Poses (album) - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

Overall, reception of the album was positive. Allmusic's Zac Johnson called the album "spectacular", "brimming over with Wainwright's trademark popera and young romantic wishes". He further described Poses as "beautifully discordant and sonically chilling", but an album that "often hints at warm grins with mischievous winks". In his review for Pitchfork Media, Joe Tangari characterized Poses as an "epic album that speaks with grand gestures and a refined eloquence rare in young songwriters". In addition, Tangari complimented Wainwright's ability to express himself and suggested that his voice improved, becoming less of an acquired taste. Blender's Lisa Gidley asserted the album cemented Wainwright as the "most sardonic iconoclast", and that well-worn topics from obsession to culture shock are "skewered in fresh ways". Radio Telefís Éireann contributor Tom Grealis stated Poses is "infused with a rare charm and wit, magnified by Wainwright's sharp lyrical touch and vocal melodies", and that "Papa must be proud".

Some were more critical of the album. Referring to the numerous producers and guests artists that collaborated with Wainwright on the album, Johnson stated the album's "'group' feel suffers only slightly from being less intimate" than Wainwright's debut album. The Guardian's John Aizlewood praised Poses for being brighter and more focused than Rufus Wainwright, but described the title track as dreary and "Shadows" as "schmaltzy". Sal Cinquemani of Slant described Wainwright as "gloriously pompous", partly due to the "pretentious" French verses and the "blaring" French horns sprinkled throughout the album.

Following is a table of 2001 "end of year" list placements by various publications: