Rufus Wainwright Want One CD

After his sophomore album, POSES, sailed critically but failed commercially, Rufus Wainwright fell into a pattern of hard drug abuse. Luckily, the support of friends and family landed him in rehab. Emerging newly sober and clearheaded, Rufus threw himself into his work. The result is WANT ONE, an unabashedly honest, musically sprawling record that finds the vocalist reaching a new level of maturity.

It becomes quite clear during the borderline satirical album opener "Oh, What a World" (which goes so far as to reference Ravel's "Bolero") that Wainwright has met his musical match in producer Marius de Vries (U2, Bjork). Rather than reigning in the singer/multi-instrumentalist's vision, de Vries understands that the sincerity and conviction in his voice keeps even the most over-the-top of tracks grounded. Standout moments include the epic "Go or Go Ahead," "14th Street," and the stunningly candid "Dinner at Eight." WANT ONE is the work of an artist who is, above all, determined to live life to the fullest.

Recorded at The Maid's Room, Bearsville, Loho and Looking Glass, New York, New York; The Strongroom Studios, London, England.

Personnel: Rufus Wainwright (acoustic guitar, recorder, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Charlie Sexton (electric guitar); Simon Clarke (flute, piccolo, alto flute, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Kate McGarrigle (accordion); Tim Sanders (tenor saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet); Annie Whitehead (trombone); Nick Hitehens (tuba); The Kick Horns (brass); Marius De Vries (piano, vibraphone, programming); Jimmy Zhivago (piano); Jeff Hill, Bernard O'Neill (bass); Sterling Campbell, Matt Johnson, Levon Helm (drums); Alexis Smith (programming); Martha Wainwright, Jenni Muldaur, Linda Thompson (background vocals).

Personnel: Rufus Wainwright (acoustic guitar, recorder, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Jenni Muldaur, Linda Thompson, Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson (vocals); Gary Leonard (guitar, mandolin); Jimi Zhivago (guitar, piano); Charlie Sexton (guitar); Kate McGarrigle (banjo); Joyce Smith (harp); Simon Clarke (flute, alto flute, piccolo, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); David Sapadin (clarinet); Alexandra Knoll (oboe); Daniel Shelly (bassoon); Tim Sanders (tenor saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet, flugelhorn); Paul Spong (trumpet); Annie Whitehead (trombone); Dave Stewart , Adrian Hallowell (bass trombone); Nick Hitchens (tuba); Kick Horns (brass); Marius de Vries (piano, vibraphone, programming); Levon Helm, Matt Johnson , Sterling Campbell (drums); Alexis Smith (programming).

Audio Mixer: Andy Bradfield.

Recording information: Angel Studios, Islington, London, England; Avatar Studios, New York, NY; Bearsville Studio A, New York, NY; Loho Studios, New York, NY; Looking Glass Studios, New York, NY; The Maid's Room, New York, NY; The Strongroom, London, England.

Photographer: Yelena Yemchuk.

Guests:Levon Helm,Kate Mcgar- Rigle,Linda Thompson,C.Sexton

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Rolling Stone (12/25/03, p.111) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2003"
Rolling Stone (10/16/03, p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 - "This is a record of breathtaking, eccentric opulence....WANT ONE is a valentine to monogamy - craving it, not getting it, not quite giving up..."
Entertainment Weekly (9/26/03, p.94) - "...A gorgeous meditation on emotional displacement, on finding yourself adrift when you want to love and be loved....If Sondheim had been reared on old Van Dyke Parks records, he might sound like this..." - Rating: A-
Q (12/03, p.139) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...This is an exuberant return to gorgeous melodies, dynamic arrangements and a sharper focus on life and love. The musical scope is breathtaking..."
Uncut (01/04, pp.84-7) - Ranked #37 in Uncut's "Albums Of The Year 2003"
Uncut (11/03, p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...WANT ONE takes his lush, orchestrated pop to staggering new heights..."
Dirty Linen (p.51) - "[A] sweeping, dramatic, big, broad and brash record - it's grand in its aspirations, and it delivers quite beautifully..."
Mojo (Publisher) (01/01/04, p.58) - Ranked #21 in Mojo's "The Best of 2003"
Mojo (Publisher) (10/03, p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Regret-filled ruminations like '14th St.' and 'Vicious World' perfectly evoke his old man's early Atlantic work..."