Most of you will best know him as the guy who sang Hallelujah in the first Shrek, but Wainwright is a gifted composer, singer and gay icon. He's written and performed songs on countless soundtracks and with All Days Are Night: Songs for Lulu, Wainwright's sixth studio album hits stores.
It's a brilliant album but, truth be told, perhaps one that's more for the fans than the casual listener. All 12 songs are striped down piano-vocal numbers, more intimate and certainly less elaborate than his previous work.
It's also quite a dissonant album with more crunches between the chords and melody than, I think, most people will be used to. Some of the songs also have that Bowie-esqu quality of unusual melodic twists.
That having been said, the album is intimate and rich, soulful and affecting. I really love it.
No it's not as fun as Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk or as deliciously camp as his live album covering Judy Garland's famous 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall which, as an aside may be the gayest thing I own, but this stripped down approach to recording is more revealing of the man himself and more engaging for the listener.
Some highlights include Martha, Zebulon, The True Loves and Les Feux D'Artifice T'Appellent from Wainwright's Opera Prima Donna which had it's debut at last year's Manchester International Festival. Some oddballs are the three sonnets which were written during the Robert Wilson project "Sonnette". Musically interesting, but melodically a bit flat and again, some unusually dissonant accompaniment.
I've heard it described as lachrymose, Gershwinian, and "casually in his element". Once again Wainwright continues the family tradition of airing dirty laundry through song. For a bit of fun consider Rufus' song Dinner at Eight with his sister Martha's Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole - both about their father Loudon Wainwright.
Like I said... I love it, but I'm well aware it might not be for all. It is an album of one man, his piano and his lush, tone-full voice, beautiful and hugely personal. If you're unsure or wanting a sample, try the video below.
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5 thumbs up from me!
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