It really is a wonderful album. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/loveicon.gif It could very well be his best? Perhaps that's the newness of it for me, but it's gorgeous from start to finish and his piano playing is thrilling to listen to. I adored his last album very much, it had replaced Poses as my favourite which is something neither the Want albums could quite manage. But I was ready for Rufus to stop with all the production and arrangements and let the songs breath. This is the album I've been waiting for from him for ages and it definitely doesn't disappoint.

Has anyone heard Rufus's achingly gorgeous cover of Judy Collin's "Albatross"? It's on the Born To Breed: A Tribute To Judy Collins album, which is incredible in its own right. Dar Williams, Dolly Parton, Shawn Colvin, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen, and even Bernadette Peters. This comp. also introduced me to the gorgeous Webb Sisters, who's cover on this album steals the show. Anyway, Rufus is at the top of his game on Albatross, and his vocals are sinfully pure. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

http://www.amazon.com/Born-Breed-Tri...=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

I'm having another night in with "All Days Are Nights", which I came back to listening to tonight after reading some Shakespeare sonnets online, three of which are of course set to music on this album.
SONNET 43

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me. Explains the winking images projected behind him in the live gig. Heh. Never really thought much about the words to be honest, as I don't think the sonnets are the strongest parts of the album at all. In fact, I think they're the weaker middle in a strong album.


Still think this is perhaps the strongest though.

Rufus Wainwright
 

I just am really getting into his recent album "All Days are Nights:Songs For Lulu".

I think it takes a little longer to like this album, as it is quite complex, but once you find a way in, it is a very good and soothing album.

My favourites are Where are you New York? , The Dream and Zebulon right now.

I own and love every album Rufus has ever made but I've yet to be seduced by ADAN. This might sound silly but I find it hard to grasp onto anything. Zebulon is great, I do like that song, but apart from that... Time will tell.

My heart belongs to Want.

Oh yes, those Want albums are still his best.
Though I also really like Release the Stars...especially Tiergarten and Sanssouci http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

Tiergarten is lovely, it's true. Release the Stars is my favourite from that one. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

Do you have an all time top Rufus number? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif

No, I don't think I have.There are too many.

A strange thing for me is, that I really only listen to Rufus in Fall/Winter...somehow his music really speaks to me, when it is cold and dark outside.
(today is a rather rainy day, that's why I came up with this thread http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif )

my top 10 ru tracks

1. grey gardens
2. foolish love
3. beautiful child
4. in a graveyard
5. danny boy
6. in my arms
7. hometown waltz
8. old whore's diet
9. shadows
10. april fools


i love rufus. loveloveLOVE the man. his music is so very dear to me. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif

i was a huge rufus fans before and saw him live many times, but lost interest with release the stars. Haven't given a proper chance at the latest album yet. I probably will at some point though.

^ I was the same. I just didn't really enjoy "Release The Stars".

In many ways, though, I think "All Days Are Night: Songs For Lulu" is one of his greatest acomplishments so far. The songwriting is wonderful, the piano work is better than anything we've heard yet from Rufus, and the lyrics are perhaps his most personal yet.

I've been completely suckered in by this album. It's the opposite of Want One in many ways, and the lack of a big orchestration might make it harder for people to get used to. It's my joint favourite of his albums at the moment, and certainly the one I'm listening to the most these days.

I'm really digging: Martha, Zebulon, The Dream, Who Are You New York?

It's a wonderful album.

I agree. He really lost me at RTS after being so blown away by everything prior. I really couldn't relate to the Judy thing and I'm not a big opera guy. Needless to say, I'm very excited to hear his next album if it's geared more towards the pop rock sound.

ETA: I just listened to the acoustic version of the new song on his website and I think it's quite beautiful. Also, in response to ebby's comment on Songs For Lulu: I think the greatest purpose that album served was to showcase his piano skills, and I love it for that.

http://www.chartstats.com/images/artwork/33653.jpg

ha ha!

I think Songs For Lulu is one of the most stunning releases of 2010, actually, and I was expecting close to nothing from that album. RTS totally alienated me, and Judy is sort of untouchable for me, so I couldn't get behind that, and my knowledge of Prima Donna was spotty. But when I saw Rufus perform Lulu in its entirety live, I was blown away. Some of the songs are lyrically filler, but the ones that hit are are so RIGHT. "Who Are You New York," "Martha," "The Dream," "Zebulon".... it was quite breath-taking. I think most didn't expect him to do something so serious and well-executed.

Understandably, he gets beaten up a lot in criticism and amongst music listeners in general-- I mean, he definitely is eccentric and I can't say American audiences (that's my realm of knowledge) are the most open-minded, but I have to give him props where he's due... and I think Lulu will turn out to be one of the crowning achievements of his catalogue.

And apparently he's now a dad!

Darling daughter Viva Katherine Wainwright Cohen was born on February 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California to proud parents Lorca Cohen, Rufus Wainwright and Deputy Dad Jorn Weisbrodt. The little angel is evidently healthy, presumably happy and certainly very very beautiful.

Daddy #1 would like to offer everyone a digital cigar and welcome the little lady in with a French phrase from his favorite folk song, A La Claire Fontaine : "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai."

http://www.rufuswainwright.com/news/...8aa81b6:640386 I'm kind of shocked, to be honest! But congrats to him and Jorn!

^ I just came over to post about that. Just found out from The Guardian.

Rufus Wainwright has had a baby with Leonard Cohen's daughter. Wainwright made the surprise announcement on Friday, revealing that Lorca Cohen gave birth to a girl on 2 February. Viva Katherine Wainwright Cohen will reportedly be brought up by both of her parents, as well as Wainwright's partner, "deputy dad" Jorn Weisbrodt.

best wishes for the newborn and his parents, so cute.

One thing that has always fascinated me is reading about a surreal week he experienced and having enjoyed a "debauched evening" with his mother and Marianne Faithfull. Now I love me some good celebrity gossip and I love dear Marianne, which makes me want to hear more about this - did they take drugs or got drunk or what went on ? Silly, but you can call me fascinated

I've never heard a song by him. My exposure to him and his kin have all been through film. His dad was in a music sequence in the film The Aviator and Rufus was in this little movie that I quite liked called The Heights. I know him as an actor. lol.

I think his album Poses, or even just the title track, is a good place to start.

Top 10 RuF:

Do I Dissappoint You
Oh What A World
The One I Love
The Art Teacher
Gay Messiah

Go or Go Ahead
14th Street
11:11
Who are you New York?
Beautiful Child