Rufus Wainwright
 Want Two

By Sonya Shaw

Sequels rarely outdo the original, but that didn’t stop Rufus Wainwright from trying.

With its pop rock, classical piano lovin’, Ben Folds style, his fourth album Want Two makes a bold attempt to surpass the sheer musical brilliance of its predecessor Want One. Unfortunately, it falls just short.

The name itself may give you high hopes. Another album named after a previously flawless album must mean something, right? Not necessarily.

The first track starts out with an annoyingly abrasive sound that slowly fades and becomes “Agnus Dei,” a beautiful Latin scripture song. Wainwright’s voice embraces perfection with its soothing, sweet and supple melodies.

A few other tracks stand out, specifically track four, “Little Sister.” Full of upbeat orchestral ballroom grandeur, the song takes you on a journey back in time. Delightfully buoyant strings and piano encompass the entire three minutes and twenty-two seconds of the track. Watch out Motzart! However, you may get so caught up in Rufus’s proclamation of his sexual orientation that you miss out on the melodic splendor. Rufus, you’re obviously gay! No need to sing it out! Clearly, the CD cover speaks lengths for itself. Dressed up as some sort of Gilded Princess, Rufus crosses the politically correct line once again. Thank goodness for Parental Advisory stickers.

The word dull should never be used to describe Rufus Wainwright. In fact, it’s refreshing to find an artist who isn’t afraid to publicly announce who they really are and do it in such a musically profound and stimulating way. The only problem may be scaring off some potential listeners in doing so. Nonetheless, the close-minded are expendable.

If you’re a Rufus Wainwright fan you must have this CD. It even comes with a live DVD! But if you’re a newbie, do yourself a favor and ease your way into the world of Mr. Wainwright by purchasing one of his previous albums first.