release date: Sep. 23, 2003
format: cd (Enhanced CD repress)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,96]
producer: Marcus deVries
label: DreamWorks Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Oh What a World" - 2. "I Don't Know What It Is" - 3. "Vicious World" (4 / 5) - 4. "Movies of Myself" - 6. "Go or Go Ahead" - 7. "Vibrate" - 9. "Natasha" - 12. "Want" - 14. "Dinner at Eight"
3rd studio album by Rufus Wainwright following the acclaimed Poses from Jun. 2001, which had propelled Rufus Wainwright into a full-blown career of his own - where the debut had been seen as a fine attempt from the son of folk icons Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III.
Stylewise, the follows in the footsteps of the predecessor but also adds another level of pomposity. Strings, horns, a full orchestra, and much programming handled by producer deVries, and on top of that a vast number og starring guests participate, including Kate McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright, Linda Thompson, Charlie Sexton, Levon Helm, and Sterling Campbell to mention a few. The album is rather lengthy with a running time just under the hour and with a total of 14 tracks. The 'Enhanced CD' came with a link to a "hidden" website that had been taken down when I first purchased this at some point around 2009/2010 together with his debut from 1998.
The album here was an immediate top-favourite that year, his debut is much more subdued and one-sided. After playing this quite a lot that year, I ended up feeling fed up with his singing voice for a number of years. In retrospect, however, the album has lost much of its initial appeal, and I just generally find it difficult to listen to most albums by Rufus from start to finish. He's undoubtedly an extremely gifted musician and a strong vocalist but it's also hard not to be overblown by his affectionate intonation. In that regard, he strikes me as an American type of Stephen Morrissey - there's an abundance of emotions that overflows the music, and ultimately: the listener, who can get caught ungarded.
The album is still one of his absolute best and it would definitely work as a good starting point to his discography - I know, 'cause it's where I started, but for anyone unfamiliar with his music I would recommend Poses because it's not over-the-edge theatrical, as this does tend to be, and his debut is too unfulfilling.
Still, highly recommended.
[ 👎allmusic.com 2,5 / 5, Pitchfork 6,9 / 10, NME 3,5 / 5, Mojo, 👍Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
