The singer/songwriters working today who point to Tin Pan Alley and Broadway musicals as central inspirations can be counted on an index finger. Rufus Wainwright is quite an anomaly--but, then again, he's the son of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle. Wainwright has been compared to Randy Newman for his piano-based orchestral sense, but unlike Newman, he rarely turns those poppy conventions against themselves: he's always sentimental and sincere about the fluff he explores. When he drives his melodies and lyrics hardest--as on the Beatlesque "April Fools" and the barroom "Matinee Idol"--his considerable imagination is most convincing and entertaining. Fans of folk simplicity should skip this one, but the more adventurous may find the charm in Wainwright's ambitious debut. --Roy Kasten

uuid:	4D132953-BA4E-4999-87A0-064C001046B2
upc:	0600445003927
tracklisting:	Foolish Love Danny Boy April Fools In My Arms Millbrook Baby Beauty Mark Barcelona Matinee Idol Damned Ladies Sally Ann Imaginary Love
title:	Rufus Wainwright
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	19-05-1998
price:	$11.98
net Rating:	4.5
last lookup time:	137383360
genre:	Chamber Pop Adult Alternative
fullTitle:	Rufus Wainwright
currentValue:	$6.00
created:	137383344
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD
asin:	B000007SFM
artist:	Rufus Wainwright