Review: Rufus Wainwright delights shoppers
By CNN's Manashi Mukherjee
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A jet-lagged but cheerful Rufus Wainwright played just five songs to avid fans in London but he was still applauded enthusiastically.
Some of the audience came from as far away as Edinburgh, Scotland, to see their favorite musician perform in the HMV record store in the British capital on Tuesday evening.
The son of American folk-singer Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian Kate McGarrigle was in town to support his latest release "Want One," and told humorous anecdotes in between tunes.
Wainwright joked during the show that he had mistakenly told radio listeners earlier in the day that he would be playing at "HIV" later that afternoon.
Most of the area in front of the stage was blocked off for media, and audience members had to stand between aisles of music.
Latecomers had to stand behind metal barricades that blocked off the back of the store where the singer-songwriter belted out his tunes, accompanied only by a keyboard.
For people standing in the back, it was difficult to hear due to the chatter of the customers who were surprised by the concert going on in the back of the enormous three-floor record store. Oxford Street's busy traffic and pedestrian noise also interfered with the ambience, and it was a disappointingly short performance.
Even though he was tired from having just flown in for this UK promotional tour, Wainwright's strong voice captivated his audience who barely moved during the show.
His musical talent was evident in the intertwining of the keyboard notes with his strong, sultry singing. Any further accompaniment would have seemed over-ambitious.
Fans lined up for over an hour after the performance to get their CDs signed. Wainwright, having commented on his jet-lag during the show, graciously stayed and chatted with people afterwards.
Wainwright's latest effort was released on September 23, 2003, by Dreamworks Records, the first of two installments from his recent recording sessions in New York's famous Brownsville Studios. The next record, "Want Two" is due out this fall.
 Wainwright is scheduled to tour the UK in late October and November. |  |
His previous albums "Rufus Wainwright" (1998) and "Poses" (2001) have already earned him critical acclaim as well as an adoring fan-base. He is known for his hauntingly personal lyrics, his melodic and soulful voice, and his remarkable orchestral arrangements.
People who are unfamiliar with Wainwright's work will know his captivating, yet simple, voice and piano-only version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" that was featured in the 2001 "Shrek" soundtrack.
He has also inherited his parents' gift for music. In his Web site biography, Wainwright says about his recording sessions "I attempt to get the most out of every possible creative situation that I can. I tend to be a sponge."
Among the all-star cast (including David Bowie/Madonna/Massive Attack/Bjork producer Marius de Vries, veteran guitarist Charlie Sexton and legendary drummer Levon Helm, among many others) of players on his latest record, his famous mother is featured on banjo and accordion, and his sister Martha sings backing vocals.
Wainwright's efforts are also featured on the iTunes Music Store, with an exclusive release of a four-track EP that did not make it onto Want One. These songs were recorded in the New York apartment session that occurred before the team moved to the Brownsville Studios.
Wainwright is currently on tour in the U.S. with bands Guster and Ben Folds. He is scheduled for a UK tour in late October and November.
