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Review: Jack Foley
RUFUS Wainwright is hailed by many as 'the chosen one', thanks
to the critical succes of his albums, Want and Want
Two.
Listeners who have missed out on buying either of those two records
now have the chance to own them as one complete package, especially
if you're planning on catching his UK tour.
Wainwright's music is born from personal experiences and emerges
like mini-operettas to either impress or infuriate listeners.
Want Two, for example, dealth with love, life and the
things which threaten it, such as drug abuse and media exploitation.
It was an ambitious undertaking and one that delivered several
highlights, such as The One You Love (a breezy guitar-based
effort) and the piano-drenched Waiting For A Dream, a
ballad rich in atmospheric beats, emotive lyrics and Wainwright's
vocals at their most haunting (and Thom Yorke-like).
The special edition Want comes complete with two new
bonus tracks, the first of which, Chelsea Hotel No.2,
was written by Leonard Cohen and recorded live from his Came So
Far For Beauty tribute tour.
It sounds like the work of Cohen given some extra zest by Wainwright's
own inimitable style.
In With The Ladies, meanwhile, was co-written by Rufus
and Alex Gifford, of The Propellerheads, as part of the Want One
and Two sessions.
It was omitted, of course, but still registers strongly and contains
an upbeat vibe that isn't always apparent in some of Wainwright's
work.
It seems to be a current tend of the moment to re-release albums
with bonus material tagged onto - rather like the DVD approach
of releasing a film in theatrical form, only to then unleash the
director's cut six months later.
Fans who already have both Wants won't therefore be found wanting
for this special edition.
If, however, you have yet to be enticed then this double-CD certainly
delivers the complete Rufus Wainwright package with a little more
besides.
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