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Rufus Wainwright
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official website
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Track List:
1. Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk
2. Greek Song
3. Poses
4. Shadows
5. California
6. The Tower Of Learning
7. Grey Gardens
8. Rebel Prince
9. The Consort
10. One Man Guy
11. Evil Angel
12. In A Graveyard
13. Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk (reprise)
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Rufus Wainwright - Poses
(Dreamworks)
Jakob Dylan, Sean Lennon, and Rufus Wainwright all share one thing in common—extremely talented parents. Only Rufus Wainwright, however, has matched his folks' level of creativity. Moreover, on the strength of his first two albums, the eponymous first and the brand new Poses, Wainwright has made a name for himself based on the merits of his own work, escaping the shadow of blood lineage—something these other famous sons have not been able to do.
Poses is an engaging stab at Broadway-influenced baroque pop. The lush orchestral arrangements throughout are nothing short of spectacular, offering an ideal canvas for Wainwright to display his golden voice. In addition to his incredible range and evocative timbre, this contemporary troubadour also has quite a way with imagery. For an artist in his mid-20s, a line like "Save your poison for a lover who's on your side" ("Greek Song") resonates with an unexpected literary maturity. Most of the songs on Poses are outstanding. The lead track, "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk," is a bouncy, theatrical ditty and an emotional exposition of the highest order, while "Rebel Prince" impressively highlights Wainwright's mastery of a language other than English, namely French. Familial connections surface throughout the album, as well. Sister Martha lends an angelic voice on a handful of tracks and Rufus even tackles one of his father's tunes, "One Man Guy," with admirable results—putting his own stamp on the song while remaining true to the original.
The main difference between Poses and Wainwright's self-titled debut is that his sophomore endeavor is a bit more fleshed out. While still technically a solo effort, the new album contains more of a group sound, with additional musicians and producers lending a hand in the kitchen. The result is a delightfully textured, vocal-based album that will likely appeal to Sinatra and Cole Porter fans as much as it will strike a note with the intelligent pop lover demographic. All in all, Poses is a completely original work of art that demands repeated listening.
by Bret Booth
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