Martha Wainwright - Martha Wainwright

Martha Wainwright - Martha Wainwright / 2005 Zoe / 13 Tracks / http://www.marthawainwright.com / http://www.rounder.com / Reviewed 12 June 2005

Martha’s music follows the same of vocal-heavy style that her brother Rufus has found such success in; instead of being piano-heavy, there is a decidedly more traditional pop feel to this disc, especially during “Far Away”. The Spartan approach works in so few instances, but what comes through on this album really is enough to allow for listeners to maintain interest while still allowing Martha’s distinctive set of vocals to shine unimpeded. Throughout, Martha comes through from different angles and never allows the coals to die down; “B.M.F.A.” looks backs to the eras of Linda Perry and Janis Joplin, while “TV Show” is influenced vocally by Delores (The Cranberries) and Stevie Nicks. Experimentation is the order of the day for Martha Wainwright, and nowhere is this more prevalent than during “The Maker”, a track which uses a sing-songy delivery along with ample, almost-alt-country instrumentation to drill its chilling rhythms into a listener’s skull. What comes out as one of the disc’s strongest tracks is “Whither Must I Wander”, a track that draws thematically from Irish classics like “Danny Boy”. Martha chooses to end the disc with this track, authoritatively putting her foot down in the strongest way possible. This self-titled debut takes a number of tacks and never moves away from the strong commitment to excellence that Martha has.

Top Tracks: B.M.F.A., TV Show

Rating: 6.2/10