Customer Reviews

Filth & Fire

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Confession - I just now am learning who Mary Gauthier (pronounced "Goh-Shay") is - never heard of her until now, and I consider myself a music freak (a music "prick" is how one dear friend put it). I dug up two releases and highly recommend both here. She has a new album and will review that in the near-term as well.

Filth & Fire and Mercy Now are two absolutely stunning albums evoking all the qualities I cherish about music: this is bluesy, rootsy, infectious stuff. As a huge Lucinda Williams fan, Gauthier falls into the same mold - her vocals are gripping: at various times husky, whispering or crystal clear, all-the-time seasoned with Gautheir's Louisiana twang and snarl. So what is it? Contemporary folk? Bar-room ballads? Alt-country? Roadhouse rock? All of the above, without pretension. There is a renegade spirit here that embraces the saw dust around the jukebox over martini glasses. The production is respectful of the material - not spiffed up, but warm enough to pay due respects to the genuine sense of presence, space and atmosphere Gauthier creates in her songs. She forces time to slow - late night walks on quiet, rain-drenched streets, sultry, slow-dance waltzes, etc. (my visions, not hers). Highly, highly recommended! Both albums are Must Hears!

GENRES: Alt Country, Mellow Rock, Folk Rock, Contemporary Folk, Americana.

BUY IF YOU LIKE: Lucinda Williams, James McMurtry.

MUST HEAR TRACKS: Filth & Fire: "Long Way To Fall," "Sugar Cane," "Good-Bye," "Camelot Motel," "The Sun Fades The Color of Everything." Mercy Now: "Falling Out of Love," "Mercy Now," "Prayer Without Words," "Drop In a Bucket."

Bluegrass with a touch of blues! Awesome voice... real life songs. You won't have anything like her in your collection. She stands alone. My guy says she sounds close like Lucinda Williams.

I don't know anything about Mary Gauthier, have not heard anybody talk about her and have not read any review. Just saw the cd by coincidence in the small town library - schicksal.. haha.. and the title 'Filth and Fire' caught my eye.
This is without doubt the best record I have listened to for ages !! The music.. Mary's very personal touch, her voice and the lyrics.. can't be written down, must be listened to as they cannot be separated or described in words. The symbiosis goes through you without leaving you free and you carry the depths from the lines and notes with you through the night and all nights coming. Just buy it !

I already own the fantastic MERCY NOW and BETWEEN DAYLIGHT & DARK, so I bought this CD as a way of starting to work my way through Mary's back catalogue. It is an exceptional album that fits in brilliantly with the two mentioned above... I wasn't disappointed at all. The only disappointing thing is that it is quite hard to get hold of and quite hard to buy at a reasonable price.

I think if you want "real" Mary Gauthier is it! She tells stories and many from her own life. She is a true American icon and I think she needs more exposure!! Mary your music is always real and so you! Do not stop, ever! Forever your fan~~~

Maybe better than "Between Daylight"-a must have for music lovers. Have to go see her next week on tour now.....

Mary has a great voice along with distinct guitar play. Her personal story adds the credibility to her songs. A truly great but different experience.