Rising into the public spotlight 50 years ago due to being Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, Faithful is a British singer with 19 other studio albums tucked under her skirt. This stuff is epic, dramatic, mostly dark compositions that range from a smoky bar with Tom Waits passed out on the floor to Carnegie Hall. Her voice sounds smoke weary, aged from the decades, but it only adds to the drama. Instrumentation is of highest caliber, contributors star filled including: Adrian Utley (Portishead), Brian Eno, Ed Harcourt, Mick Jones (Clash), Warren Ellis (Dirty Three, Bad Seeds), Jim Sclavunos (Seeds). Songwriting collaborators include Nick Cave, Roger Waters, Steve Earle, Tom McRae and Anna Calvi. Did I just hear you mumble “holy fuck!”? RIYL Nick Cave, Waits, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Johnny Cash.

1) (3:57) upbeat with a traditional folk feel
2) (3:52) straight forward
3)* (2:30) big waltzing drama, minor and Nick Cavey
4)* (3:28) acoustic guitar with piano, embellishments, simple and nice
5) (4:27) piano and ethereal arrangements somber ballad
6) (2:17) bluesy rockin but not balls out
7) (3:50) upbeat heavily arranged very Tindersticks
8) (3:08) simple piano ballad
9)* (4:07) dramatic with lots of embellishments good lyrics
10) (4:23) piano ballad
11)* (3:46) take on trad song, dark and delicate with koto, killer