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CD reviews

Want One

Rufus Wainwright - Want One Audio CD

A fair review of the Rufus Wainwright "Want One" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Rufus Wainwright reviews here, or go back to the Rufus Wainwright tabs.

Band: Rufus Wainwright
Title: Want One
Rating:

Release Date: 2003-09-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Oh What a World 2: I Don't Know What It Is 3: Vicious World 4: Movies of Myself 5: Pretty Things 6: Go or Go Ahead 7: Vibrate 8: 14th Street 9: Natasha 10: Harvester of Hearts 11: Beautiful Child 12: Want 13: 11:11 14: Dinner at Eight

Disenchanted with Rufus
I then saw him sing on a DVD tribute to Leonard Cohen which made me intent on finding out more about him. Like many I first heard R Wainwright at the tail end of Shrek and was captivated by his rendition of alleluiah. I bought Poses his first effort as young artist, and frankly it should have been labelled 'Poser' as it was quite an indulgent album but I thought, he was young, he has a marvellous gift in his voice and there is definitely musicality there that has to develop. I then bought Want 1 and 2 and to be frank I don't think anyone would want either if they listened to this repetitive and self indulgent nonsense. The only redeeming section so far is when his mate Antony comes onto the disk for a duet but I was greatly disappointed in these CD's overall. I will listen again on the basis that all noise has some redeeming qualities, but it is purely to see if I can salvage some value from my purchases. I think he is best at singing others songs and in his rendition of Cohens work #which of course shines in comparison# he is given the perfect vehicle for his voice. If you must buy this puerile nonsense then do yourself a favour and just download a track at random from either of these and see if you can stand listening to it more than once. Its a pity really as he comes from a great musical family, perhaps if he did a rendition of his Dad Loudons, 'Dead Skunk in the middle of the road' he might redeem himself in my eyes :).

Want another...
. . another Rufus Wainwright release like this one. The songs on Want One by Rufus Wainwright seem to all have a feeling of celebrating heartbreak and longing. Equal parts uplifting and sad. I haven't heard all of Mr. Wainwright's work (I only have his debut to date), but this is by far the best work from him I've listened to. I've come to identify him as a piano-man/singer/songwriter in the vain of Elton John, Ben Folds, and occasionally Elvis Costello. There are also faint hints of cabaret and classical lieder in his sound. The tracks that really grab you immediately are Movies Of Myself, 14th Street and Beautiful Child and all are well crafted pop productions. 14th Street in particular, hooked me from the get-go with it's rousing chorus and big background vocals. Vicious World is a piece of music I find really fascinating, how it somehow morphs from its sound loop like intro into a beautifully layered ballad is beyond me. The string arrangements are great throughout this release. In particular Vibrate, with it's floaty staccato.
There are a few moments where I lost interest (Pretty Things and Want),mostly because I didn't find them as harmonically exciting as the other tracks. In the end, I find myself enjoying this collection of songs that somehow celebrates heartache, and the lieder-like Dinner At Eight fittingly ends this outing on a somber but defiant note.

What is the "official" review talking about?
How is that even a rational thought from anyone who knows music? I mean, seriously, Poses is EASILY Rufus' most "accessible to the masses" album, one made under the most pressure to shine, made to live up to the praise heaped on his debut, made to continue the growth of popularity, made while Rufus was at his most insecure and drugged-out, etc. The official review states that Want One has made an even bigger grab for "mainstream acceptance" than its predecessor (Poses).

As a Rufus fanatic, I don't think even all those things can make the man too radio friendly or thoughtless, as Poses is still fantastic. . . but that said, WANT ONE is my favorite Wainwright album. It is utter brilliance.

No way is Want One a more calculated grab at the Radio than Poses. Not in a million years. In fact, the Want duo is by far Rufus' most ambitious (and in many ways, least accessible) work to date, featuring the broadest sonic palette and the most daring instrumentation. The arrangement and production of Want One is not the kind one aiming for radio or popularity would utilize, it is the kind that someone allowing themselves to fully express themselves would utilize.

Want One is Rufus clean and sober, doing what he loves best with no pretense or preconception. Having already missed out on the huge mainstream, he returns to make music for himself, from a confident and assured place. For those of us who track with his tastes and flavors, this is an awesome thing.

Want One is the purest, most unfiltered Rufus.

And, as with many other great artists, it's that crucial middle album (think: Revolver, OK Computer, Absolution, Pet Sounds, etc) which stands perfectly in the balance between the primal simplicity of early work and the highly-developed but somewhat less impacting latter work.

Not to be missed. .

Revelationary
Then, whammo bammo, I heard Rufus singing "Zing Went the String of My Heart" and then "I Don't Know What It Is" and right there I bought all his C. At the age of 67 I thought there were no more musical discoveries or joys to be had. D. s and DVDS. That simple. What a voice, what a composer, what a lyricist, what a personality, what a charmer, what an original. This is music to change your life. I'm going broke buying gift copies for friends. Everyone, without exception, is overwhelmed by what they hear. He is a beautiful child.

Incredible!
Now I own all his albums and have purchased tickets for the show at Radio City Music Hall on Valentine's day for me and my boyfriend. This album has made a Rufus Wainwright fan out of me. We're taking a limo from Baltimore all the way up - talk about a romantic night! A limo ride to Radio City Music Hall, a Rufus Wainwright concert. . . . I don't think even TOOL would be as perfect - for Valentine's day, that is. Having the most amazing gay artist perform for myself and my boyfriend on Valentine's day, with such talent,. . . it will be a hard Valentine's day to top.

You can see a complete list of all Rufus Wainwright discography, or go back to the Rufus Wainwright tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.