Want One

I wasn't sure what to expect from a Rufus "the Hallelujah guy" Wainwright, but this definitely exceeded my expectations. It has many sounds to be later found in later alt / indie music of the next few years. Specifically reminiscent of artists like Andrew Bird and Sufjan Stevens. Really excellent songwriting with a lot of eccentric charm throughout the different styles. Heartfelt and theatrical, bits of whimsy intercede with deep emotion. Put it on early thinking it'd be casual but it really gripped me while listening

Sounds like the marketing department opted to keep me out of the target audience for this one.

what a great album of awful songs!

So emotional that I get the feeling That this is Music for People with no feeling, for those who do not listen to music but get these 1 or 2 recommendations per year they completely dig. CD rack holds 27 albums.

Not bad at all. Never listened to him before. A little much in parts. Kind of Nilsson in parts. A little like Thom Yorke but more theatrical. Go or Go Ahead is great! Sounds a bit like a Radiohead song. Overall pretty good! At least a 3.5. Cover is weird though.

Something disgustingly beautiful about the way he sings and the way these songs are orchestrated. I can appreciate it but it's not something I will likely choose to listen to. One of my favorite parts was the very end of "Harvester of Hearts" when he says "that's all you're getting tonight" then laughs that goofy strange laugh. It felt like a glimpse behind a lush facade to something that is hiding behind meticulously crafted prose and arrangement - something that I'm more interested in seeing that what's being shown.

A great flowering of talent here, it seems. Rich and lush and layered and interesting – "breathtaking, eccentric opulence" is about right. A criticism might be that it all runs together a bit, in tempo and mood and excess layering, but how enjoyable and engaging it all is along the way and the combo of ambition/vision and fearless execution/willingness to go for it on every cut seems borderline genius. It’s a steady flow from strength to strength, with every cut registering – “Oh What a World” is a strong opener and great mood-setter, “Vicious World” and “Movies of Myself” keep things moving in rich cinematic fashion, And then what a sequence from the power of intense “Go or Go Ahead” to the yearning “Vibrate” to the rollicking “14th Street” to the legit-lovely “Natasha” to the wry “Harvester of Hearts” – RW leaves nothing on the table (hard to believe another record is coming). “Want” is beautiful, too, with the strong “11:11” and the riveting (if maybe overwrought) “Dinner at 8” make for an extraordinary (and fitting) close. Maybe it’s a little weak vocally, with a one-note style that throws up the same modulations and tics at every song. And it’s not hard to see how the overall feel might be overly dramatic for some tastes (not to mention excessively multi-tracked and overly instrumented/orchestrated). But the payoff is there, song after song after song. One expects to build a long-term relationship with this record (and its twin, which is nearly – but not quite – as excellent) as they have already repaid multiple listenings and definitively give off the air of a masterpiece.

I listened for a few tracks, lost interest, shut it off and didn’t feel bad about it, because this album has been removed from the book.

Pulled out the oil like diddy and jerked my shit to each song

Exceptional. I loved every song on this. Jericho was a personal favorite.

This is quite syrupy and unpleasant, some tunes buried within the grandiosity but his voice does not sit well in my ears. Too long and too self-absorbed, but tolerable in brief snippets

It's like your favourite Disney song but worse!

Thom York sings Broadway songs. Nothing stands out as bad, but nothing stands out in a good way either.

powerful. transportive. emotional. beautiful.

An immediate classic when it dropped. Still one of his best.

This is magnificent. It's a soundtrack for a beautiful life, any life, in all it's pain, joy, heartache, and optimism. The whole album is full, front-to- back, with wonderful arrangements and rich instrumentation on songs that all sound like the perfect end credit track for a truly stunning movie experience. It's contemplative and sometimes sad yet often triumphant. I've never heard this before, but I'll be back often.

Was so good really enjoyed 8/10

Beautiful compositions

Beautiful album. First time hearing him.

One of my faves. Perfect baroque pop.

Soothing

Amazing listen. Vocals, melody, lyrics. Emotional waves and one great song follows another.

I discovered Rufus through Elton John, who recommended him in an interview in his beginnings. I loved him in many of his songs! Thanks, Reg!

I've enjoyed Rufus from afar for years, but have never listened to a full album. Marvellous, heartfelt, theatrical, passionate, and vintage are all words that come to mind, and it all comes together in such a uniquely rich and unique way. Love it.

Delicate and brash, pulling from a wide array of genres. Lyrically playful and vocally enticing, the songs ebb and flow throughout. A beautiful album

Adored everything about this. It made me very emotional. The variety and layers to this really got me. I'm going to want to dedicate time to dig deeper into this.

For want two I said I enjoyed it but wouldn't go back (and I haven't) but I'll definitely go back to this. It was still a singer songwriter version of Thom Yorke in parts but also reminded me of Jeff Buckley and Beirut. The classical influences were a bit too thick in parts, preferred it when it was a bit more indie. Otherwise a really good album. 4.5

I like the guy - similar vein to Sufjan Stevens although more emotive and theatrical. Loads of references to other songs throughout. Other than Poses, not listened to one of his albums all the way through. A bit samey but I think this is partially due to how he sings - the orchestration and songwriting are fantastic. On the fence between a 4 and 5. Feeling kind.

I love the lyrics, the music, the voice. One I want to keep listening to. Wonderful!

Oh yeah, I know Rufus Wainwright. Wait, looking at the cover, maybe I don't. Oh yeah, I am familiar with this sound. Wait, maybe I don't know what I am talking about at all. Whatever, it was pretty amazing!

Oh, I'm so glad this one's on the list. I became a fan of this album after hearing Beautiful Child in a movie. That's still a favorite, along with What a World and 11:11. I like Wainwright's whole deal.

A voice of silk, and the music is well composed.

Men reading fashion magazines - Straight men! Oh, what a world. Little did 2004 know, the world would become even wilder and more outrageous in the years to come.

A record must have a killer edge to cut through the kind of ballsache of a day I’ve just had on one broken-up playthrough. This has heft behind the sparkle and I must return to it. Consider this 4/5 a placeholder.

This seems like something I would’ve gotten lost in if I’d heard it when it first came out. But as a grizzled old man…. it’s good. Lob 15 minutes off this runtime and you’ve got a HIT!!!

If you crossed The Bends with Andrew Lloyd Weber.

Happier than Radiohead, but less interesting 3/5

His voice on this album reminds of something between Robbie Williams and Thom Yorke. First song of the album is very original. And I like it mainly beacuse of it.

No. 226/1001 What A World 3/5 I Don't Know What It Is 3/5 Vicious World 3/5 Movies Of Myself 3/5 Pretty Things 3/5 Go or Go Ahead 3/5 Vibrate 2/5 14th Street 3/5 Natasha 3/5 Harvester of Hearts 3/5 Beautiful Child 3/5 Want 3/5 11:11 3/5 Dinner At Eight 3/5 Average: 2,93 Just an average album. Nothing I didn't like, but also nothing that really excited me.

Huh. I really liked the beginning of this record a lot. But Rufus’s voice started to wear on me and it’s surprisingly hard to decipher the lyrics (which I assume are pretty good given the Wainwright name). Might take a few more listens to understand what the fuss is about. Nicely made, very high quality production and musicianship is on point. Might grow on me.

The ultimate hipster album.

Cover? Bad. No shrek version of Hallelujah. That’s strike 2 Mr. Wainwright. If that is your real name. I think the title of “Mr. Wainwright” is probably taken by an off-duty oil man who drank the most Jell-O shots at some fly by night bar in the titular northern Alberta town. Stiff competition Rufus. Oh what a world. He omits the “wonderful.” Already a slap in the face of Louis Armstrong. Bold. I respect it. Also, it just dawned on me that ol’ Rufus is Canadian. Huge miss on my end. This music is actually pretty cool. Lush and grandiose. Like it’s bellowing through an empty church. Good atmosphere, but the vocals are not my favourite. That normally doesn’t play out well for the review. Noooooo. No. Nope. In the wise words of that one weird Italian (?) guy from that one “I Think You Should Leave” sketch; “Stinky.” Good lord. Boring and yet somehow also truly terrible. Only a vicious world could produce something this abhorrent. Alright. We’ve truly decided the direction we’re going into I suppose. The melodies continue to disappoint and the vocals continue to stay at the same annoying tone. Things are not going well for the Canadian here. Is it too late to disqualify him for being born in the USA?? I even checked Wikipedia. We all know about divorced dad rock, but have you heard of divorced mom rock? Rufus was making brave new strides in this still burgeoning genre. This was bloated and smelled like wine. I felt empty listening to it. Go or Go Ahead is a brief respite. A little bit more of the emotion I’m looking for. A better melody for starters. Some energy for finishers. It’s, by no means “good,” and it sounds a little bit like Coldplay not looking for radio play, but it provides more than the preceding march through songwriting purgatory. 8 more songs hey? What’s the opposite of Christmas miracle? A Yuletide tragedy? Maybe I’ll trademark that. Nobody beat me to it. Vibrate sounds like the rest of the songs so far. This is an adult Harry Potter enthusiast’s favourite song. Something so very millennial about it. Maybe I need to speak to a doctor. This is the most depressing album I’ve heard in months. Oh good. The same vocal tone again. Should’ve left this stupid vibrato on 14th street pal. Yes, I could’ve made that “joke” on the song “Vibrate,” but I was essentially catatonic listening to this fucking disaster. This song is like a pharmaceutically pacified psych ward patient attempting to sing in a hallmark commercial. Poor Natasha. Nobody deserves this kind of treatment. Bad song. Messy horns. And you guessed it, the same vocal tone. Back to the well. It sounds like he fell down a well and if that would end this, I’d be in favour. My hand would be stuck up in an affirmative vote. 11:11. Make a wish everybody. Shhh don’t tell me or it won’t come true. My wish won’t come true anyway, as I will be listening to the rest of this song and album. I guess the cat is out of the bag. I’m sure it wishes it could go back in the bag. I know I do. Fuck. Another wish down the tubes. How is this not the same song? Please end please end please end please and please end please end please end oh god it’s swelling. Good lord this was atrocious. There’s nothing to even grab onto and make fun of. It’s just the same boring song on repeat. Each track sucks the colour out of the room reaching through the listening device. Vitality vampirism aside, the lyrics weight speak to me and any cool sounds that occurred on the first song were ultimately betrayed in favour of the true intentions of the artist. Apparently those intentions were to exhaust the listener via a barrage of unlistenable songs with a monotone vocal that began to resemble drone music. If nothing else, bad albums are exciting creative outlets for me. “Want One” couldn’t even produce a canvas, let alone the paints in order to produce something of value from this steaming pile of low-budget Coldplay. 0-0.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Oh What a World.

My grocery store needs new music. I will suggest this.

10/10 loved Want Two when I first had that generated for me way back, and this is great too!

Great one quite surprised by it

Beautiful

What a beautuful album. His voice is a mixture of Freddie Mercury, Matthew Bellamy, Chris Martin and Michael Buble. A relaxing slow tempo album with slow rock and experimental plus some horns and a crooner style singing in some songs. Absolutely magnificent. Added to shit I want to listen everyday

Prachtig album, zieke find dit. Ik krijg echt kippenvel van zijn stem

No way to classify this recording. From the album cover to the songs, lyrics and arrangements, it defies categories. While many of the albums on this list are just repetitions of something heard before, this was different. It sounded more like a soundtrack to a Broadway show. Thoughtful, deep lyrics, string melodies and arrangements. While this album is not pop by any wild stretch and wokld not be of interest to many, I suspect, it deserves a listen.

Wish I could just insert the Willem Dafoe interview where he is describing his character in the movie The Boondock Saints . "He's gay but he has a special connection to classical music" Same thing describes Rufus and Sufjan's music for me. Beautiful music all around but if you listen carefully, very gay.

Yeah this album was awesome. I don't even know how to describe it. It had "Radiohead" influence but with horn sections? Also the singer reminded me a lot of the "Lemon Twigs" vocalist. Such a great album. Every song was different yet similar and so good. I liked this album a lot especially considering I knew 0 about it before listening. "Go Or Go Ahead" might be my favorite "discovered" song from all these albums so far. Actually a 4.5. Liked Songs: "Oh What A World" , "I Don't Know What It Is" , "Movies Of Myself" , "Go Or Go Ahead" , "14th Street" , "Harvester Of Hearts" , "Beautiful Child" , "11:11"

GAS

Pre-listening thoughts: okayyy Rufus wainwright!! We might have cooked here guys I am a little excited for this one. Why was this released thru dreamworks records I didn’t know dreamworks had a label 😭 Post/during listening thoughts: I adore this actually. It’s so baroque pop. His voice sort of drolls over the songs in a Thom Yorke way but honestly it works. But when the sound gets really big that is when this album excels. The instrumentation is so varied but full and fun. Really really enjoyed this one. Hype that Want Two is somewhere in our future (and glad we got this one first). 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: me personally maybe? but to everyone saying “I hate pop music” listen to this one and get back to me Fav tracks: this is a no skip album but seriously special shoutout to Go or Go Ahead bc I was gagged during that song. Absolutely insane. Least fav tracks: none

Something different from the rest, existential dread delivered in catchy, pleasant tunes! Will give this one a listen again in the future.

Creative, bringing you theatrical energy of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, somehow, with Julian Casablancas-like vocals - both sounding emotional, and delivered with almost lack of care, but in the opposite direction. Then, the energy it brings avoid being epic like that of Meat Loaf. But still grand, very much emotional. My worry is that with next listens I'd find the album samey, too-similar, but that remains to be seen. It lands into the type of music I like, and I think it's somewhere between 4 and 5.

extremely fortunate to roll this now since want two, one of my best new discoveries of the project, has been in my rotation recently. that record deffo feels a bit more out-there and sonically cryptic, where this hits u a bit more between the eyes...not a bad thing at all since, among the melody-writers id never even heard of before this project, rufus wainwright might be my very favorite. painfully beautiful, soul-rich, with that lavish yet intimate chamber pop sound thats been enchanting me on want two but a wee bit more cohesive and approachable. these two records are operating on levels of touch starvation even I almost cant relate to. almost!

abi ben cok begendim cidden tekrar kesin dinlicem en sevdigim sarkı go or go ahead

Unique Rêveries. like listening to someone's beautiful secret. Rich full colourful art rock that's gently theatrical and cinematic but also too personal for those descriptors . An assemblage that at times reaches intensity thats almost excessive but makes you want to hang on and let it expand your capabilities ... It may span too varied a range to truly hang together as an album, as it feels more like a compilation of rapidly evolving styles, but maybe that is Rufus, nothing is the same as the last and there isn't a particular style, just a voice and talent doing the work and sharing the lyrics.... or maybe these are just emotions and not enduring moods that he wishes to share: like pages from a poetry book.... Because then... he drops in a slow ballad stripped down and pours the shining gleaming weight of his story into your upturned palms. More intimate and personal than anything I've heard in a long time. And so lyrical and beautiful. He has a voice. I think it's unique in warmth and that singular reediness, a soaring Karen Carpenter in a male voice. Oh how O hope he holds this together and evolves and performs like. Happy to reminded of this artist.

Oh What a World has lived rent free in my head for 15 years, absolutely iconic

I was familiar with this album back in the day. It was good to return to this! The two opening numbers are exquisite, and the rest of the album is pretty darn good as well.

I haven't actually made it all the way through this album yet, despite starting it about 5 times. The opening track hooks me in and I want to keep teasing it apart, so I start back at track 1 after every interruption. I'm enjoying Rufus's voice, and the contrasts between vocal and instrumentation on various tracks. Some of the harmonies are wonderfully unexpected. An album to return to, and an artist to explore.

Oh What A World I don't know what it is Vicious World Big drama, ali nježne i zanimljive stvari.

I haven't listened to this in years, I had forgotten how good it is.

Me ha gustado bastante...se parecían a panic at the disco

Oh good, so Want One was in the book at one point. I am very clear that they kept the wrong one in, Want Two is not a patch on this. Incoming message from the Big Giant Head - "this is The best album ever made containing a reference to Third Rock from the Sun." Not a big Rufus fan tbh, but I was introduced to this album a few years back and for me it's a masterpiece. Very much enjoyed the performance he did of this with BBC Phil a couple of months ago also. I see a review call him Rufus 'Hallelujah' Wainwright which I thought odd as there's at least 3 other artists I think of for that song before him, not sure I've heard his version much at all. This record appeals to the side of me that loves the Divine Comedy - indeed the central chord progression in Go or Go Ahead massively reminds me of the Certainty of Chance. But wider than that the general vibe and sweeping instrumentation really scratches something for me. Gloriously overblown from the off, occasionally evoking a stage musical, and delivered beautifully. Most obviously with the bolero of Oh What a World. The voice described as Broadway meets Thom Yorke pretty much nails it. Also a rare example of a really long album which I wouldn't drop a song from. Honestly it's the only record he's done which I like, but I bloody love it. Favourites, Beautiful Child, Go or Go Ahead, 14th Street.

simply lovely. i love this style of music.

Masterpiece

Þessi plata er ógeðslega góð. Við fyrstu hlustun er þetta ekki rödd sem ætti að ná til mín, en hún gerir það nú bara samt. Productionin íburðarmikil en aldrei of, og lögin eru góð, sum hver geggjuð. Óskiljanlegt að hann sé ekki stærra nafn.

Pretty darned lovely. 4.5 stars... Oh. what the heck, give him 5.

I wasn't overly familiar with Rufus Wainwright coming into this, but I was pleasantly surprised. The opening song is fantastic with the marching band sound going behind the lyrics. And it just gets better. Really one of my favorite albums thus far.

Wonderful - like a warm hug on a cold day. An artist I have never appreciated before this, but now have a huge admiration for. A great voice, interesting songs (lyrically and musically) - all round, a brilliant album

Never heard of him before, but I'm now a big fan.

BEAUTIFUL

Dásemd! Hvílík rödd! Hvílíkar laga- og textasmíðar! Elsk <3

Now THIS is how you pop a baroque.

Even though I listened to Want Two first, this is The Return of the King

A great album all around.

awesome

Interesting, very different to any kind of music that I have listened to before. Very funky but enjoyable to listen to.

Distinto, místico, mágico. Para mí este siempre fue un disco perfecto de punta a punta.

This one really worked for me. Every song is expertly crafted, expansive, and poetic. It's night and day compared to the second entry. Best track: Oh What A World

Great album. One of the best two-song openers of any album I've heard. Movies of Myself, 14th Street, Go or Go Ahead are also great. The inbetweeners also have a lot to offer. Well done, everybody.

got better and better the more i listened to it. beautiful lyrics! first track kinda reminds me of FUN.'s music

Lush and gorgeous

really enjoyed. radiohead vibes

i’ve got a few records by this guys dad but i’ve never listened to them and i’ve never heard of rufus so i went into this kinda blind. i thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing this typa pop is top tier. the lyrics kinda confused me at points cause he was really just saying shit but i didn’t really mind

Pleasant on the ear.

I've always meant to dive deeper into Rufus Wainwright's work, so I was really looking forward to giving Want One a proper listen. He's always been on my radar, mostly as "the guy who did the best version of Hallelujah," but I hadn’t explored much beyond that. With all the glowing reviews out there, expectations were high—and the album absolutely delivered. Want One exceeded my expectations. I genuinely enjoyed it from start to finish. Of course, there are the well-known tracks like Oh What a World and Go or Go Ahead, but what really stood out to me were the lesser-known gems. Movies of Myself and Vicious World were personal highlights—unique, emotional, and beautifully arranged. This album has definitely made me excited to explore more of Rufus’s catalog. It’s one I’ll be returning to for sure. Favourite track: Movies of Myself Least favourite: I couldnt pick one. I really enjoyed every song on the album Album artwork: A very cool, striking cover—fits the theatrical vibe of the album perfectly.

This is like Michael Bublé meets David Bowie. Although kinda monotone across the album. The lyrics and music composition make the album more interesting than Come Away with Me by Nora Jones, which tonally is the most similar album from this list that I've listened to so far.

I need to check this dude and this album out more. I had time to listen to this once and it was very late at night but I was fascinated by it. A little bit of a throwback to the '70s singer-songwriter approach and his voice sounds a little irritating to me at some times. Bud, it seemed like he had some really interesting ideas worth exploring further.

Is this one of those “way more popular than you realized” albums? It was great!

Have not listened to this in a long time. Incredibly creative and different. Theatrical and over the top.

Big, beautiful, bold and heart warming. I wish the world was more Rufus. His musical chops shine through and his voice and lyrics convey such highs and lows. I love how this album scared the american men who are insecure.

I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Excellent singer/songwriter

Way good

Vocal pop records are not my thing usually but RW's voice keeps my attention. The tracks and production are also enjoyable.

If I was told that this album came out at the start of the 2010s, I would’ve believed it. Feels very much ahead of its time given the release date. Solid pop sound.

Nothing compares to Poses.... but this one is pretty alright. Love the quality of his voice and the quirkiness of his everything.

Different!