Want One

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The ultimate hipster album.

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

Was so good really enjoyed 8/10

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.

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

Lush and gorgeous

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Masterpiece

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

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

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.

Now THIS is how you pop a baroque.

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.

One of my faves. Perfect baroque pop.

Beautiful album. First time hearing him.

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.

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

BEAUTIFUL

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.

Soothing

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Beautiful compositions

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.

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.

awesome

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

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

A great album all around.

Una de las mejores voces de cantautor moderno

The name sounded familiar but that was because I know his father, Louden Wainwright of "Dead Skunk" fame. Best songs: Oh What a World, I Don't Know What it is, Want

I have to admit that I never heard anything from this artist that I really liked, so I’ve avoided his stuff. Three songs in and I have been converted. He sounds so good here. Really balanced vocals, very pretty music. Pop adjacent, but good quality. Good production overall. Some of the singing is similar to Thom Yorke, but not quite as good IMHO. But still very good. Ok 14th Street is more like what had turned me off to him. Too whiny and uncontrolled, too much all around. Skip over the next two, as well. Gets good again at Beautiful Child. He has such a distinct voice, and he sounds wonderful when he controls it. Sometimes he leans nasally and it almost feels lazy. But when he projects from the throat, he sounds great.

Me gustó, no me parece para un 4 pero no le puedo poner el 3 que le puse a varios álbumes sin chiste.

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.

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.

Great!! Really enjoyed it.

Good

Interesting voice. 5/5: Oh What a World, I Don't Know What It Is, Want. 4/5: Vicious World, Pretty Things, Go or Go Ahead, Vibrate, 14th Street, Natasha, Harvester of Hearts, Beautiful Girl, 11:11 Rating: 4/5

This one surprised me. Very beautiful.

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.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Oh what a world, Vicious world, Go or go around, 11:11

Excellent stuff

This was a good album however, his voice is unique and I found that I could not listen to it for long periods of time.

Rufus Wainwright sounds like Father John Misty for people who aren't that depressed. 8/10

7/10. Yeah, I like this guy. Very consistent sound, but I don't get bored of it over the length of his albums.

A pleasant surprise. Have never really listened to Rufus Wainwright but I enjoyed it. The vocals are almost Thom Yorke-esque at times. Some of the slower ballads dragged on a bit but all in all an above average album. 7.25/10 (3.625/5)

I am in shock that there’s a vocalist that exists who sounds like thom yorke and Julian casablancas simultaneously. I loved this guys voice and the music was pretty good overall but I didn’t connect with it like I would a five star album. If it sounded like a mix of Radiohead and the strokes instead of Elliott smith type 00s alt rock I’d probs consider it the greatest piece of entertainment media of all time tbh. Favs were oh what a world, I don’t know what it is, and 14th street.

Not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Beautiful album, start to finish.

Pop with super dense and complex layering. His vocals are like Broadway meets Thom Yorke.

Typically great.

Yeah it's quite good but very hipster I guess?

Really enjoyed this one. His voice is great, and the song composition and lyrics are really good.

4/5

I'm a fan of all the Wainwrights, and this one is particularly good. Heartfelt 4/4 time.

Like radiohead but happy. The album was decorated but still in stature.

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...

Favorite Tracks: Oh What A World I Don’t Know What It Is Beautiful Child

Gorgeous!

Liked this, especially ’Movies of Myself’, he has a really good voice

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

En el seu moment va sorgir com un petit secret que cada vegada es va anar donant a conèixer més i més. Sobretot pel boca-orella dels seus shows, gairebé performances artístiques més que concerts a l'ús. Tot i ser el tecer disc, molts el vam conèixer amb aquest 'Want One' i la seva segona part. Era l'artista més cool del món. La seva música, la seva actitud i, és clar, la seva veu. Però també tenia cançons increïbles. Moltes. Al final el personatge es va anar menjant l'artista, però en aquell moment era imbatible

Lots of decent moments and pretty enjoyable overall

This is lowkey goated I can't even lie. I enjoyed the theatrical/grand instrumentals; I liked how large some of the songs sounded. I'd give a 5 but I didn't like some songs in the 2nd half.

Rich and lush, this album is the companion of its successor 'Want Two', which I really liked. This is the better of the two. Gorgeous instrumentation throughout, the album really shows off Wainwright's voice, which has a Thom Yorkian quality to it. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Oh What A World Date listened: 05/12/23

I love how grandiose this album sounds, even the slower songs aren’t quiet per se. It’s a very solid singer/songwriter album with influences from other genres as well.

peut etre un peu long mais j’ai dormi donc pas un problème

Zucht.... wat een held toch die Rufus. Al de bombastiek en het dik-aangezette kan ik van hem allemaal hebben. Prachtige stem.

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.

Never heard this guy before. Very Thom York-esque. The vibe is hard to pin down, containing subtle hints of fantasy, medieval-ness, dramatic opera, and piano/music hall, all wrapped into a neat genreless package. All of the tracks sound great and are genuinely fun to listen to, with the exception of Vibrate (something about the lyrics just don't translate the way I imagine Wainwright wanted them to). The album cover is very odd, with an unattractive colour palette and - looking at the knight's attire - allusion to just one of the many genres included in the tracklist. Weird. 4/5

I get it

First 2 songs were really good, never really heard anything like it. Next couple weren't as good but not bad. Overall a solid album.