I'm so tired of America

[vovat]

I've listened to two fairly new albums this week. The first was Rufus Wainwright's Release the Stars. bethje, her Uncle John, and I are going to be seeing Rufus in concert tonight, so I figured I should probably hear his latest album. After all, that IS usually what a musician tends to emphasize in live shows. Beth is more of a fan of Rufus' than I am. I think he has some really good songs, but I don't generally have the desire to listen to him in large doses. Maybe it's the somewhat dour, droning quality to his voice (which isn't to say that he's not a good singer). I did like the album, though. I think my favorite song on it is "Going To A Town."

The other album is Rasputina's newest one, Oh Perilous World, which I didn't even know existed until I saw it in a music store while shopping for an anniversary gift for Beth. I gave it to her, but I'm not sure she's gotten around to listening to it yet. It's pretty typical of their work, both musically and lyrically, but that's not a bad thing. There seems to be more of a thematic progression between songs than on their previous albums, with one track sometimes referencing something from an earlier one. The bonus disc is also pretty cool. It includes a humorous spoken-word bit about genetic engineering, and the Pat O'Brien version of "The Pruning."

Season 10 of The Simpsons (i.e., the one where the premise for pretty much every episode was Homer getting a wacky new job) is now out on DVD, but I don't have it yet. I checked at Target today to see it they had it in stock, and they did, but it cost $40! I thought they usually sold it at a discount in the first week, but maybe that's only for the first day.

Comments

[loz]

I really like "Release the Stars" - almost as much as "Want One".

I can listen to Rufus for hours for days, but then I need to take a big, long break and don't listen to him for a few weeks.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

I think I'm that way, too. I'd been listening to Rufus and nothing else at work these last two weeks, and now I think it's going to be awhile before I do again. Although seeing him live makes me appreciate his albums even more, which makes me appreciate seeing him live even more and back again. I was thinking that I like Want One or his self-titled album the best.

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

I really haven't heard much of Rufus beyond "Hallelujah" making it into the first Shrek movie. At first, I didn't like the song very much; too sad I suppose. But then I've come to love the song as one of my favorites on the Shrek soundtrack. All I know of him is that he's a great singer. I hope you have/had fun at the concert! I'm jealous!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

A lot of people have covered "Hallelujah," but Rufus' is probably my favorite. He did it in concert both times I saw him.