@Vulpes-Vulpes I sometimes think we share some distinct opinions on artists otherwise revered elsewhere.. Describing Rufus Wainwright as shallowly talented is exactly my view too.
To be fair, his Folkocracy was ok. About half the tracks were good, and, had I paid for it, I’d feel it sort of ok value for money. It was ok live, too.
Would “Marmite voiced”, “unnecessarily histrionic” and “dubiously atonal” be a more nuanced way of saying that that’s the humble opinion I have, after partly enjoying the first album and then being grossly disappointed by the second?
I haven’t really kept up but I thought his first 3 albums were very good. I particularly liked Want One.
I don’t own the album but saw him play All Days Are Nights – Songs for Lulu in full at Massey Hall in Toronto. First half of the show consisted of him alone at the piano going through all of it in sequence, the audience was instructed not to applaud until it was over. It was challenging, mesmerising and moving. 2nd half was more familar songs played with a band. One of my most memorable gigs. Somebody then close to me declared it the best gig they had ever seen.
How many hats does a man need? I have two: sun and woolly. From what I’ve seen of LA (admittedly little), nobody needs a winter bonce warmer, or an umbrella.
Neil Innes used to tell a story about the Bonzos’ car being pulled over by police in the southern US. The officers were surprised to find that none of the band were carrying even a knife, let alone a gun. When a policeman asked what they would defend themselves with if attacked, Viv Stanshall replied aggressively, “Good Manners!”
A friend of mine makes a good point that this is the only situation where the word “brandish” comes into its own. It’s the best word to use when raising your umbrella to deal with ruffians.
Am sure he travels to Montreal now and again, but he probably has a house/full wardrobe there too. They have had a fair bit of rain in L.A. in the last year.
In this month’s issue, Roddy Frame and his charming family welcome us to his stunning home and state of the art recording facilities, we visit Depeche Mode’s trés à la mode hideaway , and we take an intimate peek behind the front door of Donovan’s delightful pied-à-terre in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Subscribe today!
He’s fond of a primary colour. Or is he? Its’s probably less bother to sell the bloody place than paint over that in Homebase Jasmine White. At least 3 coats.
As someone who is in final contract negotiations for a property, I can say that you get a lot more for your money in Laurel Canyon than you do in South East Queensland.
The house is excellent, and gives me deep library envy.
Quite partial to a bit of RW down the years. Haven’t listened much lately, but this thread sent me back to some old favourites, not least this, which is excellent.
Well into the second decade of the Afterword, and of course a mutual deconstruction of much-loved AW personas is far more interesting than the humdrum activities of some minor folk princeling. Keep it going, chaps!
I’ve only just realised that she’s actually using the word fresh in two senses – in the Mae West “flirty” sense and the 80s hip-hop sense. Clever lass.
Whilst everyone accepts that estate agents / realtors slot in just above lawyers and just below serial killers in the social hierarchy, it must be said that the sales blurb in that ad for Wainwright Towers reaches an impressive level of piffle.
Chrisf says
Sounds like a plan – now we can all move there and still vote……
Moose the Mooche says
That’s exactly what I would expect RW’s house to look like – externally at least. Fuckin’ Hobbiton.
Presumably Fents you think Afterworders will be sold on the hatstand.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Not exactly wheelchair friendly is it? No disabled in La La Land it seems.
How on earth such a shallowly talented artist can afford such a pad is beyond me.
SteveT says
@Vulpes-Vulpes I sometimes think we share some distinct opinions on artists otherwise revered elsewhere.. Describing Rufus Wainwright as shallowly talented is exactly my view too.
Shame because his old man is so brilliant .
Vulpes Vulpes says
Thumbsup click
tropdevin says
As were his Mum and Aunt
hubert rawlinson says
And his stepfather.
Moose the Mooche says
And his father’s fathers fathers fathers.
Twang says
I bought one of his albums which was 5* in Mojo. I was appalled after 2 tracks and took it straight it to the chazza.
Moose the Mooche says
All five star reviews for anything new can immediately be dismissed as bollocks.
Gary says
Useful advice. Should I apply it to anything or just music?
Moose the Mooche says
Cables, household items, ready meals, self-catering cottages in Rhyl.
That was the worst afternoon of my life.
Vulpes Vulpes says
It applies to anything made in China, particularly electrical goods.
hubert rawlinson says
Saw him with mum and aunt and other family members, he was the least enjoyable.
retropath2 says
To be fair, his Folkocracy was ok. About half the tracks were good, and, had I paid for it, I’d feel it sort of ok value for money. It was ok live, too.
Moose the Mooche says
He’s had a lot of music in films, which is where the big money is these days.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
His first couple of albums were superb, to describe him as “shallowly talented” is just plain Wrong. IMHO obviously
Vulpes Vulpes says
Would “Marmite voiced”, “unnecessarily histrionic” and “dubiously atonal” be a more nuanced way of saying that that’s the humble opinion I have, after partly enjoying the first album and then being grossly disappointed by the second?
dai says
I haven’t really kept up but I thought his first 3 albums were very good. I particularly liked Want One.
I don’t own the album but saw him play All Days Are Nights – Songs for Lulu in full at Massey Hall in Toronto. First half of the show consisted of him alone at the piano going through all of it in sequence, the audience was instructed not to applaud until it was over. It was challenging, mesmerising and moving. 2nd half was more familar songs played with a band. One of my most memorable gigs. Somebody then close to me declared it the best gig they had ever seen.
fentonsteve says
Yes, he seems to be a real marmite “best thing I’ve ever seen” or “‘e’s alrite, I s’pose”.
Musicians I know like him. I prefer Martha.
Junior Wells says
Fruity is the word for his stuff, too fruity more precisely.
Moose the Mooche says
….thanks for that clarification from the faculty of the Philosophy Department of the University of Woolloomooloo
Bingo Little says
Perhaps a different word would be preferable here, all things considered.
Moose the Mooche says
The AW is a repository for all things ‘heritage’ – music, culture, social attitudes…..
Bingo Little says
Pretty sure it’s inadvertent in this instance.
Moose the Mooche says
Characteristically generous.
Junior Wells says
Is it regarded as a slur ? If so, it was inadvertent.
fentonsteve says
How many hats does a man need? I have two: sun and woolly. From what I’ve seen of LA (admittedly little), nobody needs a winter bonce warmer, or an umbrella.
Moose the Mooche says
If a fellow isn’t carrying a brolly, what the devil can he do when he’s assailed by ruffians?
Throw a hat at them I suppose!
Harrrrumph.
Steve Walsh says
Neil Innes used to tell a story about the Bonzos’ car being pulled over by police in the southern US. The officers were surprised to find that none of the band were carrying even a knife, let alone a gun. When a policeman asked what they would defend themselves with if attacked, Viv Stanshall replied aggressively, “Good Manners!”
Black Celebration says
A friend of mine makes a good point that this is the only situation where the word “brandish” comes into its own. It’s the best word to use when raising your umbrella to deal with ruffians.
Moose the Mooche says
It’s also useful for a substantial housewife in a headscarf brandishing a rolling pin when her husband rolls in drunk and four hours late for his tea.
dai says
Am sure he travels to Montreal now and again, but he probably has a house/full wardrobe there too. They have had a fair bit of rain in L.A. in the last year.
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks for posting that, Steve. A fascinating glimpse at a celebrity home.
I suppose those AWers who read Hello magazine see this kind of thing all the time.
Moose the Mooche says
AWers don’t read Hello! magazine, we read Hey, Maaan magazine.
Lots of cover stories about our hairy heroes, like, getting their heads together in the country.
Slug says
In this month’s issue, Roddy Frame and his charming family welcome us to his stunning home and state of the art recording facilities, we visit Depeche Mode’s trés à la mode hideaway , and we take an intimate peek behind the front door of Donovan’s delightful pied-à-terre in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Subscribe today!
pawsforthought says
It’s OK, but have you got one like this in beige? There’s a bit too much colour going on and that bear’s head rug will have to go.
Moose the Mooche says
Where’s his “Live, Love, Laugh” scatter cushions and the big photograph of three pebbles?
Man’s a savage.
pawsforthought says
Move over coffee, it’s time for prosecco
Beezer says
He’s fond of a primary colour. Or is he? Its’s probably less bother to sell the bloody place than paint over that in Homebase Jasmine White. At least 3 coats.
fortuneight says
No pool? Only 2 car park spaces? Pah!
This is more like it.
Podicle says
As someone who is in final contract negotiations for a property, I can say that you get a lot more for your money in Laurel Canyon than you do in South East Queensland.
Moose the Mooche says
I’m just wondering how much you would get in London for that money. A shared wardrobe perhaps?
Vulpes Vulpes says
A reserved shop doorway.
Moose the Mooche says
With spikes on the ground so you don’t linger, you vermin
Bingo Little says
The house is excellent, and gives me deep library envy.
Quite partial to a bit of RW down the years. Haven’t listened much lately, but this thread sent me back to some old favourites, not least this, which is excellent.
Moose the Mooche says
That’s not a library, it’s a pretty averagely appointed charity shop.
Trust you to like him….. Millennial catnip – “Ohhh, I’m so hard done by, me” 😉
Bingo Little says
Where the Afterword zigs, one often zags. That and I like an expressive voice paired with outré stage costuming.
Oh, and Millennial? I wish. Gen X (Xennial at best).
Moose the Mooche says
You posted that even though you believe it might be against the grain of the perceived tastes of the AW?
Reeling…. stunned….
Bingo Little says
Over a long enough timescale each of us eventually descends into self-parody.
Only a matter of time until I can just send AI Bingo in here to post the gratingly inevitable while I enjoy cocktails by the pool.
Moose the Mooche says
While I was off the AW I just thought, surely everyone knows what I would say at any point by now? Do I actually need to be present?
thecheshirecat says
Well you would say that, wouldn’t you? Oh, hang on …
salwarpe says
Well into the second decade of the Afterword, and of course a mutual deconstruction of much-loved AW personas is far more interesting than the humdrum activities of some minor folk princeling. Keep it going, chaps!
Moose the Mooche says
Mutual deconstruction? Honey, you’re fresh 😏
salwarpe says
That reminds me, we haven’t had a good electro thread for a while. Break out the Shannon and the Lovebug Starski
What is he like?
Moose the Mooche says
I’ve only just realised that she’s actually using the word fresh in two senses – in the Mae West “flirty” sense and the 80s hip-hop sense. Clever lass.
Slug says
Whilst everyone accepts that estate agents / realtors slot in just above lawyers and just below serial killers in the social hierarchy, it must be said that the sales blurb in that ad for Wainwright Towers reaches an impressive level of piffle.
yorkio says
That place was built in 1926. I think I’m more interested in who might have lived there back then and over the years than its current owner.
thecheshirecat says
I agree. What first brought Laurel Canyon into existence? What would those first residents have made of what it became?
Twang says
I have a lovely book about Laurel Canyon which is now available at ridiculous prices. That goes into the history…
Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon by Harvey Kubernik (October 06,2009) https://amzn.eu/d/9LB0A3u
nigelthebald says
Published 300 years (and change) before I was born?