Marianne Faithfull
Before the Poison (Anti-)
Though Patti Smith has been annointed the Godmother of Punk, it’s tough to beat Marianne Faithfull for fearlessness and stamina. Smith’s albums of late have been safe, while Faithfull still seems willing to walk on any wild side. On 2002’s Kissin’ Time, she teamed with Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Beck, and Billy Corgan; on Before the Poison, Blur’s Damon Albarn, P.J. Harvey, and Nick Cave. The five tracks with Harvey and three with Cave make for a powerful yin-yang in Poison‘s 10 bleakly romantic tunes. Faithfull and Harvey create vicious, gothic punk, fusing generations on “My Friends Have” and the stark “No Child of Mine.” Cave and Faithfull go together like Gomez and Morticia Addams. Her funereal vocals and his smooth, dark savoir faire drift through “There Is a Ghost” and “Desperanto,” blending anguished heartbreak on the magnificent “Crazy Love.” Staring age 60 right in the eye, Faithfull has ascended to classic Euro chanteuse, and her music has developed a cabaret noir sound. Though Poison is uneven, with all the warmth of a winter night, Faithfull’s rasp and limited vocal range are stylish enough to carry her through. Even when she’s not wholly successful in her efforts, in fact, Marianne Faithfull gets points for effort and balls. Big points.
This article appears in January 14 • 2005.