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Product Description
All Music Guide
Rufus Wainwright croons and cries through another set of obscenely lush and opulent pop operettas on his third album, Want One. As is to be expected, the songs are meticulously layered and richly textured, with full orchestral passages and many-throated harmonies. Producer Marius deVries (Björk, Massive Attack, Madonna) didn't mess with the already successful Wainwright sound, allowing for the young singer/ songwriter/multi-instrumentalist to explore his familiar themes of love, loss, and "singin' about places" with the anticipated fanfare and flourish. The album's strongest segment comes in the middle, beginning with the intimate-to-epic "Go or Go Ahead," barreling through the wildly spinning rock opera "14th Street," and landing softly on the gently chiming "Natasha." Oddly, unlike his previous two releases, Wainwright's musings seem less focused and a little meandering on a handful of the songs. The lazy, loping "Want" is much more stream-of-consciousness t! han anything else he's recorded, and the slightly goofy "Vibrate" (with its references to Britney Spears and electroclash) may sound dated before the album is played a second time. The sessions that produced Want One were apparently so prolific that another volume (Want Two?) is in the works, but it could turn out to be that distilling both albums down to one would have made for a more complete overall work. Who knows, this new looseness to his rigid pop constructivism may end up being a good thing, and, frankly, Wainwright could be singing lists of names out of the phone book and it would still be more exciting and inventive than 99 percent of the other albums out there. --Zac Johnson, All Music Guide
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album on the strength of a magazine review, having never heard of Wainwright before. I have been astounded by how good it is from the very first play. It is hard to categorise the music as it is quite unique in modern rock music. The overwheming impression is the huge joyous scale of the music. There is a richness of musical textures and an intelligence of lyrics that are totally absorbing - but not in a serious sense - it's like someone has discovered how to liberate a new facet of music - and your soul with it. If you like melody and orchestration, but with a real driving edge, you will like this. Frankly I can hardly stop playing it, and I've had it over 3 months now. I defy you not to be singing along at the top of your voice as one crescendo follows another. I have been an avid music fan for over 40 years and I have to say this is one of the best albums it has ever been my pleasure to hear. Buy it. Support the artist. You will not be disappointed.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Thank God there are still artists who are daring enough to write great pop songs! I have only really known about Rufus for a week or so. After seeing him play live (on the DVD you get free with various copies of 'Want two') I went straight out and bought both the 'Want' albums. Both these albums are really fresh in my mind, so this review is perhaps a bit premature, but I just can't help myself.
I'm absolutely in love with this man's sound. I walked around with this album in my CD player and never once felt the urge to skip a track. I know it sounds hopelessly cheesy but the world seemed truly wonderful with this album in my headphones. The tunes range from deliriously fun slices of pop genius ('I Don't Know What It Is') to deeply emotional and affecting songs ('Dinner at Eight).
Many have made comparisons between Rufus and Thom Yorke and I agree that their voices are similar in places. But to compare Rufus to Radiohead is unfair, because this music is in a world of its own.
There isn't a song on this album I don't like, but if I were to name highlights I would say that 'I don't know what it is', Go or Go Ahead', '14th Street' and 'Dinner at Eight' are up there with the best songs written in the last 2 years. But seriously, EVERY song is great.
My advice to anyone reading this is to give both this and 'Want Two' (it's much darker but equally wonderful sequel) a go.
I'm very rarely compelled to try to sell someone anything, but Rufus Wainwright is an artist that is truly not to be missed.
I'm absolutely in love with this man's sound. I walked around with this album in my CD player and never once felt the urge to skip a track. I know it sounds hopelessly cheesy but the world seemed truly wonderful with this album in my headphones. The tunes range from deliriously fun slices of pop genius ('I Don't Know What It Is') to deeply emotional and affecting songs ('Dinner at Eight).
Many have made comparisons between Rufus and Thom Yorke and I agree that their voices are similar in places. But to compare Rufus to Radiohead is unfair, because this music is in a world of its own.
There isn't a song on this album I don't like, but if I were to name highlights I would say that 'I don't know what it is', Go or Go Ahead', '14th Street' and 'Dinner at Eight' are up there with the best songs written in the last 2 years. But seriously, EVERY song is great.
My advice to anyone reading this is to give both this and 'Want Two' (it's much darker but equally wonderful sequel) a go.
I'm very rarely compelled to try to sell someone anything, but Rufus Wainwright is an artist that is truly not to be missed.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There's no room for Rufus Wainwright in todays pop scene. Writing tunes of epic proportion in a style that touches on showtunes, classical and pop has seen him release two incredible albums that have gone near unnoticed in this country. If you like Ed Harcourt, Jeff Buckley or Ben Folds, then Rufus should be a welcome addition to your collection. With a voice to die for, this album is more than a worthy successor to his previous gems, 'Poses' and 'Rufus Wainwright'.
The essential Rufus is still there, but with a lot more production and orchestration in this new incantation. We hear Rufus singing in newly expanded ranges and once again, pulling it off. It takes a true talently to seemlessly oscillate between full-orchestra elevation, a soulful voice backed by a solitary piano and an infectiously uplifting vocal chorus. Just listen to 'Go Or Go Ahead' for an example of this all encompasing musical journey. Thankfully we still have the tracks with nothing but a piano and a vocal line and this is where Rufus really shines. The man is such a talented musician, singer and songwriter that not since Jeff Buckley have I felt so moved by such seemingly effortless magnum opus. Just listen to 'Dinner At Eight' and 'Pretty Things' for an example of that minimalist beauty.
The highlight of the album is the grandiose 'Beautiful Child' with a simple percussion and acoustic guitar introduction building to an melodious masterpiece only to be brought out with an infectious repeated vocal all with a tribal underbelly. Justin, this is what 'Cry Me A River' should have been.
So there you have it, another great album from a great performer. There's no doubting the man's talent so now all that's left is for you to buy the album!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Rufus : A 21st century, Billy Joel ?
Until recently, i had never heard a Rufus Wainwright album ( saw him on Graham Norton, performing " Out Of The Game ", title track from new album ) Liked the song, and decided to... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Mr. R. Haden
WHAT A GREAT ALBUM
Such a great album from Rufus and I am just so glad that I was able to get it and enjoy it. I think if you haven't heard much of his stuff then you should start here and just... Read more
Published 9 months ago by James P Manwaring
Listening to boring lyrics and music.Rufus Wainwright.c.d.
I cannot even begin to comprehend how dull this c.d. is, after seeing Rufus Waingwright on recent BBC programme I thought I would "give him a go" what a mistake. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Terry Bob
Glorious.......
This album and Want Two are magnificent. Beautiful, tragic, uplifting. What can I say? The melodies, the splendour of the orchestration, the lavish use of strings and piano and of... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jane K
Want It, Have It
"Want One" is, all things considered, Rufus Wainwright's best album. It is here that he perfected his baroque take on musical magic realism (which he fairly sustained through to... Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2008 by Miracle
wow
I love this one. Want One and Want Two are those rare masterpieces of quality songwriting.
Published on 15 Feb 2008 by Goran Bukan
My favourite Rufus
This is a wondrous album - I bought it a few years ago and fell passionately in love. Beautiful, melodious music, poetic lyrics and emotion which still blows me away even now and... Read more
Published on 27 May 2007 by a music lover
One of the best albums ever!!!!!!!!
What can I say???!!! A friend of mine mentioned the name to me a couple of years ago and I had never heard of him. Read more
Published on 11 May 2007 by Mr. R. E. O'NEILL
Much wanted
As soon as you hear the opening bars of 'Oh What A World', you understand why so many people swoon over this album. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2007 by D. J. H. Thorn
A Fabulous collection of symphonic folk songs
Rufus never ceases to amaze me, he treats each song with an unlimited passion, and that is clear only by listening the arrangements... Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2007 by David Calcano
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