Want One
by Rufus Wainwright
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 44
  3. Negative: 3 out of 44

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  1. BillyBob
    Feb 9, 2004
    10
    I've never heard anything remotely like this. Gets better at every listening with great richness, complexity and balls! It would sound sensational under the influence of non-prescription substances.
  2. CraigC
    Sep 26, 2003
    10
    This is a great record by an incredibly talented artist. The reviews by All Music Guide, Blender, and Stylus Magazine blow my mind, and in my perspective have no validity whatsoever, because I've never heard of them! Who the heck are these people?
  3. Jack
    Aug 29, 2004
    10
    The cunning sample of Ravel's Bolero in the opening track is worth the "10" alone!
  4. kevint
    Oct 12, 2003
    7
    To say this album is melodramatic is overstating a bit. This album is so overly campy it hurts. What sucks is that the tracks that are good, are really good. It's the filler material that drags the good stuff down. The melange of musical genres hurts the flow of the album more than it helps. By the time you get to "Dinner at Eight" you are so sick of his blame against his dad you To say this album is melodramatic is overstating a bit. This album is so overly campy it hurts. What sucks is that the tracks that are good, are really good. It's the filler material that drags the good stuff down. The melange of musical genres hurts the flow of the album more than it helps. By the time you get to "Dinner at Eight" you are so sick of his blame against his dad you write off the whole album. I totally recommend listening to this album but ignoring the lyrical content. It just sounds like "Daddie Dearest" to me. … Expand
  5. mummyv
    Oct 15, 2003
    10
    bravo another glorious achivement! Rufus is byfar a true musician and lyricist. Can't wait for Want Two
  6. justina
    Oct 16, 2003
    7
    A little bit of a letdown after the absolute perfection of Poses. But still a ton of great music. Gets a little too cute with the lyrics on a couple songs and that detracts from his great voice. A little overdone in spots as well. But overall a worthy buy for a Rufus fan.
  7. DanielleF
    Nov 7, 2003
    10
    Rufus Wainwright takes each album to new, untouched territory. When you think he has hit his peak, he comes out with a new album as if to declare "I'm not done yet, honey". Fantastic is the only word to describe the sheer magnificence of this album. A lesser artist would have made these words seem over the top and overly dramatic (assuming a lesser artist could write lyrics as Rufus Wainwright takes each album to new, untouched territory. When you think he has hit his peak, he comes out with a new album as if to declare "I'm not done yet, honey". Fantastic is the only word to describe the sheer magnificence of this album. A lesser artist would have made these words seem over the top and overly dramatic (assuming a lesser artist could write lyrics as thought provoking as these) but Rufus sings with such an honest quality in his voice you can't help but believe what he says, and hope he eventually finds the one he wants.… Expand
  8. willm
    Nov 7, 2003
    8
    Everything and the kitchen sink criticisms valid, but there is some stirring melody and sentiment here (to wit, Go or Go Ahead).
  9. KittyH
    Oct 17, 2003
    10
    Marvellous!
  10. Brian
    Sep 23, 2003
    9
    I just purchased this CD and listened to it, and while I admit that it doesn't have the immediate feeling of greatness of his past two albums, I still find it to be greatly worthwhile, and certainly head and shoulders above the majority of music that is being created today.
  11. MarkS
    Sep 25, 2003
    10
    This album is nothing short of spectacular!
  12. Rob
    Sep 25, 2003
    10
    Rufus' best in my opinion. Beyond opinion, this album is well-written by Rufus, well-produced by Marius deVries and is all-around brilliant.
  13. John
    Sep 26, 2003
    10
    Just bought this yesterday (20 bucks is CRAZY!!!) But this album is really amazing. Track 6 (Go or go ahead) is a masterpiece. Track 13 (11:11) is a more subtle, but truly impressive work. Many other great tracks! I love this album.
  14. PaulF
    Sep 30, 2003
    10
    And just when I thought his chords were atrophied, he begins to use the upper register again. My quibbles are few, and I will only list one in this venue: The song order is off from a musical standpoint. I refer particularly to the placement of '11:11'. Granted, its thematic placement is appropriate, toyingly (and melodramatically ... and likely unintentionally) invoking perhaps And just when I thought his chords were atrophied, he begins to use the upper register again. My quibbles are few, and I will only list one in this venue: The song order is off from a musical standpoint. I refer particularly to the placement of '11:11'. Granted, its thematic placement is appropriate, toyingly (and melodramatically ... and likely unintentionally) invoking perhaps the most famous treaty of the previous century (Rufus' inner turmoil and carnage must really have been hell ... 'gay hell', I suppose). Still, it is a poor companion piece to the touching 'Dinner at 8'. The vibes just don't jibe. Still, this is a very good album, the best the music business has to offer. Want One has been criticized for its general outsized-ness, of production, of orchestration, of flamboyant personal investment. My feeling is that these critics remain unwilling to come to grips with the emotional and artistic freight of Rufus himself. That aside, though, this album deserves praise from even the most critical of reviewers, if only for its uncannily timely nod to the recently deceased John Ritter in 'I Don't Know What It Is' ("So I open the door,/ Take a step that is new").… Expand
  15. MariaTHEFACE
    Feb 1, 2004
    9
    I really, really, really loved this CD when I first got it. It was a my introduction to Rufus, and I swear from the first song I was hooked. I later bought his other two CDs and found they were just a fabulous :D . I think all the critism of Want One is justified, and I agree that his earlier has more "energy". However, this Cd is still loads better than some of the other options out I really, really, really loved this CD when I first got it. It was a my introduction to Rufus, and I swear from the first song I was hooked. I later bought his other two CDs and found they were just a fabulous :D . I think all the critism of Want One is justified, and I agree that his earlier has more "energy". However, this Cd is still loads better than some of the other options out there in music land. Keep on belting it out Rufus :D!!!… Expand
  16. JoeG
    Feb 14, 2006
    10
    I consider Want One to be a work of genius. Although I'm not a big fan of the Marius de Vries style, the lush production on many tracks does justice to the many inspired musical ideas. In summary, a highly engaging and stimulating listen, although possibly a little too sophisticated for many.
  17. RobbieC
    Nov 10, 2007
    10
    Grandiose, tragic, dramatic, beautiful, and HONEST. A wonderful achievement.
  18. TraciN.
    Oct 26, 2003
    10
    In my opinion this album is near perfect manifestation of it's potential.
  19. GarthB
    Sep 25, 2003
    9
    The critics who say this album isn't up to snuff genuinely say so because they listen to justin timberlake and since rufus isn't justing timberlake, they give him low marks. Rufus is something more - he is musically lucious and his extravagence is used to match his lyrics, not overtake them. The songs here are heart-wrenching. Very little fault to be found here. There is a The critics who say this album isn't up to snuff genuinely say so because they listen to justin timberlake and since rufus isn't justing timberlake, they give him low marks. Rufus is something more - he is musically lucious and his extravagence is used to match his lyrics, not overtake them. The songs here are heart-wrenching. Very little fault to be found here. There is a reason Rufus is awesome....this is it. … Expand
  20. nathang
    Sep 25, 2003
    10
    there is something wrong with the world, when rufus wainwright isn't getting 100 100's for this one. i honestly cannot stop hearing, inside my head, every song on 'want one' at the same time...i freakin' love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! if you don't love it, too, it's not your there is something wrong with the world, when rufus wainwright isn't getting 100 100's for this one. i honestly cannot stop hearing, inside my head, every song on 'want one' at the same time...i freakin' love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! i love it! if you don't love it, too, it's not your fault...there's something wrong the world. … Expand
  21. SteveG
    Sep 25, 2003
    9
    I agree with many critics' opinions that the songs on Want One can seem a bit overproduced. One of Rufus' great gifts is for unpredictable arrangements, but occasionally Marius DeVries covers his songs with what sounds like a layer of airplane noise, leaving his already complicated sound a bit muddy. However, what works here, works beautifully! It's a testament to the I agree with many critics' opinions that the songs on Want One can seem a bit overproduced. One of Rufus' great gifts is for unpredictable arrangements, but occasionally Marius DeVries covers his songs with what sounds like a layer of airplane noise, leaving his already complicated sound a bit muddy. However, what works here, works beautifully! It's a testament to the talent of Rufus. It can be a difficult, demanding album at times, but it's well worth it. Definatley one of the year's best.… Expand
  22. JerryB
    Nov 14, 2004
    10
    A true orignal, and I believe this is the strongest CD from him so far. In this day and age of so much god awful crap out there, it is always welcome to have Rufus crooning and swooning through a collection of obscenly lush and beautiful songs. I wish there were more of this type of unashamedly gorgeous music for me to consume. MMMMM
  23. DaveV
    Dec 4, 2009
    9
    If it were not for a couple of clunker tracks, the album as a whole would have been a perfect work of art.

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Most Discussed Album of 2003
95
#95 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. The A.V. Club
    80
    Want One blows his music up to Cinemascope size.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    80
    It's a staggeringly ambitious album with an emotional complexity the like of which is rarely seen in pop music of any era, never mind this one.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    If Sondheim had been reared on old Van Dyke Parks records, he might sound like this. [26 Sep 2003, p.94]
See all critic reviews »