The scrutiny of success that came early on--being named Best New Artist by Rolling Stone in 1998, the year of his debut album, for example--would have smothered many another emerging talent. But it failed to stopper the singular, unclassifiable, ranging gift of singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright. His sophomore album, Poses, advances beyond the earlier, cabaret-inspired effort with a suite of songs marvelously varied in arrangement and texture but linked by Wainwright's characteristic theatrical panache. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" catalogs excess with playful self-censure, but Wainwright's whimsical ironies often take a bruising, poignant turn, whether in the pseudo-upbeat "California" or, most movingly, on the title track. The dying fall of Wainwright's lusher melodies--echoes of "Across the Universe" as well as ultrachic Beatles tunes such as "Michelle"--meshes remarkably with the poetic substance here as he explores a landscape of wistful self-knowledge caught between longing and decadence. Yet even through all the layers of picturesque, postmod observation, Wainwright conveys a sense-filtered experience that gives urgency to his hauntingly mumbled opacities. With Poses, the young artist proves his authenticity. --Thomas May
Poses [Bonus Track],Rufus Wainwright,Dreamworks,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Chamber Pop,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter
Poses [Bonus Track]
Average customer rating:
|
Poses [Bonus Track]
Rufus Wainwright Manufacturer: Dreamworks ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005Y7AW Release Date: 2002-02-05 |
Tracks:
- Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk
- Greek Song
- Poses
- Shadows
- California
- The Tower Of Learning
- Grey Gardens
- Rebel Prince
- The Consort
- One Man Guy
- Evil Angel
- In A Graveyard
- Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk (reprise)
- Across The Universe [Bonus Track]
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
The scrutiny of success that came early on--being named Best New Artist by Rolling Stone in 1998, the year of his debut album, for example--would have smothered many another emerging talent. But it failed to stopper the singular, unclassifiable, ranging gift of singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright. His sophomore album, Poses, advances beyond the earlier, cabaret-inspired effort with a suite of songs marvelously varied in arrangement and texture but linked by Wainwright's characteristic theatrical panache. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" catalogs excess with playful self-censure, but Wainwright's whimsical ironies often take a bruising, poignant turn, whether in the pseudo-upbeat "California" or, most movingly, on the title track. The dying fall of Wainwright's lusher melodies--echoes of "Across the Universe" as well as ultrachic Beatles tunes such as "Michelle"--meshes remarkably with the poetic substance here as he explores a landscape of wistful self-knowledge caught between longing and decadence. Yet even through all the layers of picturesque, postmod observation, Wainwright conveys a sense-filtered experience that gives urgency to his hauntingly mumbled opacities. With Poses, the young artist proves his authenticity. --Thomas MayCustomer Reviews:
Rufus Best pop cd .......2007-07-04
This is the best cd to start with if you are introducing yourself to Rufus Wainwright's music. Each song has a distinctly different feel to it and uses different musical talents. Although I think of "Poses" as his best cd, the song "Going to a Town" on his new cd "Release the Stars" is one of the best songs of 2007, reflecting on the impressions one gets lately from spending time in America and anywhere else in the world.
operatic pop folkie.......2007-01-05
In Which Rufus Argues with Himself.......2006-06-30
A prime example is "Greek Song," nominally a plea for the Mediterranean object of desire to forget everything and sink into some kind of bronzed, sportscar-riding fantasy land. "All the pearls of China fade astride a Volta." Why then, with this plea to the Greek god of eros, does the music come from China (by employing a kind of pseudo-Asian pentatonicism, complete with what surely is an erhu-influenced violin solo)? In other words, why does the music illustrate the very thing the Mediterranean object of desire is being asked to forget? The "pose" of the words and the language of the music are working against each other.
Then we have the absolutely intriguing "Grey Gardens." I am not the only reviewer who has been fascinated by the bizarre mixture of references in the lyrics. Just in case, the song opens with a sample of "Little Edie" Bouvier commenting on the difficulty of separating past and present, taken from the 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens;" the name Tadzio, heard throughout the song, seems to refer to the boy with whom the character Aschenbach is infatuated in Thomas Mann's novella "Death in Venice." (See also Visconti's film (1971) & Benjamin Britten's powerful opera (1973), both of the same title.) Whatever these elements might mean to Rufus personally, for the listener the obvious idea linking "Grey Gardens" and "Death in Venice" is that very often a powerful divide exists between what society demands and what one's personal desires urge. Aschenbach and the Bouviers are lost to society, having chosen to follow (or having fallen victim to) their own desire; nevertheless, Rufus's lyrics make a plea to Tadzio to get him through this crisis, presumably to return to society. This is curious. Here again, the lyricist is praying to a Mediterranean god of eros. But how can you ask the object of desire to rid you of your desire for him? You can't, quite simply! And that's the point: it's all a pose in that the lyricist doesn't really want to be rid of the crisis at all. Analytically, I think Rufus has used the classic Schubertian technique of modal mixture (major/minor third scale degree) to embody the conflict between society and desire, but even at the end of the song, where one might expect the music to 'solve' the problem, the mixture is still present: the music doesn't want to shake free of the crisis, despite all the clamor from the lyrics.
A final quick example can be found in "One Man Guy" (Nick Hornby speaks a little about this in his "31 Songs" (1993)), a song by Rufus's father, Loudon. Despite the fact that the lyrics are about a man who is fundamentally a creature of solitude, when the first proper chorus starts, Rufus is joined by a vocal ensemble. How can you sing "One Man Guy" in chorus? It's a pose. Yet again, the music and the lyrics are at odds.
Splendid.......2006-06-13
2. Greek Song - 7/10 - didn't like this one much
3. Poses 10/10 - one of the most sincere songs I've ever heard
4. Shadows - 8/10 - this one took a while for me to stomach
5. California - 7/10 -I never quite got what all the hype was about
6. The Tower of Learning - 3/10 - should have omitted this one from the album
7. Grey Gardens - 10/10 -found the 'Tadzio' reference both strange and enchanting
8. Rebel Prince - 10/10 - Hit the replay button a million times on this one
9. The Consort - 11/10 - the kind of song that makes adult men cry
10. One Man Guy - 7/10 - obviously just a 'filler' song
11. Evil Angel - 10/10 - this one made me think of the 'dark' ages and gargoyles and vampires, yet it's such a morbidly serene song.
12. In a Graveyard - 10/10 - touching and sad
13. Cigarettes and Choclate Milk - 9.5/10 - nicely done, upbeat version of the original song
I must admit this album took a whole year to grow on me. Beside Poses and Cigarettes and chocolate milk, I didn't listen to the other songs for months because I couldn't stand them...now you can't get me to stop listening to this album. Went to one of his concerts a few months ago and he is entertaining and human. What a great performer!
The CD That Brought Me To Rufus.......2006-03-20
Average customer rating:
|
Poses
Rufus Wainwright Manufacturer: Dreamworks ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005IBGQ Release Date: 2001-06-05 |
Tracks:
- Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk
- Greek Song
- Poses
- Shadows
- California
- The Tower Of Learning
- Grey Gardens
- Rebel Prince
- The Consort
- One Man Guy
- Evil Angel
- In A Graveyard
- Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk (reprise)
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
The scrutiny of success that came early on--being named Best New Artist by Rolling Stone in 1998, the year of his debut album, for example--would have smothered many another emerging talent. But it failed to stopper the singular, unclassifiable, ranging gift of singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright. His sophomore album, Poses, advances beyond the earlier, cabaret-inspired effort with a suite of songs marvelously varied in arrangement and texture but linked by Wainwright's characteristic theatrical panache. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" catalogs excess with playful self-censure, but Wainwright's whimsical ironies often take a bruising, poignant turn, whether in the pseudo-upbeat "California" or, most movingly, on the title track. The dying fall of Wainwright's lusher melodies--echoes of "Across the Universe" as well as ultrachic Beatles tunes such as "Michelle"--meshes remarkably with the poetic substance here as he explores a landscape of wistful self-knowledge caught between longing and decadence. Yet even through all the layers of picturesque, postmod observation, Wainwright conveys a sense-filtered experience that gives urgency to his hauntingly mumbled opacities. With Poses, the young artist proves his authenticity. --Thomas MayCustomer Reviews:
"Made me a man but who cares what that is?".......2007-04-26
a brilliant artist.......2006-11-01
i completely fell in love him and i've been playing all of his cds. nonstop. if you don't like it the first time, give it another shot. it's an acquired taste. i love his quirky lyrics, breathtaking voice, and beautiful arrangements. i really can't say enough how highly i think of his work and how much i've enjoyed listening to his music. if there's better music out there... i have yet to find it. he's one of the freshest and most brilliant people out there.
Great., listen to it!.......2006-06-01
i liked it very fast but thats me. listen it with a good stereo and some good headphones with some red wine. its a treat.
success!
greetings from the netherlands. Erik
An excellent musical work.......2005-09-13
CHOPS of Steel.......2005-07-05
Viseth
Average customer rating: |
Aardvark Poses
Michael Leonhart Manufacturer: Sunny Side ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00002833B Release Date: 1995-12-12 |
Tracks:
- Sunyata
- Armonicos
- M-C-G
- Dear Bourg
- Simon Says
- Sketches of Aix
- Posscia
- Mirio
- Naashar
- Shamed
- Belle Jeza
Average customer rating: |
Yoga with Shira: A Gentle Yoga Session
Shira T. Gura Manufacturer: Shira T. Gura ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00005UE9I Release Date: 2001-12-05 |
Tracks:
- Warm-Ups
- Standing Poses
- Floor Poses
- Breathing Practice and Meditation
- Spinal Twist and Deep Relaxation
Album Description
This Yoga CD includes an original score of soothing music accompanied by detailed, step-by-step instructions of gentle Yoga poses and breathing techniques. The CD is aimed to help you achieve deep relaxation and relief of stress, regardless of experience. Give yourself the gift and travel on your own personal journey towards tranquil serenity for the mind, body, and soul.
Average customer rating: |
Poses
ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000EOUS8G Release Date: 2006-03-28 |
Average customer rating: |
Unafraid
Manufacturer: Shaken Leaf Production ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000B8YD1S Release Date: 2003-05-13 |
Product Description
10 TRACKS: TAKE THE TIME, INNOCENCE, WALKING ON A MINE, NOT YET BEGUN, SHINE YOUR LIGHT, UNAFRAID, I BELIEVE, FATHER TIME, HEAVEN AIN'T SO FAR AWAY, THE UNVEILING (YOU GAVE IT YOUR BEST).
Average customer rating: |
Undo
Manufacturer: Sub Rosa ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004TH0M Release Date: 1996-03-12 |
Tracks:
- Ice, For Violin and Cello
- Frisking, Prolationum for 11 Percussionists
- Undo, Monody for Harpsichord
- Poses, For 10 Instruments
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Chaine, Pour Deux Pianos
- Porteuses de Mouvaises Nouvelles: Aire, For Sampled Percussions
Average customer rating: |
Poses
Alain Chamfort Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004UHZ4 Release Date: 1995-11-11 |
Rap Music:
- Pyromania
- Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega
- Selling England By The Pound [Original recording remastered]
- Separation Sunday
- Shinola, Vol. 1
- Showbiz
- Soviet Kitsch
- Stanley Climbfall [Enhanced]
- Stephen Stills [Original recording remastered]
- Sweet Baby James
Recommended Music:
Pop Hits Monthly Karaoke - ROCK June 2005
Rapmasters, Vol. 8: Best of the Street [Explicit Lyrics]
Pure Gospel: 10 Top Choirs, Vol. 2