Customer Reviews

Rufus Wainwright (Limited Edition)

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4 star:		(1)
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I discovered Rufus by a two page article in GQ and I must admit two things. One, I had NEVER heard of him before, two fell in love with his sad puppy-dog eyes instantly. I must admit, I bought his CD mostly because of this. However, I wasn't completely ignorant in my purchase. I am a piano and opera lover, which helped a bit, seeing as his music at times is called "popra" (cute isnt it)! When I first listened to the CD I was utterly amazed. Never before had I heard such silky melodies mixed with such a velvety voice! Which is why I recomend the CD to everyone. Rufus' music appeals to everybody's tastes. For thoes who love sappy ballads- "Barcelona" is fantastic. Or "April Fools" for any Beatles fans. "Imaginary Love" (my favourite) appeals to thoes with a thing for cabaret style, and then "Instant Pleasure" (which isn't on this CD, but the "Big Daddy" soundtrack) will totally call out to thoes who are interested in the commercial pop songs. Just goes to prove that Rufus' versitility makes him a real winner in the end!

Just a catchy heading to get your attention......
Rufus is just scratching the surface of his talent with this debut, which has traces of early Billy Joel (simple melodies paired with strong lyrics)and the eccentricity of an artist like Tom Waits. This is quite an astonishing display of one man's talent, and deserving of Rolling Stone's pick of Best New Artist of 1998. I enjoy all the songs on this debut- I purchased the 1998 French import version and it came with a bonus cd of 4 extra tracks: 1. A Bit Of You 2. Moulin Rouge 3. Banks Of The Wabash 4. Le Roy Dy's. In 1999 he joined up with his Canadian parents, Loudon Wainwright III, an artist in his own right, his mother Kate McGarrigle (of the famed McGarrigle Sisters), an aunt and his sister for a cd collaboration of standards & originals called " The McGarrigle Hour". It is an interesting cd in that you get a chance to hear from where his talent originates. Back to his debut- rumour has it that it took two years and $700,00 to make and is actually a collection of remakes; the originals, demos, were tailored to suit public comsumption. Nonetheless, this is a very strong debut. Since the release of this debut, he has had various songs on several soundtracks: (1.) "Instant Pleasure"- BIG DADDY Sndtrk-1999
(2.) "Banks Of The Wabash" & "Le Roy Dy's"- MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS Sndtrk-1999 (3.) "Hallelujah"- SHREK Sndtrk-2001
(4.) "Complainte De La Butte"- MOULIN ROUGE Sndtrk-2001
(5.) "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"- ZOOLANDER Sndtrk-2001
(6.) "Across The Universe"- SAM I AM Sndtrk-2002.

A nice collection of tunes from an artist who shows a lot of promise and originality. This is definitely one artist to watch over the next few years. I do believe he is here to stay.

I have listened to this album almost every day for the past nine months. I've taken it around the world with me. I never tire of it, and it's a testament to his rich, varied imagination that I keep discovering new textures, layers, and nuances in it. I do not get this rabid about ANY singer. But it's true. This album is the optimal mix of smart, heartfelt, ironic, and completely unclassifiable. Buy it twice.

I first heard the voice of Rufus Wainwright on CBC radio...and I was instantly intigued. There was just something about his voice that wouldn't let me turn off the radio. I went on a mad search for a CD, a tape, an LP...ANYTHING that would quench the thirst I had acquired to hear more of that voice. I finally convinced a store owner to sell me the copy he was supposed to play in the store....though he had never played it. My hands were shaking as I put that disk in the stereo for the first time, and I melted into the chair I was sitting in as I heard "I don't want to hold you and feel so helpless" (the first line of "Foolish Love"). It is an album that rings in my ears long after I have gone to sleep at night. I only hope his next is as great.

OK, I stole that title from somewhere, but it's true: this one is a keeper. Even if the music and lyrics were not captivating (which they are), the voice is irresistible. Hard to believe he's in his 20's, but apparently coming out at the age of 14 propelled his artistic development. Wainwright's songs have been compared to Cole Porter, and while the comparison is not misleading, it also fails to tell the whole story. Rufus Wainwright is a true original, joining a small list of other gifted contemporary singer/songwriters (Elliott Smith, Dan Bern, Lee Feldman) each of whom offers the listener something quite different from the mainstream. I love this CD... it's even better than the reviews had led me to believe.

Rufus Wainwright has released a dazzling debut album, full of lovely warm melodies framed in a landscape of gorgeous piano and orchestral arrangements. Wainwright takes his lyrics of romance and heartbreak, mixes them with drama like little operas and combines music that is part pop, part folk, and part showtune. Listen to the bittersweet opening track "Foolish Love," or the delicate and seductively sweet "Barcelona," Wainwright pours out his heart on both tracks. The song "April Fools" rocks along like an old Beatles song with a chorus that is very catchy. The beautiful "In My Arms" was produced by Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan). With each listen the songs and his lived-in tenor voice really grow on you. Wainwright has created lush soundscapes of beauty that are tender and bittersweet but made with a lot of heart. This is a great debut effort, and I look forward to his future works.

There isn't a song as beautiful as "Foolish love"!! I fell in love iwth Rufus' music right away (ever since I saw him in that Gap commercial back in '98). His lyrics are witty and they seem to paint a 19th century high-class French soiciety! I dunno, that's the feeling I get when I hear this album! Try out this album, you won't be disappointed!

Flat out: I love this CD.
You can read my other inputs about Rufus. I absolutely love his music and I feel that if you like Rufus too you should just buy it. I don't think I need to convince you.

This is different and unique. If you've made it to my review and haven't bought it yet, stop being an idiot, and put this in your shopping cart!

Lush and romantic pop songs for the heartsick and hopeful. Orchestral maneuvers in the back of taxi cabs and seedy bars. A eulogy to River Phoenix mixed with an appreciation of long-suffering opera divas. A fantasy dream of Barcelona seen through the eyes of someone who had never been there. Love songs for the post-modern homo in all of us. Rufus slows it down, picks you up and crashes you on the rocks. In concert Rufus actually stopped his back-up band several times to slow things down even more, carefully vocalizing every syllable through clenched-shut eyes and a heart so open it is destined to break, and break yours, over and over again. Right on Rufus!