Marianne Faithfull
Before the Poison
Marianne Faithfull’s famous friends and infamous past means she’ll always be painted as the grand dame of darkness and debauchery. Yet Faithfull doesn’t shy away from such typecasting. Most of “Before the Poison” is split between songs by Polly Harvey and songs by Nick Cave, two of Faithfull’s somewhat like-minded followers, with a pair of songs contributed by unlikely collaborators Damon Albarn and Jon Brion. There’s no ignoring the gravitas of Faithfull’s weathered and weary voice, even more powerful and haunting in her later years.
Best track: “City of Quartz,” Brion’s music box waltz, whose menacing lyrics contrast brilliantly with the sad innocence of the tune.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])