Fri Jul 21 2023
1
Sounds like the marketing department opted to keep me out of the target audience for this one.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Want One
Rufus Wainwright
2003
- Album Summary
Want One is the third studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through DreamWorks Records on September 23, 2003. The album was produced by Marius de Vries and mixed by Andy Bradfield, with Lenny Waronker as the executive in charge of production. Want One spawned two singles: "I Don't Know What It Is", which peaked at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Oh What a World". The album charted in three countries, reaching number 60 on the Billboard 200, number 130 in France, and number 77 in the Netherlands. Want One features guest vocals from Martha Wainwright, Joan Wasser, Teddy Thompson and Linda Thompson, as well as a banjo solo on "14th Street" by Wainwright's mother Kate McGarrigle. For the album, Wainwright won the award for Outstanding Music Artist at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards, won Best New Recording and received a nomination for Best Songwriter at the OutMusic Awards, and was nominated for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize. It was the first part of what was intended to be a double album called Want. The second part, Want Two, was released the following year. Want One was later repackaged along with Want Two as a two-disc set titled Want and was released on November 28, 2005 in the UK to coincide with Wainwright's tour.
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Fri Jul 28 2023
3
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.
Thu Jul 20 2023
4
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
Sun Nov 19 2023
4
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.
Tue Jul 18 2023
2
The ultimate hipster album.
Mon Sep 04 2023
1
what a great album of awful songs!
Sat Jul 15 2023
5
Exceptional. I loved every song on this. Jericho was a personal favorite.
Mon Jul 31 2023
5
Lush and gorgeous
Fri Aug 11 2023
5
got better and better the more i listened to it. beautiful lyrics! first track kinda reminds me of FUN.'s music
Tue Aug 22 2023
5
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.
Tue Aug 22 2023
5
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
Wed Sep 27 2023
5
Distinto, místico, mágico. Para mí este siempre fue un disco perfecto de punta a punta.
Fri Oct 13 2023
5
Interesting, very different to any kind of music that I have listened to before. Very funky but enjoyable to listen to.
Sun Nov 05 2023
5
awesome
Sun Nov 05 2023
5
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.
Mon Nov 06 2023
5
A great album all around.
Wed Nov 15 2023
5
Even though I listened to Want Two first, this is The Return of the King
Wed Nov 15 2023
5
Now THIS is how you pop a baroque.
Fri Nov 17 2023
5
Dásemd! Hvílík rödd! Hvílíkar laga- og textasmíðar! Elsk <3
Thu Nov 30 2023
5
BEAUTIFUL
Sat Jul 15 2023
4
Great album
Mon Jul 17 2023
4
Pop with super dense and complex layering. His vocals are like Broadway meets Thom Yorke.
Tue Jul 18 2023
4
Liked it more than I thought. Wanted to check him out much earlier, always think of Hallelujah and Shrek when I read his name. But this was refreshingly thoughtful, the album. Dreamy, thought-provoking... I liked the atmosphere. Some of the notes about the making of the songs resonated with me. + Oh What A World + I Don't Know What It Is + Vicious World + Vibrate + Harvester of Hearts + Want
Wed Jul 26 2023
4
peut etre un peu long mais j’ai dormi donc pas un problème
Thu Jul 27 2023
4
very good album, I would rate a 4.5. Enjoyed the varied style and sound! Reminded me of Kevin Max
Thu Jul 27 2023
4
First song is really great. I love this orchestral build up. It made me hyped up for the rest of the album and "Go or go ahead" and "14th street" were the only ones that were up to the challenge. The rest was dissapointing, vastly different in terms of atmosphere and boring. I would love shorter album with development based on ideas more similair to that from mentioned songs. In my opinion 5/5 album would be possible. But with all things considered it is 3.6/5
Thu Jul 27 2023
4
I'd really like to rate it 5, because there are some 5 star songs, but inbetween them there are some others that are not quite so brilliant. I wouldn't say they're bad, but simply forgettable
Thu Jul 27 2023
4
Once Rufus sang "Still, I think I'm doing fine". Yes, he's doing fine, the album is nice. The first part is much better than the end, the album could be shorter. It was a pleasure to hear, I think I'll forget about it quickly. 3.5/5
Sat Jul 29 2023
4
I think I got the second half of this quite a ways back and I'm wondering what I said about it. I liked this, he's clearly very talented, but there is an element of a little too clever (and well aware of the fact) and a little too gloss. I'd like to hear him a little rawer, a little rougher, a little closer to the heart.
Tue Aug 08 2023
4
Huh. Really similar experience rating this as "Want Two", which already came up. I _really_ dug the first track, and although the rest of the album has its charms, I can't help but wish it was all like the opener. Maybe one of his other albums is that level of OTT throughout? Fave track - "Oh What A World", as mentioned...
Fri Aug 11 2023
4
Totally captivated by the first track. The rest were really good too, but a little too much all at once. This guy really seems to construct a song deliberately, carefully, with purpose and patience. Really beautiful throughout.
Fri Aug 11 2023
4
Lots of surprising tracks! He's like a more mournful Elton John
Tue Aug 22 2023
4
Own this record, love this record. Every time I see a clock that reads "11:11" I immediately think of that song and it makes me happy. Waking up at 11:11 would also make me VERY happy, btw. "A little piece of bacon never eaten by Elvis," is one of my favorite bits of pop-adjacent lyrics ever. Great, lush record!
Tue Aug 22 2023
4
Lovely voice. Strong start to the album, some intelligent songwriting and a couple of musical twists I appreciated, but it just started to fade into the background a little in the second half. Glad I've had the experience though - songsterism with heart.
Wed Aug 23 2023
4
Not usually my vibe but pretty into this one, good stuff, 4 stars
Mon Sep 04 2023
4
I don't know why I don't listen to Rufus more often. He has such a great voice, which the simple instrumentation makes beautifully clear on this album. It's not something I'd ever put on to "jam" to, but it really draws me in when it's on. Great work.
Wed Sep 06 2023
4
As soon as I say I don't like pretty, sad, slightly whiny songs I find some pretty, sad, slightly whiny songs to like. But they weren't all that way, which helps! I really liked this, I'll definitely listen again and listen to more of his work. Also, I totally called it when I thought spotify would pick Nick Drake to play after this album finished.
Thu Sep 07 2023
4
This one surprised me. Very beautiful.
Sun Sep 10 2023
4
Rufus Wainwright sounds like Father John Misty for people who aren't that depressed. 8/10
Sun Sep 10 2023
4
7/10. Yeah, I like this guy. Very consistent sound, but I don't get bored of it over the length of his albums.
Wed Sep 13 2023
4
Typically great.
Sun Sep 17 2023
4
Yeah it's quite good but very hipster I guess?
Sat Sep 30 2023
4
This grew in me immensely as it went on. Ended sounding like Radiohead or Fun. or something.
Sat Oct 07 2023
4
It turns out that the most charming baroque pop that I've ever heard is something from 2003.
Fri Oct 13 2023
4
Enjoyed this much more than I expected to!
Fri Oct 13 2023
4
Had forgotten this album (and Want 2) existed. Very relaxing, although I can imagine his voice being a bit marmitey to some.
Fri Oct 20 2023
4
Gorgeous!
Mon Oct 30 2023
4
Not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Beautiful album, start to finish.
Tue Oct 31 2023
4
The Wainwrights are an interesting musical family dynasty - critically beloved but only ever surfacing into mainstream appeal as fits and starts. I still haven't found a Rufus track I love as much as I have singles from his sister (like Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole) or albums from his dad Loudon III (like Unrequited) and he always feels a bit too Andrew Bird/Sufjan adjacent for my taste for me to actively seek out his music, but I think this is a solid effort. I Don't Know What It Is and Go Or Go Ahead remind me of the sensibility later fine tuned by contemporaries like Keane, and I think he's stronger when he doesn't lean so heavily into baroque elements and lets the powerful sustain in his voice take center stage. Would go 3.5 but I'll round up to balance out the diversity of opinions on the merits of Rufus's music within our group. No shade though, I get it, I feel that way about Death Cab for Cutie
Fri Nov 03 2023
4
AMAZING
Mon Nov 06 2023
4
I had gotten a Rufus Wainwright album prior (the "sequel" to this one, "Want Two"), but admittedly didn't remember much of it. Without revisiting it, this sounds a bit like that one, but maybe less (as I described it) "theatrical". The impulses are still there, but they feel like they mix in to the straight-forward pop provided. Certain parts remind me a little of Rod Stewart, but with a nicer voice. It started losing me a little near the end, but call it a 3.5 cos it never truly lost me, just made me ready to move on to the next one. Favorite tracks: "Go Or Go Ahead", "14th Street", "11:11"
Mon Nov 13 2023
4
Chillax la max. Très sympa pour se reposer
Wed Nov 15 2023
4
Hmmmm i didn't get to pay super close attention to it, but I did like the vibe.
Thu Nov 16 2023
4
Was skeptical at first but maybe ruffie is all(wain)wright
Fri Nov 17 2023
4
Pop. Dudo entre un 3 o un 4. Venga, un 4 porque tiene algo de pop barroco en alguna canción.
Mon Nov 20 2023
4
Very cool, good for Sunday listening
Sun Nov 26 2023
4
Not my favourite Rufus Wainwright album, but still very.
Tue Nov 28 2023
4
Ik vind niet alle nummers even goed, maar die stem 😍.
Tue Nov 28 2023
4
Zucht.... wat een held toch die Rufus. Al de bombastiek en het dik-aangezette kan ik van hem allemaal hebben. Prachtige stem.
Tue Dec 05 2023
4
Really solid.
Mon Jul 17 2023
3
I enjoyed the layering of vocals and harmonies, as well as instrumental flourishes in places. The album as a whole feels like its aiming for something very grandiose in scale and this could just be because the style leans heavily into lushly orchestrated, baroque-esque popera. I would say that in terms of lyrics, they were of variable quality. Some provided quiet musings on the quirks of life, whilst others seemed to be repetitive or not say much at all. My favourite tracks were Go Or Go Ahead and Beautiful Child. I enjoyed the swell of these ones and they felt like the main high points in the album for me. However, a criticism I would make about choosing this style is that in comparison to these lusher tracks, the ones in the second half of the album in particular feel a bit non-descript and seem to blend together in an easily forgettable way. Having said that, there still needs to be variety so I think the tracks should have been arranged a little differently, providing a bit more variation in tone between tracks. I can understand why this album made it into the list for 1001 albums - technically, I would say that the songs are well composed and the decadent style will be a pull for some people. It was an enjoyable enough listen but I don't think I would go back to listen to this album again or seek out Rufus' other music - it's just not that uniquely interesting enough for me. I would rate this album at 2.5 for me personally but since I can't give it half a star, I'll be generous and give it a 3 for technical achievement alone.
Mon Jul 17 2023
3
after listening to scott walker, this feels like a slightly hammier, more modern version of that album. oddly? maybe not. both could be played behind a black white film or a theater production (on broadway?), or some vaudeville adjacent modern hipster club. maybe? its fine, he has nice pipes, i spose.
Tue Jul 18 2023
3
Pretty generic moody voice with a bit more upbeat tone, overall just fine.
Tue Jul 18 2023
3
Decent album, I enjoy the instrumentation, but I started getting bored after a couple of songs.
Tue Jul 18 2023
3
Cantor é capaz de criar e sustentar um clima intimista sem ser pretensioso. Porém, sempre fica a expectativa de quando vai começar a tocar Hallelujah.
Wed Jul 19 2023
3
The global reviews on this are pretty lackluster, and it didn't really move me much, but it also feels like it might be a grower. But then I'm not that motivated to revisit it yet either.
Fri Jul 21 2023
3
Bon chanteur, musicalement agréable
Wed Jul 26 2023
3
Meh, I was not interested in whatever this man was selling
Wed Jul 26 2023
3
J'aime bien et je m'en veux pour ça
Thu Jul 27 2023
3
Want One, like the companion disc, is dominated by a gentle ebb and flow. It is beautifully executed, and holds easy interest for a while. At least one legend has it that the end contains particularly jeweled work. Not sure how to compare Wainwright's music against ensuing decades' smooth surfaces.
Thu Jul 27 2023
3
Sucesión de canciones un tanto melancólicas, con una buena voz al frente. Sin grandes alardes. Pop sosegado
Thu Jul 27 2023
3
I kept forgetting I was listening to this one. Not sure if that's a good sign or bad sign. Good background music I guess.
Fri Jul 28 2023
3
Never much for this type of theatrical-pop singer-songwriter stuff. I can see why people WOULD like it, but it's definitely very much a "every song could be a different play" sorta vibe.
Fri Jul 28 2023
3
An album unfairly tainted by association with a past relationship, which, uncoincidentally, stirred up a dream/nightmare about said relationship that awoke me at 4:40am this morning. Well, I guess I have an early start to my day. Thanks 1001!
Fri Jul 28 2023
3
Definitely heard better RW albums
Mon Jul 31 2023
3
Maybe I'm being quick to judge, but it seems like a slightly bland pop rock folk thing
Tue Aug 08 2023
3
Oh What A World sets the scene for this gentle album. Once again enjoyable enough middle of the road. Fave track 11:11
Wed Aug 09 2023
3
First half stronger than the second half. Really liked the first 3 songs, and Go or Go Ahead is a great song. Some slower songs on the back half that were kind of forgettable, but this album surprised me overall, never really knew Wainwright past some of his covers. Really solid production, very operatic, with Bjork-esque vocals.
Thu Aug 10 2023
3
julia 2, stefan 3
Fri Aug 11 2023
3
Interesting and unique sound and vibe. I enjoyed this.
Sun Aug 13 2023
3
Good
Tue Aug 15 2023
3
Very nice album; certainly better than the other Wainwright album on this list. Every song is listenable and the album flows nicely. On the flip side, there is no real standout. 3/5
Wed Aug 23 2023
3
No one can say that Rufus Wainwright is a bad writer and performer. His songs are ripe with melodic ideas and interesting one-liners, generally speaking. The thing is, as good as Rufus's skills are, there's not much rhyme or reason in the way the double-feature *Want* was contructed. Maybe a great *single album* lies there somewhere, if Wainwright had been better at self-editing himself. But frankly, I'm not interested enough to recreate said single LP. Because, as decent and lushly produced as the music is in those twin albums, most of their cuts still come off as derivative at the end of the day. And a lot of them even sound pretty quaint, trite, chatty or oversentimental. Which is a huge problem in my book. Some reviewers in here compared Wainwright's voice with the one of Thom Yorke, and I can see why they did so. But if Radiohead dabbled in mock-novelty cuts once in a while, the latter were always mixed up with many different styles. And the whole yet managed to be part of the same connective tissue. *Want One* and *Want Two* are actually far less adventurous when it comes to the genres they use or refer to. And yet they never manage to create such cohesiveness. It's like a catalogue of exercises in styles, with very few songs being instantly memorable, unfortunately. Exceptions in *Want One" are the rococo opener "What A World"--lush with orchestral quotes from Ravel's Bolero--, more experimental and subdued "Vicious World" and "Want", along with the climactic, heartfelt ballads "Go Or Go Ahead" and "Beautiful Child". Oh, and there's the incredibly sour closer "Dinner At Eight", where Rufus narrates a dinner evening with his dad--the folk singer Loudon Wainwright III--going very fucking *wrong*. It's a true story, by the way, and a quick search online shows that Rufus follows an old tradition of the Wainwright extended clan here--one that allows each family member to give jabs at their close relatives through their songs--be they father, son, daughter or exes. Best case scenario, those cuts settle the score, and the whole dysfunctional routine starts again some time after a temporary reconciliation. Quite an endearing family of neurotic artists! Loudon especially, often comes off as an insensitive and stubborn patriarch, as talented as he was as an artist. Waiting for the HBO series that would take inspiration from this weird clan of musicians for its next big hit onscreen... All of this is nice and well, and it sure is interesting. But as I said, and all biographical anecdotes apart, the problem is that there are not enough truly memorable moments in *Want* (one AND two) to justify adding it to this list. The songs I have not quoted in this review (and there are a lot of them!) go from Robbie Williams-like innocuous bland rock-pop cuts to more extravagant cabaret shenanigans, where Wainwright go through his histrionic routine without imprinting it on the listener's mind, very sadly. And I guess in the middle of those two extremities, you can find a bit of Elton John. But without the hits. And without the hits, you can't call a pop-rock album a keeper, be it part of an ambitious double-feature. Following the specific purposes of this list of essential albums, I'm giving a 3/5 grade for both *Want One* and *Want Two* (I'm not gonna describe the latter here--let me just say that the first volume still sounds slightly more convincing than the second album, but the difference is not big enough to bother giving distinct gradings to those two LPs). This overall grading translates to a 8/10 mark for more objective and general purposes (5 + 3)... Next, please. Number of albums left to review: 461 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 254. Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 126 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 161 (including this one)
Thu Aug 24 2023
3
Oh yay, we get both parts! Weirdly, given the numbering, this is the less exciting half or Want One/Two, but still lush and funny.
Mon Aug 28 2023
3
I’m a big fan of Baroque pop, and enjoy a lot of what Rufus Wainwright is doing, but for me, this album just come together as well as it could. The textures are here and the instrumentation is grandiose and theatrical, but the various elements don’t always flow well.
Thu Aug 31 2023
3
I like his style, some good folk rock songs.
Sat Sep 02 2023
3
I’ve heard some songs by Rufus Wainwright before, not many, but I remember liking them. This album is interesting. A little over the top for my ears at times but I also wouldn’t be surprised to learn that’s what he meant. He seems to skilled to me to let anything happen by accident.
Thu Sep 07 2023
3
Melancholy. No one should feel that lack
Fri Sep 08 2023
3
Some of the musicians play their instruments beautifully and the songs are complex, but I was so bored listening to a lot this album. Some of the songs were pretty. They just didn’t evoke a lot of anything out of me and I’m easily evoked by music.
Sat Sep 09 2023
3
Very grandiose
Mon Sep 18 2023
3
Thought this was a very interesting listen. Definitely plan to listen to more of Rufus Wainwright and learn more about his background/upbringing. Seems like an interesting fellow, a tad bit crazy? 3 stars.
Wed Sep 20 2023
3
A pretty voice, some pretty music, good but not great (opening track aside). A bit OTT theatrical in some places, 3/5.
Wed Sep 20 2023
3
Pretty good.
Wed Sep 20 2023
3
Just not very inspiring, despite being completely pleasant. I imagine singer- songwriter isn’t a genre I’m ever going to embrace properly. So, meh really.
Tue Sep 26 2023
3
A nice well song and decently written album. This one seemed much better than the other Wainwright album. The singer songwriter style was well delivered and felt less spiritual or experimental. Overall it was good and would be worth revisiting. 6.6/10
Wed Sep 27 2023
3
I like it better then two. Fine but not something i'm going to revisit.
Wed Sep 27 2023
3
I left this on and didn’t hate it. Which overcame 2 expectations. I would go so far as to say… I even enjoyed a few songs.
Wed Sep 27 2023
3
This is the second album I've listen to be Rufus Wainwright and it's a bit better, though still not a fan. I guess if you love bad movie soundtracks than this is your album.
Sat Sep 30 2023
3
The kind of indie where you can tell this guy would be really hard to talk to because he fancies himself such an artist (ar-teest)
Sun Oct 08 2023
3
I enjoy the overblown-ness. What's the word? Theatricalness? Pomp. But I find his voice a bit flat. Flat with a vibrato. But flat. Or just irritating. If not for the voice would listen again.