Vibrate does contain some of his very best songs, and for the devoted fan, the deluxe edition is unbeatable. It’s a celebration of the unique, mournful, self-deprecating music of Rufus Wainwright, and, if you’re unfamiliar with his work, not a bad place to start.
Ryan breaks down the performances from the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors.
One leaves a Rufus Wainwright concert torn between the terrible choice of giving in to their desire to listen to songs they just heard as album versions set against the stark reality that the version they heard live will almost certainly cause the audio version to pale in comparison– and this goes even for solo shows like the one at the 9:30 Club.
"Come Home To Mama" is a true return to form for Wainwright, and proves that not only does she have a place in contemporary music, but she deserves one. Glide Magazine recently spoke with her about this new album, what it was like working with a 3 year-old and her love for LCD Soundsystem.
It may be only the end of July, but 2012 has already seen the release of so many fantastic albums that we thought it would be helpful to put together 20 of the records from this year that have blown us away.
Members of Dawes, Delta Spirit, Guster, The Strokes and more will honor Bob Dylan on May 24 and 25 in NYC.
Call him over the top, call him excessive or even arrogant, but one cannot fault Rufus Wainwright for not trying hard enough and delivering with musical aplomb. The difference with Out Of The Game, however, is that he’s provided a cohesive work that exemplifies his talents, for the most part excises his overindulgence, highlights his sharp wit and exceptional musical skill.
[Originally Published: May 25, 2010]
Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, off his 1984 album Various Positions, is one of those songs that seems ubiquitous but the original version rarely heard. The song plays out as an epic saga and has a seemingly endless supply of lyrics that never drag on if delivered properly. It’s been covered nearly as many times as there are verses. Countless times it’s appeared on soundtracks to films and television shows as a poignant backdrop to directors’ attempts at tugging on heartstrings. While what follows are each great renditions, I implore you to start with the original done by a maestro and true craftsman of song.
The Contestants:
Jeff Buckley: Buckley’s hauntingly dramatic version from his 1994 debut Grace is the best known cover of Hallelujah. It’s one of the best known covers of any song ever. Many people who love the Buckley version have no idea Cohen was the originator – I know I’ve met more than a few.
[audio:https://glidemag.wpengine.com/hiddentrack/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/hallelujahbuckley.mp3]READ ON for the scoop on the rest of this week’s contestants…
Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, and Guster each have pop-star potential. Yet, in an era symbolized by teen-idols, these geek-rock revivalists remain a cult-hero: too quirky for pop-stardom, too smart for cock-rock. But, as this evening proved, Revenge of the Nerds also remains a perennial rental favorite.
Rufus Wainwright
