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Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Affectionately referred to by Elton John as "the greatest songwriter on the planet" and praised by The New York Times for his "genuine originality," Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists and songwriters of his generation. He has just written and composed his first opera, "Prima Donna," which premiered last summer at the Manchester International Festival. It will make its North American debut in June 2010 at Toronto's Luminato Festival and also be at London's Sadler's Wells in April of 2010. He has released seven albums and three DVDs to date, as well as appearing on numerous soundtracks and compilations and collaborating with artists including Elton John, David Byrne, Burt Bacharach and the Pet Shop Boys. Wainwright was nominated for a Grammy for the live recording from his Carnegie Hall concert, Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall, which has been released concurrently with a live DVD, Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!, which captures his celebrated Judy Garland tribute performance at the London Palladium. His previous album, Release The Stars, has achieved Gold sales status in Canada and the U.K. Last year, he released an album and DVD of a live concert with his band titled, Milwaukee at Last!!! Rufus' forthcoming album is called All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu, is set for a April 20th, 2010 release.
Product Description
Written by Rufus Wainwright, produced by Rufus (with Pierre Marchand on three songs) and mixed by Marchand, who produced Poses, this 12-track record is steeped in beauty. It is a hugely personal album for Rufus and deeply emotional, channelled through Rufus fingers, his voice and a piano. The album title All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu is both a reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet 43 and Rufus own concept of Lulu , which he describes as a "dark, brooding, dangerous woman that lives within all of us." Lulu is Louise Brooks who starred in the film,'Pandora's Box.' Rufus admits that recording All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu was one of the most difficult things he has ever done. After hiding behind a 70-piece orchestra with my opera you can blame everything on the tuba player. With this album when the curtain is raised it s me on my own, says Rufus. Strapped with a resounding emotional heft, the intense 12-track record opens in arresting fashion with Who Are You New York , Rufus ode to the city and his most positive America song. Les Feux D Artifice T Appellant , which is the final aria from Rufus debut opera Prima Donna is another highlight. Zebulon, a song about one of Rufus high school sweethearts will be familiar to fans who have seen his recent concerts, is a majestic performance. Also featured are three Shakespeare sonnets, which Rufus has gorgeously crafted in his very own inimitable style. They are selected from 24 pieces of music that Rufus wrote for a theatrical production directed by Robert Wilson in Berlin last year.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By B. Martin
Format:Audio CD
Rufus Wainwright is so often over the top and extravagant with his music, that you tend to forget that there is an actual human being underneath all of the showmanship and bombast. All Days are Nights is a stunning reminder that Rufus is not only a very real, very fragile individal, but also one of the most gifted vocalists and composers of his generation.
Fueled by the grief from his mother's passing in January, Rufus wipes away all the fancy trappings of his previous efforts and keeps things simple working with only a piano and his own emotionally rich vocals. That's it. No strings, horns, etc. This is Wainwright at his most intimate and unguarded. The result is his best album since Poses, although this one will not instantly burrow its way into your head as that album did. These songs require pateince and repeated listens before their subtle melodies fully unfurl. But even if the songs aren't as instantly catchy as some of his other work, there is no denying the waves of emotion that wash over you while listening to this starkly beautiful album.
Rufus Wainwright has gone for broke with this album, and laid his wounded soul bare for all to see. It's a brave move from the normally difficult to read musician, but it's one that pays enormous artistic and emotional dividends. My guess is that he hopes that he never has to do it again.
Fueled by the grief from his mother's passing in January, Rufus wipes away all the fancy trappings of his previous efforts and keeps things simple working with only a piano and his own emotionally rich vocals. That's it. No strings, horns, etc. This is Wainwright at his most intimate and unguarded. The result is his best album since Poses, although this one will not instantly burrow its way into your head as that album did. These songs require pateince and repeated listens before their subtle melodies fully unfurl. But even if the songs aren't as instantly catchy as some of his other work, there is no denying the waves of emotion that wash over you while listening to this starkly beautiful album.
Rufus Wainwright has gone for broke with this album, and laid his wounded soul bare for all to see. It's a brave move from the normally difficult to read musician, but it's one that pays enormous artistic and emotional dividends. My guess is that he hopes that he never has to do it again.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Victor Ochoa
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Early in Rufus' career, he sang of how studying Schubert made his head explode. Well, the Schubert has paid off. The musical compositions here, all expressed in voice and piano alone, are suitably complex and very accessible. Rufus has a wonderful piano-playing technique, and his songs are quite nice. This is a beautiful recording, an instant classic, and a must-have for all fans of good music, and especially all fans of Rufus. God Bless Rufus Wainwright!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By R. McEntee
Format:Audio CD
I'm a little behind the curve with Rufus Wainwright as I only discovered him in 2009. During this brief period I have purchased each of his albums and formulated my impression of him as an artist and songwriter. A reader here doesn't need my opinion of Wainwright's considerable talent but in 'All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu' we see an artist simply laying his emotions on the table for all to see. It's an intensely personal recording full of the pain of loss and the perspective of life, love, and caring.
After opening with 'Who are you New York' which seems to be Wainwright's call to a nebulous person of fantasy or almost faceless faces of the city he then moves into the darkness of 'So sad with what I have'. He is wearing all the despair of his mother's inevitable passing, his own feelings of loneliness and regret, and tinges of hope for the future on his sleeve. All of this turbulence shines through his voice and piano. The raw recording listens as though Rufus simply walked into the studio and said "turn on the mic" and started playing. After the desperate plea to his sister in 'Martha' and the one upbeat song on the record 'Give me what I want...' we come to 'True Loves' for an extravagant foray into an almost burlesque style of playing with a direct homage to Gershwin. It's absolutely brilliant. The Shakespearian sonnets are a bit of a left-turn in the proceedings, but not a bad one, and Wainwright turns back into the shadows with 'The Dream' conjuring a driving statement of love and loss. The record closes with the absolutely stunning 'Zebulon' that puts Wainwright's grief on display by using his entire singing range, restrained piano, and tempo allowing us to share his conversation with an old friend.
This is certainly the best I've heard from Rufus Wainwright and for me this record is in a class with the best singer/songwriter albums ever recorded. Think Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'.
After opening with 'Who are you New York' which seems to be Wainwright's call to a nebulous person of fantasy or almost faceless faces of the city he then moves into the darkness of 'So sad with what I have'. He is wearing all the despair of his mother's inevitable passing, his own feelings of loneliness and regret, and tinges of hope for the future on his sleeve. All of this turbulence shines through his voice and piano. The raw recording listens as though Rufus simply walked into the studio and said "turn on the mic" and started playing. After the desperate plea to his sister in 'Martha' and the one upbeat song on the record 'Give me what I want...' we come to 'True Loves' for an extravagant foray into an almost burlesque style of playing with a direct homage to Gershwin. It's absolutely brilliant. The Shakespearian sonnets are a bit of a left-turn in the proceedings, but not a bad one, and Wainwright turns back into the shadows with 'The Dream' conjuring a driving statement of love and loss. The record closes with the absolutely stunning 'Zebulon' that puts Wainwright's grief on display by using his entire singing range, restrained piano, and tempo allowing us to share his conversation with an old friend.
This is certainly the best I've heard from Rufus Wainwright and for me this record is in a class with the best singer/songwriter albums ever recorded. Think Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
RUFUS!!!!!!
I love the CD. IT arrived as promised. It's a wonder I haven't worn it out already!! I need more RUFUS!!!
Published 5 months ago by eggheadmom
3.0 out of 5 stars
not a good idea
This is pretty obviously a self-indulgent piece of work that is way below his previous works (I have 2 or 3 Rufus's albums). Read more
Published 21 months ago by S. Sasic
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wainwright tends to sound all the same
I'm generally a fan of RW, but lately everything he sings sounds the same to me. I'll still be a fan, but I might not buy much more that he puts out.
Published on March 30, 2011 by James Petersen
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wainwright strips bare on this plaintive LP
If there's any accusation most frequently leveled at Rufus Wainwright, it is about his excess. His arrangements have escalated ever since his 1998 self-titled debut, swelling past... Read more
Published on February 26, 2011 by Peter Marinari
1.0 out of 5 stars
you either...
you either love it or hate it. i really, really hate this album. i saw him perform this live and walked out 3/4 through. retched excess. Read more
Published on January 31, 2011 by Michael K. Hart
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crack Case
Very quick to receive - although there was a crack on the case but I had no problem with that. So long as the disc works all is swell.
Published on October 29, 2010 by Shayli
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartache, Grief, Depression
Intense pain wrapped into hauntingly beautiful music is what we get with Rufus's new album. All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu is the Canadian-American singer-songwriter's sixth... Read more
Published on July 28, 2010 by Ästrid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rufus Superstar...
This is one of the best Rufus' albums. A great CD but... if you have a turntable with a great soundsystem, just buy the vinyl!!! Read more
Published on June 29, 2010 by Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Songs for Those Who Sympathize with Loss
This album nicely showcases Rufus' piano playing, poetry writing, and composition skills. It is filled with dark, yet mysteriously beautiful sadness. Read more
Published on June 24, 2010 by College Student
5.0 out of 5 stars
Roses for the Diva!
His most personal, complex and captivating work to date. Who would have thought that a chemical-free Rufie could create such an intoxicatingly intimate and sophisticated musical... Read more
Published on June 19, 2010 by Thatboydiva
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