Rufus Wainwright has answered the hype.
After being named by Rolling Stone as the best new artist in 1998 and garnering a spot on many top-ten albums lists that year, Wainwright has released an intimate, personal portrait of himself in Poses.
On tracks like "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" Wainwright mainly looks inward. Though he offers suggestions to listeners about how to cope with their problems, he says about himself, "I'm just a little bit heiress, a little bit Irish/ A little bit Tower of Pisa/ Whenever I see ya/ So please be kind if I'm a mess," offering no claim that he is at peace with himself - though he dispenses advice.
Wainwright's vocal prowess is best illustrated in the title track, in which he paints a picture of the rise and fall of a young man who gets sucked in and spit out by the city.
"There's never been such grave a matter/ As comparing our new brand-name black sunglasses," typifies the feeling the young man has while in the throws of the life he thinks he enjoys.
Only after being "drunk and wearing flip-flops on Fifth Avenue," does Wainwright's character realize it's time to leave the beast that has consumed him.
"California" is a song that features not only Wainwright's keenly observational songwriting but also his multi-instrumental talent. Wainwright examines the stereotypes and hype about the Golden State when he sings, "You're such a wonder/ That I think I'll stay in bed." He also plays the guitar, dobro and piano that appear on the track.
