Release The Stars - Rufus Wainwright > Reviews > Rufus Wainwright Release the stars

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Pop genius
Disadvantages:	Slight lack of quality control

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Wainwright is a genius; the trouble is, he knows it. His earlier albums have apparently sold poorly for the simple reason that they’re too complicated and, quite frankly, too camp. “Want two,” the last album, opens with some fanciful string and vocal arrangements that’s a version of an old Latin prayer or something, but track two is a fantastic pop tune.
For his new album, Wainwright has toned down his camp-ness by recruiting, er, a Pet Shop Boy (Neil Tennant). The PS Boys know all about being camp and being hugely successful and “Release the stars”, while still being ornate and over the top, is firmly a pop album.
Wainwright’s voice is fantastic, carrying emotion and sentiment at the same time as sounding slightly bored; he also sounds like a world weary singer in a back street gay club, probably draped around a harp and wearing gold angel wings.
Tennant has cut out the more flamboyant and annoying bits and orchestral music dominates the album, though this time without swamping the poppier and quieter tunes. One song, however, still manages to close with a flourish from “Phantom of the opera” complete with closing notes from a harp. To paraphrase, it’s pop, Jim, but not as we know it.
Lyrically, the songs are about lust and relationships, thought the state of America also comes into it. Guitarist Richard Thompson, singers Neil Tennant and Martha Wainwright, pianist Sian Phillips and Joan as Policewoman all appear.