- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
Before the Poison is poetic and unnerving; it stands alone in her catalog in the same way that Broken English did -- but this time, on the other side of the mirror.
-
Though Poison is uneven, with all the warmth of a winter night, Faithfull's rasp and limited vocal range are stylish enough to carry her through.
-
This winning collaborative combination makes "Before the Poison" even stronger than its 2002 predecessor, "Kissin' Time," but with production and arrangements that are minimalist, dark and desolate.
-
She etches out a style that is as feeble as it is vicious. And she owns it, her voice only an assurance of just how cool she really is.
-
Entertainment Weekly[Harvey's] raw, blues-tinged tracks greedily indulge Faithfull's exquisitely tattered voice. [28 Jan 2005, p.84]
-
FilterHer tragic musings finally receive the perfect accompaniment. [#14, p.105]
-
Los Angeles TimesHarvey generally toils in the realm of cathartic release, but Faithfull mingles in her cabaret/chanteuse qualities to create a subdued tension. [23 Jan 2005]
-
MojoA classic work...together [her collaborators] have created a near perfect, and wonderfully paced, stage for the singer. [Oct 2004, p.112]
-
New Musical Express (NME)Skip ["Last Song" and "Desperanto"], and you've something very much like a classic. [9 Oct 2004, p.57]
-
This may not be a perfect album, but it is affecting and haunting.
-
If anything this year's model raises the stakes on its predecessor.
-
It is simply a stunning accomplishment.
-
Q MagazineThe worthiest addition yet to her legendary status. [Nov 2004, p.119]
-
SpinThe grimy, blues-black nuggets [PJ Harvey] pounds into armor for Faithfull are song-for-song stronger than Harvey's own 2004 album, Uh Huh Her.... But Cave's songs are a little too pitch-perfect. [Jan 2005, p.96]
-
Before the Poison is a wonderful disc, the sound of a well-established artist continuing to grow and explore.
-
Before The Poison isn’t flashy, and it’s likely to get overlooked, but it may just be the single best album Marianne Faithfull has ever put her name to.
-
She keeps good company these days, and it spills over into her music in the best way possible.
-
Faithfull's most stylistically cohesive album for some time.
-
Most of the songs are elegiac, and Ms. Faithfull infuses them with desolate memories. [31 Jan 2005]
-
UncutProbably the most potent album she's made since Broken English. [Nov 2004, p.102]
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 12 out of 15
-
Mixed: 2 out of 15
-
Negative: 1 out of 15
-
MackFeb 23, 2006Songs where her voice is "bleeding" are magnificent. The rest is just OK.
-
TimQSep 1, 2005This is the best album she has done since "Broken English". Both of course are excellent !!
-
VeikkoEJul 6, 2005