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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Martha Wainwright
EMAILPRINTby Martha Wainwright
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 33 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Zoe
Release Date: 12 April 2005
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
Daughter of Loudon and sister of Rufus, Martha becomes the third Wainwright to release an album in 2005. This self-titled effort is her full-length debut, following on the heels of her subtly-titled EP "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole."
Also By This Artist: I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Wainwright's barbed lyrics about love and relationships sound like she scrawled them on a whiskey-soaked night. [22 Apr 2005, p.62]
Stylus Magazine
Wainwright exhibits a rare talent as a confessional singer/songwriter; her album is an impressive, not to mention emotive, first LP from an ambitious artist unwilling to cling to her family’s famous coattails.
Read Full Review >Mojo
This is special, many-layered stuff. [May 2005, p.108]
Slant Magazine
Martha has proven to be not just a worthy pupil of such domestic tutelage, but a musician of equal caliber.
Read Full Review >Blender
She's just as acute as [Rufus] is, as centered on the poetry within the profane, as able to write songs whose meanings stay kept behind doors within doors. [May 2005, p.125]
Uncut
Packed with brilliant, bohemian songs that combine affecting lyrical honesty, beguiling melodies and a voice that has a touch of Alanis Morissette. [May 2005, p.96]
Billboard
Though accenting the vulnerability her vocals naturally possess, she manages world-weary honesty and summoned strength rather than contrived sentimentality.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
It's her fierce nature -- whether saucy and confident or just plain wrecked -- that makes every twist and turn of this impressive debut so easy to fall in love with.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Her voice is a thing of wonder. [Apr 2005, p.123]
The Guardian
Her songs are tough and earthy, hating mere prettiness when fieriness or forcefulness are required.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Martha takes the golden era of folk and mixes it with modern thematic flair. [#9]
Pitchfork
Martha Wainwright proves Martha Wainwright has a strong, distinct, fully formed musical identity, which would be just as impressive by any other name.
Read Full Review >ShakingThrough.net
Imagining an all-acoustic version of Martha Wainwright hints at the true potential lurking beneath the strings and high-calorie programmatic flourishes that, while undeniably pretty, detract unnecessarily from the eponymous focal point.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times
Her walk down the dark side of life and love is often heartbreakingly upfront. [10 Apr 2005]
Dot Music
A confident and accomplished debut, and a pleasant, agreeable diversion.
Read Full Review >No Ripcord
It shows off a fantastic songwriting talent, if not conveying the live magic.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
Nothing on her self-titled debut full-length is "genius" or "brilliant," but the material is consistently well written and occasionally very good.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
She's not easy-listening: Martha hisses and purrs, fearlessly articulating anxiety with a lurid charisma.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
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.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
Some of Brad Albetta's production veers toward generic pop and threatens to bury both Wainwright's distinctive voice and her lyrics. [Apr/May 2005, p.131]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 33 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Robert gave it a10:
One of the most honest singers I've ever heard. Her voice is so soar and beautiful that you can't do anything else exept be moved by it.
Alex gave it a9:
she totally rocks. she has a fabulously unqiue voice, and her lyrics kick ass. B.M.F.A has to be one of the greatest songs I've heard in quite some time.
Joe G gave it a10:
Up there with Joni Mitchell's Blue in many respects, and I urge lovers of that classic to give this a go. Martha's voice and the way she uses it means she could sing the phone book and sound great. Thankfully she has her own songs which are as engaging as her voice and eminently playable if you have a guitar to hand. Lovely warm production too, perfect for late night listening. My favourite of 2005, so it's a 10 from me.
Seamus S gave it a10:
I honestly think Q nailed it. Her voice is something incredible. It flows with a natural kind of confidence that's hard to find in modern music, pushing forward with angst ridden lyrics while never lossing ballance and falling into cleche. She has the air of a seasoned vet and the brilliance to one day become one.
Scott Y gave it an8:
Good stuff, better than pop. Seems like more creative and intelligent songwriting than your average female singer-songwriter. My only wish was that even though Bloody Mother F'ing A-hole is a great song on the album, I can't really play this album around the house since I have little kids around. In any case, it's worth owning.
The Punt gave it a10:
This is, without doubt, the finest album of the year. It is the best album since "Is This It"! Sweet and vulnerable and so goddamn catchy that I hum it all day and play it all night.
Glenn D gave it a10:
Beautifully, melodic and passionate. Beautiful but like a scorpion, has a poisonous skin.
