Album review: Rufus Wainwright – ‘Milwaukee At Last!!!’ (Decca)

Drama queen steps back and showcases the songs

The popular image of Mr Wainwright is of a petulant, opera-loving egotist. The type of guy who’d blast into a funeral, screeching “Where are the garlands dedicated to me?” as the congregation attempt to sing ‘Ave Maria’ over the coffin. ‘Milwaukee At Last!!!’, however, attempts to subtly re-shift the focus away from him and onto his songs. And as a bite-size CV of the last five years of his career, it’s pretty good. Whether he’s addressing the personal in ‘Nobody’s Off The Hook’, about BFF Teddy Thompson, or the Big Topics on ‘Going To A Town’ (a portrait of the Bush-infected US), what stands out is his Randy Newman-like quality of mixing lyrical economy with an ear for an ever-so-sombre, opulent melody.

Priya Elan

Click here to get your copy of Rufus Wainwright’s ‘Milwaukee At Last!!!’ from the Rough Trade shop.

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