Reviews (page 6 of 7)
It's fine but too mundane for me
I had never heard of Rufus Wainwright or any of the other names in the wikipedia snippet. Oh What A World caught me off guard and I really liked it. It was big and ambitious and sounded like indie from the early 2000s and got pretty stoked if the rest of the album was going to be like that. Then I Don't Know What It Is came on and now it sounds like generic theater kid pop. Go Or Go Ahead was also pretty good even though it sounded very heavily Radiohead inspired. Overall I liked 2 songs and disliked the rest so I’d probably give this a 2.5 but am going to round down on this one.
# Album Name: Want One # Artist: Rufus Wainright # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Its alriiiiigggghhhhttttt. Too long though. Gets boring after a while. Hence the down mark from a 3 > 2. # Top Tunes: Who knows # Would I listen to it again? No
This was ok, very theatrical and show tuney, and much of it quite good. In small batches I can dig it, but an album worth kinda wears on me. It doesn't help that he reminds me of Thom York.
It felt really long and the guy just likes to sing long notes. I was wishing for it to be over. I am scared that the book has want two in it, meaning I might have to slog through another album....
A lot sounded whiny, kind of the same. Doesn't reach the excitement and variety of other singer-songwriters. Michael Buble but make it more broadway. 2*
1. uuorld -1.5 2. knouu - 1.5 3. viciouz - 1 4. moviez - 1 5. pretty - 1.5 6. go - 2.5 7. Vibrate - 1.5 8. Street 0 9. Natasha - 1.5 10. Hearts - 1.5 11. Child -1 12. Want - 2.5 13. Eleven - 1 14. Dinner - 1.5
9/24/25 - played this album a lot. It reminded me of another group but can't remember. But even having it on repeat by accident all day, it's just not for me. 2.5
The grandiosity is a bit obnoxious. Combined with my distaste for Rufus' voice and this was a chore to get through. 4/10
Meh. Feels overproduced.
Das sind alles Songs die der character in einer Serie auf Kopfhörer für 20 Sekunden hört du siehst das Auto von oben Kamera Fahrten etc und dann steigt die Person aus und nimmt Kopfhörer ab Musik blendet aus Soll heißen klingt nicht sehr Special ein paar coole lyrics/ad lips waren drin Aber sehr white basic Special mention: Beautiful Child Best Song: Go Or Go Ahead Rating 2,3/5
kinda show tune-y not bad but not my thing
Shutup man
I do not like his voice
This album feels fairly inconsistent and a bit dated in parts. In fairness to it the song-writing is fairly intricate and a few of the songs do feel up-beat and anthemic - Go Or Go Ahead is by far the best song for me. But overall the album feels scattered and forgettable. Left it feeling quite bored if I was being brutal.
Entirely unremarkable.
I really struggle with this type of orchestral pop that sounds like it's out of a musical. I just keep imagining dancers pirouetting during the bridges and interludes. For some reason Jeff Buckley is what's coming to mind as a comparison (probably not fairly), and he did this sooooo much better. ...And this is certainly some of the worst album art on the list.
Decent sound but not my cup of tea
Kind of annoying and sounds repetitive. Bounced halfway through .Two stars.
Big swelling emotional songs with no substance. Radiodead. He sings the same way almost completely unchanged in every song. Sounds like he is drunk stringing words together. The Stroked. I think the composition and instrumentals are very well done and then he comes in and kind of just fucks everything up. 4/10
Not quite my thing.
It's a good album with lots of interesting ideas and a lovely blend of singing and (for lack of a better word) whimsical music. But... it's too much for me personally, as a whole album at least. I would love to listen to the songs individually, but while listening to the entire thing at once I felt overwhelmed. It's too much coming too quickly, and therefore I have to be a bit more critical with my rating than I'd like.
I want to be clear, it's not bad, I just find it kinda plain 😔 I feel like I've heard a 100 songs like the ones on this album.. so nothing grabbed me.. but I would probably appreciate this at the right moment
Not really needing to be on this list and not to my taste.
BOOOOOORRRRRRINNNNNNGGGGGGG
This album doesn't have the repeated sucking of the last album so he clearly developed a smoking habit between the two releases. Probably said this last time I reviewed Rufus but this guy really is the final boss and progenitor of overproduced indie, which i will never forgive him. The worst part is, his stuff isnt even bad its just so painfully mediocre. 5/10
The first song excited me because the tuba line sounded like the Papers, Please intro song (shoutout to Nick Hitchens for playing the tuba on this track). There is a (deliberate?) dissonance on this song which is present on many of the songs on this album between the monotone and dreary lead vocals and the bombastic and lively instrumentation. It could have worked well, but it sounded like the musical version of that smudged-up Spanish painting of Jesus. The pedigree of the producer and performer really makes me feel like this album should have been better. Unfortunately, there are very few engaging songs on here. It's not unlistenable, but it's also not re-listenable. Highlights: Oh What a World
First song is very papers please. Not a fan of 'pretty things', his voice sounds very whiney. Overall it's too long and whiney for my liking. 2 might be a bit harsh but oh well.
olha a capa disso vai tomar no cu radiohead para fãs de broadway o estrago que o mano thom yorke fez na música "alternativa" no início dos anos 2000. o instrumental eh até legal pra hipsters. de resto, eu dobro e passo pro próximo.
It’s ok. It’s not a bad rainy day album, it kind of has that feel. There are some tracks that were alright but for the most part I don’t think I would ever revisit it.
I don’t know what it is sounds like a bad Radiohead song
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: ⚔️😒🪙 Production: 🔊🎆👍 Music: ✨💔🙄 Rating: 🤺(🤺)/5
For the life of me I will never understand what this decades obsession with mellow dramatic solo singers wailing over a piano. There was some interesting, theatrical production to this but on the whole it felt like sitting through another dreadful episodes of American Idol and that was something I really wanted to leave decades in the past.
Some pretty music, with overly emotional delivery of vacuous pretentious lyrics. It’s a shame. Also, Jane Curtin deserves better.
Well. He likes Radiohead. This album just sounds like the bends to me. Quiet lyrics then a big sound comes in to emphasize the lyrics. It's an ok album. It's not going to stick with me at all. I get what he's going for but it's not my scene or vibe. Well made album though. I enjoyed the music over the lyrics personally but I can see this man have a serious rabid following.
This album feels like Radiohead sings schmaltzy Broadway songs. These are two things I like separately; they are not two great tastes that taste great together. 2⭐️
Slow and sleepy, even when it tries to be upbeat.
I listened to this, but I didn’t actually listen. Nothing caught me. I remember saying this the last time he had an album on here. Rufus has TWO albums on this list??!
Sorry Rufus, you’re talented and there’s a world where I’d really dig your dig if your voice was entirely different.
Go Or Go Ahead sounds like a B Tier Radiohead song, and this is the one I've enjoyed the most by far. The rest of the album sounds like a collection of Broadway songs that didn't make the cut.
Fine enough, but it just dragged on for too long
I almost stopped listening during the first song. His voice was whiny, warbling, and sounded like he was a terrible vocalist. The second song redeemed his singing qualities. He has a pleasant voice and an excellent range. But, and of course there’s a but coming!…I don’t like his music. I think it’s boring and, as a result, his stories don’t grab my attention. Each song seemed too long and they all droned on, blending into a mash of boring background music that I couldn’t finish.
Standout Songs: Movies Of Myself Beautiful Child A slow, sad album that all blends together just like every chamber pop album. Nothing really interesting to me
# 521 : Want One The ultimate hipster album. I don't hate it and nothing stands out as bad, but nothing stands out in a good way either. It's just so slow and boring, and it was a struggle to stay connected. Its nicely made, with good musicianship but I really like the nice album art, so one extra star for that :-) If I had to pick a song : I Don't Know What It Is Listened : 10/07/2025
There a lot of music there, but it's just so so mid
Ugh. Nope.
Kind of reminds me of the singer of Radiohead and the music was boring but bearable. 2.5/5
¨rescindible.
This does nothing for me. He’s trying maybe too hard idk. And his voice just sounds the same the whole time. What more can I say? 2.5
I don't understand why this is on the list. I don't say that to be mean, but I can't hear anything here that feels different or more influential than other singer-songwriter albums of this time, or decades before. Maybe the devil is in the details and I am too bored to listen for those details. Rufus Wainwright sings like a sad teenager who only owns Thom Yorke and Chris Martin records. The album opens with a dirge that really set a tone I couldn't get past. I can't pick out any hits, and there are a lot of songs that feel like they would be that final slow song you'd play to end a concert, but then it keeps going. Makes for a long hour, and probably an even longer concert.
Maybe this just isn’t for me. This seems like something that someone would show you on YouTube between classes during high school claiming this “saved their life”. Well made, but none of these songs really stick with me. Favorite song was Go Or Go Ahead.
This guy has got to be least talented person in the Wainwright Family. Before listening to this album, I didn’t think that songs with an orchestra could be boring. This album proved me wrong. Maybe if it didn’t have all of the orchestration, it would have been better.
Quite artsy, not really my style Feels like a prototype for the indie sadboys of the 2010s "Straight men, oh what a world" is a strange lyric all the songs sound kinda the same
Feels a bit like listening to a musical soundtrack without context.
This guy annoys me. It's his voice
I'm sure he's very talented but I can't stand the poor man's voice at all. Much prefer Martha.
Not for me, annoying voice
Boring
Singer-songwriter is my go-to genre, but this guy seems to be another loser in the Radiohead auditions. He has a great voice, but his vocal style is a little nasal and often quite whiney. I can't say I enjoyed more than a few minutes of this one.
Too slow very samy
Never heard of Rufus Wainwright before. Album cover is interesting, kinda like the poster for a rejected YA fantasy movie adaptation. The tracks themselves though....they were just kinda meh? Every track sounded like it was meant to be in a movie but got rejected, and I swear I heard threads of much more famous movie sountracks woven throughout the album. Not one I'll be coming back to. 2/5
Am I supposed to care that this guy got into a fight with his famous dad? Who gives a fuck
Think i like it more than the other one he has on the list, but it's still overly long and gets boring after a while. He's also channeling Thom Yorke a little too much for my ears
boring as hell
not for me - a little bland
No private session used for Spotify. I have never been a huge fan of Rufus's voice, I fine it whiney, mumbled and sounds like he just woke up, but probably should have stayed in bed longer. His voice is featured a lot in his music, so it's a problem.
Liked the sound like the vibe but not the songs
Not one I want to return to.
4/10, I wasn’t that impressed but it’s fine, won’t listen to it again tho i don’t think.
68% Best: Movies Of Myself; 14th Street Must-Hear? No
2003. Relaxed kind of theater songs. Depth of story and sound.
2.5
whiny white man music (WWMM)
It’s not terrible but I would never think of listening to it again.
Want One is a bit dramatic and grandiose, it's ambitious and bold, and feels personal too. It does feel a bit too much at times, and at other times, it felt a bit boring. "Go or Go Ahead" was pretty interesting, a very powerful song about addiction, Wainwright delivers it well with his distinctive singing style and the backing vocals are pretty good, specially during the chorus. "14th street" was nice too.
Didn't really care for it.
Ah, daar hebben we weer een product van het aanstellerige New Yorkse theaterensemble. De mannelijke tegenhanger van beroepszeurpieten Fiona Apple en Aimee Mann. Highbrow, snobistisch, etc. Kijk alleen al naar die hoes, waar Rufus de 3e in een ridderpakje zit met een groot zwaard naast zich. Waarschijnlijk ging Rufus vroeger al huilen als iemand goedemorgen tegen hem zei, dus hij doet zich nu graag stoerder voor dan hij is. Ik word hier bij voorbaat al gruwelijk agressief van, dus of hier een objectieve review uit voortvloeit, dat waag ik te betwijfelen. Zeker aangezien we "Want Two" al hebben gehad. Ik wil er helemaal geen twee, ik wil er helemaal geen een, I Want Zero. Maar als Rufus een 1 wil, dan hij die krijgen hoor. Ik zal het album voor de volledigheid wel luisteren, ondanks al mijn vooringenomenheid. Zijn theatrale stem die bij elk nummer hetzelfde is, zit nog steeds zwaar in mijn irritatiezone, net als Joni dat altijd doet. Het is dodelijk vermoeiend. Net als sommige nummers, maar hij varieert gelukkig wel iets in de genres. Go or Go Ahead is prima mainstreamrock. Ik denk dat een nummer als Beautiful Child het beste past bij zijn stem. Dat gemaakte misplaatste zogenaamde gevoel dat hij overal in legt, wat natuurlijk lulkoek is, met je ogen dicht zingen betekent niet ineens dat je je ziel en zaligheid erin stopt, maar dat zogenaamde gevoel van hem, dat past wel bij zo'n nummer, omdat zo'n nummer wat meer opgetogen is. Bij de 'gevoelige' nummers valt het misplaatste van zijn zang teveel op. Het is al met al ook weer niet zo slecht dat het een 1 moet krijgen, maar ik vind dit zoals verwacht wel zwaar overschat. Er is een (theater)publiek voor, prima, daar hoor ik niet bij. Twee sterretjes dus.
The backing beat on "Oh What a World" reminds me of the title music in the game Papers, Please, which is kind of fun. The album kind of sounds like the soundtrack to an on-stage musical play. Is that a bad thing? I'm really not sure. I don't hate it, but... I also don't think I particularly like it, either. His voice can be quite irritating, especially in "Pretty Things". Best track: Go or Go Ahead Worst track: Pretty Things 2/5
Troubador with a good voice and sweeping orchestration. Couldn’t make heads or tails of it and will need another listen. But i didn’t hear anything that made me want to give it another listen. It’s a 2.
Oh great, Rufus again. I've heard this one before a long time ago, so I'll pass.
I'm gonna go with my first impression of this album.... "This is what Radiohead would sound like if you took away everything cool about Radiohead."
Got 80% through. I can't really say what I didn't like about it. Maybe its just a preference? Felt over produced and the songs didn't do anything for me. Talented singer for sure.
I personally dont get the appeal. Rufus has a great voice, but the music doesnt keep my interest. It sounds like Muse without the edge. Is this the ultimate example of music that doesnt offend anyone? Not the worst we’ve heard, but barely 1.5 stars
Clearly a talented individual but it was blah for me.
Go Or Go Ahead was the first one that stood out to me. Very theatrical, but very repetitive. Overall, I can see how this can be up some people’s alley, but not my cup of tea.
3.5/10 I normally like this kind of music, but here I really didn't. Very hard to get through.
I'm not exactly sure what I thought Rufus Wainwright sounded like, but *this* is not what I expected. I'm a bit bummed that it looks like we'll get the other half of this aborted double-album, as I feel like I've gotten a pretty good taste of his style with this album, but I'm not exactly surprised either. I'm not sure it's exactly fair to call him a modern-day (or at least more contemporary) version of the more orchestral tendencies of Elton John and Billy Joel and even David Bowie and Stevie Wonder, but those are the artists that came to mind as I swam through the somewhat painfully whirling sounds of Mr. Wainwright. Not really my taste, but it seems pretty well-produced, and I liked it that he clearly wrote and composed all the songs, sappy as they often seem. I feel badly only giving this album two stars, but I just *really* didn't enjoy slogging through this.
☀︎c’est vraiment pas si pire que ça mais ça me déprime intensément ☀︎14th Street est pas pire ☀︎c’est pas mémorable, mais c’était une pas pire musique de fond
I had heard of Rufus Wainwright but had assumed he was black and from the 70s based on the name alone so safe to say I was a little disappointed. Some clever lines and I liked 14th street but it mostly was pretty forgettable. Maybe if I spent some more time with it I’d like it more
1.5 Did not want one
I didn't really like it and I don't have a good reason. Rufus reminds me of other artists I enjoy (FJM, Sufjan, etc.) but I was just waiting for the album to end. His singing was tiresome.
Don’t get it
I don't actually remember this at all...which I think speaks for itself
2.0 That was dreadfully, dreadfully dull. I can only hear Thom Yorke in his voice, so it sounded like the shitted Radiohead album ever or a really bad solo output from Thom. Couldn't hear anything else. Went on the guys page to see his most listened to song, by far, is a pretty dull cover of Hallelujah. What am I missing here.
This is pretty over-the-top. It's not bad, but I doubt I'll return to it.
Started pretty good... then not so much. 2/5
Tillför inte ett förbannat dugg till musikhistorien.
I don't get it.
Great voice but just soooo boring.
Pretty sure Rufus was bullied in the 80’s. Adult contemporary boredom is the only way I can describe this album.
This just fills me with an overwhelming feeling of indifference. Supposedly others find it lush, sweeping but just doesn’t move the needle for me. not bothered to say anymore- 2 Star.
Again high hopes for this one but was so incredibly bored by the end nearly gave it a one
Instrumentals are interesting at times. The style reminded me of father John misty, but the album felt bland overall
Arranca con dos temas buenos, prometedores y después se vuelve un disco completamente aburrido y olvidable; aunque sí, se nota la calidad musical, bien de música clásica.
I just had 'Want Two' a few weeks ago and after listening to this album, I don't like his music that much better. It's not offensive music in any way (though his voice is a bit too whiny for me...), but after a few songs I lost interest and I didn't really like it overall. Oh well, one album from this artist would have been more than enough.
eh
2.0 - Weak
Meh
#506. One of the albums of all time. 2/5: not one of the good ones, mind you.
Greatness cut short by a mopey final third
I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's just something about his voice that compeltely irks me, and the music doesn't do anything to make up for it. Meh.
Well, I though this pretty unexceptional stuff, but maybe that's because this sort of singer-songwriter music isn't really to my taste. Kinda like the sleeve.
Teatralsk Singer/songwriter, masser af klaver, lidt langt
That was kinda nothing. Very much a Starbucks compilation CD circa 2006 vibe. Album cover: (A) It kinda rocks. Its so cheesy and over the top, but it works. It looks like something Dennis Reynolds would come up with.
I like a little of his stuff--emphasis on little. Dude, what's up with the medieval armor? Violins? Dial it down a bit, please. I just can't take the whole over-the-top overwhelming vibe.
⭐⭐ 4/10 I don't think it's awful. Just ain't my kind of music.
The grated on me
2.5 Started out great with the first track (Oh What A World) and never went anywhere from there, unfortunately.
Saai, momenteel niet mijn ding. Heb het niet eens gered tot het einde.
Too whiny for my taste. There are some highlights though.
Руфус из Ким 5+ > Руфус Уэйнрайт
I'm not really a fan of Rufus to be honest. Baroque/OTT Pop is never really my bag, he never really sounds like he's enunciating his words properly and has influence a bunch of girls and ukuleles thinking they can sing with no effort and the elements of stage musicals always grates. I know all critics creamed themselves over this album and its sister album but its not really for me. Best Tracks: I Don't Know What It Is; Movies of Myself;14th Street
melodramatic vocals, some nice arrangements and intricate melodies, but a dreary voice - pretty forgettable, overall.
I've owned this album for years without ever having listened to it. And now it can go back to collecting dust. Not one for me.
Love his voice but tapping out early. Super over-produced and doesn’t seem like he has much to say? Maybe just not feeling it
Some grandiose arrangements. I like Rufus's voice but the songs weren't especially captivating
Widzę zarówno skąd się bierze opinia Cichego, jak i Mikosa. Zacznę jednak od tego, że za cholerę nie rozumiem okładki tego albumu. Jest całkowicie od czapy moim zdaniem. Ale to nieistotne. Najmocniejszym akcentem tego albumu jest jego utwór otwierający - "Oh What A World", o czym pisałem już u nas na grupie. Z oczywistych przyczyn osobistych bardzo rozbawił mnie ten fragment: "Why am I always on a plane or a fast train? Oh, what a world my parents gave me Always traveling, but not in love." Plus ponownie pochwalę strukturę utworu. Co prawda nie wiem, dlaczego autorzy postanowili wykorzystać "Bolero" Ravela do tego utworu, nie widzę żadnych wyraźnych powiązań pomiędzy tekstem, a utworem Ravela (który w sumie nie ma żadnego konkretnego przesłania), ale sam zabieg wypadł bardzo dobrze. Dla mniej spostrzegawczych (takich jak ja), w ostatnim momencie pojawia się skopiowany jeden do jednego temat z "Bolera", który już jasno uświadamia słuchaczowi, z jaką strukturą ma do czynienia. Spodobało mi się to i rozbawiło. Potem niestety jest już równia pochyła i nie przypominam sobie żadnego utworu, który w jakiś sposób by mnie zainteresował. Zarzuty do Rufusa mam takie same, jak miałem do Adele - jego śpiew to czysta technika i zero emocji. Tylko Adele ma mocniejszy i ciekawszy głos. Rufus strasznie nudzi z tym swoim nosowym mamrotaniem. Momentami ma ciekawe teksty, jak "14th Street", ale mam wrażenie, że śpiewa to tak płytko i płasko, że aż szkoda tych słów na niego. Czasami, głównie przez aranżacje, faktycznie brzmi trochę jak bootlegowe utwory z Disneya, także rozumiem też wrażenia Mikosa. Ale pewnie nie pomyślałbym o tym, gdybym nie przeczytał jego opinii. Każdą piosenkę śpiewa na jedno kopyto - długie samogłoski i narastające vibrato. Po tym pierwszym utworze już głównie się nudziłem. Jego sposób śpiewania kojarzy mi się trochę "Smells Like Nirvana" Weird Ala Yankovica. Tam jest taki fragment "It's hard to bargle nawdle zouss With all these marbles in my mouth". I tu też miałem wrażenie, jakby chłop czegoś z pyska nie wyjął przy śpiewaniu. Słabe 2,5.
Love the cover art. The Bolero action in the first track really got me excited about the album, that it would be a fun musical treasure chest. Sadly there wasn't quite as much of that kind of wittiness as I was hoping for. I'm good with over dramatic but I feel we veered into maudlin territory; also a bit Thom Yorke-y for my taste. A shame, I really wanted to like this album. "Medusa kiss me and crucify this unholy notion of the mythic power of love"? Yeesh.
It's not my thing, but not terrible to listen to as background noise.
Boring and whiney
I guess this is fine, but I can't stand this type of music. Overproduced ballads that belong in some corny movie or play.
Yeah, it’s a pretty little thing, this album, but is it all that memorable? I listened to this while painting and the lyrics in Vibrate gave me a chortle, but not much else gave me a vibe. David Bowie name-checked Dinner at Eight, so that bumps this by a star for me. Just.
Not for me....
Not really my music. I don’t need to listen to this again.
A couple of decent tracks on here but quite dull for the most part.
All sounded the same. Great voice, boring songs.
Meh. That’s what this album is. Meh. Not really bad, but not really good. Would be a great Billy Joel cover band.
A name and a sound that are both anachronisms from the 1970s. Since I can’t play an instrument or write songs, I try not to criticize people’s talents because as a rule they are almost all better than me. But in the context of making this style of music in the early aughts, there’s really nothing special here. Actually, in the context of making this music in the ‘70s there still isn’t anything really special going on.
Started pretty strong and went pretty boring after a few tracks.
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
I've heard nothing but good things about him and his music, but this really didn't do anything for me.
There are decent songs here, though the theatrical arrangements aren’t really my thing. I almost came to like this album, but sadly I can’t really get past Rufus Wainwright’s voice. He sounds like Thom Yorke if you sliced out 75% of his range and ability to emote. Best song: I Don’t Know What It Is
Do not want One or Two.
This was a strange album… I enjoyed parts but it almost seemed as if Wainwright was pressing the “unique” factor. Also, he has a great singing voice but to me, he came across as almost entirely cold and disinterested, even when the music suggested otherwise. 2.5/5 but rounding down as I would not listen again
Musically it’s not my thing. Lyrically some of the songs are beautiful. Overall it feels too plain in some areas and way too much in others. 14th Street and Beautiful Child were the highlights for me. I give those a 4.
Just a bit too slow for me. Decently produced, just kept finding myself skipping
What a distractingly annoying voice! It's actually so annoying that I couldn't even take the pleasure of listening to what was otherwise an ok album and had to bail. 4/10.
Ok 2/5
Sounds like a discount version of Leo Sayer. There’s nothing wrong with this per se but it’s so lacking in edge that he’s a complete circle polished smooth. This offends my punk sensibilities so much he makes me want to throw up
Can't imagine ever going through this again. The simpler songs with just piano were better than the overly structured ones.
Found myself zoning out on this multiple times, tried to refocus but then a piece of debris drifting in the wind would catch my attention and that was actually more interesting
There is a nonzero chance that from now on when someone offers me something I'll be reminded of this album. "Want one?" eugh "No thank you :("
pfrt
Ik ken Rufus Wainwright enkel van z'n Hallelujah-versie door Shrek. I don't know what it is was nog oké, maar de rest... wat een zageboel. 2.4
More like Do One
Boring and messy.
173/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
This was way too much. It was overproduced, and his way of singing, e.g., holding a note for a longer time, is at some point annoying. There is too much technique, and it lacks emotions.
Wow this album dragged. Its barely an hour and feels so much longer. The elongated vocals and softness of the entire production made this a bit of a chore. However, in a coffee shop? You got an album baby.
Ensin olin että ah, ihanan melodramaattista, tää on hyvä aamulevy, mutta sitten heti tuli bolero… jonka lainaaminen kuulosti vain halvalta kikalta. Liian pitkä albumi, hänellä just ja just riittää melodioita tähän. Pakko myöntää, etten millään ois meinannut jaksaa loppuun. Mut idea, soundi sinänsä: vetosi ensin.
Ensimmäisen ja parhaan kappaleen Bolero-viittaus on vakava oire: jokainen biisi tällä levyllä on suunniteltu kohoamaan jonkinlaiseen kliimaksiin, mikä kertoo manipulatiivisuudesta - tarpeesta luoda "aha!"-hetki jopa biisinteon kustannuksella. Lahjakkuuden laiminlyöntiä - tai illusioo sen laiminlyönnistä.
Meh
He wants one and gets two. best: "Movies of Myself", "14th Street" and "Beautiful Child"
Overproduced and over the top. Not really for me.
Something about his voice annoys me. It is piercing in a way that make me irrationally angry.
The singer and music were pretty good but I got tired of it by the end. Might be worth another try though.
i've tried listening to this one a few times but i always bounce off it. maybe i might return to it and it's nothing i hate, just not catching my ear
An easy listening album
Meh
Rufus is the king of “roughly four cool songs on a mediocre hour-long album.”
The voice was too distracting off-putting for me to care about the instrumentation. I did not care for this, though I recognize that it may appeal to others.
If singing bland sappy songs makes this guy happy, good for him, but did the editors really need to pick him instead of idk something that doesn't put you to sleep or, god forbid, from someplace other than UK or US. I know the editors are geographically challenged but perhaps they should have considered listening to more music outside the UK/US before making this list. Very, very generous 2.
I was just bored.
Yeah I dunno man, like, I didn't hate this at all, but I retained nothing from it beyond "man, this Canadian sure does sound sad"
It’s giving theatre kid Not rlly my thing but
Sleepy vocals and very boisterous backing music. Not my jam.
I found very little of this album interesting. Nothing really to say beyond that.
Not for me at all. It felt too polished, too sentimental without substance, and too samey. I don't think it's bad, as such, and I'm sure that some people will find a lot to like. It's just not for me.
He sings so wonderfully, he’s got a great talent, but god dammit just pick up the pace. The lazy schtick is completely overdone.
two stars
Sort of poppy chanson. Lots of big notes - it belongs in musical theatre. I don't enjoy this sort of music at all.
Urgh I thought Rufus Wainwright did the song at the end of each Gavin & Stacey episode and this would therefore be good but apparently it’s some guy call Stephen Fretwell?!
Ruim não é, mas também não é bom. É como se fosse um Radiohead, só o ThomYorke, porém sem a "mágica"...algumas músicas, mais animadas, parecem músicas de musical da broadway, e agradam. Mas não é nada de mais. Não estaria na minha lista nunca.
Apparently I've already reviewed Want Two, but I have absolutely no recollection of it, which says a lot in itself. I also rated it 2 stars. Sure, this album is ambitious. But it is not good or interesting.
Blandy blandington
Must listen? More like might listen if that’s all there is. Not especially great. Not especially awful. Not my cup of tea. But nothing special either. Why is this here?
Boring mate shzz
An album of two halves. I liked this from the outset but the end of the second half I found the invariant whining nature of the vocals overshadowed the great music and killed the enjoyment.
Nothing special. Kinda weird ngl
no denying his great voice, this album has some good songs but most of it seems to wander and not have focus. I like the more upbeat pop songs.
I’m not a huge fan of the Indigo Girls either.
Sounds a bit like radiohead to me, only not as good.
Always sounds the same
Порой это звучит ну прямо как The Bends или OK Computer. Только почему-то не захватывает в той же степени. Наверное это пока наиболее вызывающий вопросы альбом в списке, с которым я сталкивался. Это не плохая музыка, но выдающаяся на ключевые 1001 альбомов в истории - это слишком. Ни в плане музыки, ни в плане цифр (на спотифае, например). Лучшая песня - Oh What A World.
Didn't like this, too earnest
I put this on while I was cooking so I didn’t pay close attention to the lyrics and musically it was kind of dull for me.
I spent most of the time trying to decide if this was two or three stars…..then I realised it was 58mins long - decision made!!
Songs to throw yourself off a bridge by. But in a kinda happy way.
I've had about enough of his shit. Hallelujah this and Hallelujah that. I get the feeling that he actually believes he's Judy Garland. Who knows. Perhaps he is.
Nope, it's just a bit dull/depressing
This feels like an offshoot of a style I really enjoy, but something about it just feels off. I don't know if it's the whimsey, the fantasy vibes, or the broadness of it all. 2/5
Good music. His voice trys on my patience.
Like Thom Yorke without any of the interesting musical stuff alongside.
That was an okay album, not too bad, and you can see how the author aged over the years in the Spotify profile picture things.
Meh. 2/5
The singer sounded a lot of Julian Casablancas and the music was moody all the way through.
I tried liking this. I feel asleep on 2 separate attempts. I think that defines a 2.
Want One is the third album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It's the first part of an intended double album, with the second part Want Two being released the following year. The pop/rock album was released to overly positive reviews and is an award winner. It's a beautifully poetic album with a balance of orchestral and rock moments. Some songs are less textured and simpler, but that doesn't take away from the overall charm on the album. If you like a pop singer-songwriter flavor, then this album will not disappoint.
Oh What a World is very slow but swells to a crescendo. Curious to see where we go from here. Next track is more upbeat. Everything is very theatrical, this could be in a musical. Go Or Go Ahead is also pretty good. There's something too... overproduced (?) about this preventing me from connecting with it. Or maybe it's his singing. And Vibrate's "my phone's on vibrate for you" lyric is cringe worthy. By the second half I'm just looking to see when this is going to end.
It wasn't 'pull my ears off' bad, but it wasn't something that ever really grabbed my attention. Quite morose really, like an angsty teen trying to be deep. Maybe I'm missing the point, but I'm not ever going to listen to it again and I'm not going to search out any more of his music.
OK stuff, but ....
I think there is some talent here and the sounds aren’t bad I suppose, but halfway through I got bored and turned it off. Meh
Rufus was sad and so was this album. Might be great for a break up but I’m trying to get laid tonight
The piano makes it a little jazzy, but the drums seem to pull the music in the opposite direction. The vocalist sounds completely disinterested and kinda drones on. It's like he heard that it's popular to speak lyrics as opposed to singing them, but he couldn't figure out how not to sing so he's kinda Bono-ing it. I liked Movies of Myself significantly more than the rest of the album. I think the piano rubbed me the wrong way.
Not my vibe
Beautifully performed, produced and orchestrated bunch of nothings. It's got a great sound and not a single song.
Started with so much promise, then started to drone. 2 stars.
Not my cup of tea. Too whiny & too instrumentally unremarkable. I don't WANT ONE, and esp. not TWO.
58 minutes is too long for an album, especially one this boring. If there were any interesting moments in any of these songs, I would say he should have just included those and made the album a good 34 minutes long rather than an interminable 58 minutes long. But there are no interesting moments. This is just softer, more orchestral Radiohead, and Radiohead sucks. Sorry, I have to stop writing because this album is playing in the background and I have gotten very sleepy. . . zzzzzzz.
The music just didn't pull me in. I struggle to appreciate albums full of ballads. I did think the lyrics were good on a few tracks, but not enough to keep me interested in a a second listen. 2/5
I did not enjoy this. I don’t even know what genre to classify this as, but whatever it is, it is not for me. Dreary. He’s a talented singer, just not a fan of what he sings. 2 for me
don't think this one stood the test of time
I had slightly more patience for this than other theatery chamber pop (probably because it wasn’t British this time), but not much. Buddy knows what he’s doing, he’s just not doing it for me.
Agony
The album is ok but I'm definitely not the target audience for this one. It's not bad but it's not extremely good either. I think it's very bland, nothing really stands out. Could play in a shopping mall or grocery store as background music and it would fit just perfectly.
Sounds like a musical, without the musical. Seems like Wainwright couldn't make up his mind, if he wanted to write pop or something more like chansons, so he created this weird mixture. An on top is his voice, which sounds in low registers like his face was numb while singing. It's not particularly bad, but quite over the top.
It is very hard to listen to the vocals which get on my nerves (just like Radiohead vocals but there is a compensation through the song material). Want Two had a 5* song.
I wasn't in the right mind to appreciate this album. I don't know if I ever will. Sumptuous sounds, lush vocals, interesting depth to hear a layered set of music but somehow, it didn't gell. On my Maybe Later list. So, not 1 star, but not three either.
Boring
Slow and boring
Well produced, but not really my thing.
Loved everything about it except the lyrics, vocals, and accompanying music.
I only wanted one, but we got two. Rufus Wainwright bores me too much to be on the list twice.
Yeah just can’t get into this at all. Not sure what the appeal is
Idk what it is but I just couldn’t get into this one. He has a fine voice and the songs were cool but I just couldn’t hold onto any of the music for whatever reason.
Bland for me
I know he is a talented musician but this was.. ehh.. too long. Also the album cover is god awful.
What is this LP trying to be? It’s pleasantly experimental at first, winding its way through a tasteful swath of orchestra-bolstered singer-songwriter fare that yields some pretty good results. As a natural consequence of its length, however, Wainwright’s journey inevitably loops back over well-tread material one too many times for the album as a whole to end on a happy note. Could’ve been a 3-4 star contender at 40 minutes, but the persistent (and shockingly consistent for the genre) songwriter bloat just leaves a dull, uninspired taste in my mouth.
One trick pony
This pony has zero tricks.
There’s something to appreciate if you look hard enough.
definitely did not enjoy this. good musical sense potentially but does nothing for me personally. i see it was removed from the current version of the book so i don't feel bad giving it a worse review. go and go ahead slightly reminded me of some radiohead songs but is missing thom yorke's mastery of falsetto.
Not for me.
Every time I'm about to add a song to my playlist there's a line that is so bizarre that it completely pulls me out of it lol. 2.5
(2.5) On the fence about this one. I could see myself revisiting this and connecting with it a lot more in a couple years maybe, but just on this first listen, I was not super impressed. I feel like what this album is going for has just been done better, especially with this being recorded a few years after OK Computer was released. Not terrible, but felt kindof tedious. By the time I got to the last couple tracks, I was ready for the album to be over.
Boring, uninspired.
Some nice stuff on here but overall found it to be one paced and that pace isn’t for me.
Why is this guy mumbling?
Some interesting songs but album is pretty similar throughout. Standout songs: oh what a world, pretty things, beautiful things
Started out okay and then after a while I just couldn't stand him anymore
Rufus is like a rich dessert. Really good for a couple of bites, but becomes way too much too quickly.
Want one. Gets two. Still poor.
Unique, consistent sound. Felt a little whiny for my taste, but I can see the appeal!
Ei herännyt tunteita
Not a huge fan of his voice without some interesting instrumentation.
Leaving my review, I noticed it was almost identical to my review of Want Two a couple years ago. Thom Yorke ass wannabe, too flashy and not enough personality, spamming lush instrumentation on an alt rock backing to come off as artful. It's forced and unsatisfying, often clashing with his vocals. The minimalist tracks are even worse, with nothing to keep my attention. There're some good ideas, but no song is perfect here. Favorites: I Don't Know What It Is, Go or Go Ahead, 14th Street, Beautiful Child
I don't think it's as terrible as Want Two, that appeared on this list like a year ago. Maybe I had a very bad day? But the fact remains that I have a massive problem to listen to two songs by Wainwright in a row. His style of singing is just vertigo inducing, and not in a positive way. His instrumentation was quite good this time, less baroque and even rock at some times, but it's just so hard to push anything past that vocal. I now need a couple days of rest after this cheerful album.
En kyl tiiä, miten tältä on kaks levyä täällä.
Aika tylsää määkinää, en päässy sisään. 2/5
Meneer Wainwright met zijn zuigende klote voornaam wordt overal op handen gedragen maar daar ben ik 't niet mee eens; Allemaal net niet, met zijn irritante stem en over de top gezemel!
The songs are like cotton candy, sweet but easily forgotten. The production value seems high. The grand orchestra is cool.
It sounds good but the songs are just bad idk how else to describe it.
Listened Before? No Album Art: 2 / 5 (I'm sure it makes sense in the context of the album, but as a standalone piece its pretty silly looking. Hard to know whether it is meant to be taken seriously or not) My sister was pretty into Rufus Wainwright, so I'm surprised I never heard this one before. Oh What A World opens the album on a slogging indie folk song. Lots of vocal layering with a theatrical edge to the arrangement. Vocals + bass on Go Or Go Ahead oddly remind me of Layne Staley of Alice in Chains. Something about the arrangement also reminds me of Killer Queen by Queen. All said, standout track to me with a huge slow-building climax and nice production. Tbh this is a fine enough album it just doesn't have a lot for *me*. Rufus Wainwright has a nice voice and he uses and layers it very well. Production is quality if a bit theatrical as I said before. For some reason, I'm just not really enjoying it. Pretty forgettable album from my perspective. On a relative scale this is a 2 / 5 that I will never come back to. Added to Library? No Songs Added to Playlists:
Really dug the first song but unfortunately nothing after that really came close. The production is pretty solid on it with the orchestral feel to it. I liked his voice as well. All this to say it felt a bit uninspired and and meshed together a lot. Something just didn’t sit right with me and got pretty boring pretty quick.
Never heard the album before. . . Obviously talented, but not that interesting. Melodies are a bit too dramatic and theatrical. Feels cheesy and a little stilted. I don't connect to the music emotionally at all.
Not bad. But very forgettable.
The chamber baroque pop is not really for me. It's just a little much. Beautiful no doubt, but just a little much. No thanks.
Some good songs - Go or Go Ahead,14th Street, Natasha - otherwise very similar and unexciting. Worth a listen - once.
Great music. Not my cup of tea. At least, not this album.
Music for theatre kids and main characters
Stop singing at me. Gorgeous voice and production and really sophisticated songwriting. Clearly surplus talent. I guess he’s queer which adds a star automatically. But this kind of baroque over the top - more Beethoven tho - is too much for me. Maximalist pop. There must be a time and place for it. I’d rather listen to Bowie any day. White people and white men in particular just lost the plot after grunge and the dominance of rap/rnb. Doubling down isn’t the answer.
meh. IDK why people made such a big deal about this album
Gentle it's my 1st time
very singer songwritery
Helemaal in het begin dacht ik het nog wel een schappelijke 3 te gaan geven, ook al was het niet helemaal mijn smaak, maar na een tijdje beginnen die langgerekte woorden en zinnen er teveel in te hakken en gaat het irriteren. Qua stem doet ie me denken aan een koorknaapje van een jaar of 11. Samengevat is het theatraal, circus, Glee. Michael Bublé als dat een castraat was. Op de beste momenten is het huismerk Muse, maar ik heb een redelijke hekel aan Muse. Op de helft eigenlijk al helemaal klaar mee. 2 sterren, omdat ik inmiddels heb ervaren dat het zeker nog een tandje erger kan, maar dit komt dicht bij de 1.
I don't really get on with this stuff, it's too indulgent, doesn't really give me any impetus or interest even though parts of it are charmingly listenable.
From the guy who sings Hallelujah in the Shrek movie comes a whole album that isn't the song Hallelujah. After listening to this album I listened to Hallelujah. That song is great, Leonard Cohen writes beautiful lyrics and Rufus' voice is sorrowful and brings out the heart of the song. Oh right, Want One is ok I guess not my sort of thing.
When it comes to Wainwrights I prefer Loudon and Martha
Nope
I want to like it more, but he's trying O much of a whinny MF'er
His voice is good, production is good, but the sum is missing something.
Eh. Very sleepy album that brings nothing to the table for me.
There are a couple of decent songs but I’m just not a Rufus fan.
Is it possible that 1001 chose Rufus for his genes? The critics were pretty lukewarm about this album, as I am. The highpoint (or lowpoint) for me is the openning line to Vibrate: "I've got my phone on vibrate for you..." It's hard to sound funny or playful with such a dreary voice.
Second album by this guy here. Soft hipstery pop stuff, not my thing. Very much up its own arse- I would not be surprised to find out this guy has named himself one of the world's greatest songwriters in an interview. It's "ambitious" but imo just comes off as annoying. Not fuck-you-and-you-die annoying, but just a low-level annoying that bugged me for an hour. 2/5.
Not my jam but it's finee
Obviously very talented singer-songwriter, just not really my type of music.
HmmmMMMmmmMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I kinda like the vocal ornamentation early on, the large orchestral swells are nice aswell. I like 'I Don't Know What It Is' more than the first track, but if he has mysterious bruises he needs to get that checked out. Anyone got the email address for Rufus? It's not for me. I'm trying not to, but i'm beginning to resent Rufus and might just let those mysterious bruises get him.
rufus wainwright's want one was a nice album. it was dreamy and pretty in general. i felt rather enveloped by his music because it was all encompassing. but it had some sleepy time tea vibes, so i found my interest waning as the album went on to nearly an hour. anyway, a song released in 2003 named "vibrate" and containing lyrics like "my phone's on vibrate for you" was rather of the time. what a time to be alive, huh. 2.5
Rufus has a nice voice, and I know him from his stunning cover of "Hallelujah". But honestly, this album was a little bit more sleepy than I was hoping. It definitely started to put me to sleep after a while. It had an interesting cabaret-esque quality to it without fully leaning in to that motif. It was an okay album, if not a tad bit boring. 2.5.
Did not listen but first song starts by : men reading fashion magazine, straight man, what's happened to the world Ewww
Quite possibly the most boring album I've ever heard
DNF
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The Good: We get some SOUL music!!! The Bad: Somebody decided to use a Soul name for souless music… The Ugly: The answer to the non-question of the album title being NO! Fuck me, what the hell was that? Someone with a deep love for musicals deciding to bring it into the 2010’s? I listened to it… I can die… 1*
The most boring album I’ve encountered so far and I’ve listened to three Elvis Costello albums and two Flaming Lips albums
Wow. This album was incredibly boring.
12/08/2026 This is one of the most boring albums I have heard. I came to see the public reviews to see if people agreed with me, and I feel I am more disappointed that other listeners have rated it highly. Spotify listeners: 1.4 million
Some mildly interesting tunes. But not worth sitting through the garbage to get to it.
1025 - "Sorry kid, no juice box and no orange slice. Turn in your kit on the way out the door." (One of his albums made the main list and I didn't like it. Now here's another that makes the supplement, and it's worse. WTF? If the editors are softening me up for another Bjork album, it won't work.)