995. Want Two

Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
2004

Tracks
1. Agnus Dei
2. The One You Love
3. Peach Trees
4. Little Sister
5. The Art Teacher
6. Hometown Waltz
7. This Love Affair
8. Gay Messiah
9. Memphis Skyline
10. Waiting For A Dream
11. Crumb by Crumb
12. Old Whore's Diet

This is a companion piece to Wainwright's earlier album "Want One." I really liked his previous entry, so I was excited to listen to this as well. It complemented the mood and style of the earlier album perfectly.

Wainwright experiments with many different styles of music. Amazingly, he sometimes shifts those styles in the middle of songs. He does this without making the track seem all over the place or out of focus. I liked it best when he went with an Eastern style of music but the reggae tribute was interesting as well.

More than anything, Wainwright is a great storyteller. I tend to hang onto to every word. Good stuff.

RATING: 4/5

892. The Soft Bulletin

The Soft Bulletin
Flaming Lips
1999

Tracks
1. Race For The Prize
2. Spoonful Weighs A Ton
3. Spark That Bled
4. Slow Motion
5. What Is The Light
6. Observer
7. Superman
8. Suddenly Everything Has Changed
9. Gash
10. Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
11. Sleeping On The Roof
12. Race For The Prize (2)
13. Superman (2)

I am welcoming every non electronica/metal album that comes along with open arms, just because it is such a refreshing change of pace. I think I would have really enjoyed this even if I wasn't starved for other genres.

I really enjoyed the lyrics in this album, and the use of catchy hooks throughout. It actually gave me prog rock flashbacks, which are less traumatic than they sound. Not every song was especially engaging, but there were enough quality tracks sprinkled throughout to keep the album consistently good. 

A four star album in 1999 is a rare find indeed.

RATING: 4/5