Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
2004
Album Summary
Want Two is the fourth album by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. The album was released on November 16, 2004. Four of the tracks on this album were released in the summer of 2004 as the EP Waiting for a Want on the iTunes music store. Want Two is, according to Wainwright, the darker sibling of 2003's Want One – its subject matter concerned with "the world we live in" (RW Geffen Bio) after Want One's focus on the intensely personal. The artist's song selections here show his range to be broad, veering from romantic ballad ("Peach Trees") to tragic ballad ("This Love Affair"), sophisticated pop ("The One You Love") to third person/first person narrative lament ("The Art Teacher"), personal tongue in cheek manifesto ("Gay Messiah"), to a classical pop hybrid written about Jeff Buckley ("Memphis Skyline") and songs beyond category. "Agnus Dei" is used in the trailer for the 2007 film Trade. Mother Kate McGarrigle and aunt Anna (McGarrigle) both perform and sing on "Hometown Waltz". Anohni of 2005 Mercury Prize winners Antony and the Johnsons sings lead vocal alongside Wainwright on "Old Whore's Diet". The initial UK version of the record contains bonus live tracks, "Coeur de Parisienne – Reprise d'Arletty" and "Quand vous mourrez de nos amours" (written by French Canadian songwriter Gilles Vigneault).
WikipediaI don't know what's with this album but I absolutley loved it. Also, in some parts the vocals reminded me of Thom Yorke from Radiohead, am I the only one?
I can't tell if I liked it or was annoyed by his miserable voice but I think it was good
If you can get past the truly awful opening track, ‘Want Two’ markedly improves. It’s a ballsy record, very theatrical and stylistically broad in sound, with folk, pop/chanson, baroque, indie and show music styles among its repertoire. It’s probably overproduced, but it’s all these elements, (and the gay subtext also present) that make it interesting. ‘Want Two’ is the proverbial Forrest Gump box of chocolates: you never quite know what you’re going to get, but there’s a little something for everyone. Surprised how much I ended up liking this one.
He 'Want Two' and I'm going to give him a 2. Most of this album is just whinging. The second song is great though.
One of the prettiest albums I’ve heard in my time. This is what it looks like when an artist has an artistic vision, and takes the utmost care to craft what was in their mind into something they can share with the world.
There is something timeless about everything Rufus does and this album is no exception. His theatricality matches perfectly with the quality of his voice. The first song is the perfect way to enter this album and sets the stage for an emotional experience.
3/16 One of those albums where almost every song is a different genre, really well crafted, great album. Standout Tracks: Agnus Dei, The One You Love, The Art Teacher, Memphis Skyline, Old Whore’s Diet
If I had to come up with a list of 5 singers, knowing that when I woke up the next morning I would be able to magically sing like one of them, I feel pretty certain Rufus would make the cut. Just to be able to belt out shit like that in my car would make me so satisfied in life. Anywho, I’m more of a Want One guy, but this is definitely the more dramatic of the two and I enjoyed the most of it. No I won’t be the one, baptized in cum.” How did he make that sound pretty?! How???
Slaps, not gonna lie. I really liked all the variety on this, even if some songs (like that first one) fell kind of flat. Thank you, gay Thom Yorke.
I've probably described albums as "theatrical" but this album feels like a better example than most. The storytelling with lush orchestral arrangements really does make this feel ready for the stage. I enjoyed it, but don't know if I'll listen again. Favorite tracks: "The Art Teacher", "Crumb by Crumb"
My perception of Rufus Wainwright is tainted by my association of his music with an ex girlfriend. Regardless of that, it is still not my cup of tea. Couldn't listen to the whole thing in one go.
Beautifully cinematic pop record with an orchestral flair that suits the songwriting. I am honestly surprised I have never even heard the name, because wow this sound suits me.
Very cool playlist! Some songs really sound like they're from a play - love it!
Cool album. Voice sort of reminds me of Thom Yorke. Piano. The art teacher
He sure can write crazy good songs. "Agnus Dei" has some lovely instrumentation which I've really missed on this list, and it sets the vibe from the start. Ok finally something that makes me feel anything. Probably deserves a 4 for the second half, but I love the cover too. This is beautiful. "Going To A Town" is one of my all time favorite songs. It's not on this album though, and the album it is on kinda sucks. I don't know why I had to say that. 5
I don't usually give fives to more recent albums, but this album was enthrallingly good. Musically it has a bit of an old world sensibility with artful, gorgeous arrangements. Rufus Wainwright's vocals are splendid, a bit torchy, but in the best way. With a voice suited for both pop and theatre, there's a pathos in his voice and his lyrics that feels really personal and honest. What a pleasure to listen to. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Peach Trees, The Art Teacher, The One You Love, Memphis Skyline, This Love Affair, Hometown Waltz, Old Whore's Diet, Gay Messiah, Little Sister, Agnus Dei, Crumb by Crumb, Waiting for a Dream
Lögin eru vissulega misgóð, og stundum sakna ég þess að heyra ekki menntaðri rödd, sérstaklega í upphafslaginu Agnus Dei, en það er sem er gott er alveg frábært. Flottur og innilegur söngur, óvænt twist, æðislegar útsetningar, fjör og angurværð á víxl. Mæli heilshugar með.
I have never listened to a whole Rufus Wainwright album before, just the odd track. I’ve always liked his voice. But, for me, this is a masterpiece. The range of music on this cd is astounding. As is the quality of his lyrics. As a one-time altar boy myself, I was knocked out by the opening track, Agnus Dei, and every track that followed was a winner. I loved The Art Teacher, which made me recall Meg Christian’s Ode To A Gym Teacher; Gay Messiah, which brought to mind his father’s Talking the New Bob Dylan; and Memphis (not Nashville)Skyline, his heartfelt tribute to Jeff Buckley, is outstanding - Then came hallelujah sounding like Ophelia - referencing a Cohen song they both covered. He surrounded himself with such talent - a lot of family, the great Van Dyke Parks’ string arrangements, Levon Helm drumming on The One You Love. The album is so full of surprises. I loved it.
Amazing voice, honest and unique stories in his lyrics, captures you like a moment in time.
I loved this. Listened twice. Favorites were The One You Love and Old Whores Diet. The Art Teacher is so fucking interesting. And funny? And sad?
that was pleasant! no experience prior. (also i wanna look like the album cover person pls)
Good album, there's a classic vibe to it, I'm not sure how to describe it. I digg it - I can see me listening to this record while cleaning the house or cooking.
I get the artistry but you have to be in the mood to listen and appreciate.
Really unique, mournful, poetic, cool. I liked this more than expected.
Levy jota kuuntelin varmaan lähemmäs kymmeneen kertaan, enkä oikein vieläkään tiedä mitä tästä ajattelen. Rufus Wainwright toki artistina on tuttu, mutta tämä on jäänyt kuuntelematta. Ehkä jonkinlainen linjattomuus häiritsee levyssä, vaikka yleisfiilis on todella positiivinen. Parhaimmillaan vitosen arvoista mahtavuutta, heikoimmillaan kolmosen arvoisia tylähköjä rallatuksia. Nelonen lienee oikeutettu arvosana.
Very good, although I feel like somebody tried to engineer the living defi option of "too clever by half"
This was really chill and I needed it this morning. I just want to say thank you to the creators of this website. This shit is dope.
This was nice. His voice grates after a full album but this was well put together.
i keep hoping he'll cover dead skunk. that would be hilarious. i've always loved the art teacher - it's so raw, which is such a contrast to the rest of this album.
Impressive vocals, clean production, and interesting instrumentals made for a surprisingly enjoyable album. It was long and had some slow burns but overall quite good. 8
Art pop at its most magnificent. You have to listen carefully to let yourself go with the intricate melodies and arrangements but it's worth it. The One You Love is simply one of best 00's singles
Interesting and inventive—incorporates a lot of classical music/operatic themes throughout which was cool to hear. Storytelling songs sometimes didn’t work but some did. Especially liked the one you love and waiting for a dream
Miellyttävää musaa. Loppua kohden kävi ehkä vähän yksitoikkoiseksi, mutta eipä tuo haittaa. Kiva kun löytyy näitä iloisesti yllättäviä uusia tuttavuuksia.
Cool! I enjoyed it... not that sure at first, but I will probably listen the whole album again!
The vocals are so amazing. Great atmosphere and vibe too. Definitely need to relisten.
Rufus has always been one of those "artsy" pop artists for me. I have liked some of his stuff though (Moulin Rouge). Glad to finally give him a proper listen. Thoroughly enjoyed this interesting album. Very pleasant throughout.
Not bothered by the French chansons but the other tracks are beautiful
Kinda like if Thom Yorke made a solo album during The Bends era, though I’m not sure he would’ve ever made anything this lush and orchestrated.
Not what I was expecting at all, but I was surprised to find I really liked this. Ended up listening to it twice in a row.
Not my usual album and not one I’d go back to on a regular basis but this guy is a modern day talent. Knew only the name but expected something totally different. Getting vibes of Matt Bellamy and Thom Yorke.
Fav songs: - The One You Love - This Love Affair - Waiting For A Dream
Really enjoyed on second listen. Interesting sound with classical strings and orchestra over modern lyrics. Creative verses with introspective reflections delivered by strong vocals (also grew on me on second listen). Broad variety of styles throughout. Agnus Dei, the art teacher, this love affair, crumb by crumb, old whores diet
There's a lot going on here, much of which is a little strange. The regency music of Little Sister is perhaps the most unusual amongst a lot of different styles. Musical theatre vocals, asian instrumentation, orchestral and choral elements run throughout and hold the album together. Overall, an interesting album, which is tender, epic and funny in places. The more I listened, the more I liked it. 4/5.
Always wanted to delve into Rufus Wainwright (who I always call "Adam" in my head. Baseball.) and my immediate reaction here is that the first song should be the album closer :D - it's a challenging intro, leading off with "Agnus Dei" - this being my idea of Thom Yorke given the assignment of leading a cathedral congregation in a Latin dirge for 5 minutes. It's not *not* impressive - just ... well, listen to it. Once the album gets started properly with "The One You Love" the Thom Yorke comparison really holds for me; the voice and manner of laconic singing. But there's a lot going on here - a few odd chord turns that really make me sit up and take notice. "Little Sister" and "The Art Teacher" are the early standouts for me on this album - one a complex layered orchestration and the next mostly just vocals and piano (with a subtle/tasteful horn part) - the latter feels like it could have fit comfortably on Elton John's self-titled 1970 album. That said, this album is probably not gonna be for everyone and is a little tough in spots but the music for me is really intriguing - complex, lush, very very melodic. It's not easily digestible. I like that. Dammit I feel like I give everything a 3 - because of the density of this one, I think it's hard to get a real feel for the album with 1 or 2 spins. But the talent, diversity, and thought that clearly went into this recording for me make me push this to 4 - I feel like I'm anticipating eventually liking this album more than I already do right now :) 8/10 4 stars
Wow!! Första gången jag lyssnar på Rufus Wainwright men kommer inte vara sista. Extremt imponerad av tonspråket, variationen, texterna, arrangemangen, allt! Jag personligen hade kunnat leva med en eller två låtar med lite högre tempo, och hans släpiga sätt att sjunga är inte helt min favvo, men då letar jag ursäkter att inte dela ut en femma. Superplatta!
Glorious, elegant, flaming singer songwriting from Rufus Wainwright. Some really absorbing tracks with a stylistic strings and drum machine flavour. Normally strings are added to hide the shortcomings of the singer or the singing but not so here - the vocals and music together to make a chamber pop classic.
Loved it. Odd start moves on to something extraordinary. Has never listened to his music before - certainly glad to have been introduced to it.
What an opening track! Some pretty great storytelling too. Will listen to more stuff.
This is a mostly low tempo album with an excessive number of ballads. It's not overly repetetive, but I have heard better melodies from Rufus Wrainwright. Still a nice listen, but without standouts. 3.5/5
Before this listen, I knew him as the guy who sang "Hallelujah" on the Shrek soundtrack. I gotta say, I'm impressed. I feel like he's probably a bit polarizing, but I enjoyed what I heard. Sometimes it dragged, but for the most part it tugged at my heart strings. The opening track is probably my favorite.
Необычный альбом. Не зря в этот список попал. Но не мой по настроению. Очень грустный и тоскливый, хотя местами необыкновенно романтичный и красивый.
Ja Rufusa jako volim. Nadam se da ce Poses album bit tu jer mislim da je bolji. Al dobar je i ovaj. Svidaju mi se jako the one you love, peach trees i old whore's diet. A gay messiah tekst je top notch.
I liked this record. I always enjoyed pop music influenced and directly inspired by classical and baroque music. Haven't heard something as original as this in a long while.
For a moment when this popped up, I though this was going to be Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. I confess to a second of disappointment when I realised it wasn't.. I approached this album with caution. I have heard the occasional Rufus Wainwright track, and I like his voice, but I have not listened to a whole album of his all the way through. given the size of his catalogue, it is helpful to have somewhere to start. I have some trepidation based on a number of interviews I have read with him over the years, where he often appears (highly) pretentious and quiet unlikable. But what a revelation this record is. Listening to it, I was constantly reminded of Jeff Buckley, who was clearly an influential contemporary (rival?) of Rufus, directly stated in Memphis Skyline. But the similar influences (Judy Garland, chanteuse, folk, rock), sensitive lyrics and vocal phrasing (including use of falsetto), beautiful orchestration. In the same way that Buckley took a wide range of source material and constructed his own world, Wainwright does similarly. But this is no mere Buckley-copy. He uses his (non-rock) popular music influences to create a distinct and beautiful musical world. This is an album that I am sure I will come back to.
As luck would have it, I had just heard an excellent cover by Rufus Wainwright of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” the night before this album came up. RW is another artist I’ve heard great things about, and very occasional songs from, but never really listened to. This time, I was hooked from the opening of the most unexpected track (“Agnus Dei”), followed by a remarkable range of songs. Masterful arranging and production. Nice lyrical connections between some of the songs, without trying to be a unified concept album. I’m not sure that every song will sustain my interest over repeat listens, but there’s plenty to come back to and enjoy.
So, I did my best with this one. YouTube didn't have the full album, and the one thing I could find was several of the songs together with a bunch of other Rufus Wainwright songs that are not on the album. I simply don't care enough to seek out another version, so here we are. This is not particularly my genre, as the music is driven entirely by Wainwright's voice, with little focus on anything else. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just not to my taste. On the other hand, his voice is fucking spectacular. It's sort of like if Thom Yorke from Radiohead didn't want to make fucking weirdo music. It's incredibly beautiful and the songs are constructed well around his voice. Again, it's not my thing, but it's well worth a listen 4/5
I loved this album! It was artistic and whimsical. I really enjoyed pretty much the whole album.