Reviews (page 6 of 7)
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
An interesting listen but not something I would come back to.
Today is a high 2 for me, much of it passed me by but I like the production and the sound of her vocals.
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.
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 ⭐⭐
Surprisingly progressive, with electronic sounds and almost an 80s feel to it, but I struggled to get into it.
I've never really listened to Marianne Faithfull. I stand by that decision. 3/10
#728. If I could specifically get less of this, that would be grand. 2/5: nah
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.
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.
Dette var slapt. Hun prøver også å være edgy og tøff, men tror ikke helt på det
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.
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.
Sleepworking....
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.
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.
Nothing about this was captivating to me.
What a musical journey.
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".
Forgettable
I probably need to listen to this quite a lot more. Not sure hmmm
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
classy but nope
Ahhh jeez. An album that feels like it’s on here because of the tragic story rather than the actual quality of the album.
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.
Entirely unremarkable and no standout tracks for me.
Eh kinda boring and feels like she's trying to be edgy but maybe she was back then :shrug:
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.
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
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
um, no. why is this on the list??
This was pretty awful. She’s clearly only famous for who she slept with.
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.
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.
Why does this sound sleazy to me?
2,5
I understand the context of her struggles, but I don’t feel like the target audience for this one.
Expected to like it but didn't
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.
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".
She might be cool and she has a history with rock and roll, but I didn't like her music or voice.
Not a fan, too 80s synth
Did not expect it to be that bad… Fav: -
Very raspy voice, and it's all a bit samey. I feel like people rate this more for the sob story than the music
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.
The story around the album was really intriguing but the music itself didn't really connect with me.
Easy to listen to, fairly solid album. Just not my style currently
Meh. Whiny. Nothing I would listen to again.
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.
People love a comeback.
last song is wild
decent
Kinda rough, ngl
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.
I'm sure this was cool at the time. There are some groovy guitar and bass lines. Really liked the last song.
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.
It’s fine
Interesting story, seems to be similar to one of the songs monty python uses (or takes the piss from)
Ég hélt alltaf að þetta væri sú Marianne sem að Leonard Cohen væri með en neinei ekki hún hún var ekkert söngkona. En RIP ég held hún hafi verið að deyja. Tónlistin er ekki alveg my vibe
Meh
Not a great suggestion.
Marianne Faithful has an interesting voice but the songs left me a bit cold.
Definitely unique, although I didn't really like it.
Vibey, but not memorable
Interesting. Didn’t enjoy it all that much. I’d feel I need to listen to it again.
A bit too cleanly new-wavely for my liking. But has done enjoyable stuff going on. 2.5
2.5 - alright
her voice kinda sucks. hate to say it because all the drugs and homelessness that cam before this but im just keeping it 💯. Why'd You Do It was a fitting closer to the album (it sucked)
I liked the music more than her voice. Wasn't all bad, just mostly. 2/5
A surprising album, opening with the eponymous track, having the pulse of a synth-driven Kraftwerk number. But it has the artifice of a challenge game show - think Krypton Factor, think Crystal Maze - rather than the minimalistically delivered motorik beat of those aforementioned tuetonic peddlers of synth ambience. 'Why'd Ya Do It' is by far and away the best track. It perfects everything the album is trying to achieve. A great groove, fantastic bass hook, well-applied sax, Frippian guitar. A vocal that is semi-spoken with venom ostensibly flowing from persona experience. And lyrics that'd make a whore blush. Some decent album bookends, but overall it's a sense of a good story behind it rather than a good album. I can't see NASA putting it in a space capsule and firing it out to Mars alongside 'Dark Side of the Moon' put it that way.
lo empecé tres veces y nunca lo terminé, para mí es suficiente como para saber qué (de forma idéntica qur la gran mayoría de estos álbumes) no vale la pena
Not a great New Wave album. Didn't age well, a bit cheesy and lacks any sincere power. Good on Marianne Faithfull for making it out of whatever self-inflicted hell she had been in though.
What a horrible, whiny voice with 80s synth pop backing.
No disrespect… but holy hell that was awful.
I liked the second half a little more than the first half, with the addition of more reggae and post-punk style. I found the first half repetitive and annoying. And most of the songs I liked the most were covers.
Loved the first track, but the rest was pretty bland.
Dieses Album habe ich irgendwie nicht so sehr gefühlt. Klar, ihre rauchige Stimme und die düsteren, teils provokanten Texte haben eine besondere Atmosphäre, aber musikalisch wirkt das Album manchmal etwas monoton. Der Titelsong und The Ballad of Lucy Jordan sind starke Stücke, aber insgesamt fehlt mir die Abwechslung. Vielleicht Geschmackssache – für mich bleibt es eher ein Album, das man einmal hört und dann nicht unbedingt wieder auflegt.
I felt personally victimised by the last track.
Wins best Spotify "about the artist" so far. MI6+ ballet
Its not good, but its not bad? Best Song: Guilt Rating: 4.0/10 2 Stars
Shit, I'm not sure if that was depressing, or I'm just in a mood. Maybe time for some Bobby McFerrin.
Boring
I’m not sure what this was supposed to be
The most important thing about this album doesn't come from the music, but from reading at least parts of the Wikipedia page. It's incredible for Marianne to have returned to make music, and to release an album after everything that she went through. You can hear it in her voice, both the quality (poor) and the emotionality (great). The suggestion from the producer to go more "modern and electronic" was a really great decision, I think. I think the album falls pretty flat as it is, and I think it would have been much worse without that "modernization". Ultimately, I think this album wouldn't make this list if it was made by anyone else. Context is really important, and this album is notable mostly for that reason. Favorite Song(s): The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
It was ok, but I don't think I will be coming back to this anytime soon
I don’t think I like this lady’s voice but the lyrics were fun!
On record, Marianne Faithfull is only ever a foil for other people: Jagger and Richards weaponising her innocence; 90s hitmakers revelling in her back story and her pedigree - PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Beck, Billy Corgan, Jarvis Cocker, Metallica. Even her interpretations of Weill, Mercer, and Kern or settings of Byron and Shakespeare rest on how her deep, rasping croak feels like a debauchment. Having her vocalise at all seems like decadence. Broken English is the most significant of a handful of records that prioritises Faithfull's contribution as artist rather than interpreter. However, she was not an artist in that sense and she was not a lyricist or a melodicist. Backed by an egoless new wave band, rather than more successful musicians as on most of her other records, she falters a little as the main focus, so the band never really takes off. Songs like Broken English and Guilty simply aren't as rich or sophisticated as others that she would perform in her life and they never seem to go anywhere. The covers, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan and Working Class Hero, stand out, although the latter sounds odd in the mouth of a patrician such as Faithfull, regardless of how low life laid her. Probably 2.5. The cover art for Marianne Faithfull’s Broken English looks like satire on an imagined collaboration between Joni Mitchell’s Blue and David Bowie’s “Heroes” I will also confess to laughing out loud a couple of times while listening. Ultimately though, I appreciated that I wasn’t supposed to be laughing. This is terribly dull, witless music. Four-square phrases played by a band of no musical distinction. Marianne Faithfull certainly has a characterful voice but no melodies worthy of it. The lyrics are rotten stuff - pedestrian couplets (sometimes laughably contrived) and mangled common metre. By the time ‘Why‘d ya do it‘ tries to grab the listener by the scruff with its cocks and cobwebbed fannies it is too late - that track feels merely like a grotesque and slightly desperate addendum. Covering The Ballad of Lucy Jordan was, no doubt, a bright idea although its dramatic potency emerges predictably from the obvious and crass conceit that Marianne Faithfull at this time ‘fit’ the character. Covering Working-Class Hero was a terrible idea. 1/5
Bleh
Pretty boring with some interesting moments
i couldn't understand
Mid...only interesting part was that you started to hear a lot of 80's type motifs despite the fact this was a late 70s album. 1.5/5
2.8
DO NOT like her voice. Sounds like lung cancer. I liked the closing track though.
2/5. Nope.
Easy listening, listened a few times in a row
Her voice is terrible, and after reading the Wikipedia on the album I see why. I think the music is super good but I didn’t enjoy her singing through most of the album pretty much at all.
такой гнусавый голос и странные песни что ретроспективно показалось, что я не могла это не слышать. какая странная хрень, ещё и местами эротика)
There are some fun synthy things going on, and the songs and lyrics are ok, but I don't really like the music or vocals much. Feels like the new wavy edge of the disco era and this album doesn't know what it wants to be.
Apple Music recommended Kate Bush after finishing this album. Yeah. That says a lot to me.
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.
No idea why this is on the list
I don't like her voice. The music is well produced generally, but would be hugely improved by a proper rock vocalist and an enthusiastic drummer. As it stands, it's underpowered and plodding. Not bad - just nowhere near as good as it could be.
Good I think? But can say I feel all that strongly about it
Meh
instruments sounds great
Oof, that voice is horrendous. Would be an extremely mediocre album without it, but with, shocking stuff. 1.5*
Her voice is bad
First album I didn't really want to finish. A bit all of the place with range of sounds Thought hey at least it's ending stronger before remembering working class hero is a John Lennon song.
ekkert sérstaklega gott, þó glittir í eitthvað við og við. hlusta samt tæplega aftur. 2,5.
Did not like this at all. 1.9 stars
I mean she did tell me to spit on her snatch 🤷🏻♂️
Cyndi Lauper before drugs.
Not feeling it but do recognize its influence. Spotify played Suzanne Vega right after and it tracked with this influential artist.
man wtf was that last track all about
It’s interesting, but that’s the best I can say for it.
I was looking forward to this one but found it a bit boring!
This was fine but nothing stand out
Rock und New Wave. Markante Stimme.
Just not very compelling in any way. Album cover art gets a 4, but the overall sound and vibe of this album left me feeling... underwhelmed.
This album is musically unremarkable and the vocals are...... not good. I'm not sure how this is considered some sort of seminal work from her. If it is, then the rest of her catalog must be shit garbage.
Nope
A bit meh
Beautiful cover
4.5/10
Started off thinking I should like this but ended up realizing I don’t.
Impressive production, probably ahead of its time for 1979, but did not resonate. Hated the vocals.
Listening to Marianne Faithfull's Broken English was a mixed experience for me. I found her voice raw and gritty, but instead of being intriguing, it felt grating and unpolished. Her cover of John Lennon's Working Class Hero was particularly disappointing; it lacked the emotional depth and subtlety of the original, feeling more like a harsh imitation. Similarly, her rendition of Dr. Hook's The Ballad of Lucy Jordan didn't capture the charm and poignancy that made the original so memorable. The production aimed to be edgy and contemporary, but often felt dated and overdone. Despite these issues, I did notice some moments of lyrical brilliance and bold themes in the album. Songs like the title track Broken English showed her willingness to tackle difficult subjects, even if the execution was uneven. Collaborations with musicians like Steve Winwood and Barry Reynolds brought a level of musical sophistication, but it wasn't enough to save the overall experience for me. While Broken English might appeal to fans of Faithfull's unique style, I found it to be a polarizing and challenging listen. It’s far from horrible, but certainly a long way from good. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 0 STAND OUT TRACK - None
More like broken voice. Wailing in the wrong key over simple loops does not make for a good time.
Broken English is the seventh studio album by Marianne Faithfull, originally released in 1979. This is an interesting one. Faithfull was at rock-bottom throughout the 1970s. She fell hard into addiction and was living on the streets. This is known as her "comeback album". Her voice is noticeably worn at this point from drug abuse. It provides more emotional depth to these songs. Where I think this album lacks is the production. It's too slick for my tastes. I mean, it was 1979, so it's pretty much to be expected. I just think a more lo-fi production style would suit her voice more.
This reminds me of rich white girls posting on their instagram stories, and then going on to consider themselves activists because of it. Like damn, marianne, u taking urself too seriously.
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!
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.
decent but nothing remarkable
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.
Interesting new wave sound but I don’t love the quality of the vocals unfortunately. I found them more distracting than engaging
really liked everything about this except the experience of listening to it
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
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.
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
Yeh idk
Halfway through, and I am not too sure I like this album.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meh.
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.
love the synths but not a fan of her voice 2.5/5
Good production with lackluster vocals.
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
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.
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."
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.
Meh
Didn’t really listen. Whoops
Yeah this was a big nope. Hated her voice, hated the music. The last two tracks saved it from a 1.
I didn't get it.
Not my favorite 70s band or album. Didn’t get much. 4/10
Interesting vocals but quite tedious
Good beat, some explicit language
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.
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.
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
Broken English Lagane stvari, artsy - od country to electro utjecaja
I mean it's powerful, but that doesn't mean I enjoy listening to it.
Yeah not that good
Not horrible but never rose above unremarkable. I found her vocal style/affectations annoying/grating.
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.
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
not bad, but there is a reason why I've never heard any of these songs
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
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
# 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
Not my favorite type of music....a little to electronic for me.
Very very meh. Doesn't make me angry but I do not really enjoy any of these songs at all.
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.
I'm sorry but her voice annoyed me. Apart from that it was unremarkable rock music.
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
Eh
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.
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.
2/5 unmemorable
80s easy listening retro
2.5
Not really my jam
fun but i don’t see myself coming back
Agradável, versão interessante de working Class Hero.
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.
Ehhh just not for me. 4/10
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.
Not my style
I really didn't like this one.
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
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.
Dunno, just seems a bit boring to me
Wasn't terrible, but wasn't good either. Some songs started to sound like other songs in the beats, not sure if that's like a deja vu thing or if this just felt that basic.
I respect what she was trying to do here, but it just wasn't doing it for me. She had a very unique style as far as singer-songwriters go, but I wouldn't actively seek this album out again. Stand out track: Witches' song
Not the best album, but listenable. The only song that I actually liked was Why'd Ya Do It
Given that “As Tears Go By,” originally written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, was the only Marianne Faithfull song I’d ever heard, I went into this album with decently high expectations. Maybe those expectations were unfair, but I feel let down. Armed only with this this trivia nugget, the opening track throws a bit of a curveball. I hoped it was more experimental than anything, but “Witches’ Song” sounds like a drunken washed up suburban soccer mom with bleached hair stumbling through a Christine McVie-led Fleetwood Mac tune. I can see why the synth and heavier hitting lyrics of “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” make it her most popular song, but I still can’t say I like it. Overall I feel like Marianne Faithfull is an acquired taste, but at the same time, I guess you could say the same thing about Mick Jagger. I’m truly confused about how this is the same singer as 1964’s “As Tears Go By,” because her version is absolutely beautiful. I’ll at least give her two stars for that.
"Why'd ya let her suck your CAWHHKK" Not my cup of tea but some of the songs had a nice bluesy tone that I can appreciate.
Not my favorite.
Good production and the title track was excellent, the rest however very forgettable.
The bass line in "Broken English" sounded a lot like the one in "Every Breath You Take" and I thought that was the best part of this album.
I was looking forward to seeing what this one was all about. I've heard the name Marianne Faithfull before and was interested to see what her music was like but was not a big fan. I'm not particular about voices but was really not a fan of her singing on the majority of the record (aside from the two standouts). I found the album fine but didn't hear anything on it that grabbed me or would make me want to come back to it. Standout Tracks: Witches' Song, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
Vond dit niets. Geen hele nummers, redelijke productie, en ok gezongen. Voelt alsof dit er alleen in staat omdat het voor Marianne een fantastische comeback was, ooit, in de jaren ‘70.
She can't sing, so many people disagree with me but she's super nasal and shrill. I guess lyrically it's pretty powerful and has a interesting story behind it which includes where she suffered server laryngitis... that explains alot
A decent enough listen, but a bit MOR and forgettable.
Truly truly dreadful. What an awful vocal style, and cheesy dated accompaniment. Gross.
It's, um, definitely an interesting album... didn't sound exactly like I pictured, but I also thought this album was older than it actually was, so that definitely played a part in that. If the vocalist was different, I could see myself liking this more. Last song was a bit too long for me. I don't even know what else to say. It kinda just happened. My favourite song was Broken English, I think? Can't remember what anything sounds like.
I had never heard of Marianne faithful before. Poor man's Stevie nicks. Big meh from me.
Not my cuppiest of teas
Despite her rough voice being the product of years of hardship, I’m not a fan of it.
The opening for Lucy’s Ballad sounds so much like Pat Benatar’s We Belong. Did Pat lift it off of Mary Fai?
Meh
Broken English is the seventh album by English singer Marianne Faithfull. It's considered her comeback album and has been described as a masterpiece by Faithfull because it was her return to music after years of drug abuse and homelessness. Musically, the album is new wave rock with parts of other genres like punk, blues, and reggae. Broken English was critically acclaimed and was a massive success for Faithfull. It was a moody, but beautiful album that I'm glad Faithfull was able to record and release for the public to enjoy.
Musically some decent arrangements, apart from the title track. Vocally I found Marianne extremely annoying, more reminiscent of the pished old doll singing up the pub on a Saturday night, in fact I couldn't wait to skip through the album. This one definitely not for me.
Not fussed on this one but her cover of Working Class Hero was great and lifted the album at the end.
The ninth studio album! The previous 8 seemed to have been released by different labels, though. Not sure what to make of it. Broken English has a part that sounds like someone is blowing their lips to make motorcycle sounds.... Someone please confirm this for me.
A long way from her sweet ‘60s voice. I wouldn’t listen again.
Not great at all
Some nice pop moments but mostly unremarkable
Mmmmm, ok.
She sounds like someone who desperately needs a throat lozenge. Bland folk/pop that people who think salt is spicy probably think is dangerous and deep owing to her terrible life choices. The Mars bar incident made her interesting for a brief spell - this doesn't. If this is her self considered "masterpiece" that I can safely say I didn't need to hear, I definitely don't need to listen to any of her other stuff. Best Tracks: Brain Drain; The Ballad of Lucy Jordan; Why'd Ya Do It
Case in point that bad times don't always make good albums. A disappointing record.
this is fine I guess I don't really like when she makes her voice all choppy. seems like maybe it was trendy in the 80s and didn't really stand the rest of time
I know the name, but never listened to Marianne Faithful before. Probably cool not listening to this again. There’s not much interesting to me in this one. I’m guessing the atmospheric stuff was rarer in the 70s when this came out. But to me it feels tired and uninteresting.
Elvis never meant shit to me.
tupakkaa vetänäesque album cover sekä ääni... täsä albumissa on kaikennäköistä... vittuako sä tätä arvostelua luet.... voi ihan rohkeasti mennä kuuntelemaan itse...tehdä oma päätös... jaha alhainen numero... no en sitten kuuntelekaan... heh... guilt
Occasionally good when the vocals aren't there
Meh
that's the spirit marianne, get it all out there and bathe in the catharsis. a shit listen but sounds like she needed to get that all off her chest so i'm down with that.
boring
Syntikkaa tuhmia sanoja ja vanha giff! Tässä kaikki mistä tykkään! Objektiivisen kakkosen aika.. Heh.. Vähän vituttaa että tämö merkattu folk ja rock... on niin vitu poppia... Joku sano joni mitsell.. Heh kuitenkin englannista.. pidetään ne tollot saarella.. tai hiillostus projekti.. hitler konsanaan.. Saarelaisille voi aina kevyesti antaa paskaa niskaan.. Punaniskako. HÄH... itse olet.. baarissa käyvä... kakkaniska..
I had high hopes for this, which was my first time ever hearing Marianne Faithful. Her voice surprised me, and honestly, grated on me as the album went on. I did like the first track. There's some interesting stuff going on here, but ultimately, I kind of feel like these songs would be better served by other performers/producers/arrangers. But props to her for putting out a comeback album that's not a rehash of her early stuff. love the cover, though.
I've tried before with Marianne Faithfull. Many times. The closest I got to really liking her music was 1987's Strange Weather. But in the spirit of 1001, I opened my mind and turned on the tunes. I love the album cover and the song titles got me all psyched---witches, John Lennon cover! Let's go! Nope. Snoockered again (did I use that properly, Nicole?!). On top of her voice, which has always sounded wrecked, I just find her music arrangements nondescript. Banal.
Like a cut rate Patti Smith
Interesting and raw but not really a great album.
some groovy blues-y bass lines, but her voice/lyrics made me wanna kill myself
A couple of interesting songs. Let’s go with 2.5/5
Well, I recognized the one from covers. Some of these appealed. Others not.
Idk. The vocals weren’t as good as they were on her older stuff. Kind of a dark slow album. Not my thing
Voice is kinda off for me.
Man, this has the set up to be a good album, I like the instrumentation, and this feels like something I'd like, but that voice. I understand the back story and it's "unfortunate" (although it worked out for her so I suppose it isn't all bad) but the voice rivals Springsteen in annoying. It's comparable to if Nina Simone's voice was shakey and awkward rather than powerful and soulful. It just isn't enjoyable to listen to. I mean, it could be worse, none of the songs were bad per se, but they weren't good either. The best song was the final song, as her voice far more complicated the very harsh tone, but even that tacked on one or two minutes that really didn't feel the need to be there.
When I started listening to this album I had a lot of conflicting feelings. First off, it sounded like a completely unknown sound to me. I couldn't figure out this genre! cwm described it best, some kind of a mix between punk and disco and krautrock. Truly an original and unexpected sound, so props to the team for coming up with that one. But damn, do I dislike her voice. I read up on Marianne Faithful and the 70's was not a good time for her. She was houseless, addicted to heroin, suffering from laryngitis. When she surfaced with this album, her voice had shifted in some raspy ways. A lot of people loved it. I find it extremely grating. Not even the sick album cover can save this one for me.
Not for me
Not a lot to see here
Marianne faithfull - broken English (1979) Notes - First album after a period of drug addiction and homelessness, losing custody of her son and ending her relationship with Mick Jagger - She has a very distinct, raspy, broken voice that takes a minute to adapt to - Second half of this album is waaaay better than the first half - There’s a pretty interesting cover of working class hero on here as well - Why’d you do it sounded like it could’ve come from the clash Fav - What’s the Hurry - Good energy, cool guitar parts, probably Marianne’s strongest vocal on the album Least fav - Witches’ song - repetitive, not as interesting as the other songs 2.5/5
Listened Before? N I'm familiar with Ms. Faithfull from the Metallica song "The Memory Remains", and that's it. I always thought her voice sounded the way it did because she was older... turns out it's just like that. I am not a fan, and I don't understand what separates this album from any of the hundreds of other mediocre new wave albums that released during these years. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Guilt
I can see why people really enjoy this, but it's not really for me
I think this had potential, but it just didn't work for me.
interesting but
Broken English is an unusual listen because it sounds more 90s than late 70s and has a moody bluesyness to it that doesn't really fit with expectations or the era. And some of it is good, Brain Drain I liked, then there's some real rubbish like The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, which is curiously the most listened-to track. She has a cool voice but there's not enough here for more than 2/5.
Not a lot to say about this album, except that it suddenly grabbed me with the last track. There's so much menace in that, it really suits her voice (which sounds exactly like you'd expect someone who's been through all the things she had to sound), but it doesn't work so well for the rest of the album. Working Class Hero is one of my favourite Lennon songs, and I really didn't like the cover of it, not quite sure why but just had something missing. 2/5 for the album, but the last track is worth a listen.
Meh
Really annoying voice/singing. Droning on and on and the songs aren't all that dissimilar. Nothing about this album is exciting. 4/10.
So-so - vaguely reminiscent of a very poor man’s Stevie Nicks. Last track is biting and also appealed to me the most n terms of rock music (Talking Heads mixed with Sex Pistols vitriol). Very telling that the LP was not a hit record in the UK…
Fairly uninteresting music. Repetitive and unfocused.
More interested in her backstory than the album.
Didn't do it for me
Gave this a couple of listens but didn’t do much for me.
bleh
Okay?