# Rufus Wainwright Appreciation Society **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706 "2002-04-09T18:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706/21 "2002-04-20T13:07:57Z")
After repeated listenings to the self-titled debut, I’ve concluded that, based on the song _Beauty Mark_, there is not enough Timpani in popular music today. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706/22 "2002-04-26T19:31:41Z")
> [@](#): > > **And Art is right, in my opinion. The first album is better. So brace yourself.** Well, I really didn’t think it possible for me to like another offering as well as _Poses_ but, by God, I do. The songs **April Fools** and **Imaginary Love** are amazing. There is not a clunker on either of the discs. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706/23 "2002-04-26T23:33:39Z")
Personally, my favorite track is **Barcelona**. You can download the video for _Across the Universe_ at his website, [rufuswainwright.com](http://www.rufuswainwright.com). So, you ready for some more music recommendations? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2002, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706/24 "2002-04-27T05:03:39Z")
Yeah, actually. Got any? I’m in a CD shopping kinda mood. (tiny little hijack) Is Loudon Wainwright’s music good? I read some of his lyrics, and they’re quite hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706/25 "2002-04-27T16:31:30Z")
I’m kind of iffy on Loudon’s music; I find it too simplistic and self-consciously folksy. Funny stuff, sometimes poignant, but I generally can’t listen to his albums more than once or twice. So, on to the recommendations. While he doesn’t have Rufus’ voice, quite, [Josh Rouse](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,662004,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Josh+Rouse) does have a brilliant and original approach to songwriting, and a style that, while referencing country music’s straightforward emotion, incorporates subtlety and a profound sense of longing. I recommend starting with his first album, _Dressed Up Like Nebraska_, which can actually be found in cutout bins fairly frequently. The song _The White Trash Period of My Life_ has actually been featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. [Clem Snide](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,678322,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Clem+Snide) uses a county foundation to create the sort of music that reminds me of a line in a Dylan song: “the country music station plays soft, but there’s nothing, really nothing to turn off”. It’s country music from a dream, heartbreaking, mournful, joyous, strange, beautiful, and lush. A good place to start, for me, was their second album, _Your Favorite Music_. Lastly, for now at least, there’s [Wheat](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,661680,00.html?src=search&artist=Wheat). The band I’d most love to see live. The music is quietly magnificent, with soaring, simple, powerful lead guitar, straightforward but deep production, and a great sense of melody. Add in vocals and lyrics that show genuine emotion, and you’ve got, in my opinion, the best band working in America today. And of course, their third album is being held up in contract negotiations. Argh. But either of their first two, _Medeiros_ or _Hope and Adams_, is probably enough to get you hooked. The links I’ve provided go to UBL, and from there you can get to the artists’ individual web pages, as well as samples and more background information. And that’s the word from your friendly neighborhood music recommendation specialist. Tune in next week, when I’ll be finding out if I like the first album by [Vermont](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,887922,00.html?src=search&artist=Vermont) as much as I liked _Calling Albany_. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706/26 "2002-05-13T03:15:14Z")
Another feather in the boa for Rufus. His song _Poses_ was played during the closing credits of _Queer as Folk_ tonight. Oh, **MrVisible** , I haven’t had a chance to get ahold of any of your other recommendations, but I’m still swooning over Rufus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rufus-wainwright-appreciation-society/102706.md?page=1)