There are some people who, if they weren't so genuinely nice, you'd be hard pressed not to hate. Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and their extended family of exceptionally talented musicians and artists, have been amazing audiences around the world with their wonderful music and winning hearts with the atmosphere generated by their stage shows. One reviewer, normally a man I regarded as being somewhat of a cynic from having covered popular music for years, literally gushed about how attending one of their performances was like being invited to sit around the fire in the family parlour.
That was almost 30 years ago, and a second generation of the family has begun taking the world by a storm. Kate's marriage to Loudon Wainwright ended in divorce, although he still occasionally plays with the band, but not before the couple had two children. Rufus and Martha Wainwright have not only inherited the family musical talent, but also the other qualities that endeared their mother and aunt to tens of thousands of people. While Rufus has had a successful solo career for a number of years now, Martha stayed in the background supporting both the family band and her brother with her vocal harmonies.
All that changed a couple of years back when she released her first CD and served notice that she, too, could take centre stage. Her second disc, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too is being released June 10th, 2008, by Rounder Record's Zoe label. Martha is joined on the 14 tracks, 12 of which are originals, by not only her extended clan, but also guest appearances by Garth Hudson, Pete Townshend, and Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan fame).
From the provocative title to the line up of performers and the pedigree of the headliner, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too has all the hallmarks of an exciting disc waiting to happen. While there is no denying Martha Wainwright's talent as both a vocalist and a songwriter, there are times on this disc when you wish somebody had exercised a little restraint when it came to production values and arrangements. On some songs the balance was maintained, but on others it felt like a “use everything plus the kitchen sink” approach was being taken. A little too much of everything is worse than nothing at all.
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