Rufus Wainwright – Rufus Wainwright (1998)

"Rufus Wainwright" is the self-titled debut studio album by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released on May 19, 1998, by DreamWorks Records.

The release of this album was a major event in the music industry: Rolling Stone magazine named Wainwright "Best New Artist of the Year," and the album itself cemented the young musician's status as one of the most original composers of his generation. The son of folk music legends Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, Rufus did not follow in his parents' footsteps, but instead created his own unique, monumental style.

The release was produced by the renowned Jon Brion, who helped transform Rufus's intimate piano sketches into luxurious, multi-layered sonic canvases.

Rufus Wainwright's debut album is a sumptuous, exuberant, and theatrical album that defies all the trends of late-1990s alternative rock. It's the perfect entry point into the artist's work for those seeking complex harmony, cinematic scope, and high-flown Broadway-operatic drama in pop music.