 
There’s a slight catch in Martha Wainwright’s heartbreak of a voice. It’s subtle, but plenty big enough to grab one’s attention and hold it captive. This voice, which can be delicate and expressive and brash, is just one of many reasons that makes the singer an original. That’s not easy, considering her music royalty roots. For the record, she’s the daughter of Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, and the sister of Rufus Wainwright, who contributes vocals on the CD. Instead of following in her famous family’s footsteps, Wainwright has chosen to blaze her own musical trail. Like her bro, Wainwright is a tough act to categorize. She’s more rock than her folkie parents, and more alt-country than her piano-playing brother. On her full-length debut, she warbles, croons and curses her way through a set of bold, dramatic songs. Wainwright has writing credits on 12 of the 13 tracks. The CD opens with the beautiful “Far Away.” It’s a number that shows off Wainwright’s tender voice and her confessional lyrics. “I have no children/I have no husband/I have no reason to be alive/Oh give me one,” she sings. Although there are heaps of a traditional singer-songwriter in Wainwright, she’s eager to show her own style. Her youthful nerve is evident on “Bloody Mother F***ing A**hole.” Despite the explicit lyrics, it is one of the prettiest tunes on the CD. Wainwright manages to make the lyrics sting while making the song sound pleasing. This is one of the best debuts of the year. -- D.Kimura
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Martha
Wainwright