Customer Reviews

Wainwright Rufus:Want One

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

"Want One" is quite easily my number one album of 2003 (and 2002, for that matter). I have never heard this incredibly talented man sound so utterly beautiful. Come to think of it, I've said that with each of his new albums.

Rufus's musical style and sense of orchestration have definitely matured over time. This album is like stepping into the mind of a guy sitting in a coffee shop or on the subway and reading this thoughts. He still hasn't lost that great sense of lyrical playfulness. Standout tracks include "Vibrate," "Oh, What A World," and "14th Street," and "Harvester of Hearts."

It's wonderful to find an album that brings one to tears with simply the music and the singer's voice. Through his excellent self-titled debut, and "Poses," I was waiting for THIS album from a wiser Rufus. "Not that I have that much to offer/God knows I have so much to gain." He's growing up.

Rufus, you are just . . . such a beautiful child.

Rufus Wainwright - Want One (www.rufuswainwright.com)
"The statement is basically, 'I'm your knight in shining armor. I'm here to save you from Linkin Park." (Rufus Wainwright, referring to the cover of his new album, which features him in King Arthur-style metallics)
The new Wainwright album opens up with what sounds like a thousand Rufus' humming what becomes the vocal melody for the track "Oh What a World." It is, in fact, Rufus's own voice looped over itself well over a hundred times. how he'll duplicate it in concert, one never can tell. I believe he said something about cloning himself. Which only leaves the problem of where he'll put the full orchestra...
Which is a central theme to Want One. With vocals that alternate from delicate hush to commanding falsetto, all backed up by the biggest orchestra one could expect, Wainwright's new disc is full of the kind of triumphant declaration that is sometimes only found in the best of musicals.
Not to say that the album itself plays out like some campy Broadway production, but it does have sincere star-quality. Rufus sings with the kind of broken-heart honesty that is best conveyed by a solemn piano ballad (see his previous works, the self-titled and Poses albums), yet is preformed with serious attention to instrumentation. The combination works, with unbelievable results. The infectious lead tracks, "Oh What a World" and "I Don't Know What It Is" yank the listener face forward into Rufus' catty and, at long last, sober world. His soon-to-be-well-known addiction to Crystal Meth is a constant undercurrent to the albums tracks, as is his search for true love. This is best seen on tracks like "Go or Go Ahead", which may very well be the track that finally makes Rufus more than an artist who's chiefly admired by other artists.
One of the albums most stand-out tracks is a song called "11:11". Debuted nearly two years ago, this is a song that Rufus began writing before September 11th, 2001, and completed afterward. It conveys his feelings while simultaneously avoiding the trappings of "tribute singles" that have been released since. One of the more subtle lines in the track shows off Rufus lyrical talents, which are prevalent throughout all his releases, if not moreso with Want One. Woke up this morning/and something was burning/realised that everything really does happen in Manhattan... Other tracks such as "Vicious
World" lament for what is somewhat a loss of innocence and desire for companionship that Rufus uses as a common theme for the entire album. Overall, the CD leaves the listener satisfied in the sense that yes, there are dark moments, some incredibly undesirable, but perhaps things will be O.K. after all.
With Rufus, there are no over-produced moments that seek to stun the listener into submission. Rufus is lulling you to sleep, he's opening your eyes, he's teaching you a lesson. If Want One doesn't become the Rufus Wainwright album that brings him even more global acclaim, then we are truly citizens of a most Vicious World.

...but it helps. You can appreciate this album without absorbing or understanding a single word of it. That's something that any good album exhibits. Of course, Rufus' tired, mush-mouthed vocal delivery would mislead you to miss the energy and sarcasm in the words. Actually, it seems that the theme of the album is being ambitiously tired of the modern world, but even if I am blatantly misinterpreting it, you are guaranteed to be humming at least one passage from this if you buy it. The bombastic production is a blissful departure from what's been heard lately, as is Wainwright's vibrato. The sound may be occasionally repetitive, but it's too fascinating to fault him for. But "Beautiful Child" is the best recorded musical moment in years. That may be sound vague, but when you hear it you'll know, especially if you're a musician. And there isn't a track on here that you wish wasn't. Maybe this sort of thing can stick. I'd like to see less wasted effort on modesty, and more wasted effort on wit and detailed dramatic production...

Oh yeah, just noticed there are a few reviewers who don't like his voice. I'll try to say this politely... Please disregard those reviews, they represent a small, anal retentive percentage of the populus; and I have played Rufus to uniformly enthusiastic reviews from friends.

"Wainwright could be singing lists of names out of the phone book and it would still be more exciting and inventive than 99 percent of the other albums out there." - Zac Johnson

Rufus Wainwright is by far my favorite musician and his newest album is no less excellent than his phenomenal first two albums. This album may in fact be the most accessible for those who did not instantaneously fall in love with his previous songs. The key is to listen to the songs multiple times allowing them to become familiar to you, like reading poetry, every time you listen the lyrics and music become richer and reveal their exquisite layers of beauty, emotion, and greatness.

Rufus Wainwright keeps getting better and better.

WANT ONE is an amzing follow up to POSES.

He has mastered the art of crooning and the songwriting is breathtaking.

Rufus Wainwright's opening song "Oh What a World" has simple lyrics which, as they repeat, build layer after layer into fugue-like bombast. It stresses from the start that this album is abouts sonics. It will have a dense complex sound and a cleanly produced real orchestra throwing harps and horns into the mix.

"I Don't Know What It Is" starts slow and builds to a crescendo as well. By its finale, it sounds like Phil Spector movie music. Wainwright and his producer Marius Devries parlay this excess into camp charm.

"Vicious World" is a romantic lament backed by a vibraphone from a Mirwais producers album or a chill-out disc.

"Pretty Things" is just Rufus and his piano proclaiming his Wildean aestheticism.

"Go or Go Ahead" starts with a lovely Wainwright vocal over acoustic guitar and builds to a blistering rock 'n' roll climax--at least by tuneful Rufus standards. Shades of 70s bands like Queen or Boston: power chords and creamy harmonies. A masterpiece of production, it's one of the album's best songs.

"Vibrate" is a bit throwaway but it's clever fun.

"14 Street" ushers in the album's finest moment where Tin Pan Alley melody, saloon piano, and witty poetic lyrics come together in a tasty mix.

"Natasha" is pleasant but unexceptional.

"Harvester of Hearts" may be the best vocal on the album. Rufus' voice, in its higher register, sounds delicate and expressive. The song is lovely too, though it repeats the word "people" too many times.

"Beautiful Child" is a nu-gospel stand-out that reads like a Blake poem. Again, dense busy production makes for a layered treat that may requires headphones to fully appreciate.

"Want" and "11:11" are slower songs with the occasional lyrical highlight, but they're not among my favorites here.

The album concludes with "Dinner at Eight," another contender for the album's finest moment. A beautiful melody wed to lyrics of David-and-Goliath combat, it's both a father-son love letter and piece of oedipal hate mail. The orchestra is used to great effect here, especially the harp whose ripples mimic "the drifting white snow" of the lyrics.

Rufus Wainwright, along with Ryan Adams, Beck, an underrated Joseph Arthur, and a revived Tori Amos, are the singer/songwriters to watch in the new millenium. Rufus has kicked it up a notch with "Want One." I wait eagerly for his promised sequel "Want Two."

As a huge, albeit recent, fan of Rufus Wainwright, I have to say that this CD is right up there with my favourite, Poses. Beautiful haunting melodies; powerful lyrics. Love it - love Rufus!!

Well to describe how I felt about this CD would take too much time so I will just keep this short and simple. I first saw Rufus Wainwright on a TV show and I heard some of his music and knew that I got to hear more of it so I did but I made the mistake of buying Want Two instead of buying Want One first. When I finally got a hold of Want One I listened to it and felt that Want Two was a lot better than Want One for many different reasons. I recommand that you buy Want One first and then buy Want Two that way you'll understand it more. I kinda thought it was hard to understand some of the storyline I didn't hear what most people said it was about but oh well. All in all it was a great CD.

I absolutely adore this album!!! It's so dramatic and theaterical that you just find yourself wrapped up in this intriguing world Wainwright creates... and you never want to leave. All the tracks have their own flavor- especially refreshing in a world of Dashboard Confessions where all the cuts have the same sound. I wouldn't say it's better necessarily than "Poses"- it has a completely different vibe to it. In any case, love it and I've been cemented in as a permenant Rufus Wainwright fan. My favortie tracks are "O What a World" and "14th Street".

I first recieved this from a friend who burned a copy for me. from the first note I was hooked. I immediately went to the store the next day and bought a copy. and then a few days later I bought a few more. this record is incredible. it has many happy sounds of memory for me, personally. The best of Elton John circa 1972 Tumbleweed perhaps? and don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to pigeonhole Rufus. he pulls it off while surpassing his influences considerably. It certainly doesn't sound retro, what with the great production, the guitars, everything! I LOVE IT!!!! gush gush... BRAVO!