Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars
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Track:Release the Stars
Mog Stars out of ten: 9“Do I disappoint you, in just being human?”...it’s hardly the most uplifting way to start an album, but then you don’t go to Rufus Wainwright looking for joy. Coming from a singer-songwriter pedigree that anyone would be proud of, he was nominated for awards for his own tunes since the age of 14, but while his musical career has gone from strength to strength he has suffered many demons, from crystal meth abuse to sexual assault and it is this darker side of life that Release The Stars is spawned from. From the outset the melodies are haunting and the lyrics bitterly poetic and poignant. Opener Do I Disappoint You? is heartfelt and angry, Wainwright’s vocals reinforced by sharp string sections, whilst Going to a Town is a delightfully understated, beautifully simplistic attack on America (post 9/11, anyone?). But rather than continue down the route of political ramblings, Wainright soon returns to his introspective best. Cascading ballad Tiergaten is certainly one of the album’s highlights, while Between My Legs hides a bittersweet love song behind an emphatic stomp. Not Ready to Surrender is perhaps the most haunting of the songs on the album, while Slideshow displays a beautiful sense of longing, and perhaps the strangest lyric on the album: “I better be prominently featured in your next slideshow”. Wainwright is without doubt one of the best songwriters in the world. He brilliantly interweaves classical arrangements (including here a wonderful sample of, believe it or not, The Phantom of the Opera) with poetic lyrics. The result is a sound that is both intricate and delicate. Wainwright at times seems like the band behind him are the only things stopping him from breaking down. Yet this is no shrinking violet, though doleful these songs are delivered with confidence and enjoyment, the sincerity that shines through a testament to his singing ability. Ranging from melancholy to marvellous melodies this is a triumphant album. The arrangement and songcraft are top notch, while the execution is flawless. On listening you are transported to Wainwright’s world of big bands and sad tales; and you will surely enjoy the visit. Definitely worth a listen or five.
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