The predominantly somber Vagabond Ways is a shimmering masterpiece. Five of these melodious pop songs were co-written by Marianne, with
Barry Reynolds involved in the writing of three of them. Quite a few are reminiscences of the 1960s, like the title track, Roger Waters' Incarceration of a Flower Child, and File It Under Fun From The Past, an equally mournful song of regret & resignation adorned by cello & viola.
The atmospheric Marathon Kiss, written & co-produced by
Daniel Lanois and with
Emmylou Harris on backing vocals, is truly magnificent, the distilled essence of the early to mid 1980s era Faithfull when she maintained a creative peak with three consecutive albums on Island Records. Electra, Wilder Shores of Love & the romantic Great Expectations are similar down-tempo numbers of lost love and yearning.
Her superb interpretations lend new meaning to Leonard Cohen's
I'm Your Man, the Roger Waters' song & For Wanting You, the Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition. The album concludes with Marianne's recital of the poem After The Ceasefire. Vagabond Ways is on a par with her classic trilogy of Broken English,
A Child's Adventure and Dangerous Acquaintances - another radiant jewel in her crown and a definite.
Kissin' Time sees Faithfull still at the cutting edge of pop, with assistance by Beck, Billy Corgan, Dave Stewart, Jarvis Cocker, and Blur on the title track. I have always associated her with other famous blondes of the 60s like
Nico and Anita Pallenberg, so it's apt that she does a tribute to the Velvet Underground chanteuse with the expert help of
Dave Stewart. But I miss the emotional resonance and the authenticity of Vagabond Ways.
After the first track, the listening pleasure only really resumes on the ironic Sliding Through Life On Charm with its witty autobiographical references. I also love the lilting pop/reggae of Love & Money and her cover of Goffin & King's Something Good, which is reminiscent of the type of innocent 60s pop she used to do at the start of her career. If it weren't for the voice of course, that has dropped to a more husky tone. Kissin' Time is interesting, but not always emotionally gripping and memorable. Still, it deserves four stars for musical variety and humor.