Marriane Faithfull - Easy Come Easy Go [Album]
 

Gaining her prominence at the tender age of 17 with 1964 hit As Tears Go By, Marianne Faithfull’s legacy is one of jaded romance, drug problems and her a constant struggle with the acceptance of fame. Faithfull now stands aged 62 as a veteran who is not required to add titles to her extensive discography, but continues to do so through her love for music and her desire to create an album to be proud of. Billed as a sequel to one of her finest collections, Strange Weather produced by Hal Wilner, who casts his judgement on Faithfull’s work for the first time since then, the album comprises a challenging 18 tracks.

Never what you would call a perfect singer, her pitch and tone is often challenged in particular on the title track which sifts into a dire funeral durge that is disrespectful to both Faithfull’s consummate professionalism as well as her well calculated image as a powerful [yet frail] woman. Sadly, the song turns into an out of tune and badly timed piece that is a mish mash of styles. Her distinctive androgynous vocal style has taken on a tougher and coarser element over the years and bolsters comparisons of her to a female Tom Waits and it is with the track, ‘Kimbie” that this is most apparent, with vocals also reminiscent of Screaming Tree’s era Mark Lanegan.

The production is second to none and Wilner’s ability to capture Faithfull’s haunting excerpts and couple that with a tight and slick production style is one of this records biggest successes. Those expecting a cheery, feel-good record should stay away, there are moments of emotion that Faithull really expresses well. Although she experienced a resurgence in the late 90’s with her haunting appearance on Metallica’s “Memory Remains” and collaborations with her friend and model Kate Moss, Faithfull is unlikely to garner more interest as there is nothing ground breaking with this outing.

For her current fan base, ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ has very little to be disappointed with and as her objective states, she has successfully made an album for “music lovers”.