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Rufus Wainwright is the debut studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in the United States on May 19, 1998, through DreamWorks Records. It was produced by Jon Brion, with the exception of "In My Arms", which was produced and mixed by Pierre Marchand, and "Millbrook" and "Baby", which were produced by Brion and Van Dyke Parks. Lenny Waronker was the executive producer. Wainwright was signed to the DreamWorks label in 1996 after Waronker heard the demo tape he recorded with Marchand. Over the course of two years, Wainwright and Brion recorded 56 songs on 62 rolls of tape at a cost that exceeded $700,000. These were then narrowed down to twelve tracks for the album. No singles were released from Rufus Wainwright, though Sophie Muller directed the music video for "April Fools", which featured Wainwright in Los Angeles attempting to prevent the deaths of opera heroines. To support the album, Wainwright toured throughout the United States and Canada following its release. Overall, reviews for the album were positive. Though it failed to chart in any country, Wainwright reached number 24 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart (which highlights sales by new and developing musical recording artists) and Rolling Stone named Wainwright the Best New Artist of 1998. Rufus Wainwright also earned him recognition from the Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards, the GLAAD Media Awards, and the Juno Awards. The album was released in Japan with the bonus track "A Bit of You", and later in 2008 in LP form through the record label Plain Recordings.
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Not for me. The production was nice but I don’t really see the absolute need to listen to another Rufus Wainwright album
Rufus Wainwright is the debut album of Rufus Wainwright. The two other albums of Wainwright on the original list show a matured artist with solid compositions. This album contains songs that are promising, but not as great on those records. Rufus Wainwright has his lazy , though beautiful, way of singing that outstays its welcome on several songs as these are too long or are not interesting enough. "Foolish Love" and "April Fools" are the top compositions on this album.
Something about the general attitude of this artist rubs me the wrong way. I can't exactly put my finger on it and it's possibly unfair. Certainlly there is great talent here. I've never been able to really connect.
Exceptional songs, with a clear musical theatre influence, but solid rock and pop themes as well. He has a voice that sounds like the camp love child of Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley - how could I not love this album?
Middle of the road kinda singer songwriter. Struggling to write more than that
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Danny boy, April fools, Beauty mark
I'd never listened to his first album before. He arrived pretty much fully formed didn't he! His albums are always a 3/4 star deal. But there's always a couple of perfect songs on each.
The songwriting isn't always my style, but I love his voice. He sounds like rustic folk Thome Yorke. Production is great and brings out the character in his voice so well. Really compelling work, despite not being from a genre I generally get much out of 4/5
Nice enough. Did Matt Bellamy take inspiration from this guy, or what?!
This was fine