Before The Poison
by Marianne Faithfull
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15

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  1. AdrienS
    Mar 1, 2005
    10
    Her best work in years
  2. TimQ
    Sep 1, 2005
    10
    This is the best album she has done since "Broken English". Both of course are excellent !!
  3. MattM
    Apr 2, 2005
    10
    The best album of 2005 thus far. Faithfull sounds exquisite, and the arrangements are sublime. Simply astonishing.
  4. GREGW
    May 27, 2005
    10
    Before The Poison is as addictive as Marianne is Fabulous!!! The more I listen to and connect to her tracks- The higher I become..... Go MARIANNE!!!!!!!
  5. Shawn
    Jun 4, 2005
    9
    A fantastic album from the uber cool Mrs. Faithfull. The only complaints being that the arrangements are a little too sparse and the instrumentation seems occasionally lazy.
  6. VeikkoE
    Jul 6, 2005
    9
    Simply the most rewarding Faithfull album in years! Whilst most of her 1960's peers are humping along embarrasingly on the oldies circuit, Faithfull truly reinvents herself with astonishing brilliance.
  7. EdwardE
    Mar 2, 2005
    8
    Who better to bring the darkness out of Ms. Faithfull than Cave & Harvey. This is a stunning release & highly recommended though, don't throw it on at a party. It's bleak yet beautiful, dark yet reassuring.
  8. Mack
    Feb 23, 2006
    8
    Songs where her voice is "bleeding" are magnificent. The rest is just OK.
  9. MarkC
    Oct 31, 2004
    8
    Almost up there with Broken English. I still hold a softspot for A Secret Life too! Marianne's latest is v. tight; sure some trax hit a little harder than others, but on the whole seems to bystep filler. And it doesn't feel like a PJ and Nick primer - Marianne truly makes the songs her own. And her vocals - superb! On No Child of Mine she sounds like the tour guide to Hell when Almost up there with Broken English. I still hold a softspot for A Secret Life too! Marianne's latest is v. tight; sure some trax hit a little harder than others, but on the whole seems to bystep filler. And it doesn't feel like a PJ and Nick primer - Marianne truly makes the songs her own. And her vocals - superb! On No Child of Mine she sounds like the tour guide to Hell when she intones the punch-weary chorus Go home, Find your own way.… Expand
  10. KervinH
    Mar 3, 2005
    6
    Her haunting voice sounds older than before, but the songs are well writen, as one would expect from P J Harvey, Nick Cave and (to a lesser extent) Damon Albarn. Cave's tracks sit comfortably alongside his 'The Boatman's Call' album, Harvey doesn't surprise, but thats not necessarily a bad thing, while Albarn continues his lyrical yearn to join Ray Davis' Her haunting voice sounds older than before, but the songs are well writen, as one would expect from P J Harvey, Nick Cave and (to a lesser extent) Damon Albarn. Cave's tracks sit comfortably alongside his 'The Boatman's Call' album, Harvey doesn't surprise, but thats not necessarily a bad thing, while Albarn continues his lyrical yearn to join Ray Davis' 'Village Green Preservation Society.' However, in my opinion, each track would be better suited to the unique vocal talents of those who wrote them.… Expand
  11. KatieH
    Nov 1, 2004
    6
    very emotional and dark-hearted. but i find it difficult to get over the fact that, though it's not always a bad thing, you cannot separate the her aging from her music.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Playlouder
    80
    If anything this year's model raises the stakes on its predecessor.
    Read full review
  2. The Wire
    60
    The five tracks penned and played on by PJ Harvey... reverberate with all the dark, elastic abrasion of PJ's best work. [#248, p.66]
  3. The Guardian
    70
    Faithfull's most stylistically cohesive album for some time.
    Read full review
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