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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
A wild card songwriter with a familial pedigree and an ever-expanding cult retinue, the raffish but assiduous Rufus Wainwright--outré, gay and sage--is not one to shy away from invigorating his songs with a lurid theatrical honesty. Want Two perhaps reflects Wainwright's revised priorities since stepping back from the recreational medication precipice. Opening number "Agnus Die"--a medieval Catholic liturgy given an eastern flavour and performed with Hungarian instruments--seeks spiritual laundering and clemency but this virtue is offset by the implied vice and self-loathing of grand finale "Old Whore's Diet", a brilliantly irrational sprawl of skewed genius taking in Latin-American grooves and a doomy operatic Radiohead-esque requiem. Between these polar extremes lies Wainwright's eye for improbable observational finesse. Few others could express the first lovestruck flush of teenage infatuation with such deliberate inarticulacy ("Art Teacher") or envisage the coming of a "Gay Messiah" dripping in testicular fluid. He's evidently an attention-craving naughty boy with a love of Serge Gainsbourg, Elvis Costello and harpsichords but on Want Two Rufus Wainwright makes sex, drugs, politics--and yes, belated redemption--sound positively velvety. --Kevin Maidment
Product Description
Picking up where Want One left off, Rufus Wainwright's Want Two is a deeply introspective, sometimes kinky and often personally critical set of mini-operettas that ruminate on his various relationships, drug abuse, and image in the media. Metaphorically liturgical and often classical in sound, Want Two touches on such inner-related themes as love, loneliness, sin and sacrifice. It's more focused than Want One and as such packs more of wallop both musically and emotionally. Musically, Wainwright has never seemed more in command of his muse. References to Nilsson, Brian Wilson and Randy Newman are a matter of course, but Wainwright's growth as a pop craftsman with his own unique lyrical voice--both conceptually and literally--makes such comparisons unnecessary. To these ends, lush string orchestras, cheery choirs and piping horn sections decorate the impeccably scored album and perfectly complement Wainwright's swooning vocals. Taken as a whole, Want One and Want Two work well together as a sprawling and ambitious double album that is camp, serious and utterly compelling. --Matt Collar, All Music Guide
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The first time I heard Rufus - I thought - OK, well that was interesting, a bit overblown, a bit rich, but worth listening to again. The second time, I was entranced, the third and I was addicted - I bought every record, saw him live, became devoted to his music, was affected by his music in a way that perhaps only Pink Floyd has ever managed before.
Rufus writes complicated emotional music with many layers and drawing on his own intense personal experiences. It takes time and effort on the part of the listener to engage. He draws on a very wide range of influences and styles and makes each his own. He makes no compromises
Be warned, he will steal your soul.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you want an introduction to Rufus Wainwright, try 'Poses' or the majestic 'Want One'. Approach 'Want Two' as a fan and you will get the most out of it.
It is a decidedly darker offering than 'Want One': the lavish orchestration and fantastic zest for life has been traded for less immediate gems that creep in on you quietly and then hammer around your head for weeks afterwards. 'Gay Messiah', 'The Art Teacher' and 'Waiting For A Dream' are examples of this man's unique songwriting ability - his lyrics are sharp, intelligent and affecting. 'Memphis Skyline' never fails to touch me and once you've seen him perform 'Agnus Dei' live: you will be both haunted and mesmerised by his presence and his voice.
I heartily recommend this album to anyone who prefers their music to be unique, thoughtful and intelligent.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By customer
Format:Audio CD
Hard as teak, soft as cotton, sinuous as corded muscle...to me, Rufus Wainwright's voice is a thing of beauty. Yet, on other days I think it sounds whiney, nasal and annoying. But I rather like the idea of a musician who is different every time I hear him.
As has been noted by others, this album is a bit of a patchwork affair that, perhaps, lacks continuity. However, it's a rich confection of an album and can be a little too overwhelming to contemplate in a single sitting.
Yet there's much beauty here...Peach Trees just seems to soar and soar. Memphis Skyline a moving paean to Jeff Buckley. And Waiting for a Dream has a strange, metronomic / woozy quality that quietly hypnotises.
If you're in the right frame of mind, this is gorgeous music.
As has been noted by others, this album is a bit of a patchwork affair that, perhaps, lacks continuity. However, it's a rich confection of an album and can be a little too overwhelming to contemplate in a single sitting.
Yet there's much beauty here...Peach Trees just seems to soar and soar. Memphis Skyline a moving paean to Jeff Buckley. And Waiting for a Dream has a strange, metronomic / woozy quality that quietly hypnotises.
If you're in the right frame of mind, this is gorgeous music.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best, but still wonderful from Rufus
The story goes that Rufus had such an inspirational writing period that he wrote enough material for not one, but two new albums, hence Want One quickly followed by Want Two. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Mr. Simon E. Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flamboyant Rufus
The first time I listened to this I heard violins scratching and thought, what is this? However I persevered and am so glad I did. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2008 by Em
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rufus rumpus
I'm still a little undecided about RW. There's no questioning the care he gives each song. The arrangements are classy even when it's just him and piano on the French language... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2007 by D. J. H. Thorn
4.0 out of 5 stars
A unique curiousity
Well, either "Mr Mongolian Bretsttew" has a sense of humour that only HE understands (note: he admittedly has many enemies) or he's 'many sandwiches short of a picnic'. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2006 by Carey Marks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album
Quite amused by the Kool and the Gang fan's review. Maybe his friends should have looked at his cd collection before recommending Rufus. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2006 by Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kool & The Gang indeed!
The previous review is SO wrong in All ways. This is an incredible piece of music that expands the mind and moves the soul. Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2006 by Spider
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rufus Wainwrong!
Like Elton John but rubbish. Overblown, twee,unengaging and downright insipid.Some songs work initially but soon grow tiresome. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by Brett L. Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars
un album magistral... de plus!!
Cet album est sorti il y a un petit moment déja mais au vu de la critique détestable que je viens de lire sur le site, je me permets d'envoyer mes impressions sur ce... Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2005 by french jazz fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
want two
here is a prime example of a fantastic musician and song writer ignored by the "pop focused" media.
more original and beautiful than james blunt but given no media... Read more
more original and beautiful than james blunt but given no media... Read more
Published on 18 July 2005 by "jusmarmax"
5.0 out of 5 stars
A follow up to a work of genius!!
'Want Two' is the amazing follow-up to 'Want One'. It is a darker CD than 'Want One' & upon first listening to it, it didn't seem as 'catchy' or 'radio friendly' (although not as... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2005
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