Rufus Wainwright, the orchestral-pop singer/songwriter who wowed critics and culled a devoted fanbase with his 1998 self-titled debut, will release his second album, Poses, on April 17, publicist Jim Merlis said.

Like Rufus Wainwright, which included the songs "Danny Boy" (RealAudio excerpt) and "Imaginary Love" (RealAudio excerpt), Poses will be released on DreamWorks and feature production by Pierre Marchand, longtime knob-twiddler for Sarah McLachlan. Hole/Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur (a schoolmate of Wainwright) and the Propellerheads' Alex Gifford guest on the record.

Of particular note among the tracks on Poses is a cover of "One Man Guy" (RealAudio excerpt of Loudon Wainwright III version.), a song by Wainwright's father, the fabled sarcastic folk-rocker Loudon Wainwright III, from his 1985 album, I'm Alright. The younger Wainwright is accompanied on the tune by his sister, Martha (their mother is singer/songwriter Kate McGarrigle of the McGarrigle Sisters), and Teddy Thompson, the son of British master-class guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson. The younger Thompson released his own self-titled record last year.

Other tracks include "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" and "Grey Gardens," which was inspired by a documentary of the same name about two eccentric relatives of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who chose to live in a dilapidated mansion.