I have heard of Rufus Wainwright, but I am not sure where. I do not think I know of his music. Want One is his third studio album and Want Two is his fourth. It was supposed to be a double album, but it was released as two albums a year apart. Eventually they were put together as one. Both parts are on this list. I think I will combine the review.
Want One: As soon as I heard “Oh What a World” I knew this would be my favourite song on the album. “Want“, “11:11”, “Vibrate”, the beautiful tearjerkers “Dinner at Eight“, and “Go or Go Ahead” are some other favourites.
The only song that I did not like at all was “Natasha”. I tend to not like songs with names, except for when I do like them.
Want Two: According to Wainwright the second album is about “the world we live in”. The best songs are the melancholy “Memphis Skyline”, “The Art Teacher”, “Waiting for a Dream”, and “This Love Affair”. I find the second album a bit harder to like. I felt it was too bizarre at times. Maybe it was too much baroque for me.
The weirdest might be the addition of Antony and the Johnsons on “Old Whore’s Diet”. Their vocals together with Wainwright is too much. The music isn’t bad.
Overall, I like Wainwright’s voice, but sometimes it is far too dramatic for me. I also find his lyrics too gay, which can be a turn off for many people. It makes him unrelatable to 95% of the population. Yet, the themes of longing, heartbreak, lust, etc. are all things most of us go through. One: 9/10. Two: 7.5/10.
an ocean roars 