I Speak Because I Can
I Speak Because I Can | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 March 2010 | |||
Recorded | 2009 | |||
Genre | Folk | |||
Length | 36:58 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | Ethan Johns | |||
Laura Marling chronology | ||||
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I Speak Because I Can is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling, released on 22 March 2010.
Produced by
Early radio promos of the album contained four tracks that did not make the final commercial release. Two of these tracks, "Mama, How Far I've Come" and "Nature of Dust" were made available as a b-side to the single "Rambling Man" and an iTunes bonus track, respectively; the other two tracks, "Rebecca" and "Is A Hope" have still not seen a commercial release to date.
On the strength of the album, Marling won the Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist.
Background and themes
The themes are described by Marling as being centred on the roles of women and men in society. The album is written in the first person, but is rarely autobiographical. The song, Devil's Spoke is reported by Marling as being inspired by the Odyssey, while the final track, I Speak Because I Can, is informed by Margaret Atwood's novella, The Penelopiad, a counterpoint to Homer's epic. The song, Goodbye England (Covered In Snow), according to Marling, is about a walk she and her family took to a church during winter.
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10[5] |
Metacritic | 81/100[6] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [7] |
The A.V. Club | B+[8] |
The Daily Telegraph | [9] |
The Guardian | [10] |
The Independent | [11] |
Mojo | [12] |
NME | 8/10[13] |
Pitchfork | 8.1/10[14] |
Q | [15] |
Spin | 7/10[16] |
I Speak Because I Can was received with acclaim from
Track listing
All tracks by Laura Marling.
- "Devil's Spoke" – 3:40
- "Made by Maid" – 2:51
- "Rambling Man" – 3:16
- "Blackberry Stone" – 3:28
- "Alpha Shallows" – 3:42
- "Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)" – 3:45
- "Hope in the Air" – 4:32
- "What He Wrote" – 4:07
- "Darkness Descends" – 3:40
- "I Speak Because I Can" – 3:59
- "Nature of Dust" – 1:29 (iTunes bonus track)
Personnel
- Laura Marling – voice, guitar
- Marcus Mumford – drums
- Winston Marshall – banjo
- Ted Dwane – double bass
- Tom Hobden – fiddle
- Ruth De Turberville – cello
- Pete Roe – keyboards
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums Chart[19] | 7 |
Belgium Albums Chart (Flanders)[20]
|
59 |
Dutch Albums Chart[21]
|
91 |
Greek Albums Chart[22] | 23 |
Irish Albums Chart[23] | 13 |
UK Albums Chart[24] | 4 |
US Folk Albums[25]
|
7 |
US Top Heatseekers[26]
|
17 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2010) | Position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart[27] | 114 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] | Gold | 250,315[28] |
References
- ^ "NME – I Speak Because I Can, First Listen". Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Laura Marling – News". Retrieved 13 December 2009.
- ^ "What He Wrote". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "Boyzone's Brother holds off GaGa's Fame – News – Music Week".
- ^ "I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Reviews for I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Monger, James Christopher. "I Speak Because I Can – Laura Marling". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Rabin, Nathan (27 April 2010). "Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Brown, Helen (18 March 2010). "Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (18 March 2010). "Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Gill, Andy (19 March 2010). "Album: Laura Marling, I Speak Because I Can (Virgin)". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can". Mojo (197): 92. April 2010.
- ^ Denney, Alex (21 March 2010). "Album Review: Laura Marling – 'I Speak Because I Can' (Virgin)". NME. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Love, Joshua (2 April 2010). "Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can". Q (285): 118. April 2010.
- ^ Petrusich, Amanda (9 March 2010). "Laura Marling, 'I Speak Because I Can' (Astralwerks)". Spin. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Barton, Laura (14 December 2010). "Best of Albums of 2010, No 8: Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Music & Film Reviews - NME.COM".
- ^ "Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can". australian-charts.com/.
- ^ "Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can". ultratop.be/.
- ^ "Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can". dutchcharts.nl/.
- ^ "Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can". greekcharts.com/. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ "Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can – Music Charts". acharts.us/.
- ^ "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- Billboard magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- Billboard magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- ^ "End Of Year Charts: 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ Jones, Alan (17 March 2017). "Official Charts Analysis: Ed Sheeran's ÷ outsells rest of Top 75 for second week in a row". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "British album certifications – Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can". British Phonographic Industry.