Rufus Wainwright - Poses [US Bonus Track]

Talented chamber pop troubadour Rufus Wainwright followed up his startlingly fresh debut album with the 2001 release Poses. While his self-titled first album was very much a work by Wainwright (aided by his contributing producers), Poses seems to be more of a group effort, with the young composer allowing the other performers on the album to lend their talents, creating an even fuller, more "live" sound. Both Wainwright's younger sister Martha and son of british folk near-legends Richard and Linda Thompson, Teddy Thompson contribute harmony vocals which soar above Rufus' affecting moan like the choir he must hear in his head. Produced by Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan), the album continues the same outstretched, enveloping sound established by Wainwright's earlier work, but contributors like contemporary composer Damian le Gassick and Propellerheads' Alex Gifford push in different directions, adding understated drum loops and gritty beats in unexpected places. Above all of the studio gimcrackery and pedigreed guest stars floats Wainwright himself, whose introspective, wry, and heart-wrenching songwriting remains his true strength (although his leisurely operatic tenor is not far behind). The clunking, loping "Greek Song" evokes the sprawl of an impossible Ingmar Bergman spaghetti Western, while the swaggering "California" shows a sunny exterior masking the song's satirical sneer. Amidst this sonic barrage, a high point comes in the cover of patriarch Loudon Wainwright III's "One Man Guy." Performed by Rufus, Martha, and Teddy Thompson's simple acoustic guitar, these three grown children of the '70s folk movement embrace the song faithfully, basking in their own harmonies and offering a respite from the blissfully lush orchestral pop that surrounds it. While Poses shows growth and worthwhile exploration, the album's "group" feel suffers only slightly from being less intimate than Wainwright's first album. Although his contributors add much, there was something blushingly personal about his debut that may have gotten a little buried this time around. That being said, Poses is still a spectacular album, brimming over with Wainwright's trademark popera and young romantic wishes. At times the album is beautifully discordant and sonically chilling, but often hints at warm grins with mischievous winks. [Poses was re-released in 2002 with the addition of Wainwright's cover of the Beatles' "Across the Universe," his contribution to the I Am Sam soundtrack.] ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alex Gifford Flute (Alto), Bass, Guitar, Clarinet (Bass), Producer, Piano Ally McErlaine Guitar Armen Garabedian Violin Ashwin Sood Drums Becca Ware Viola Benmont Tench Organ (Hammond) Berj Garabedian Violin Bernadette Colomine Vocals (Background) Bob Becker Viola Bob Clearmountain Mixing Brian Leonard Violin Brigid Button Violin Bryan Martin Engineer Carla Antoun Cello Charles Everett Violin Chris Potter Mastering Christine Giguere Cello Damian leGassick Producer, Drum Programming, Guitar, String Arrangements, Mixing, Keyboards Dan Savant Leader Dan Smith Cello Dennis Farias Trumpet Dominique Grand Engineer Ethan Johns Guitar (Electric), Engineer, Guitar, Drums, Producer Frances Pennington Creative Director Geneviève Beaudry Violin Greg Hay Viola Greg Wells Producer, Bass, Keyboards, Remixing, Guitar (Electric), Drums Gregg Arreguin Guitar Hilary Skewes Cello Howie Weinberg Mastering Ian Rathbone Viola Janet Wolsborn Art Direction Jean Marc Leblanc Violin Jean Paquin French Horn Jeff Hill Vocals (Background), Bass Jim Keltner Drums Joe Chiccarelli Engineer, Mixing Joel Derouin Violin Joey Waronker Drums Jon Lewis Trumpet Julianna Raye Vocals (Background) Julie Dupras Viola Ken Schles Photography Kevin Hupp Drums Lenny Waronker Executive Producer Mario Diaz de Leon Violin Martha Wainwright Vocals (Background) Matt Funes Viola Mélanie Bélair Violin Michele Richards Violin Normand Forget Oboe Pete Thomas Percussion, Drums Pete Wilson Guitar (Bass) Peter Kent Violin Phillip Broussaard Assistant Engineer Pierre Marchand Engineer, Mixing, Producer, String Arrangements, Piano, Bass Richard Causon Chamberlin, Vocals (Background), Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer Roberto Cani Violin Rudy Stein Cello Rufus Wainwright Keyboards, String Arrangements, Piano, Vocals, Art Direction, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocal Harmony, Dobro Sarah Button Violin Sean Lennon Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic) Stéphane Allard Violin Steve Richards Cello Steve Sidelnyk Drum Programming Suzie Katayama Leader, String Arrangements Teddy Thompson Vocals (Background), Guitar Tom Banghart Engineer, Remixing Victor Indrizzo Drums Wilma Hos Viola Yves Desrosiers Mandolin, Banjo, Slide Guitar, Guitar