- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Q MagazineHer voice is a thing of wonder. [Apr 2005, p.123]
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Her songs are tough and earthy, hating mere prettiness when fieriness or forcefulness are required.
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Under The RadarMartha takes the golden era of folk and mixes it with modern thematic flair. [#9]
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Entertainment WeeklyWainwright's barbed lyrics about love and relationships sound like she scrawled them on a whiskey-soaked night. [22 Apr 2005, p.62]
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BlenderShe'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]
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UncutPacked 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]
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Though accenting the vulnerability her vocals naturally possess, she manages world-weary honesty and summoned strength rather than contrived sentimentality.
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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.
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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.
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MojoThis is special, many-layered stuff. [May 2005, p.108]
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Martha has proven to be not just a worthy pupil of such domestic tutelage, but a musician of equal caliber.
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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.
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Martha Wainwright proves Martha Wainwright has a strong, distinct, fully formed musical identity, which would be just as impressive by any other name.
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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.
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It shows off a fantastic songwriting talent, if not conveying the live magic.
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Nothing on her self-titled debut full-length is "genius" or "brilliant," but the material is consistently well written and occasionally very good.
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She's not easy-listening: Martha hisses and purrs, fearlessly articulating anxiety with a lurid charisma.
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Los Angeles TimesHer walk down the dark side of life and love is often heartbreakingly upfront. [10 Apr 2005]
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A confident and accomplished debut, and a pleasant, agreeable diversion.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 31 out of 35
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Mixed: 2 out of 35
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Negative: 2 out of 35
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RobertAug 26, 2006One 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.
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AlexJul 27, 2006
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JoeGFeb 23, 2006