Part the seas; Rufus Wainwright and his notoriously angelic voice have reappeared. While his previous release, Want One, was a collection of incomparably accessible and thought-provoking songs, Wainwright takes this compilation of masterpieces in a different direction. As he puts it, Want Two has "the more daunting tracks, the operatic, weird stuff, some heavy numbers that relate to my classical sensibilities."

Indeed, the orchestra that lent its sweetness to Want One has something of a stifling effect on its sequel’s tracks. That may be indicative of Wainwright’s desire to portray this album as a more introspective, deeply focused work of art depicting the trials and tribulations of life.

In Want Two, Wainwright’s voice flows into the music itself, uniting it with orchestra and instruments. The flow of the songs on this album is the journey of his life, flanked by the obviously classical inspirations that course through the songs.

Want Two includes a DVD portion with footage from "Rufus Wainwright Live at the Fillmore." One would assume such an artist to be a brooding type, but in the film, Wainwright nearly skips around San Francisco. When the footage goes to his concert at the Fillmore, and Wainwright opens his mouth to sing his first song, we hear the most beautiful voice, and all but the music is forgotten. Some of the most memorable songs include the much-heralded cover of "Hallelujah" as well as "The Art Teacher" and "Dinner at Eight."

Wainwright’s Want Two is a serious, loving portrayal of a mind’s inner workings. The orchestral and classical lines flowing throughout are impeccably rendered and Wainwright’s voice perfectly accompanies these graceful melodies. The songwriting is, as usual, immaculate, and with it, Wainwright turns Want Two into an absorbing, captivating counterpart to its sister album.

Grade: A