I bought the first album a few months after its release, and while it meant a great deal – I was just coming out - quite a few songs are loaded with arrangements that Wainwright's voice wasn't up to singing. Poses was a huge improvement, and the MIami date on that tour was one of the best shows I've seen in ten years. Since only 60 people came we were shouting requests and he was shooting the shit with us.
Little since 2003 has moved me.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
the debut was audacious and heartfelt and overreaching just as a good debut should be. Poses has some great songs but i think maybe the pop stardom he was still somewhat plausibly aiming for that point take it in a slightly blander direction.
― some dude, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
This radio session is good:http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb041201rufus_wainwright
― caro's johnson (Eazy), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
i just don't like his voice unfortunately. i'm working his concert next wk, wish i was excited.
― surm, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
xxxp yeah i've seen him maybe half a dozen times and live at his peak (just post-Want One IMO) he was one of the best things i've ever seen. the Liverpool '04 gig was like a carnival, i've never seen a seated crowd go so crazy. i didn't know you *could* go that crazy sitting down, even he was shocked.
― piscesx, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
the debut was audacious and heartfelt and overreaching just as a good debut should be.
oh yeah I agree - it's a classic B+ type debut.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:47 (1 year ago) Permalink
i saw him in the 9:30 Club opening for lol Sean Lennon right after the debut dropped, he was a pretty solid performer right off the bat. was a bit more drunk and full of himself when i saw him again circa Poses.
― some dude, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
he was pretty hammered and god knows what else when I saw him. Oh! He also dedicated a song to "Neil and Chris." When we looked at the balcony there were Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, in town a few days early rehearsing for their concert the next week.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 17:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
he's a great live performer - holds my attention in a way he doesn't always on record.
almost every one of his albums has been just good enough, just interesting enough, containing just enough killer songs to keep my overall feelings about him positive, but all of them have suffered from stretches of...blahhhh, really. he always sounds like he wants to only dip his toe into songwriting. i do think want one is as close as he's come to a coherent statement album, though "cigarettes & chocolate milk" is my favourite song he's done.
new one sounds decent as they all do initially
― liberté, égalité, beyoncé (lex pretend), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
My theory is he was pushed or pushed himself into recording an album before his songwriting chops had gelled. The boy had the connections (Waronker, Dreamworks, semi-famous dad).
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
pshhh musicians should learn on the job imo. the idea of woodshedding in private for some magical moment when you're "ready" is foreign to me.
― Neil Young’s social media channels (some dude), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
that'd explain the first album being not quite there but not the 7 or 8 or however many it's been since!
― liberté, égalité, beyoncé (lex pretend), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:28 (1 year ago) Permalink
i just don't think he's got a great sense of melody, and/or it's not something he particularly prioritises, and when he lands on one it's kind of almost as a joke
― liberté, égalité, beyoncé (lex pretend), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
Never said this!
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
"not ready to record" /= "shouldn't have recorded it"
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
eh when you say premature "pushing" was involved it sounds negative. in any event imo his aesthetic and his sensibility as a lyricist and melodist were pretty well formed by '98 and there's not really that much of a difference between his stuff then and his stuff now, so i have no idea where you're even coming from.
― Neil Young’s social media channels (some dude), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
Aesthetic – formed, craftsmanship – still had a way to go.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
song for song Poses is the stronger record, maybe the one least afflicted with what lex called stretches of...blahhhh
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:39 (1 year ago) Permalink
Sings with his mouth shut DUD
― Morrissey & Clunes: The Severed Alliance (PaulTMA), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 21:48 (1 year ago) Permalink
I like his voice. He has songs in the key of me
I've noticed the stretches of blah. I liked "Little Sister" because it was stark contrast from a lot of blah, not that it's a favorite of mine. Poses is my favorite album by him
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 22:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
after three full listens I agree with the enthusiasm for the album. Keepers: ""Montauk," "Out of the Game," "Bitter Tears," "Jericho."
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 2 May 2012 12:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
Making of:
http://www.nowness.com/day/2012/5/5/2130/rufus-wainwright-bitter-tears
― caro's johnson (Eazy), Saturday, 5 May 2012 05:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
I love this thing -- one of the year's best. Never thought I'd say it again about a Wainwright record.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 5 May 2012 16:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
I love this as well, and playing it continuously.
I can't quite pin down what it reminds me of exactly, but it has a nostalgic feel that takes me back to the 70s.
― Bob Six, Sunday, 6 May 2012 09:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
On first listen I was entirely underwhelmed. Much more soft rock than pop. And it's not the sort of soft rock that I find moving ('Art Teacher' was moving).
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Sunday, 6 May 2012 14:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
I really like this new one and I haven't even been remotely excited for him since the Want One/Two days. I love the 70s AM rock touches, I think they work pretty well. Kinda wish he'd lay off the gospel backing choirs on some of these though.
― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 14:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
huh, had no idea that Nels Cline plays on this album, i wonder what tracks.
― shipl.de.al (some dude), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 13:42 (11 months ago) Permalink