New CD Review of...
Rufus Wainwright
Want Two
By: Lori Kapes
What can I say about Rufus Wainwright? I can say that before listening to his latest CD “Want Two” the only song I heard by him was his cover of the Beatles song “Across the Universe.” I can also say that I never expected to hear what I heard.
The album plays out like a revue (A musical show consisting of skits, songs, and dances, often satirizing current events, trends, and personalities) with no story that flows into the next, but what ties them together is Wainwright’s rough, smooth, and silky voice. Each song sounds like its own little opera, from the quietness of the strings in the opening track and Wainwright’s grand citation of the Roman Liturgy: Agnus Dei to the eccentric Old Whore’s Diet.
At first I didn’t really appreciate the songs. I liked them but it’s not my taste of music really. So once I saw Wainwright perform on the accompanying live CD, I was amazed. He’s so into the music, so full of it when he sings and plays the piano. I have to hand it to him, though, he is definitely a great singer/songwriter.