Martha Wainwright
(Zoë)
You’ll find no comparisons of Martha Wainwright’s long-awaited debut full-length to the work of her über-famous father (Loudon) and brother (Rufus). It’s too bad, because Wainwright seems to have found the alchemical secret to blending the wry storytelling of her folksy pops and the ornate embellishments of her faboo brother. In fact, allusions to Wainwright’s mother, Kate McGarrigle, are far more apt given Martha’s crystal voice and eclectic songwriting. “These Flowers” is a decidedly feminine narrative full of clever wordplay and earnest acoustic instrumentation, right at home at a less-lame version of Lilith Fair. Wainwright’s rage is palpable on “Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole” (allegedly written for her father), when she sings, “I will not pretend. I will not put on a smile. I will not say I’m alright for you when all I wanted was to be good.” Throughout this lo-fi singer-songwriter’s affair are little dibs and dabs of ornamentation: a splash of fuschia here, a brocaded curtain there (especially on “The Maker,” which features Rufus on vocals). It’s these little accents that underscore the vibrant, sensual, angry woman behind the mostly mellow songs on this collection. While the material may not translate terribly well into the live milieu, this debut is the perfect accompaniment for an intimate evening spent at home with candles and wine.
This article appears in June 3 • 2005.