Customer Reviews

Want Two (CD/DVD combo)

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I'd like to begin this review by saying that Rufus's latest album, WANT TWO, could easily be the best LP of 2004!

Taken from the "Want" recording sessions that gave us last year's WANT ONE, this meditative follow-up to an artist's perspective on the undying passions, desires, and romantic longings that each and every one of us harbours, is almost a mirror-image of the first WANT album and of the artist himself, as he taps into the more effeminite aspects of his inner-psyche to explore the same themes found on WANT ONE, but this time from the perspective of a woman-- from the album's cover artwork to selected song titles ("Little Sister" & "Old Whore's Diet") to the inviting lyrics. Both of the WANT albums were originally intended to be releases together in a double-disc package, but I agree with a previous reviewer that they are much more effective as independent albums. While they tackle similar universal themes, their persepctives and overall vibes are so different that they both deserve their own spotlight. I also find it ironic that WANT TWO is partially comprised of tracks that didn't "fit" into the WANT ONE story, but I find the latter to be more cohesive and focused. In fact, I'd go out on a limb to say that WANT TWO is his strongest, most cohesive album in his ever-growing repertoire of music. When I indulge in a Rufus album for the first time, there are always tracks that I initially feel indifferent about that eventually grow on me, but the first time I listened to WANT TWO I was amazed at how each and every song appealed to a wide range of my emotions and how the entire album had my undivided attention from start to finish.

Some of Rufus's best songs are contained within this devine work: "The One you Love," while very commercial and radio-friendly, has frank lyrics ("Let's f*ck this awful art party, want you to make love to me and only to me in the dark.") and an incredible melody that is sure to have people singing along in their heads for years to come; "Little Sister" sounds more Beethoven than Beatles, the lyrics are incredibly witty and manage to mesh quite well with the classical music backdrop; "This Love Affair" spotlights the album's darker side and this track, while agonizingly painful, is beautiful in its misery as the antagonist moves on with his/her life after an affair; the somber mood continues with the Jeff Buckley ode "Memphis Skyline," being a Buckley fan myself I really appreciated this one and was in tears the first time I listened to it the way Rufus alludes to Ophelia and Eurydice, the last minute or so is hauntingly beautiful; "Waiting for a Dream" is the real gem for me-- it's got a great melody, and the lyrics are personal to the artist and at the same time very representative of the state of things today in America, this is one of those bright spots in such a dark time that gives us hope that things will get better (hopefully in 2008!!!); "Crumb by Crumb" certainly taps into the fairytale sort of theme running throughout the WANT albums with allusions to Hansel & Gretel's trail of bread crumbs, the song also brings the two characters from the WANT albums, the knight and the lady-in-waiting, together on their trip through the "big, black forrest" and their trip through life...

WANT TWO is not a casual album, it's a natural progression in an extremely talented artist's life that serves as a ravishing reminder of Rufus's musical greatness, and on a more subliminal level, the album serves to remind us that there's always light in the dark and happiness in the pain...

This is an impressive package from Rufus Wainwright. Rufus amazes us because he is so good at so many of the skills that are required from a musical artist. He's an excellent and expressive singer. He's an extraordinary & prolific writer, creating original and unique pieces consistently, excelling at both unique lyrics and melodies. He's a master arranger, employing numerous musical touches that expand the emotional impact of his already-excellent compositions. He's a gracious and giving bandleader. With the CD/DVD combination, he's apparently also an excellent musical businessman.

"Want Two" strikes me as much more of a personal project for Rufus. These songs seem close to his emotional life, somewhat less accessible. When he sings on the DVD live from Fillmore East in San Francisco, Rufus wraps himself inside his piano and seems to float away, exploring the inner contexts of the melodies. Ironically, as he seems so wrapped up within the songs, he communicates so personally and delicately that we become entranced, much as Laura Nyro would do in her live performances. Joan Wasser from Dambuilders joins the band on DVD and does an excellent performance on vocals and violin.

Of these tunes, "Old Whore's Diet" is the most accessible for me, an 8-minute extended track with an insistent beat that builds and makes the song fly by in the wink of an eye. "The One You Love" has a great driving beat, Rufus' impassioned vocals, "I'm singing, 'Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, See what he's picked up in the park,' Let's f**k this awful art party, want you to make love to me & only me in the dark." "Little Sister" sounds like an orchestral chamber piece that crosscuts with the wild modernism of the lyric, "You may have to use your hips as fodder, still putting your best foot forward." "The Art Teacher" reads well on both the disc and DVD, full of twists with Rufus singing the song from a woman's perspective. "This Love Affair" is a dreamy track that builds with an amazing string arrangement. Wainwright continues to amaze on this set. His live performance likewise brings you into the auditorium. Enjoy!

If you liked Want One, you will like Want Two. But it will leave you with sort of a buzzing in your brain, disoriented and awed. This album is a paradox; classic Rufus, yet unlike anything you have heard from him before.

Rufus himself said that this album was comprised of misfits in a way. All the songs that didn't quite fit in with Want One got stuck here. And yet, they are oddly cohesive. Like most of his albums, I liked half of the songs, and was sort of indifferent to the others. But the ones I liked, I REALLY liked. I think this is just the nature of the beast. Rufus' style is such a broad range, that most of his fans probably feel this way.

As per usual, this album can be divided into the catchy poppier songs and the more heartwrenching less melodic songs. Personally, I like his more upbeat songs, but from what I hear of the opposite fan camp, the heartwrenching songs on here are excellent as well. Some standouts include:

1)The One You Love-Upbeat, catchy. comparable to Cigarettes and Chocolate milk. The poppiest song on the album

2)Little Sister-This is great, and as a previous reviewer said is very Motzart-esque. We see a lot more of Rufus' cheekiness on this album than ever before, and this song is a good example.

5)The Art Teacher-Melancholy perfection.

6)Hometown Waltz-A novelty Montreal inspired little ditty.

7)Gay Messiah-Again, Rufus and his cheekiness. Not very upbeat, yet somehow wryly humorous

8)Crumb by Crumb-A perfect blend of Rufus' heartfelt lyrics and a great melody. plodding piano that is great fun

9)Old Whore's Diet- The excellent finale to an eclectic album. Has a great beat, and is truly very different.

I recommend Want Two to every Rufus Wainwright fan. However, if you are just starting to explore his music, you may not want to get this album first. Try Poses or Want One. And then indulge yourself with this exotic treat.

I have been a fan of Rufus since his '98 debut. He just continues to top himself with each release (no pun intended there!). It takes merely one word to describe the follow up to 2003's Want One: breathtaking.
'The One You Love' is probably one of Wainwright's few radio friendly songs, appealing to those who probably generally would respond with 'Rufus who?' at the mention of his name.
'Little Sister' is lyrically probably one of the best tracks on the album, and the sound is so operatically campy & fun.
But the album's true shine can be heard in the trio of songs 8, 9, & 10. You'd expect with a title like 'Gay Messiah' that'd it be something borderline offensive to most, but the result is quite the opposite; beautiful & melancholy.
'Memphis Skyline,' an ode to Jeff Buckley, is quite possibly the most beautiful song on this record. The last 60 seconds is simply gorgeous. The next track, 'Waiting For A Dream,' is probably one of the best songs he's ever recorded.
This is such a welcome companion piece to Want 1 ... Equally as beautiful, but in a very different way. The arrangements on this album are so intricate; extremely well engineered, and of course, brilliantly written.

Rufus Wainwright is THE most talented songwriter and musician working today. Want Two is much darker than Want One, but the albums compliment each other well. The album starts with "Agnus Dei", a haunting, beautiful Latin chant. Then it goes into the more upbeat "The One You Love". Then comes "Peach Trees", which is one of the most beautiful songs Rufus has written to date. "Little Sister" is a bit lighter than the first few songs, as is "The Art Teacher' and the superb "Hometown Waltz". Then the mood goes back to the dark, brooding sound of "This Love Affair". Then comes the crowning achievement of this album, "Gay Messiah". Yes the title is a bit shocking, but it is an absolutely brilliant piece of songwriting. After that is Rufus's ode to the late Jeff Buckley, "Memphis Skyline". Then comes the magnificent "Waiting for a Dream". After that the album takes another lighter turn with "Crumb by Crumb" and heads off into the sunset with "Old Whore's Diet". All in all, this album is magnificent, one of Rufus's best, and anyone who has an appreciation for good music would do well to give this album a listen.

It's as if Rufus Wainwright has set a riddle with Want One and Two: how do they work together; how do they work apart? Obviously, artwork and production aside, there is much in both albums worth thinking about together, but some tracks on the two albums seem to point particularly strongly to the desire on the performer/composer's part for Want One and Two to be recognized as halves of a whole.

The opening salvo of each, for example--"Oh What a World" on Want One, "Agnus Dei" on Want Two--point as clearly as possible to musics well outside the pop universe. "Oh What a World," with its continuous reference to Ravel's "Bolero," and "Agnus Dei," with its obvious reference to the Catholic liturgy mixed with imitations of the introductory section of a raga performance, demand comparison: we are asked to go on a journey outside of pop's comfort zone; we start away from home.

But the most fascinating example of parallel tracks on Want One and Two occurs at that magic spot on many albums, track 5 (think of "Running to Stand Still" on "Joshua Tree," "Let Down" on "OK Computer,"). On Want One, it's "Pretty Things," and on Want 2, "The Art Teacher." Why are they parallel tracks? As was said, because of their position at track 5, but also because they are for solo voice and piano (mostly, as there's a brief horn interlude in "The Art Teacher"--still, the overwhelming sense is of a song for voice and piano).

I think these songs are independently impressive and display all the subtlety of songcraft of, say, Schubert's early Lieder. Having said that, considered together I think the two tracks point to the very heart of the Want One/Two conception: that is, the expression of stereotypical aspects of masculine desire and feminine desire. Beyond that, since the two albums represent halves of a whole, they really represent stereotypical aspects of masculine and feminine desire within one person. (I can't help but be reminded of Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund, a phenomenally beautiful work about much the same thing.)

In "Pretty Things," from the masculine Want One, the lyrics express an attraction to the fleeting, momentary beauties of life in the present. In "The Art Teacher," from the feminine Want Two, the expression is entirely different: it is about an infatuation with something that has passed and is gone forever. Want One's track 5 sees beauty everywhere and follows it now, knowing it will pass; Want Two's track 5 sits there pensively, lamenting beauty that it lost and, therefore, can never hope to possess.

There are some interesting things that might be suggested about how the piano part backs these differences up. In Want One, the piano pounds out the beat (relatively speaking), speeds up and slows down with the vocal part; on a more analytical level, the piano states the home key clearly and presents cadential gestures frequently to confirm this. In Want Two, on the other hand, the nervous piano part can't settle down and because of its uniformity tends to obscure the sense of beat; again, more analytically, although the sense of the home key is there, the way in which it is stated is much more subtle.

These are, in fact, Romantic musical stereotypes for gender, and however much we might take issue with them or wish for their dissolution, Rufus has undoubtedly used them to powerful effect. By doing so, he arguably provides in these two songs the clearest window into the comparative conception of the albums not as halves, but as a whole.

Never before in recent memory have I ever been so enthralled by an album. Want Two has to be one of the most beautful albums to come out by any aritst in a long time. This is Rufus Wainwright's finest hour. The songs are so well crafted and they blend so beautifully with one another. It's like they are interwoven. When one song ends, the next one feels like it's continuing to complete a fine work of art. Rufus knows exactly how to present a piece of music. He has an ear and a heart for making some of the most gorgeous sounds anyone could ever hear. Listening to Wainwrght's music, one can only imagine, this is the kind of music you just might hear in Heaven. Every detail in each one of these songs in Want Two shows Wainwright to be one of pop music's most gifted songer/songwriters. From the opening track to the closing, one is transformed into something that few musicians are able to achieve. He takes you into his mind and body. The performances enable us to feel what he is feeling and reminds each listener to remember life's experiences through music. Take for example, Art Teacher. Some of us may remember the crush we had on one of our teachers. The way Rufus sings that song, it's as if he is the one who actually went through it; although I think he is remembering for an actual girl. And he takes us back to how we felt when we had that crush once again while listening to the song. Very moving and quite involving. All the songs on this album give your senses a boost. The song titled, The One You Love shows how Rufus can really pen a catchy pop song without the common formula that a lot of others sometimes use way too much. It's an original. As for all the other the tracks on the album: Brlliant. Rufus' vocal are top notch on this album. Trust me. His voice may take some getting used to at first, But then you'll find it's one of pop's hidden treasures. And the way the songs are arranged and produced show what a perfectionist Rufus really is. Trust me, he is a perfectionist and that makes buying and listening to this album all worth your while. Some of the greatest artist in music's history, are really appreciated until they are gone. With Rufus alive and making beautiful music, now is the time to recognize him and appreciate one of life's greatest pleasures: music. And trust me, Rufus Wainwright's Want Two is a perfect example of why music stimulates our senses and takes us to another place.

I was just listening to clips of Kelly Osbourne, a dreadful vocalist, one who has milked her last name and family connections for all it is worth, and who has no unique style of her own. I'd rate anything of hers 1 star.

In contrast, here's something by another vocalist from a pretty well known musical family. The difference here, of course, is that Rufus Wainwright has talent, and lots of it. In fact, I'd argue that he may be one of the greatest living vocalists we have right now. His voice has real depth. And he uses this gift to great effect on a series of very well crafted songs. I can see myself listening to this fine recording for years to come. And I suspect that he'll be around for years to come, as well.

Rufus Wainwright is the most original and refreshing singer/songwriter on the scene today. He can sing anything and make it sound good. Want Two is the gay messiah's best effort yet. There is the regular chamber pop that made his previous albums great, plus the additions of obscure orchestral masterpieces and flaming cabaret swoons. The best songs on this album are the pop-rock "The One You Love" and the gypsy-folk/calypso of "Old Whore's Diet". The latter features Antony of Antony and the Johnsons. All in all, this is a fantastic and original album that deserves to be heard.

contrary towhat reviewer "Payeyo" wrote, this is not an album of leftovers from the "Want One" sessions, Rufus cut 38 songs in 2003 for a double album he was planning entitled, simply, "WANT". the label refused to release the 26 track album as planned, and split the Album into two sepreate releases

"Want One", containing 14 of the albums tracks , and later released this, "Want Two", containing the remaining 12 tracks.

Rufus has sequenced the record so that the fist disc was a lighter, more radio friendly batch of tunes, and moved into darker territory as the album went on.

"Want Two" representa that darker half, and beautifully I might add. "The One You Love" and "Waiting For A Dream", despite not being commercially released a sinmgles, have both received quite a bit of AA and AC airplay. songs like "Litte Sister" and "Agnus Dei" show off the man's amazing and powerful voice, as well as his sense for a great melody

overall, this is great record. he's come a long way from his mediocre debut album.

if you're into brilliantly constructed operatic pop tunes, pick up both Want CD's, as well as his 2001 release "Poses"

youwon't be sorry