The Foundling

Mary Gauthier | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B003CLAN24
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,897 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER MUSICAL GEM!, June 3, 2010

By 

M. Sexton (Fort Myers, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Foundling (Audio CD)

"The Foundling" is another gem of a CD from Mary Gauthier. She decided to write an album that told a narrative, in this case, her own story of being abandoned at birth and her search 45 years later for her birth mother. Ms. Gauthier said that she was inspired by a Willie Nelson album, where he, too, presented a unified theme across the songs. These songs are very personal and poignant, especially the rejection that Ms. Gauthier experienced when she finally located and found the courage to call her birth mother ("You say I'm a secret--nobody knows--and you can't talk about it now and you really gotta go"). This is a lovely album, and it is highly recommended for those of you who like folk singers who write intimate songs that are rich and meaningful. Ms. Gauthier has her own very individualistic style of composing songs, and her albums just get better and better.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A million miles from the radio . . ., May 19, 2010

By 

Florida Girl (Fleming Island, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Foundling (Audio CD)

Throughout my lifetime, I have been a fan of crying-in-your-beer, lay-your-head-on-a-railroad-track music. The Foundling is right in there with its refrain of "I want to walk in the water until my hat floats away." Mary's heart-wrenching life experiences are an indelible part of her and the lyrics born of these experiences are stark and unadulterated. The Foundling is a stunning piece of work. No Depression declares that MG has "created her first masterpiece." ". . .great art that reminds listeners of what the blues could be, but rarely are." " . . . the most raw, brave and ultimately satisfying album I've heard in a very long time. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."

In the middle of her misery, along comes the song "Sideshow" replete with fiddle and horns. While this song is written with a wink and a nod, and tongue planted firmly in cheek, the lyrics also ring undoubtedly true---a feat which can only be achieved by a great songwriter.

People stare and then they walk away
There's always a few who stay
From the stage I watch `em close their eyes
Like a little kid trying to hide
Like they're somewhere they ain't supposed to be
Watching something they ain't supposed to see
Giving into the undertow
In the dark at the sideshow

Chorus
I make a living at the sideshow
It's a place where the wounded go
Far away from the bright lights
Hard to find on a dark night
Another truly troubled troubadour
Writing songs to even up the score
A tune for every single body blow
And I sing `em at the side show

And who likes to think about their pain
Most people would avoid the rain
A sunny song will help you make it through
(undetermined lyric)
Too many songs about happiness
Leave me sad and lonely and depressed
A million miles from the radio
You can find me at the sideshow

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It captures Gauthier's talent so well, May 22, 2010

By 

Totally unbiased reviewer (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Foundling (Audio CD)

I saw Gauthier at a performance for a group of radio industry professionals. It was by far the highlight of the conference. Her songs are about loneliness and heartache, so they aren't light by any means. But they don't bring me down. Rather she is such a compelling storyteller that I am interested in the people she describes. I want to know about their lives. I don't want to tune them out. It's a bit like watching "The Grapes of Wrath." It's a part of America I should know about and Gauthier has the voice and the words to do the stories justice.