Marianne Faithfull: Before The Poison : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

It sounds like a match made in darkest heaven: Possessed of one of rock's greatest damaged voices, Marianne Faithfull sings an album of songs mostly written, produced and played by PJ Harvey and Nick Cave, two more of rock's gifted wounded souls.

But the combination often proves too bleak. Unlike 2002's Kissin Time, which matched Faithfull with Beck, Billy Corgan and other alt-rock types, Poison doesn't mix much light with its shade. Harvey's contributions aren't especially melodic or memorable, and Cave's "Desperanto" is as clunky as its title implies. Some saving graces: Cave's piano-led ballads "Crazy Love" and "There Is a Ghost" suit Faithfull's restraint, and Gorillaz/Blur frontman Damon Albarn's "Last Song" supplies Brechtian drama and a killer chord progression.