Search - Marianne Faithfull :: Vagabond Ways

An Awesome return to Form

Jay Jay Smith | 10/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had mixed feelings about A Secret Life and 20th Century Blues. I could have sworn on its release that A Secret Life was going to be Ms. Faithfull's final recording, and while it was a good record, it was way too light and airy for my tastes. 20th Century Blues was interesting but I could never get into old standards. The reason I'm talking about these two albums was because Vagabond Ways hit shelves without warning. This is Marianne Faithfull at her finest. No old covers or swampy, over-bearing orchestrations here. Her voice takes front and center with a production that accompanies it beautifully. Everything on Vagabond Ways is either pretty or amazing, mostly amazing though. The title track and Incarnation of a Flower bring this singer back to darker roots, then using that same ragged voice for the absolutely moving Wilder Shores of Love and For Wanting You. Voices like Christina Aguilara and Joss Stone, with all their range and vocal pristine, can't come close to evoking as much emotion as this woman. My only gripe was After the Ceasefire, but it hardly spoils such a masterful piece."