Mary Gauthier: The Foundling

The Foundling, released in May 2010, is a very personal album from one of America's greatest songsters, with a beautiful song cycle. Garth Hudson can be heard on tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9.

Autobiographical song cycle about the pain of growing up an orphan... Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars Over recent LPs Louisiana-born Gauthier seemed to have put away her troubled past, but here she confronts demons anew, narrating the wound left by being abandoned as a baby, growing up an adopted orphan and her addiction as a teenage runaway. Not since Lennon howled "Mother" have there been songs as naked and fraught as "Mama Here, Mama Gone" and "March 11 1962", the latter detailing Gauthier's unsuccessful attempt to meet her mother. Produced by Cowboy Junkie Mike Timmins, with backing from sister Margo and Garth Hudson, some supple playing beautifully offsets a dark emotional core. --Neil Spencer, Uncut magazine, May 2010

Tracks

1. The Foundling
2. Mama Here, Mama Gone
3. Goodbye
4. Sideshow
5. Interlude 1
6. Blod Is Blood
7. March 11, 1962
8. Walk In The Water
9. Interlude 2
10. Sweet Words
11. The Orphan King
12. Another Day Borrowed
13. Coda

Mary Gauthier - The Foundling - 2010 - Razor & Tie Music 7930183099