Rufus Wainwright: A Star Released

"I always thought that the combination of my voice with Jeff Buckley's could turn any straight man gay," Rufus Wainwright told a sold-out crowd at northern Virginia's Wolf Trap last summer. Whether music has such a power, I'm not sure; I am sure, however, that Wainwright's Release the Stars is a complete representation of his beautifully soothing voice. Complementing Wainwright's voice are skillfully constructed symphonic-rock arrangements that seek to say, "this is an album you can't just listen to--you have to listen to it."

The melancholy opener, "Do I Disappoint You," is certainly not disappointing, but sets the pensive mood of the record while showing off woodwinds, brass, and string arrangements. The lead single, "Going to a Town," juxtaposes a simple piano part with a serious proclamation:

Making my own way home, ain't gonna be alone
I've got a life to lead, America
I've got a life to lead
I got a soul to feed
I got a dream to heed
And that's all I need

This album is truly a complete musical offering; there really is not a weak track. The emotive "Nobody's off the Hook" briefly reminds us of Wainwright's operatic beginnings, while the blue-grass tinged "Between my Legs" samples the well-known descending scale motif from The Phantom of the Opera. Wainwright seems to add to a generation past with the cocktail-lounge friendly "Leaving for Paris No. 2," while still staying current, as he addresses the "stars" of Hollywood in the album's title-track. Perhaps Wainwright puts it best, describing this album as an extreme deviation from his plan to write a simple, black-and-white record:

“My intentions were completely foiled,” he explains. “It was like I slipped on a creative banana and all of a sudden, arrangement after arrangement, song after song started tumbling. I don’t really know what happened.”

We can all be glad for whatever happened. Wainwright proves that there really is no substitute for musical talent coupled with a keen artistic vision.

The Report Card
Vocals: A
Lyrics: B+
Instruments: B+
Album art/Packaging: B
Release the Stars: A

Preoder the album here (for under ten bucks!)
Check out this article from Harp Magazine

Hear for Yourself
"Going to a Town"
"Nobody's off the Hook"
"Leaving for Paris No. 2"