighting addiction, but I didn't like any of this. Especially the explicitly vulgar closing track.

Folk poprock, ikke så fængende, lidt irreterende vokal

I unexpectedly loved this and have now listened to it about 5 times. Yet another woman who has been overlooked because of the men she was with

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.

# 167 : Ok, not an awful album, but nothing great either. It's fine, but it's definitely one of those albums that is here because of context rather than content. 2 STARS

Something different - I enjoyed it!

Late 70's new wave/electro pop. Apparently Marianne used to date Mick Jagger until she got heavy onto heroin, lost her house and her kid, and lived on the streets for a few years. This is her first album after she got clean again, but similar to Billie Holiday, the years of drug abuse permanantly fucked her voice up. Left it more gravelly and in a lower register. It's a pretty solid album nonetheless. Steve Winwood did the synth parts for the album. Marianne does a solid cover of John Lennon's song Working Class Hero. Why'd Ya Do It made me laugh. The vulgarities in that song stood out against the rest of the record, but it was still a really solid song. The guitar work on that song in particular was spectacular! Favourite songs: Why'd Ya Do It, Brain Drain, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, Broken English, Working Class Hero Least favourite songs: Guilt 4/5

Not my favorite type of music....a little to electronic for me.

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

Favorite Tracks: Broken English Working Class Hero Guilt

This is my first Marianne Faithfull album, and from what I've read, her music dates back to the mid-60s, operating in the folk scene at the time. Similar to the Leonard Cohen 80s era, this is another folk artist who hopped on the new-wave train. There's a killer bassline on the opening title track. I like Marianne's delivery here, it's slightly off-kilter. I also like "Witches' Song" but I found a lot of the lyrics in this song and this album in general to be very cryptic but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing and par for the course for this type of music. The instrumentation is overall very low-key on this album, not too much interesting going on. Typically not a good thing but it spotlights Marianne's vocals and lyricism which are certainly worth paying attention to. "Guilt" is a lyrical highlight, showcasing the protagonist's fear of committing potentially harmful actions, and expressing guilt for even having these thoughts. "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" is also a very tragic track detailing the regrets of an older housewife and the instrumentation is particularly standout here. Despite working with the new-wave instrumentation on this album, Marianne sticks to her roots in terms of songwriting (I can only assume) as there is very much still a folk nature to the way everything's delivered on many of the songs here. It's a strange dichotomy that mostly works. The album has a strong ending as well with the ominous and dystopian "Working Class Hero" followed by "Why d'Ya Do it" which shows a complete switch up in Marianne's vocal delivery and lyricism when compared to the previous tracks. The instrumental is more lively here as well, filling the space with organs, horns, and an incredible post-punk groove that twists and turns throughout the track's 6-minute runtime. A much dirtier punk-inspired track that is probably my favorite here. I think the instrumentals of the earlier tracks leave a lot to be desired but overall, a very enjoyable listen. I'll be checking out her previous (and later) works after this. 7/10

Very very meh. Doesn't make me angry but I do not really enjoy any of these songs at all.

Sucks

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

Pretty good, kept growing on me. Her voice cracking/stopping so much was a little off-putting at first, but I must've gotten used to it by the end. I had never heard of her, so I read up on her life and how her life and it's troubles altered her voice. That last song caught me off guard lol.

Incredibly brave of this performer to release an album when you aren't very good at singing.

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.

Nice! Very good

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.

Once you get used to her voice, this is a good album.

Love that you can hear the dark side of life in her voice & felt Guilt to the core.

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

This actually made me mad. Like what was the point of this album, the songs so were so unbelievably meh.

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.

Ik luister deze albums altijd met koptelefoon en normaal staat het volume van de computer ongeveer op 10%. Door een mij nog onbekende oorzaak stond het volume vandaag op 100% en ik kan je vertellen dat ik dat ik dat synth-riedeltje van een seconde, waarmee dit album begint, nog heel lang ga herinneren. Pure pijn. Over pijn gesproken. Haar stem is aan gort door haar leven als zwerver en dat moeten we blijkbaar extra waarderen. Ik heb er een beetje moeite mee moet ik zeggen. Je had ooit zo'n dakloze (Daniel Mustard) die vol overgave 'Creep' zong en daarmee bekend werd. Bij hem had het straatleven z'n stem mooi verneukt. Deze mevrouw klinkt eerder als een Corry die afgelopen weekend te vaak heeft staan schreeuwen tussen het roken van Belinda Menthols door. Haar stem is niet lekker ruw geworden, maar vooral heel dun. De stem valt regelmatig zelfs weg en niemand in de studio die bedacht dat het in sommige gevallen toch beter was om het zinnetje even over te doen. Authentiek, doch kut. Ze leeft nog steeds, dus wat dat betreft heeft ze het goed gedaan. Dit was voordat goeie heroïne werd verneukt met fentanyl natuurlijk, maar toch. Het laatste nummer is een tikkie expliciet en daardoor zeker bijzonder. Qua album kom ik niet hoger dan 2 sterren.

The Swinging Sixties gave way to the slum Seventies and whatever glamor that was left was swallowed up by the grime. Marianne Faithfull was amongst the throng swallowed up and made worse for wear from these changing times. And when she re-emerged with the blue smoke atmospherics of Broken English, she sounded like it. Yet she wielded it as though it were a weapon and it often becomes another instrument alongside the spiky new wave that characterizes the album, most notably on The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, the title track, Brain Drain and, of course, Why'd You Do It. Whether it's in the standard release or the original mix, Broken English is Marianne's finest hour and a new wave hallmark. Favorites: Broken English, Witches' Song, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, Working Class Hero, Why'd You Do It, Sister Morphine (12" version). Generated on 1/25/24, reviewed on 1/31/24

This album is the embodiment of “zero fucks to give” and I absolutely loved it. Acerbic, clever lyrics and just excellent songs in general.

I'm sorry but her voice annoyed me. Apart from that it was unremarkable rock music.

An original cover-star of the British Invasion, and poster-girl for 1960's Swinging London, Marianne Faithfull arrived on the music scene with the sweet and solemn "As Tears Go By", a Jagger-Richards joint. Very soon afterwards, she became known solely as Jagger's girlfriend and "muse", inspiring numerous Rolling Stones songs. Jump-cut to 1979, and that's all over: her voice has weathered heroin, homelessness and heartbreak, and the singer who emerges in “Broken English” is notoriously pained and raw. It's a confronting listen, but a strikingly timely one: Faithfull slips into the new-wave stylings of the late 1970’s as easily as smoke through the lungs. Right from the off, the title track of "Broken English" must have taken the remnants of Faithfull's fanbase by surprise, while pricking the ears of alternative rock enthusiasts. Harsh guitar chords ring out over a pulsing rhythm, while a repetitive synth bassline slyly sidesteps around Faithfull’s cracked and scratching vocal. It's an accomplished and gritty track, perfectly establishing the album's prevailing moods… gloom and rage. The rest of the songs are meaty, morose, magnetic. "Guilt" is one of the finest songs here, building an insidious dread with every self-eviscerating line over its bluesy minor-key groove. "What's the Hurry" lifts the pace to a spacey shuffle, and there's a cover of "Working Class Hero" which works surprisingly well as a moody synth-pop dirge. There are deceptively sweet melodies at play too, in the likes of "Witches’ Song" and especially "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan", one of the album’s two singles. But the content remains dark to the last: Faithfull addresses addiction, war, violence and death in stark terms. And if you’re still wondering whether she has any punches left to pull, let “Why’d Ya Do It” clear all doubt. Dark, scorching lyrics, a menacing groove, amazing abrasive lead guitar and a slow creeping blackout of an ending: superb. In other news, the ubiquitous Steve Winwood is back again on keys: I’ve gone through 400 albums and this one marks his 8th credited appearance, giving him an exposure rate of 2%. Brian Eno would kill to have fingers in so many pies.

Pretty decent!

Middle of the road late 70's contemporary. Nothing special, but nothing short of decent music. Bonus points for proto 80's new wave sounds at time. As my good buddy nino says "theres some cool guitar solos in here".

Sounds like a bar band

i know Marianne Faithfull for two things, one being linked in some way in the dead of Jim Morisson, and the other is being in relationship with Mick Jagger. This album was her comeback, she struggled with a lot of issus in the years prior, like heroin addiction, anorexia and finacial problems, anyway i didn't listen her prior reccord so i'm not able to say how much of a diffrence it make. Its a new wave kinda reccord, with syntetizer and all The album contain a cover of John Lennon's working class hero wich is really diffrent from the original Why'd ya do it is probably the most original in the album with the electirc guitar intro and the more rock vibe to it. I don't have a lot to say, not very impressive

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.

Not exactly sure why this is here and not even gonna argue with you if you tell me this sucks hard. But oddly ... I don't hate it - despite the fact that it's too-often cheesy, she's just a terrible terrible vocalist, it's all even a little predictable in form, but hell - it's SO late 70s in sound that it became a throwback for me and I've never even heard it. Nowhere near worthy of anything more than a 3 but I keep resisting giving it less. In the end I just like those bouncy synths and the overall sound. 5/10 3 stars.

Broken England - 7.5/10 Witches' Song - 7/10 Brain Drain - 8/10 Guilt - 7.5/10 The Ballad of Lucy Jordan - 7/10 What's The Hurry? - 7/10 Working Class Hero - 7/10 Why'd Ya Do It - 8/10 TOTAL - 59/80

Eh

I was not a fan of much of the album but Working Class Hero and What's the Hurry were standouts so a light 3 stars.

I like how it builds in intensity. Bonus points for having a banned song

I guess dating the Rolling Stones was once good for a career. This album sounds like pre-punk European protest music.

I don't understand why this is on the list. 1/5

One big hell yeah for heroin, if it makes a voice sound like that. Hot damn. Why'd you let us suck your cock?

This was painful to listen to, to be honest.

Enjoyed this more than I expected - her voice isn't great, but the tunes have an ache to them, and the rage in a couple is very sharp

This album was a chore and I did not enjoy it at all. Her voice is terrible, the songs are mediocre, and her version of working class hero is atrocious.

Stevie Nicks x Miley Cyrus (voice/vibes)

This old slag does have a wizened rasp to her voice that I enjoy. I’d never heard any of her songs before and I always assumed she was just another deluded rock groupie. I fell down a bit of a wiki rabbit hole learning more about her and I’m glad to know that she was more of an artist in her own right than someone who traded sex with Mick Jagger for fame. Decent listen, but not awe-inspiring.

Bon album. Plusieurs chansons remarquables et intemporelles : broken English , the ballad of Lucy Jordan.

hey not bad! it doesnt overstay its welcome, but I cant get into Marianne Faithful's voice, which is a standout quality she has. a good one and done listen

I liked this? I think I liked this. Maybe a lot? But also I couldn’t tell you anything about it. But I definitely enjoyed it! That cover of Working Class Hero is excellent!

Well, this was sure an album. The only word that comes to mind is “bizarre.” But not in a good way. Honestly I would have given this a 1 if it weren’t for “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan,” which is actually a pretty good song. I'd probably like this more if it was the 80s, and I was on a lot of cocaine.

Solid album. And The ballad of Lucy Jordan.. What a tune!

Really good

An album clearly more about the pop culture around it and the story associated with it. I totally respect that and understand the struggle she had but this album was not for me at all. Her vocals are so weak and broken despite knowing the story behind it. Honestly shout out for Steve Winwood for carrying a lot of this album and not getting the credit he deserves. The smokey jazz sound with the edgy lyrics just don't do it for me here.

I've never heard of this album or artist before, but I really enjoyed listening to this. The title track really stood out to me; I loved the bass playing and the synthesizer sounds that were utilized, and the lyrics had a really powerful political message. The guitar playing and synthesizer sounds were strong throughout the rest of the album, and the lyrics felt incredibly personal, as they ranged from painful to thoughtful and then to outright rage-filled and crass on the album's final track, "Why'd Ya Do It?" Marianne's vocals were incredibly unique as well, and gave this album its own distinct post-punk feel. "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" was an incredibly strong song too; its jittery synth line was a perfect compliment to the story of a disillusioned suburban housewife. This was a really strong album, and I look forward to revisiting it soon.

Ah. Nice depressing music which I enjoy. Lyrics are great. Music is a little eh to me. Working Class Hero is a great cover of the ALFA John Lennon. Ez 3.5

Some solid songs, a few duds. 3.5

Never heard of this album. But it was born the same year as me. She sounds like alot of the 80's female artists like Cindy Lauper and Pat Benatar. I like the synths in this first song. Reminds me of Giorgio Moroder. Actually did kinda like this album. Especially the last one. I think I'll give it 3 stars.

Not my cup of tea, but a decent album.

Intetesting. Raspy voice. Reninds me of a few similar artists of the time.

2/5 unmemorable

I only own three Marianne Faithfull albums, her debut, her second (Go Away From My World) and Broken English which was released 14 years after the first two. A lot had happened in Faithfull's life between these two time periods, as Broken English was only her second album from the 70's. Her early albums were in the folk genre, innocent and gentle songs and all that soon changed with her personal relationships with the Stones and lifestyle changes (drugs, drugs and drugs) that would plague her life for the next decade. Broken English would be considered her "real" comeback album in 1979, with more of a modern electronic sound with elements of new wave, punk, blues and reggae. I first really listened to this record years ago and found it a difficult listen and I couldn't get past her voice, but listening now (for this list), I was more open minded and found the music interesting and worth exploring again. It's hard not to compare the effect on her voice through the years ( laryngitis, heroin, alcohol and probably smoking), but it reflects her life of hard living with addiction and the toll it took on her. Broken English isn't for everyone, but it is an important document of one of the musical highlights of Marianne's career...fortunately she is still recording and active.

Pretty good. Not amazing by any stretch but enjoyed it more than I anticipated

Not familiar with this artist or album. I looked at the release date and was surprised it was 1979. It feels like it would have been earlier.

this has got to be one of the worst on this whole list. she sounds terrible and the songs are terrible. i think people in 1979 were just freaking out over any synth sounds which this has very little of anyways.

Only occasionally does that cracked, rich voice coalesce into a full album. Here the title track and Ballad of Lucy Jordan do a lot of heavy lifting, elsewhere it feels a bit like a luxury Island Records solo album of the eighties, tho it was 1979.

Amazing... I do t know if this is soft rock or angry feminist rock but I'm a fan and I liked this

80s easy listening retro

"Over 30 albums, a vast stream of adoring collaborators, a Grammy nomination for Broken English, the Commandeur Des Arts et des Lettres, awarded by the French government, it goes on. She survived addiction, overdoses, cancer and more … And yet, to the world at large, she’s still just Mick Jagger’s ex-girlfriend. Well, fuck that.” Tilda Swinton, Broken English. Highlights: Broken English, Guilt, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, Working Class Hero, Why D'Ya Do It. In a nutshell: gutsy and sorely underrated. Challenging. Lyrically iconic. Sonically unique. Marianne Faithfull establishes mood and beat from the get go. Wikipedia labels this as new wave but it waltzes with and away from said category. The final track- Why D'Ya Do It- is a spiteful, yet eloquent piece reminiscent of an X-rated Patti Smith poem ("When I stole a twig from our little nest and gave it to a bird with nothing in her beak, I had my balls and my brains put into a vice and twisted around for a whole fucking week" And that's the 'tame' lyrics!). The common complaint of Faithfull is her voice and crass lyrics. Yes, it's not for everyone. Thus the basis of its appeal (am I a hypocrite for complaining about Michael Stipe's voice and not Marianne's? Probably). There are a few challenging albums on this list. Give it a chance. Go on with an open mind. Marianne is one person you need to remember and to not forget. Overall: 8/10

I've somehow never really listened to her before but this album is fantastic. It's got such an edge to it. You can really feel how hungry she is to earn back her acclaim, and apparently it worked. Why'd Ya Do It is insane.

Brings back lots of memories!!

Better than some of her latest stuff. Would listen again

Good album - it's well written and Faithfull's is very expressive. I know I have heard the title track but did not realize it was done by Marianne Faithfull. Pretty sure I have heard Working Class Hero before too.

It has a couple of great songs. I love her voice, like a classic french chanteuse, all smoky and weary. But it had its ups and downs. Can't fault it for being forward thinking though.

2.5/10 Not good at all

2.5

Not really my jam

A perfect 3-star experience. Liked most of these songs but didn’t love any of them, glad to be introduced to a new artist but she won’t likely become a favorite. Working Class Hero was dope.

fun but i don’t see myself coming back

I don't like her crackling voice & most of the songs lyrics are pretty bad as well. Not for me.

"Oh myyy!" -George Takei

Agradável, versão interessante de working Class Hero.

Can’t stand her voice.

"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan"

pretty dull and forgettable, sounds like her voice is mostly gone. the synthesizers are fine but do not match her voice

Okay why is this special? I don't really like these kinds of vocals anyways but the album seems uninteresting no matter what.

Budget Tina turner

Ehhhh, not my favorite. musically harsh and lyrically crass.

Didn't bother

Good in parts

Took me a few songs to get into the album. Marianne does a really nice job using her limited vocal range to give the album a sort of folk hero sound. Musically the album is solid, but not spectacular. Good rock grooves throughout. Personal favorites were "guilt" and "what's the Hurry".

Its pretty cool! Again that song Working Class Hero comes up. Why'd You Do It is a great tune.

There’s a quote that I think about a lot about music criticism; One good song can make an album but one great song can break it. It’s the way I felt about Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together. No matter how good the rest of the songs were, the title track is always gonna overshadow them. Broken English has two great songs, and they bookmark the album. I think that the reason these two stick out to me is that they’re the best musically. The title track has this great slow burn, late night cold new wave sound, and Why’d Ya Do It starts off like a Berlin era Iggy song and becomes this great Clash like white reggae jam. They’re both great. And as such, the rest of the album seems to fall a little flat. Lyrically, they’re all quite good, The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan being a particular standout. Unfortunately, I think it’s also the worst track musically. The vocal melody has this classic English Folk song lilt to it, which really does not fit with the warbling electronic keyboard that provides the background. Nobody but Dexys Midnight Runners tried doing New Wave Folk, and they did it mostly acoustically. I dunno, based on the two songs I really liked, I want to really like the rest of the album, but it just doesn’t do much for me

3.5 not what I expected

"Broken English" is the seventh album by English singer Marianne Faithfull. The album is considered her comeback after years of drug abuse, homelessness and anorexia. The music genre is put in the new wave rock category with elements of punk, blues and reggae. OK...don't know i heard too much in the "elements of" area. It received critical acclaim with it being her masterpiece and music matching her raspier voice. Commercially, it hit #82 in the US and #57 in the UK. The self-titled "Broken English" opens things up. Guitar, synths and a pronounced bass. It's got a disco-esque rock beat and very 70's/80's sounding. Faithful's voice does work with the music as she sings about terrorists at the time. A synth opens "Guilt." This is slower with a bluesy bass and the sax gives a jazzy vibe. Written by composer Barry Reynolds, it describes the feelings of growing up Catholic. The first single "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" is Faithfull's rendition of the Shel Silverstein written and Dr. Hook song. It's been awhile since I've heard the name Dr. Hook. Her rendition is all synths as Faithfull's tells the melancholy tale of a middle class house wife's dissolutionment. It ends with droning synth. This song works. Faithfull takes John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" in an even more ominous direction. She talks. There's slashing guitar and an eerie snyth feel. The album ends with "Why D'Ya Do It." Here's the new wave guitar. Written by Heathcote Williams, it's the caustic rant of women at her lover and lover's infidelity. The lyrics are very descriptive and I can see why this was banned in several countries. I would not want to meet this women. I don't think it's an accident that the guitar riff in King Missile's "Detachable Penis" sounds exactly like this. This is a decent album and grew on me with repeated listens. Some of the remix song versions are better than the originals too. Her voice does work with this music especially the heavier guitar and more eerie songs. With the synth, it does have a very late 70's/early 80's sound on some songs. I would say it's worth a listen for most people.

Ehhh just not for me. 4/10

Interesting lyrics, but her voice irks me.

3.5/5

This feels like the lounge act playing at a downtown, smoky bar I wouldn’t have been cool enough to get into. Really enjoyed the vocals on this one, and the flourishes of horns were icing on the cake.

Marianne’s righteous rasp faithfully harmonizes her harrowing past atop a smoke-swirled synthesis of musical styles and influences.

I've heard the name a squillion times, never really engaged though. Not my bag at all.

Birth year record! I'm not a huge fan of Faithfull's voice nor her interpretations of some pretty iconic songs. I'm feeling generous today, so a 3, but some days this would be a 2.

Lame

Must have been a thing in the UK. Opening track is no good… Neither are the next few tracks. The Ballad is ok but still is never something I’d choose to hear. Is she trying to be Tina Turner? The Working Class Hero cover is not bad! Still probably a 2 for me.

My first time hearing anything from the album. I like the instrumentation and the songs were good, but I really am not a fan of her voice. I do see the appeal however.

Not my style

Really didnt get the hate, something between 3.5 and 4, good album 👍

Maybe it’s just me or my mood right now but I didn’t enjoy this album much. Would try again at a later time

She's so funny with a great performance on this album, and the switch to more synthy sounds (after I listened to the original mix) was a great call. It makes the album diverse, and when drums, guitars and saxophones hit, it really packs a punch

I really didn't like this one.

I read a bit about Marianne on Wikipedia and it sounds like she went through hell before recording this album. I couldn’t stand her voice but felt more sympathetic when I read that laryngitis and a heroin addiction had altered it. I didn’t enjoy this and was going to give it a 2…until I got to the last track and damn! She won me over (up to a 3, anyway). On the off-chance you’re reading this before listening to the album, that last track is very NSFW.

Weird voice, witches song slapped tho

Not my alley at all. Very weathered voice and songwriting that I just don’t dig. 4 out of 10

A grown up Cyndi Lauper with hints of Euro culture, like Joan Jett, or Chrissie Hynde with a smooth delivery. Easy listening rock? Almost country but not at all, probably some folk influence. And, a distinctively feminine 70s city blues vibe. Has originality and authenticity.

Not my favorite. Joan Armatrading came on 5 minutes later, and I feel like while she has a retro vibe + melody, Marianne Faithful had more a "friends mom who likes to sing" energy. I wanted to rank it higher I just didn't think it was my cup of tea.

Felt rather before its time in many ways, with an almost 90s twist to it. At the same time, it reminded me of some incredibly talented women of that era, namely Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks. I liked it, didn’t love it.

Unique voice. She sounds like Miley Cyrus's predecessor

First note is that I don't care for her voice. It sounds like Stevie Nicks if she smoked more.

Pop blandengue sin grandes alardes. Voz femenina sin muchas particularidades. Canciones sin grandes sorpresas

Never heard this discussed - why? Not what I expected at all and it's really good. Like Grace Jones on crack in places. Particularly Why'd Ya Do It? Which is deliciously vicious and epic. Broken English is great bit of electronica, the cover of Working Class Hero works really well. What a mood piece. Will definitely come back to this.

I think this one has some potential and I’m interested in revisiting it in the future. I laughed during the one sexual breakup? Song.

Ok album, I liked the music itself, the lyrics, but didn’t enjoy the singing. As an artist, she’s got great songwriting skills.

Dunno, just seems a bit boring to me