The Family Jewels is the only Marina album I struggle with because I can't just turn off and listen to it, I need to fight my way through it. But I really like The Family Jewels regardless of Marina's quirks. It's pure off-the-wall Marina when she was bursting with creative and misdirected ideas. It's the sound of someone who didn't know what sort of artist they wanted to be, someone optimistic who hadn't yet compromised in order to shift units and be a big pop superstar. She was new and not caught up in trying to keep her label happy. I sometimes think it's her best album. But only sometimes. It's very messy though always compelling and full of extremes. My favourite is Shampain even though I hate the spelling.
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