Broken English, Marianne Faithfull, 1979, :36
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
I had no idea what to expect. I'd heard Faithfull's name hundreds of times in musical contexts over the years, but never bothered listening to any of her music. To my mild surprise, it's very synth-heavy, and her voice is ragged and snarling (apparently a side effect of laryngitis and drug abuse). Lyrically, these songs are personal and direct. She doesn't pull any punches ("every time I see your dick / I see her cunt in my bed" — a sample from "Why'd Ya Do It"). I must say I don't think I would make this record a fixture on my turntable, but I do admire it. Favorite tracks: "Ballad of Lucy Jordan," "What's the Hurry?," "Broken English."
