|
 Martha Wainwright Martha Wainwright (2005) 
Rating (Ot of 10): 9 Tracklisting: Far Away /G.P.T./ Factory/These Flowers /Ball And Chain/ Don't Forget/This Life/When The Day Is Short/ Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole/ Oprah Song /The Maker/ Who Was I Kidding/Whither Must I Wander Daughter of country singer Louden Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle from folk group The McGarrigle Sisters, and sister to much acclaimed singer songwriter Rufus Wainwright, Martha is part of a highly accomplished musical family. You could say that she has one hell of a reputation to live up to, and in her own unique way she manages to greatly surpass all expectations. There has been a huge amount of hype surrounding the release of Martha Wainwright’s debut album and for once it’s not just record company bollocks to sell albums. Every word of it is true and in a way it doesn’t even go far enough. Martha Wainwright possesses a very special talent indeed. She is an artist that doesn’t fit easily into any one particular musical genre. She takes her upbringing in a diverse musical family and uses it to her advantage. She is neither a folk singer nor country chanteuse but both at once and none at all. She melds them together to create her own unique sound. Her voice is always at the centre of the music, and what a voice it is. Loud and raw with a country style edge to it, it is a very expressive, highly emotive voice. She very effectively uses it as an instrument to convey feels and emotions, to weave in and out of the music with great success. Another remarkable feature of Wainwrights’ songs are the strong, memorable lyrics. Throughout the album the songs contain lyrics that are intellectual, soul searching, poetic and self analytical. She explores themes of self and identity, of womanhood and stereotypes. But with this she manages not to come across as some kind of feminist protest singer. She is an artist who appeals to men and women alike. Although Martha’s debut album may only have been released a year ago, she is hardly a new comer by anyone’s standards, doing backing vocals for both her parents and her brother, and gigging in her own right for several years, she was well experienced and well known before venturing into the world of recording. And this has proved a very good move. For instead of getting a tentative debut from a newcomer, we get a highly audacious, uncompromising release from a seasoned professional. Wainwright takes many chances with her self-titled debut and they most definitely pay off. The songs on the album veer from feisty, strong, loud rocky numbers to more mellow, slower, quieter tracks (if Martha Wainwright has a quiet volume!). Of these latter songs ‘These Flowers’ and ‘Far Away’ are the best and ‘Factory’, ‘When The Day Is Long’ and the wonderfully titled ‘Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole’ are the best of the louder numbers. Martha Wainwright’s self-titled debut is most definitely an attention grabber. Whether is the biting lyrics, the swearing, the arresting voice, or the well crafted songs, this is an album that refuses to be ignored, much like Martha herself. It is an album that has gained a lot of media attention, but it is a record that can speak for itself. Martha Wainwright is a musician who does not need advertising or publicity or cheap stunts. The music most definitely speaks for itself. Send A Comment BACK TO INDEX BACK TO MUSIC REVIEWS INDEX |