Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Whining like a ghost
Only know mr Wainwright from singing the hallelujah cover featured in Shrek. This album was alright but a little sleepy from listening to it all in one sitting. The songs all felt very similar. I did like the Art Teacher.
It’s for someone, just not me.
Tough, tough, listen. I can appreciate the album's artistry, just like when someone shows me a menu and says I should try the culinary masterpiece that is the acorn squash. I understand it is good, but there's no fucking way I'm eating it.
Not for me
Thom Yorke meets Beethoven
I think the highs are higher on Want Two when compared to Want One. But there are a couple of songs I’d have probably not included. 4.5/5
• weird instrumental • aber irgendwie catchy und so tiefenentspannend
Not for me.
On Radioheadin kuuloista menoa, musiikillisesti ja vokaalisesti. Kyllä tätäkin kuunteli!
Oh I really enjoyed this. I'll always love Rufus Wainwright for blending gender lines and being such an unashamed soft man. I'll admit that some of the songs tested my patience a bit but some others were magical and transporting. I don't think I would call this a "must-listen," though -- it doesn't strike me as particularly influential or impactful, and it's certainly not for everyone. I really liked it, though, and I'm going to check out more of his material.
I’ve never listened to Rufus Wainwright before but wow, this is brilliant. One of those albums that from the first track you are thinking, fuck, what is this? About halfway through it clicked that I recognised his voice from a feature on an Anthony & the Johnsons song, and enjoyed the reverse feature on this album too. And what a voice Rufus has. On the whole it sounds to me like a more theatrical Radiohead. Very creative and unpredictable, as great art often is. Going to listen to more Rufus Wainwright albums now. Sort
First two tracks and the last one were great, the rest just didn’t do much for me. Rufus does have a great voice.
Nah
There's some really good technical stuff here but it just isn't very compelling at all
had no idea what this was going on but i enjoyed it and will probably go back soon. good autumnal music
This is really not that bad but it absolutely reeks of pretension and not even in a good way. It feels like he really thought he was doing something but he definitely did not. A star deducted for self-importance.
I can't get real excited about Rufus either way
3+ Stars (9/15)
Who picked these? SMH
This album is entrancing. Each song is a uniquely colored world of its own, with surprising turns within many. Enjoyed his voice, a mix of Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley to my ear.
Not what I expected. Great voice, interesting songwriting. Almost Scott Walker ish.
I see we are back on a run of giving me stuff that sucks major suckage to the suckiest degree of suckiness. Suck you and Suck off. 1.0
Übergang Agnus Dei zu the one you love —> whiplash Lyrics nicht so stark Violins Violins Violins!! Letztes drittel wieder stärker
I want a more than two-star album. Sheesh.
So boring
Very theatrical, orchestral type pop/folk music. It can come off a little pretentious and extra with all the dramatic strings, pianos, vocals; but it’s different than most music out there, and sets its own vibe. Though, sometimes it feels like it tries too hard for what it is.
Unfortunately, this is not my vibe. I’ve also never heard of this individual before. Very boring and odd.
Not as good as the previous album, by far, though still rather good.
Better than Coldplay 2
Ugh, boring, not fun.
A folkier Radiohead. Some of this would work very well while secluded in the woods somewhere. Not all of it does. I think it tends to overstay its welcome a bit. Not sure if Rufus Wainwright has the range that he gets credit for, but parts of this were good.
oof, just a tad more music and this could be another Radiohead. but as it is, difficult to listen to.
It feels like he’s trying to do too much. It’s not bad. He is ambitious and that’s respectable. But there’s a lot here. And a good portion sounds like mediocre Thom Yorke impression. I don’t hate it. This might be better than the first. It just doesn’t feel like a complete project. And we really did not need more than one record from this artist, if any. 3/5
*A heavy emotional album that is beautiful at times, but drags a bit as well *This grew on me as I listened...didn't like it at first, but thought it was ok by the end.
Pretty solid album, great sounds and textures. Vocals sound a too much like Thom Yorke.
I really liked this
A bit depressing
Horrible
Overly wordy, boring, and irritating.
I’ve always love RWs voice and it is on display here
Umm. Not bad. Glad I heard it, I like his vocal style, sounds a bit like a more easy listening Radiohead. But all the songs seem a bit samey here with not much standing out. Also seems like this isn't his notably best album, so this is another one why I'm not sure this is the one featured on this generator?
French jumpscare in this. I mean, it's alright. I was pretty negative at first but it won me over towards the end when it became less folk and more alt rock. Kind of forgettable overall.
National pride aside, I quite liked this album. Nice production on an opera-adjacent piano pop album prescient of Jeremy Dutcher, whom I also love listening to. Sinner music with character that’s not stuck in any lane. 3.5
I anted to like this more than I did. Never heard an album by him before and only knew a couple of songs. Some really interesting things happening on here but not enough to bump this up past a generous 3.
I may not always be in the mood to listen to this kind of music, but he’s a great singer.
I don't have much to say. Yes, sounds a bit like Thom Yorke, yes it's obviously not as good as Radiohead.
not TERRIBLE but also not very good
Halfway through the second track I had many questions racing through my mind, "Is Thom Yorke just Rufus Wainwright from Wish?", "Is my distaste for yet another Canadian singer (the first being Joni Mitchell) going to be upended by this project?", "Should I have stayed and watched his show at FolkFest 2008 instead of going for a burrito?". Alas, a few songs later the melancholic pall descending almost Rufus-ifacated me beneath it's Wain-weight. I was glad I survived though as the last two songs are bangers. What a voice!
I just can’t with Rufus. I don’t like his music (although I acknowledge the interesting compositions) and he always just seemed so arrogant. This is about the music not the man - so 3 stars.
Not my jam
I do enjoy Rufus though aware he is pretentious AF sometimes. I loved Want One - has my fave RW song on it... so Want Two was always a teeny bit disappointing in comparison, but it's a good album.
It was not my favorite sound. Was not bad, just not for me.
very great record. gave me waves of nostalgia at times
I wasn’t super excited to listen to this when it came up… Then I got excited bc I thought jt was Rufus with Chaka Khan. Upon first listen I thought “this really isn’t for me. I am not the target demographic for this artist.” And while that may be true, I enjoyed this album more than I thought. It was a good listen and I have a bigger amount of respect for RW. I used to think he was just the guy who co-wrote “Hallelujah” with Shrek for the biopic of Shreks life.
This has no sounds on it that I care for.
This album is just plain weird. I really like the instrumentation and the lyrics and I don't know if it's just me, but does this guy sound a lot like Thom Yorke? Like truly, I honestly this was some weird Radiohead album or solo album by Thom Yorke under a pen name. I just confused the whole time listening to this. It just that droning vocals. That works for Radiohead but with that sort of music style, it just sounds too complex and convoluted if you know what I mean. Favorite Tracks: Peach Trees, The Art Teacher Rating: 2/5
I personally can't understand the hate this album is getting on here.. This is exactly the kind of thing you'd hope to find on a list of albums you have to hear before you die! I'll just assume those that don't like it aren't interested in expanding their repertoire. For those leaning into the pun, this is actually the second installment of a double album and Want One is equally as incredible. Also, I really don't understand the Radiohead comparison, and I'm a big fan of both A wonderful collection of baroque pop songs with lush arrangements, crooning vocals and clever song writing from start to finish. 5/5 for me
I think I like this better than Want One, but my overall critique still applies. I like and dislike this the same ways I like and dislike Radiohead, even if this mostly better.
I had no idea what to expect from Rufus Wainwright. Based on his name alone, I assumed he'd be a 70's songwriter, but boy was I wrong. From the beginning, Wainwright channels Thom York, vocally, and with the string accompniment, at times you could momentarily confuse Wainwright for Radiohead. Alas, Wainwright doesn't quite have the same gravitational pull or songwriting ability as Radiohead. This was enjoyable, but I don't know how often I'd return to it.
want two (stars)
This wasn’t very good
This is pretty good. I liked “Agnus Dei” and “The Art Teacher”
Not really my bag
Wow I grew to really love this. I think I like the first half (every track from The One You Love to This Love Affair) a bit better than the second half, but maybe that's just a product of listening order and frequency. The classical influence is really satisfying.
Want Two is just an iteration of Want One. Overproduced, annoying singing, and somehow lacks emotion—everything over the top.
he gets brownie points for being in shrek.
Fuck idk man, it is kind of annoying somehow. I feel he tries to be interesting in his harmony in an uninteresting way.
Good album!! There were several great songs!
Ganske kjedelig. Han sang ikke så bra som musikken tilsa han skulle. Kompetent satt sammen da.
hi
Rufus is cool, but this one made me a little sleepy.
This album is pretty shit. I’m not sure how it even made it onto to the list.
Very good
hah. I can't do better than this review: "This is the worst Radiohead album ever."
No, don't ever need to listen to or suggest this artist to anyone. Why is it even on this list?
This one, while only being about 5 minutes shorter, doesn't at all seem to drag like "Want One" did. Great record that went by fast. Again lots of places sound like poppier Radiohead but Rufus makes it ethereal. The instrumentation is fantastic
4/5. This album has me feeling two things. The first is a great listening experience with a singer who feels as though they just found their own voice and holding each note as long as they can, really drawing out and feeling the words, as if they have been mute for years. The other feeling is that there are times I would rather listen to Radiohead. Rufus is very inspired by Thom Yorke on this record, especially the vocal cadences found in Kid A. This is a much different album, a lot more analog, and arguable very beautiful at times. There is a sense of unwavering confidence mixed with introspective shame throughout the album and I think the closing track allows the former to shine through with Antony. It's difficult to confirm how I feel about the album as a whole but I think it was a good listening experience, similar to how I felt about Want One. Best Song: The One You Love, This Love Affair, The Art Teacher, Little Sister
Ligger fem album efter pga det här var så segt att ta sig igenom
Oj vilken positiv överraskning! Riktigt fint. Passade min sinnesstämning väldigt bra.
Det gick bra tills han började sjunga på franska
It turns out I don't WANT 2. The technical pieces are there but they don't amount to anything I can get invested in. The long drawn out vocals were grating by the third track. It feels like the critical praise was for something other than the music.
This one never took off for me. I liked The Art Teacher. The rest of it was arduous and plodding to me. I also dislike when a final song of an album that isn't working for you is nearly 9 minutes long.
Sometimes boring Radiohead-like piano based songs that are hard to remember immediately after listening to. But it’s like- sure man, play your songs. Wait, what is that? Accordion? Um, ok.
Voelt een beetje als een musical. En daar heb ik een gezonde hoeveelheid haat aan.
Deff not a top 1001 album of all time. First two songs where intriguing, but after that it went downhill fast.
So many obvious and great influences on display here but the sum is so much less than the parts. Like if you’re making a suicide at the soda fountain, and you put Coke, iced tea, coffee, Horchata, clam chowder, gazpacho, and Jack Daniels. All delicious things, but.
I promise I tried so hard to hear this from a fan’s perspective, but still couldn’t turn the corner on Rufus. I’m not an idiot and understand the talent behind it all, but it’s annoying!!
I enjoyed only two tracks on this album and they sit pretty far apart in the sequence. They also happen to be the only two songs with any noticeable percussion. I feel like more percussion would have been a nice distraction from Rufus singing primarily in whole notes.
What a melodramatic theatrical delight! So emotive, so pretty, what a fun ride, and the surprise Anohni appearance made my day.
I love just about everything Rufus puts his hands on - this album is no different. We are so lucky to have an artist like this in the world.
This was a struggle to get through. Whiny, depressing, and not super inspired in general. I can't really get over his affected voice. It's almost like he's trying too hard to pretend he's not trying. Then there's some boring piano riffs. Not my thing. 1/5.
Perfect listen for a Sunday afternoon. Wainwright has a beautiful voice, but it can wear thin after a while. The collaborations help break things up, unfortunately when those collaborators are other artists like Antony (whose music has also popped up on this list to much disdain), I kind of had to wince. But I totally get the Thom Yorke comparisons. Wainwright has that sorrowful warble that I love, but it’s set to the backdrop of a solo singer songwriter style. It’s good - I like it! But it sounds nothing like Radiohead, let’s be real. ✨
Interesting but to soft
knew I’d hate this just by looking at the track list
I'm sipping that hatorade with this one
It appear my keyboard i meed up. There i a certain letter that doent even wwork...
starts interesting but becomes boring
Score a film to this
I don't know what's so revolutionary about this album. It's like a whiny Radiohead, 10 years after Tommy Yorke & the boys did it better and whinier. I can't see any scenario where I would rather listen to this album than any Radiohead album (and I'm no Radiohead fan, by a long shot). Similarly to another reviewer, I share the same sentiment: He "Want Two", I give him two (stars).
Laaangeee voookaaaaleeeeer Mye jeg ikke likte; kanskje ikke objektivt dårlig, men absolutt ikke for meg. Waiting for a Dream var ikke så verst.
Han er sikkert flink og sånn, men det her var ikke noe for meg. Hørtes ut som en mid musikal, og jeg er ikke så veldig glad i musikaler i utgangspunktet.
Slitsom intro, selvsagt meningen liker stemmen stemningsfull ingen enkeltspor som fester seg, men liker litt viben gjennom albumet The art teacher var flott
This is one of those albums that probably deserves a second or third listen, which may affect the rating. Unfortunately we must move on to the next album. The music here has some classical flavor to it in some of the tracks. Lots of piano too. Easy to listen to, with interesting lyrics. 7 out of 10.
My long drought is over....I Have This Album (#5)!! An entire 90 albums have gone by since my last one, sheesh. Before listening, I gotta say, I love Rufus (and have seen him live 4 times, which for me is a lot of times), but of all his albums, I don't know why Want 1+2 get the bulk of the attention. I usually skip them because they're a bit snoozey and go for Poses, self-titled, or Release the Stars instead. When BBC Proms had him on for a concert last year (much to my delight!!) they disappointingly had him play the Wants back-to-back. And I thought, If Only This Were Poses. Since I pretty much never agree with the per-artist album picks of this thing, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I bet people rate this low, though, and that makes me sad. Anyway, time for the ol' deep dive. 'Agnus Dei'?? Rufus, my bro, what is this. I guess it's a chance for me to ponder Latin morphology, but oh my (lamb of) god. No wonder I thought the album is a bit snoozey! Belt something else, king!!! (Beautiful strings though!) 'The One You Love' starts out more promisingly. Well, the lyrics aren't that great. But it's got good energy. Unfortunately the energy goes nowhere. It's all bridges! No chorus! I do like the do-do-do part. (As ever). 'Peach Trees' is a slog!! A downright slog!!! It's a good title, but it's boring, and being 6 minutes long doesn't help matters :( 'Little Sister' is a bit better, because the strings are nice and frankly the music sounds a little the Beatles's 'Piggies'. Also, lil sister Martha Wainwright is a cutie (and sings backing vocals on some of these tracks, not that it helps them much). Supposedly this is also inspired by Mozart's little sister, which I support. So this one's alright. I like the "ave"s. 'The Art Teacher' is one of the singles from this album, such as they are (it gets played in concert a lot, etc). It's OK - good energy, and good gender stuff (although personally I can't imagine ever having a crush on an art teacher, quite possible the most uncrushable field of teachers there is). Some good lines though. It can stay. Why is there clapping at the end!? I never noticed that before. 'Hometown Waltz' is kinda boring in an upbeat way. But it's short and has some French themes (musically), so I won't knock it any further. Despite having the extremely relatable line "I don't know what I'm doing", 'This Love Affair' is also boring!!!! It does have waltzing in it, so there's a nice connection to the last song which I never noticed before. But that is not enough to keep my interest!! 'Gay Messiah' is an actually good song. Hallelujah. It has a hook! It's unique!! It's about gay stuff, but that's not why I like it, although it doesn't hurt. 'Memphis Skyline' is a real letdown. I am sad to report it is not in my top 3 Memphis songs. Nothing is happening here; it is slow and it is sad. Beautiful piano though. Possibly the rare album where I prefer the instrumental breaks (even though I do like Rufie's voice). 'Waiting for a Dream' has got a weird echo-y vocal effect which I don't like at all. What I do like is the line "Yesterday I heard they cloned a baby / Now can I finally sleep with me?" which I would laugh at regardless of who sang it (feels like it'd fit in with some of that 80s new wave eclectica we had earlier). I guess I appreciate that musically something a little different is happening here, but this is also a snoozer in the end. 'Crumb by Crumb' is mildly more energetic. Vorp vorp vorp. Decent. Does 'Old Whore's Diet' count as a a slur? Hm. I suppose it does. That's a demerit! But the real demerit is that this song is NINE minutes long. Certainly not getting anyone going in the morning -- wait, what's this, Anohni from Anohni and the Johnsons, who is apparently going by Anohni now???? OK, that revelation did in fact hold my interest for about four minutes. The song does develop a good energy, but I still think we could cut it in half, surely. The bonus tracks aren't on Spotify, which is too bad because they're better than most of the actual tracks. Chelsea Hotel is great. In With the Ladies is great. Frankly every cover Rufus does is great. But I can't reeeeally rate this album a 5, I think, given how much I complained about it (even though I Want 2). It's just not a top album, even if it is by a top artist. Certainly I'd rather listen to it than 95% of the albums on this list so far, though!! Highlight: 'Gay Messiah'! Lowlights: 'Agnus Dei', 'Peach Trees', 'Memphis Skyline' Things Rufus Loves to Sing About: Religion, Gardens, His family, Gay stuff, Cities
Baroque pop /chamber pop / art pop så det er med arrangementer ofte lidt mere intime settings. Så det er ikke stort orkester. Klaver og strygere. Der er også mundharmonika med nogle steder? Det er sgu ikke mig i dag. Jeg er simpelthen ikke i stemning til lige netop det her. MEn jeg kunne godt forestille mig der eksisterer tidspunkter det ville være fedt at lytte til. Det der teatralske univers er ikke noget jeg synes går godt sammen med det stille og rolige her. Det bliver sgu lidt for kedeligt for mig. Men jeg har en ide om at der bliver kompenseret for det i teksterne. På den anden side synes jeg det er en fed måde at gøre pop spændende og jeg synes virkelig det er en sjov blanding af genre. Jeg kan åbenbart bare ikke værdsætte det. Måske er det fordi jeg lyttede til det som baggrundsmusik. Nok noget som kræver mere opmærksomhed.
It's Rufus
Soothing. Gorgeous voice. Nice one for an early morning meditation.
Thew first song was very weird, it was just a bunch of sounds, then the second one was really enjoyable to listen to and I was even ready to give this album 4 stars, but then the rest of the songs were just a bit meh - nothing really happened, althought they were alright to play in the background.
Not for me 1/5
Blind album and artist. Gives me Walmart radiohead vibes and it was meh.
This album was a very cool, and what I perceived as niche vibe. Very wispy, high, falsetto almost vocals over low piano which was an interesting combination. The album did well to highlight the singers voice, but fell flat because how every word they say is drawn way out and makes the vocals almost annoyingly sung. That being said, calming listen. Favorite track was Memphis Skyline.
Started out with a song that repeats "Agnus Dei" over and over until you want to throw the record out the window. The One You Love was a little better but not that much. Peach Trees was where his voice really started to drone on. I didn't read the title until halfway through the song and was wondering why he was singing about "umbrella pastries." The rest of the album continues that boring droning sound. Gay Messiah was kinda interesting, but that was it. Each song alone would be around a 2, but I just couldn't wait for this to end. Best song: Gay Messiah
Most of the songs are drawn out and boring.
“The One You Love” is an amazing song… would be a 5/5 if the songs after lived up to it
I feel a little bit biased towards Rufus being that’s he’s Canadian, there’s some lovely stuff on this album, and he reminds me a little at times of (fellow Canadian) Michael Buble, but also I just don’t love it overall. While moments are certainly interesting, I kind of feel somehow the overall effect is rather dull.
Have to say the only time I'd heard of this guy is his Hallelujah cover on the Shrek soundtrack (which is phenomenal). This sounds like something someone who loves Michael Buble would listen to, although the lyrics would say otherwise. I think it's probably a disservice to Rufus who seems like an interesting guy. But real Mum crooning vibes.
I like Rufus, he is a great vocalist. I saved 3 songs to my playlist. I think the overall vibe of the entire album was not for me, but some of the songs were really great.
So much less endurable than Want One. His voice grates because the songs are kinda samey here.
I bought this one when it came out. It sets a mood—languid, adult, and queer. Those are very good things, of course. But is this one of the greatest albums ever? Hmm.
Wow. What absolutely gorgeous album. First time sitting down with a Rufus record. I’m a fan now.
From the cathedral bombast of Agnus Dei to the sleep-inducing Little Sister, it felt more like an identity crisis than an album. Sorry Rufus, but this one isn’t for me.
This just sucks. He can’t play piano or guitar, just plays the same few chords and waxes operatic over them with that whiny voice like he’s Thom Yorke or something. This just pissed me off, it isn’t clever or brilliant or artistic, it’s just trash.
If I was sitting in a café in Paris, drinking wine and talking about Sartre then this would be the perfect accompaniment. But I'm not. I quite liked the first two songs. After that everything trailed off a bit. I'm sure the lyrics are very deep but the music is very meandering and the vocals are almost identical to Thom Yorke of Radiohead. At least with Radiohead the music is interesting so there's more to balance out the whiney sound of his voice.
when a couple both love Halloween tell each other they love each other
I didn't Want One, and I don't Want Two. I was left again with the impresssion that this could have been quite good if it wasn't so bad. Like the vision is kinda there, but the execution sucks.
2+
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Agnus Dei, Waiting For A Dream, Old Whore's Diet Major Radiohead vibes. If you had told me that Thom Yorke was singing Peach Trees on this album, I would believe you. Sometimes applicable for other songs also. An interesting arrangement of music on a bunch of personal topics: affairs, first loves, one's hometown, homosexuality, a song sung from the perspective of a female (which reminds me of White Town's Your Woman). All of this is done in multiple genre's: what sounds like show tunes, middle eastern or Asian influences on Agnus Dei, whatever the hell is going on in Old Whore's Diet. This is certainly original, off the beaten path uniquely interesting stuff. I am glad it was included on the List.
Awful first song. Singer has a voice like a funeral dirge. Enjoyed Little Sister. Actually the songs aren't bad when he uses his full range instead of whining.
Альбом слухав вперше та й ніколи не чув нічого за Руфуса. Цікавий сінгер-сонграйтер альбом з клавішною основою. Вокал місцями, особливо коли вокаліст щось тягне, - вилитий Том Йорк. Тексти такі саркастичні та торкаються сексуальності. Роздумував може поставити 5, але Old Whore’s Diet якоси вибивається занадто з настрою.
Ніколи не слухав пана Руфуса, це був перший раз. Якщо прибрати першу пісню і пару останніх, то мені сподобалось. Місцями нагадало по гармоніях і загальній атмосфері редіохед, місцями якийсь барокко-поп типу аркейд файр. Не знаю, досить цікава музика, але без вау ефекта. Ну і за Gay Messiah окрема повага.
це напевно поки саме цікаве відкриття серед всього, що мені тут потрапляло. є така музика, якої ти хочеш підспівувати, і роблячи це, ти ніби плачеш разом з людиною, яка співає, і це допомогає тобі вивести з себе емоції, які накопилися. це як раз воно. тут багато порівнюють з томом йорком, і так, він як раз робить це саме. правда, якщо чесно, том йорк та його команда краще як музиканти, тому з музичної точки зору цей альбом не такий класний, іноді прям на межі з дженерік саундом. але він все ще дуже різноманітний (тому і було би складно зробити так, щоб прям всі треки сподобалися), і деякі треки, як перший, це пушка. нема питань і щодо текстів, людина дійсно прожила те, про що співає, і їй є про шо сказати. до того ж, послухати про квір експірієнс завжди особливо цікаво, і він відчувається в кожній з пісень.
- voz poderosa, que lembra opera - alguns momentos são bem marcantes - eu gostei que leva mais pro lado da performance do que pro lado conceitual
On today’s review, we’ve got another rare case of “How on Earth is this album rated so low on this website?”. Just to be fair, I’ll start with the biggest criticism I have, it can be a tad boring for some stretches. I only know about this guy because he did the version of "Hallelujah" from Shrek, which is an awesome accolade to have in and of itself. This is the second of 2 albums released one year apart, both being on this list, and the first one of the 2 I have heard so far for this project. The way he stretches out notes is extremely impressive, and the music itself is very pretty. Looking into his backstory is also very worthwhile, dude has lived a hell of an interesting life. My 2 favorite songs from this one are “Old Whore’s Diet” and “The One You Love.” I reiterate, I don’t understand how an album this beautifully written and melodic can be rated so low. It’s quite good. I'm very interested in hearing the other Rufus Wainwright album to compare the two.
I had no idea what to expect. Turns out to be singer-songwriter-pop. Yes, definitely pop. And as usual in pop music, according to my taste there's not much happening. But that's not my biggest problem. That's the production choices, and in particular I mean the sometimes horrible backing vocals, the choirs. 'The one you love', 'Gay Messiah', "Crumb by crumb'. Dear Lord, why on earth? It destroys the music. But that's still far from the low point. 'Old whore's diet', with an annoying latin-like rhythm, has truly horrible guest vocals by Anohni. It's not about their voice - it's the appalling vibrato that they use. I can't listen to that. This could have been a better album, the songs aren't bad.
my second love…
Pre-listening thoughts: I'm slacking YES I KNOW i'm SORRY god forbid a girl settles into her routine. Anyways I have found my best window for listening to an album is before class. I will for sure have to listen after class too, but I'm squeezing in a quick Rufus Wainwright treat before I go make a million loaves of sourdough today. Post/during listening thoughts: I am just not sure Rufus Wainwright can do any wrong. I love this man. In a lesbian loves a gay man kinda way. The culmination of Agnus Dei had me suspicious at first as to whether it would end up sounding good, but I learned my lesson quickly for doubting Rufus. I just think his harmony stacking is so beautiful. It always feels so familiar and friendly to listen to him. But as soon as that feeling envelopes you, then there's a sucker punch of sad lyrics. I love his lyricism. Anyways, this is a great successor to Want One. I don't quite like it AS much on first listen, so I'm glad we got Want One first, but I still just cannot dislike anything this man makes. 8.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: lowkey yes for Want One AND Two but maybe not this one by itself if that makes sense. Also everyone please go listen to Poses. That is a PHENOMENAL album. Especially if you like his more upbeat stuff. Fav tracks: The One You Love, The Art Teacher (my god.), Gay Messiah, Waiting for a Dream Least fav tracks: I didn't love the beginning of Agnus Dei
OMG I don't know the last time I was so utterly bored by an album. Most albums I'm able to find something interesting, whether it's socially conscious lyrics or an unusual combination of genres, but not here. Not with Rufus Wainright. I don't know what's wrong with Wainwright that his voice always whines and he only has one tone for his songs. I guess a single by him wouldn't be so bad, but a whole album of drivel? Lord, please help me. At least there's no Want Three, but there better not be a third Wainwright album on this list. Otherwise, heaven has forsaken me.
Baroque pop at its worst. I was absolutely bored by this album. Rufus Wainwright's voice just drones on and on. It's really too bad; I have always loved his cover of "Hallelujah" (not on this album) but that song is definitely not reflective of this exhausting body of work. Oh, you want me to say something nice about this album? Ummm...okay. "Gay Messiah" has funny lyrics. There, I did it.
Not my brand of alternative sound.
Poses is the superior album, of course, but Want One and Want Two together are awesome additions to the Rufus discography.
This sort of thing is just not my genre. The more broody, ballad-y songs do very little for me. The man has a wonderful singing voice, and I think the arrangements and lyrics are perfectly lovely, but I often found myself pretty bored. Had a few real highlights, however, especially "Crumb by Crumb," which I thought was truly delightful.
Okay - 3 stars
Very strong voice but put me in an awful mood
The One I Love ❤️. Vilken fantastisk låt. Hela albumet är behagligt att lyssna på men det är bara en låt som fäster på riktigt
I really appreciate the immense talent that this man has. Like his voice is incredible and flawless. His lyrics are sharp and clever. His instrumentation, while subtle and understated, manages to be incredibly powerful along side his incredible voice. The song Gay Messiah was fucking awesome, and I also liked The Art Teacher to a lesser extent. I think the album cover is also sick. The problem though is just that this music isn’t for me. It alittle too quiet and subtle for me most of the album. And I always struggle with slower songs and there’s a lot of slow songs on this album. This is just one of those times where I’m wildly impressed and I even looked up a couple of videos of his playing live cause I was so interested in his singing. But sadly this album specifically didn’t do a lot for me, there wasn’t any songs that I connected with and sonically this album is just too slow and depressing for me to truly connect with it. So don’t take this star rating very seriously, this dude is wildly talented, it’s just not for me sadly.
Love, love Rufus' voice. Sometimes clever lyrics. I guess I just prefer Rufus singing the classic songbook.
He has a tempting voice, but the arrangements are too pompous.
Halfway through the album, it sounds pretty good. The vocals remind me of Matt Bellamy or Thom Yorke. But at the end of the album, I'd say this is an okay melodramatic singer song-writer ballads album. Nothing stood out to me. Well except for the abrupt switch to a reggae finale.
There is a universe where I connect to this guys music and really like it. This is not that universe and I don’t like this very much. Like Thom Yorke if he was boring. Favorite song was Gay Messiah.
meh 2.5
It's like he's trying too hard, but still has no talent. This was a torment.
i "Want Two" of this guy's albums to be removed from this list
This is pretty bad but I can’t 1 it for its sheer inventiveness and variety of shite
The hell is this
Victorian era ass Radiohead. I don't think I could ever get into music like this.
Do you like when Radiohead does that whiny kind of wail but don't want the music building and crescendo'ing and for the whole album? Then this album is for you! I don't even like Radiohead let alone someone doing one of their bits but worse. Slow piano whiny wail.
PEAK sounded uncannily like radiohead but def still rly good, I like how the opening song is unexpected
Started strong but faded away a bit towards the end.
I honestly didn't know about Rufus Wainwright, and I made the mistake (one that I never do), to read some reviews before even listening to the album. I don't know why, but there's a lot of complaining in these reviews about his voice being "whining" and the album being "boring". I thought it was beautiful at times, cute and fun at others. Although it's not the best album ever, it did feel unique and worth the listen.
Very boring and stuffy. Some of the arrangements are okay enough, but Rufus needs to hire a diction coach because his vocals felt very slurred and sloppy. An instrumental version of the album could be more interesting, but honestly not much more
Amazing songwriting. But his vocals start to get tiresome.
Rubbish
Typ 3,5 stjärnor ibland lite tråkigt men skulle passa väldigt bra i en film. Väldigt känslomässigt och påminner en del om Jeff Buckleys album Grace
Another boring album. I played it while working and it never really hooked me
I really liked this, the melodies are sensational and what a voice. But because I preferred Want One, which I will give four stars two, I will give this one three stars.
Good album, but definitely not made for me.
I've always loved Rufus's voice in small doses, but feared that listening to an entire album of his might just be too much eccentric crooning to bare. My fears were largely confirmed. Three or four songs in, I was really digging it. The classical arrangements and melodies were doing for me. But by the end, it has turned into background music.
Uuggghhhh... 1 out of 5. I'd give it 0, but the 1st and 10th songs at least don't remind me of a Radiohead cover band playing an airport Marriot lounge.
I only listened to half. Some of the songs were too slow for the modi I was in but beautiful
Pretty, but the crooning got to me eventually.
I think Rufus can write much better songs than most of these, and has done so. And I don't think this album particularly belongs on this list. But I don't hate it. I like his voice well enough, and he writes some great melodies -- it's just that here they're too interlarded with non-great ones.
1/5 - I did not need to hear this album, and I barely made it through. Just absolutely not my thing, though The One You Love and The Art Teacher were OK.
I wasn’t familiar with this album. Really glad I got to listen to it. It is reminiscent of Radiohead.
Rufus does sound just a bit whiny from time to time but overall a pretty enjoyable album.
Kinda similar to radiohead
Not my cup of tea
Rufus is a good singer, but my fuck.....it's just.....not my genre. It's like Michael Buble got really into renaissance fairs .....I had another of his albums in the past (Want One) and felt similarly about that one. Favorite songs: Crumb By Crumb, Hometown Waltz, The Art Teacher Least favorite songs: Peach Trees, Memphis Skyline, This Love Affair, Old Whore's Diet 1/5
Crazy vocals and rythm
listened to it a few hours ago and i don't remember a thing
I can only put this one in terms that will only make sense to a Canadian. No one will say it, but Rufus Wainwright is a cut-rate Hawksley Workman. The same worst instincts, but without any of the janky charm. Hawksley Workman sanded down to a little nub. I sort of enjoyed this for the first 30 seconds of fricked up violin but then this guy starts singing fake Latin with his thick Canadian accent (no amount of theatre kid delivery can cover it sorry Rufus) and it lost me. I don’t like it.
Rv/G
I was relieved to discover this wasn’t more country music and “Agnis Dei” was a promising start, but I had trouble getting into his Radiohead-derivative moaning with the occasional incongruous symphonic background. He strikes me as a rather less dynamic John Grant. Still the music does have a certain elegance to it. And cool to get an ANOHNI feature on here.
-It makes no sense and then it makes so much sense -Such beautiful and interesting composition on some of these pieces -Kinda gives me whiplash -Love his voice (I love "Another Believer" I'm biased)
I didn’t Want One and I definitely don’t Want Two.
I didn’t like Want One and I don’t like this either. This dude can’t annunciate to save his life. It’s great that he likes opera but I’m trying to listen to regular people music. And this ain’t it.
It's an incredibly pretty piece of work, but I didn't fully connect first listen. Maybe on relisten, I might rate this higher. 3 Stars.
A surprisingly good record that only suffers from vocals that hold long loud notes a bit too long.
A couple of songs I liked, but mostly not for me. Not always a big fan of his voice on this, find the songs to drag a bit at times. Opening and closing tracks both pretty bad for me. Won’t listen to this one again.
пару неплохих песен и блядская скукота от руфуса
Pretty enjoyable but perhaps a bit self indulgent and “thom yorke at home” at times
Zzzzz...
Interestingly bland ⭐⭐⭐
Like Radiohead if they lacked talent and Thom Yorke was trying to piss you off.
I don't quite know what to make of this album. It is growing on me I think. I feels like listening to a Radiohead album which is not such a bad thing. I think part of the reason I struggled with this album is because it is such a diverse sounding album. I'm a little surprised at how much I ended up liking this one.
His previous album was already on this list fairly recently! I enjoyed and would like to relisten. Some tracks really remind me of ?Elbow I think - something about his vocals and the vibe. ?Anohni Johnson, ?Muse, idk, agh, I can't place it.
I enjoy Rufus Wainwright, but i didn't find a foot hold in this. It had all the usual sweeping grandeur, but i didn't find a huge amount to grab onto that brought me on. Maybe its me. Who knows?
Nice voice. Not mu cup of tea.
We've got Thom Yorke at home...
Oh I know this album had the Starbucks ROCKIN in 2004
I think he has a great voice but a little over the top at times with the theatrical. Want One was a better album this seems a little like the stuff left over.
Good discovery ! I'll listen to more of him
This was a tough start to the project lol. So much whinging and whining. Best one was the peach song
Even worse than the first one.
Ah, I felt like Want One was such an interesting album, bigger than life. Maybe also because it was one of my first here, but I rather liked it. Want Two has some great parts to it. Still greater than life, but some parts too self-indulgent, too non-sensical, abrasive. Ultimately, I think it is lesser than the sum of its parts.
он очень приятно поёт, но на этом альбоме какой-то треш + неоправдавшийся гамбит стартовать со звука настраивающихся струнных
Outstanding; was not familiar with his work.
Rufus Wainwright is clearly very talented. I feel bad rating this a 2, but I also try to keep my rating score honest to how I felt while listening. Sometimes this sounded like Radiohead but sleepier. Sometimes it felt like homework. I kept waiting for a song to grab me and pull me in, but I couldn’t find an entry point. This is impressive music on a technical level, but nothing hit me at a gut level. Very little of it moved me. “Gay Messiah” made me smile though. And “Waiting for a Dream” was good too.
I really enjoy Rufus Wainwright and everytime I listen to him I spend about a week checking out his music and then for some reason I forget about him for like a year, and then something reminds me to listen to him again. His voice is sharp, piercing almost? And I love the arrangements and instrumentation on his songs. The one thing that I want more of though is hooks. Not everyone likes to write hooks, and it just might not be his style, but I feel like his songs that have more memorable choruses really stand out for me, and unfortunately when he doesn't have them they tend to be forgotten about. Maybe that's why my listening habit tends to be that way?
Rather disappointing for my 100th album
Again to whiny. UGH
When this is good, it's really good. There's not a ton of range, though, and there's ultimately a bit too much wailing on some of the songs (even songs that I end up liking overall).
I respect what's going on here but the relentless vibrato was too much for me.
Boring.
For some reason I always expected to like Rufus Wainwright more than I do. I do like his voice but I find the songs too slow.
I love Rufus wainwright’s creativity and the classical nature of some of his pop music
Not a fan.
Première et deuxième chanson sont très intéressantes, avec des arrangements surprenants. Le reste de l'album se répète et se ressemble. On aime ou on aime pas, et pour ma part, c'est malheureusement le second. La voix est simplement trop divagante et planante, avec un peu toujours la même émotion. Le thème est weird aussi.
I enjoyed it.
First Rufus Wainwright album I've listened to in a while. Its just ok. Some nice songs but most of it was just ok.
Back with more theatrics! I didn't find this as catchy or interesting as Want One but it was all decent and an enjoyable enough listen. I hovered on the 3/4 fence with that one and fell on the 3 side. So now I'm hovering on the 2/3 fence with this, it seems only fair to round up this time.
Beautiful vocals and instrumentals, I could listen to him all day! Some of the songs drone on a little or are a little one-dimensional, but overall very enjoyable.
Vraiment drôle comme album, feel indie
Cool exploration of various styles. First 3 songs are amazing, less of a fan of the rest of the album.
Calming background music, but not my most favorite.
Talented guy, gifted songwriter. Just didn't appeal to me
I simultaneously love and hate saying Gay Messiah was the peak of this album. I have nothing more to say.
I still can't get past Rufus's lazy, whiny voice that sounds like he's disinterested, but in reality he's engaged, enthused and it's just the way he sounds. His choice of material is music is well suited to this voice, that sounds generations old, overly melodramatic, and theatrical (no wonder he did do a Judy Garland LP) and basically, songs I have no interest in. It was Canada Day this week and ironically, Rufus Wainwright is the most non-Canadian sounding artist I can think of. Good music for nostalgic, sad people, but for modern hipsters, stay clear.
Artiste inconnu. Le premier morceau est très original (+1), mais ... c'est le seul. Je me suis terriblement ennuyé sur les suivants. Et il perd un point car trop long, je ne suis finalement pas allé au bout. =>1/5
Very enjoyable album, one of my favourites so far
It's different at least. I enjoyed the music on about half the tracks, the other half were either annoying or boring. I really don't like his voice. It bothered me even on the tracks with good music.
So beautiful. The bar is set higher now.
No doubt he is talented but I can't say I was overly excited by this one, not the most accessible album on the first listen.
Can someone please tell me what I'm missing?
what if thom yorke was really gay
Strong, but long and needs more listens
The music itself is pretty good but HOT DAYM these lyrics are pure ASS. They’re like the kind of thing you come up with in the shower and then never think about ever again. However, there are some pretty nice chord progressions and the instrumentation is lovely so I’ll bump it up
I love the cover art, it really lines up with what I was expecting based off the first song. I think I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more as an instrumental, but I found his voice a little bit insufferable after awhile.
I enjoyed this one. Some of the songs kinda sounded the same but I enjoyed the album as a full body. Some songs I did save. Some of the stand outs to me were The One You Love and Gay Messiah. I listened to this in the airport while people watching and it felt perfect for that. I also enjoyed the Agnus Dei as it made me think of a prayer. I enjoyed the nods to antiquity.
2.5. I liked like 3 songs out of 12 so there you have it
Want Two is strange, drawn out art. And very Jeff Buckley-esque. I wanted to like this album more, but it moved at a snail’s pace. Gay Messiah is catchy (best song) followed by Old Whore’s Diet which is just plain old weird but good. Enjoyed both of these songs, rest of the album too sloooowww for me. (2.2*s) I’m still wondering what an old whore has for breakfast…
Accidentally listened to Want One 1st. Did I Want Two? Maybe. The more I listened, the more I enjoyed it. Sounds a bit like we got a solo Thom Yorke project. Bit too soft and slow at times but very peaceful. Stand out tracks are "The One You Love", "Peach Trees", and "Waiting for a Dream." Rufus has skill and I will explore more, may just throw some on to a nice slumber. Want Part Deux gets 3.1 stars.
That's a lot of range to display on a single album. Even if every song isn't top notch it's cool to see he can vary between genres and styles and weave some classical music influence into it. Seems like something I would have been exposed to at some point but perhaps it's a little too niche to have wide appeal? Rufus Wainwright is clearly very talented and I appreciated a lot of what I got on Want Two as something different. There may be a time and place where I come back to this but it isn't something I would slate for everyday listening. In the long run this ends up on the shelf but a good entry for 1001 nonetheless. 2.40 stars
Tu veux un deux? Vraiment? J'hésitais entre deux et trois pendant mon écoute, mais si tu insistes, merci de trancher!
Radiohead wanna be. Too Whitney for me though.
Pretty cool album, I wasn’t really in to it when it came out but it has a real depth to it, both lyrically and musically.
Uniquely different, I liked the variety
1.9 Oof, not long after Want One I get this. Similar to last time, sounds identical to Thom Yorke but with dull and often annoying songs. It actually makes me like Thom Yorke less it's that powerful. Comes across like pretentious shite.
some songs on this were beautiful, very good album, art teacher was amazing
The guy at the ren faire who takes it a bit too seriously
Through this challenge, I discovered that I really enjoy Rufus Wainwright’s music—and Want Two is a fantastic album. He’s an incredibly talented artist from a famously gifted family, and it shows in this record. The music throughout the album is beautifully composed, with melodies that are both tight and catchy. Favourite song: The One You Love stands out as a brilliant track. It’s got a great blend of music and lyrics—memorable, emotional, and easy to keep playing on repeat. Least favourite: Some of the slower songs in the middle didn’t quite resonate with me—Memphis Skyline, for example, felt a bit too subdued. But overall, the album was a very enjoyable listen. Album artwork: Edgy and cool—perfectly suited to the tone of the music.
Wild first song but im a sucker for foreign chanting. Good vibes, relaxing to listen too.
A theater kid who is a big Radiohead fan. Not something for me honestly, it often feels very very derivative and when it doesn't it sounds insane
was excited to see what this was about because i loved his hallelujah cover. not for me
this sounds like background music to an episode of ninjago. He kinda sounds like will toledo, this is actually really interesting, like its fine but im interested moreso in how this progresses and seeing if it becomes smth better then this then how to rank it on a numerical scale 1-10. Actually, wait this is really good, that string instrement ad his vocals, this'll be a good time if it progresses this way. im sorry fuck you mean they change genres for the second track to an art pop song, and its better then the one before it?? why does that keep happening its happened twice in the past two songs. I got really distracted, but oh my god he sounds like thom yorke, in fact a lot of this sounds like radiohead, even down to the part where radiohead (like a lot of things i like) makes me incredibly tired, i read one of the comments and this is jus gay thom yorke. Its very pretty (pretty enough to lie to one could say). Overall i liked it i can't really say i could come up with a numeriacal score, though thats kinda a compliment because i feel like paying attention to the artsyness is not smth i do that often because theres a little guy in my head like yeah this is a 4.5 and i think thats detracting from my music listening experience in some ways.
I enjoyed!
This is an album I am quite familiar with but had not listened to in years. I think he has a love it or hate voice and delivery and I love it.
Enjoyed this more than Want One, even though it is a bit long. I don't always enjoy Wainwright's cabaret style singing, but when it's good it's great - Especially on The Art Teacher, Gay Messiah, and Waiting For a Dream. Also really liked the duet with Antony Hegarty (AHNONI?)
Agnes Dei - Interesting intro, with that scraping woodblock thing. The man can sing. This kind of thing goes better as soundtrack, to me. The One You Love - Scissor Sisters Go To Prep School. Peach Trees - I like the dry strum guitars. I’m just really not into pretty voices. “All my favorite singers couldn’t sing.” Little Sister - I like the jaunty strings. Strip down the production and you’ve got a little Van Dyke Parks (who I really should have talked about in my ‘SMILE’ rating) ditty. The Art Teacher - I like it when every word is a different note. I don’t like it when every word is multiple notes. Hometown Waltz - My favorite so far. I dig a waltz. If his voice was as shabby as the instrumentation I think I’d really like his records. This Love Affair - A soap opera. Gay Messiah - Best lyrics. This one feels real, if filtered through this cocktail lounge performative veil. Maybe it’s not “pretty voices” I don’t vibe with. (Wedren, for example, I love.) Maybe it’s FORMAL or TRADITIONAL voices. Vibrato on every word. Everything all stretched out. The way you’re “supposed to sing”. Lounge music? IDK. Memphis Skyline - This music makes me impatient. Maybe it’s an ADHD thing. Waiting For a Dream - Maybe I’m too working class to properly appreciate this. That statement would send most of my family into hysterics. Crumb by Crumb - I remember Squirrel Nut Zippers. Old Whore’s Diet - “Either here or Hell will employ you.” Great lyric. If the record sounded like this funky Sly and the Family Stone shit all the way through, it’d own me. Something about this undercuts the histrionics. The man can sing. I’m glad he has done well. Just not my bag.
Very weird but some redeemable songs. Solid voice.
I liked the first song and I was hoping it was all going to be in that style, but it wasn't. I like his voice but there's nothing grabbing me enough to listen again.
If you were on an island ten miles out to sea and you lost power, would you devote your phone battery to this? I listened to about half of each song. I liked a couple of songs but overall it felt like a lot of caterwauling.
This was fucking dreadful. I got so over this cunts voice half way through I had to stop. End of story.
As much as this one was a surprise on how much I didn’t hate it, I’m glad I slept on what to rate this so I didn’t overhype myself on the surprise. The vocal comparisons to Thom Yorke are very apparent after the opener, as much as it lends itself to looking a bit egotistical, I think that the more folky/baroque instrumentals actually work with that style of singing well. As a package it’s not something I can find too many faults with other than it just not being my favourite kind of music. The album duration may not be helping things but I did also feel that the moany style of singing did start to drag by the end
Agnus Dei is awesome, I stopped what I was doing at the midpoint to take in what I was hearing. This is the high water mark of the album, its unique and cool, nothing else comes close to it. Ah heck, back to normal songs, damn it, The One You Love is pretty good. The vocals on Little Sister was giving Bublé, not sure if it’s a Canadian thing, I will investigate further. Wicked bass on Waiting for a Dream, great production and strings too sounded like a recent Radiohead track (which I’m generally quite fond of) Crumb by Crumb was fun by fun. Enjoyed it quite a bit Old Whore’s Diet was a sharp change of gears. Not bad to start, but lingered far too long Rufus vocals are consistently enjoyable throughout the album. Any orchestral buts in this album I liked a lot Favourites Agnus Dei, Waiting for a Dream, The One You Love
I listened to this the day after we got it and neglected to write my review at the time and cannot remember a single thought I had about this, which I think speaks volumes about the album.
The squeaky strings at the start went for 0.1 one seconds too long so you already know that certain people listening are immediately filtered on arrival and have decided they hate the album. First track has some beautiful vocals and composition. On the one you know I love the refrain before the hook. On peach trees hes obviously going for a Thom Yorke style of vocalisation. It works here tbh and when his voice comes i er the backing vocals its quite angelic. They die down only to pick back up over the vocalist its really awesome stuff. Little Sister is a little overproduced but another incredible vocal performance. This album clearly inspired a lot of indie which came out following this release for better and for worse. The Art teacher is where I first noticed the sucking of air through his teeth, but it really impacts the track and the rest of the album from here. A lot of the tracks past the Art teacher see a noticeable drop in the quality of the vocal performance, the lyrics become uninspired. The ability to hit continuous notes is impressive though, even if the sucking gets more noticeable, which it usually does. The longer the album goes the more over produced and melodramatic it gets, which is a shame cause it started strong. Surely this guy can just turn his head away from the mic while breathing. 5/10
A really great album cover, which would probably be a lot of fun to look at while you sit and listen to this album because it is pretty boring. There are a lot of comparisons to Thom Yorke in the global reviews on this site (many of which are negative) which does answer the question of "What if Radiohead wasn't popular and English?". The answer is that nobody would pretend like they're the second coming. A competently-performed and well-made album. I just don't gel with it. Each successive listen had me alt-tabbing more frequently to see how long is left on this. It's not you Rufus, it's me. I just don't like your singing enough to enjoy this. Literally only the last track had me perk up because it's at least something different. Highlights: Realising the last track on spotify is a bonus track so I can skip it and save 2 minutes and 46 seconds
3/5 Dramatic and atmospheric baroque pop songs with a wide range of instrumentation and influences. Rufus’ vocals are strong and create a lasting impression on you. Would be 3.5/5 if I could :) Top 3 Songs: Crumb by Crumb The One You Love Memphis Skyline
not my vibe
Pretty good!
Interesting...exactly two months after the first Rufus Wainwright album ("Want One") comes the other half of his not-exactly-double-album. I didn't enjoy the first half, but that ends up helping with "Want Two" in that my expectations are pretty low. It also helps that the album is a bit darker in tone (at least according to Mr. Wainwright himself), and I thought the opening track "Agnes Dei" was curiously compelling in that regard (and interesting that it was used in the depressing film "Trade" about sex slaves), and the long closing track "Old whore's diet" was also a bit distinctive. His style is still not to my taste, though, and there aren't really any other tracks that grabbed my attention, other than perhaps that "Peach tree" seemed to be a Radiohead-wannabe song, and I'll take it on the "1001 Albums" entry author's authority that both "Gay messiah" and the Jeff Buckley elegy "Memphis skyline" have insightful, provocative and/or powerful lyrics.
I don't think I needed any Rufus before I died let alone two albums by him. Here are some albums to hear instead which aren't on the list at all for no good reason: Robyn "Body Talk"; Robyn "Robyn", Patti Smith "Radio Ethiopia," Hank Williams "Hank Williams Sings," Steve Miller Band "Fly Like an Eagle," The Supremes "Where Did Our Love Go." Etc.
Not into this at all.
With a name like Rufus, I thought this was going to be cool. 2.5 rounding down
I’m honestly not sure what to say about this. Did I like it? I’m still not sure. My opinion shifted several times during just one song. There were elements that felt folky, others that reminded me of French chanson, or something in that vein, and then parts I can’t quite categorize. It was all very confusing.
This has some weird shit. But also ne enough, nor constantly weird. I know Rufus' name, but nothing else about him. This is also kinda folk-ey, but not enough to turn my stomach all the way. Based on the cover imagery I was cautiously hopeful, but that came crashing down fast. I didn't like it.
Hm. I respect the decadence of the dyad. Shits clever and composed, and studiously weird. Nothing on either hits any harder than "what a world" though.
Meh
geen idee wat het was, maar de emmer is vol en moet dringend geledigd worden
Yes, this guy sounds like Thom Yorke if he were gay (implying Thom Yorke is straight), I get it. That being said, maybe it's because I'm not a Radiohead fan, I don't really understand how this is worse? For me, it's on the same level of "pretty good but not really my thing" as Radiohead. It's the same well-produced slow, longing, melancholic music with almost no hype moments but a lot of aura, which is not particularly exciting to me but with so much effort and passion put into it that it prevents the music from being boring. I think the vibe here is similar to Radiohead, in good and bad ways. 7/10
Going into this I thought what most people would probably think going into this, sounds like a Thom Yorke clone and even as far as a Radiohead clone for some songs but I wasn’t deterred by that, he also mixes it up a bit with his own style consisting of opera and cabaret which is quite cool. I did think it was quite… boring to be honest and maybe a bit pretentious for the most part, it’s not something I’m keen on listening to as a whole again but 3 songs definitely caught my attention: the one you love was a catchy single, peach trees was basically a Radiohead song and executed well with some good lyrics and crumb by crumb. I thought the lyrical content was unique throughout aswell. Overall, 5.5/10.
i'll be honest, i only know of his cover of Hallelujah from Shrek lol Agnus Dei - 3/5 The One You Love - 4/5 Peach Trees - 4/5 Little Sister - 2/5 The Art Teacher - 4/5 Hometown Waltz - 3/5 This Love Affair - 3/5 Gay Messiah - 5/5 Memphis Skyline - 3/5 Waiting For A Dream - 4/5 Crumb by Crumb - 4/5 Old Whore's Diet - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 (rounding down) he wanna be Thom Yorke so baaaaad jokes aside, idk what to really say about this. it was alright. he has a nice voice. Gay Messiah was my personal favorite track here, and a handful of others stood out to me as well. i decided to round down my rating rather than bump up to 4 stars simply because there weren't enough stand-out tracks for me personally. we'll see how i like Want One when it pops up for me
## In-Depth Review: *Want Two* by Rufus Wainwright Rufus Wainwright’s *Want Two* (2004) stands as a bold, theatrical, and deeply ambitious work, serving as both a companion and a counterpoint to its predecessor, *Want One*. Where *Want One* was intensely personal, *Want Two* broadens its gaze, delving into themes of society, identity, loss, and longing, all while maintaining Wainwright’s signature blend of lush orchestration, biting wit, and raw vulnerability. This review will explore the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and conclude with a clear assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Lyrical Range and Complexity** Wainwright’s lyrical approach on *Want Two* is notably diverse, oscillating between poetic storytelling, caustic humor, and unguarded confession. The album’s lyrics are often more blunt and literal than his earlier work, yet retain a poetic sensibility that rewards close listening[2]. Songs like “The Art Teacher” exemplify his narrative prowess, telling the story of a married woman’s lingering infatuation with a childhood teacher—a tale rendered with empathy and subtlety[3][4]. The song’s perspective play and emotional ambiguity are quintessential Wainwright, blurring lines between autobiography and fiction. “Gay Messiah” is perhaps the album’s most provocative lyric, blending religious imagery with queer identity in a manner that is both irreverent and deeply personal. Lines like “Better pray for your sins” are delivered with a wry, knowing humor, but also hint at deeper existential anxieties and social commentary[4]. The track’s explicitness and audacity serve as both a challenge and an invitation to the listener. Other highlights include “Peach Trees,” a romantic ballad suffused with longing, and “Memphis Skyline,” a moving tribute to Jeff Buckley, which balances personal grief with universal themes of loss[1]. Throughout, Wainwright’s lyrics are marked by their emotional directness, literary allusions, and willingness to confront taboo subjects. **Strengths:** - Rich narrative detail and emotional honesty - Clever, layered wordplay and allusion - Willingness to tackle complex and controversial topics **Weaknesses:** - At times, the bluntness can feel heavy-handed compared to his earlier, more evocative work[2] - Some lyrics may alienate listeners unaccustomed to Wainwright’s theatricality or explicitness --- ## Music **Stylistic Breadth and Arrangements** Musically, *Want Two* is a kaleidoscope of genres and influences. The album traverses folk, pop, chanson, baroque, indie, and show music, often within a single track[1][5]. Wainwright’s “old world sensibility” is evident in the artful, often gorgeous arrangements, which feature everything from lush string sections to delicate piano lines. “Agnus Dei,” the album’s opener, is steeped in classical influence, setting a somber, almost liturgical tone with its choral arrangements and orchestral sweep[3]. “The One You Love” and “Peach Trees” showcase his knack for sophisticated pop, while “The Art Teacher” relies on a minimalist, “gently bubbling piano line” that foregrounds the lyrics[3]. “Hometown Waltz” incorporates folk elements and features contributions from Wainwright’s mother and aunt, grounding the album in personal history[1]. The album’s musical ambition is both its greatest asset and, at times, its Achilles’ heel. The arrangements are often sumptuous and grandiose, bordering on overproduction, yet they rarely feel gratuitous. Instead, they serve to amplify the album’s emotional stakes and thematic complexity. **Strengths:** - Inventive, genre-blurring arrangements - Masterful orchestration and use of classical motifs - Wainwright’s vocals: expressive, theatrical, and technically impressive **Weaknesses:** - Some tracks risk being “overproduced,” potentially overwhelming the songwriting[1] - The stylistic variety may come at the expense of cohesion, leading to a sense of unpredictability that some listeners find disorienting --- ## Production **Sonic Palette and Atmosphere** Produced with a meticulous attention to detail, *Want Two* is unashamedly “music as art”[5]. The album’s soundscape is rich and layered, with each instrument and vocal harmony carefully placed to create a sense of grandeur and intimacy in equal measure. References to Ravel’s “Bolero,” Catholic hymns, and French cabaret are woven seamlessly into the fabric of the album, lending it a dark, sensual, and dramatic quality not often found in contemporary pop[5]. The production, while lush, never loses sight of Wainwright’s voice, which remains the album’s emotional and sonic anchor. Whether soaring above an orchestra or whispering over a lone piano, his vocals are captured with clarity and warmth. **Strengths:** - Lush, detailed production that enhances the album’s theatricality - Effective balance between grandeur and intimacy - Creative integration of diverse musical references **Weaknesses:** - Occasional lapses into excess, with some tracks feeling weighed down by their own ambition[1] - The album’s polish may distance it from the rawness of earlier Wainwright releases --- ## Themes **Identity, Longing, and Social Commentary** At its core, *Want Two* is an album about desire—romantic, spiritual, and existential. Wainwright explores the complexities of love and loss (“This Love Affair,” “Peach Trees”), the search for meaning in a chaotic world (“Agnus Dei,” “Crumb by Crumb”), and the tensions of queer identity in a heteronormative society (“Gay Messiah”)[1][4][5]. The album is also deeply reflective, with several tracks meditating on the passage of time and the persistence of memory. “The Art Teacher” and “Memphis Skyline” both grapple with the ways in which the past continues to shape the present, while “Hometown Waltz” contemplates the inevitability of returning home, both literally and metaphorically. Wainwright’s use of religious and mythological imagery—most notably on “Gay Messiah” and “Agnus Dei”—serves to elevate personal experience to the level of the universal, inviting listeners to consider the broader implications of his stories. **Strengths:** - Nuanced exploration of identity, desire, and memory - Effective use of religious and cultural symbolism - Willingness to confront difficult or taboo subjects **Weaknesses:** - The album’s thematic density may feel overwhelming or inaccessible to some listeners - Occasional lapses into self-indulgence or melodrama --- ## Influence **Artistic Legacy and Impact** *Want Two* occupies a unique place in Wainwright’s discography and in the broader landscape of 2000s singer-songwriter albums. Its ambition, theatricality, and unapologetic embrace of queer identity have influenced a new generation of artists unafraid to blend genres and challenge conventions[1][5]. The album’s “Wildean decadence, Romantic self-awareness and pre-Raphaelite languor” set it apart from the more formulaic releases of its era, establishing Wainwright as a singular voice in pop music[5]. While *Want Two* may not have achieved the same level of commercial success as some of Wainwright’s peers, its artistic daring and emotional honesty have earned it a devoted following and critical acclaim. Tracks like “The Art Teacher” and “Memphis Skyline” are frequently cited as highlights of his career, and the album as a whole is recognized for its contribution to the evolution of queer representation in popular music[1][3][5]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | Lyrically rich and emotionally honest | Occasional overproduction | | Inventive, genre-blurring musical arrangements | Thematic and stylistic density may overwhelm some listeners | | Masterful orchestration and vocal performances | Lacks the intimacy of earlier Wainwright albums | | Willingness to tackle complex, controversial, and taboo subjects | Some tracks feel self-indulgent or melodramatic | | Effective use of literary, religious, and cultural allusions | Inconsistent cohesion due to stylistic variety | | Significant influence on queer representation in pop music | Some listeners find the album less immediate or accessible | --- ## Conclusion *Want Two* is a daring, theatrical, and deeply rewarding album that cements Rufus Wainwright’s reputation as one of the most ambitious and distinctive singer-songwriters of his generation. Its strengths lie in its lyrical depth, musical inventiveness, and willingness to push boundaries—both artistic and social. While its ambition occasionally tips into excess, and its density may not appeal to all listeners, *Want Two* remains a testament to Wainwright’s vision and artistry. For those willing to engage with its complexities, it offers a rich, moving, and unforgettable listening experience.
Lovely voice but very mediocre songs Some I hated and had to push through. But there were some really nice songs snuck in too 3 ⭐️
I feel like ever since Poses, and even intermittently with Poses, RH has been interested in style more than substance. II really like the style of the album and can feel what he's trying to do, but just doesn't quite stick the landing. It's good, but far from great.
This is a beautiful album. I also realized that I have to be in a perfect sunshiny mood to listen to him, otherwise his melancholic voice just takes me to a place of deep sadness.
I didn't really care for this album too much. Rufus Wainwright's vocals were a bit reminiscent of Thom Yorke, and some of this album had the feel of Radiohead demos or outtakes. I'm not really very sure what qualified this as a great album.
Got weirdly experimental at the start. It was an interesting, revealing listen.
Like many have said this album has a lot of Radiohead vibes which for me is not a bad thing. I have a couple of previous RW releases on CD bought because I like his vocal style. This album is completely different to those. So was not expecting what this album actually offered. RW was obviously trying to produce an album of new ideas and sounds which I think he largely achieved. 4/5 1/6/25
I really liked Want One. Not so much Want Two. I want Want One, but I don't want Want Two too.
Love this, and most everything by Rufus.
He's got a very nice voice. And points for uniqueness. But it's pretty boring pop, and the lyrics can be cringe or just bad (way more composition issues than content).
An incredible album that I have no choice but to give a 5/5. I might go back and listen some more, hear its flaws and feel like it’s more deserving of 4/5. But this left a huge impression on me. Baroque music done well, very cinematic, great storytelling. The opening instrumental has so much leverage and gravitas, my attention was immediately captivated. A few tracks later, “Peach Trees” gave me the realization that everyone has when listening to this album - there’s a fair comparison to Thom Yorke here. I don’t mind how similar they are, it neither helped nor hurt my listening experience. “Little Sister” has the most ‘period piece’ feel about it with its fluttering string section - it sends the listener into a Victorian ball. “The Art Teacher” has the most memorable story to me, just such a great exhibition of painting a picture with lyrics. I will say that around the “Memphis Skyline” mark in the album, it gets a little too croon-heavy for me, but even this section is still emotionally meaningful. “Old Whores Diet” is such a perfect way to stick the landing with a super textured, vivid song and a memorable chorus. There’s no way to tell this album is from 2004 and that’s a beautiful thing. There are reviews of this album that get into how performative, campy, or dramatic it is. I feel like that’s a listener issue, I’m having a hard time imagining a time where I listen to this album and don’t appreciate both its scale and its vulnerability.
At first I was like "oooh the first song is goooood", then I listened to the rest, was like "meh, better listen to the goooood song again". I play it now and it's no longer goooood Ballads sucked balls and non-ballads were ok
Perhaps the worst workout album ive ever heard. At least the bicep pump looks decent
Not much appears to have changed since the first album which very much underwhelmed me. He still sings in that affected, Thom Yorke style where every syllable is drawn out until it collapses under its own weight and you’ve lost track of what he was singing at the start of the verse. I genuinely thought he was singing about being “under the pastries” at one point. Musically, there elements of classical stuff and hints of Phillip Glass, but it’s mostly inoffensive stuff. There’s nothing like the weird experimental pieces on a Radiohead album, for example. Apparently iTunes wanted me to listen to the Canadian version of this album, which turned out to have some bonus live tracks sung in French which I ended up liking quite a bit more than the rest! How aboot that, eh?
I mean, I did not want one, why would I want two of this? It sounds that the guy is trying to sing like Thom Yorke but fails dramatically. The music sounds as if the guy wanted to produce "clever" music or whatever; it just makes it boring. Why do we need two albums from this guy here? Why?!
Painful. Without his mom and dad this guy wouldn’t stand a chance of being heard. I don’t get the allure of continuing to pay him.
I mean, yeah. He can sing like a motherfucker. The music is beautiful. I just wasn’t feeling it today. It’s summer break and this wasn’t what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good album. The songs are beautifully put together, there is a wide range of song types. But I wasn’t feeling it today. Still scores high.