RUFUS WAINWRIGHT > All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu

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RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

All Days Are Night: Songs For Lulu

(DECCA)

[Rating: 2 stars]

This is more a philosophical question than anything else, but what’s the opposite of a work of art growing on you over time? Can we agree to use “shrinking”? If so, then Rufus Wainwright’s new album, All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu, shrinks on you. It shrinks on you until you feel confident you could fit it comfortably in your wallet or even use it as a toothpick.

It’s doubtful that if Wainwright were to read this review, it would hurt his feelings or affect him at all. By releasing All Days Are Nights, he’s already made it perfectly clear he doesn’t really care what anyone else thinks. This is a very personal album—the first since the death of his mother in January of this year. It’s Wainwright, a piano and nothing else. It’s naked. It’s bare. It’s just the essentials.

And it’s not very good.

Maybe the problem is that the album is too personal. The album cover is Wainwright’s eye staring out at you. The lyrics are written in his scrawling handwriting. There’s a song about his sister. There’s one sung in French. This album is a diary, though not a very interesting one.

Wainwright can do better than this—just look at past albums like Poses and Want One. Other than one two-minute long blast of ragtime—“Give Me What I Want and Give It to Me Now!”—there’s no variety to the album. There are no crescendos, no peaks or valleys. It’s a straight line all the way through, which, as we all know from watching medical dramas on TV, can only mean one thing—the lack of a pulse.

7 Comments

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  1. This is a horrible review and I am horrified that these music editors are so blind. This album is absolutely beautiful and a true work of art! Rufus Wainwright has more talent and creativity in his blood than any songwriter of his time. Maybe you just can’t understand his musical mastery because you haven’t studied music like he and other excellent musicians have. Remember this is art! Sorry you are fishing for a “hook”, you won’t find one here…that’s what Brittney Spears and Rhianna are for…go listen to them and stop reviewing music that is obviously way beyond your intellect.

  2. The writer of this review just spilled his musical ignorance in
    a poorly written review. I would consider finding Something you understand to write about. Useless opinion. just listen to the album for yourself and stay clear from this spoon fed bullshit.

  3. “it’s a straight line all the way through, which, as we all know from watching medical dramas on TV, can only mean one thing – the lack of a pulse” WHAT THE HELL IS THIS MATT POPKIN GUY TALKING ABOUT? The fact that he uses information he learned by watching TV Medical Dramas to somehow validate this obviously bogus claim makes him sound rediculously ignorant. Yo Matt, turn off the TV and clean the wax out of your ears…there’s more to music than full production. Oh, and the fact that Matt fails to mention anything about rufus’ piano efforts on the album indicates just what kind of a poor listener he is.. Stick to MTV Matt, it’s easier.

  4. I completely disagree with this review. The album has built on what Rufus has done in the past, is compelling, complex, and quite beautiful. I believe it is my favorite out of all of his albums, and I believe he just keeps getting better. His compositions and lyrics are just brilliant in this album. I highly recommend a second listen.

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