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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Do I Disappoint You |
| 2. Going To A Town |
| 3. Tiergarten |
| 4. Nobody's Off The Hook |
| 5. Between My Legs |
| 6. Rules and Regulations |
| 7. Not Ready To Love |
| 8. Slideshow |
| 9. Tulsa |
| 10. Leaving For Paris No. 2 |
| 11. Sanssouci |
| 12. Release The Stars |
| 13. Do I Disappoint You |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Recorded in Berlin and executive produced by the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, Rufus Wainwright's fifth album offers an ounce of restraint from the man that dressed up as Sir Lancelot's crossed girlfriend Lady Shallott on the cover of his last. Well, not really. Having fallen in love and curbed his self-destructive streak, the New York-born singer-songwriter has certainly sharpened his wit on Release the Stars but the songs remain as ornate and over-the-top as ever, drawing as much inspiration from opera and the musical theater as the desire to purge personal demons. So while Wainwright spends considerable time here pondering the state of the world ("Going to a Town") and his own battles with drug and sexual addiction ("Sanssouci"), every note is punctuated by a choir, orchestral swell, or big burst of brass. It wouldn't be Rufus with anything less. --Aidin Vaziri
Review
Martha's older brother returns with the melodrama and operatics reined in but with his writing and arranging skills intact and enhanced. That's not to say that the intervening period since Want Two hasn't been filled with flamboyance. Announcing to the world that he's writing an opera 'based' on Maria Callas and staging a note-for-note recreation of Judy Garland's legendary 1961 Carnegie Hall concert certainly bumped up his already well-publicised sexuality. But any worries that he's painting himself into a rather pink corner are immediately swept away by Release The Stars. The boy is simply, fabulously and stunningly talented.
And being swept away is essentially what listening to Rufus Wainwright is like. All the usual elements are here. The louche, barely-formed vowels, the smatterings of operatic chorus and German lied and the way with a song's dynamics that are somewhat akin to a switchback ride: Swooping climaxes and gorgeous choruses aplenty. But here Rufus returns to Want One's more digestible and commercial format.
It's significant that the man who's now been through rehab and grown up in public now takes charge of the production duties (with executive help from Neil Tennant). There's a welcome maturity here in both his choice of cohorts (sister Martha, Marius de Vries and Teddy Thompson along with his dad, Richard, on guitar) and his lyrical subjects. There's still the chronicling of drugs and debauchery ('Sans Souci', 'Between My Legs' ) or love's foibles and frustrations ('Tiergarden', 'Rules and Regulations' and 'Do I Disappoint You') but his wry humour now packs a greater universality.
Also tellingly Release!features his first pointedly political song in 'Going To A Town', which responds to the failings of his adopted homeland. However this is Rufus Wainwright, not the Dead Kennedys, and when he sings 'I'm so tired of America', it's more ennui than ire that drives his muse.
The highlight in a field of jewels is the pairing of the achingly melancholic 'I'm Not Ready For Love' followed by "Slideshow"; a track that leaves you breathless, ending with the more optimistic couplet: 'Do I love you? Yes I do...'. His sense of European classical tradition lifts anything out of the ordinary, and yet there's enough pop-tinged variety here to keep the undeniable campness from getting too heavy. Release The Stars has to be one of the releases of the year! --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can understand why Release The Stars has disappointed *some* of Rufus Wainwright's fans. But I suspect they may be resentful that he has tried to produce a more popular style of music. With admittedly only a week's acquaitance, I have enjoyed this album more than any of the first four.
His last studio album, 'Want Two', was a niche record for a loyal audience. But I think Rufus had reached a limit for that particular type of music. It was difficult to tap into as a new listener, and wasn't a record for all occasions (Rufus himself said that it should never be played at dinner parties: "I think it would make everybody regurgitate blood and then turn into werewolves."). Release The Stars feels like it enjoyed an easier birth, and the music is more enjoyable for it. My personal favourites are 'Do I Disappoint You', 'Going To A Town', 'Tiergarten', 'Rules and Regulations', and 'Sanssouci'. 'Slideshow' and 'Tulsa' have wonderful back stories and lyrics to match. In fact, it is a very consistent album.
In years to come, I think this will be regarded as a more complete piece of work than his previous efforts. It feels imbued with a stronger sense of melody, restraint and care. It is therefore more advanced, but also more accessible to fans and newcomers. For that, it should be highly applauded. Start or continue your Rufus fan-ship here!
His last studio album, 'Want Two', was a niche record for a loyal audience. But I think Rufus had reached a limit for that particular type of music. It was difficult to tap into as a new listener, and wasn't a record for all occasions (Rufus himself said that it should never be played at dinner parties: "I think it would make everybody regurgitate blood and then turn into werewolves."). Release The Stars feels like it enjoyed an easier birth, and the music is more enjoyable for it. My personal favourites are 'Do I Disappoint You', 'Going To A Town', 'Tiergarten', 'Rules and Regulations', and 'Sanssouci'. 'Slideshow' and 'Tulsa' have wonderful back stories and lyrics to match. In fact, it is a very consistent album.
In years to come, I think this will be regarded as a more complete piece of work than his previous efforts. It feels imbued with a stronger sense of melody, restraint and care. It is therefore more advanced, but also more accessible to fans and newcomers. For that, it should be highly applauded. Start or continue your Rufus fan-ship here!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
On first listen I felt disappointed with this album but now I love it. There is only one weak track (track 4) in my opinion, the others are either instantly brilliant or need a bit of careful listening. The lyrics are clever and revealing as ever and the songs range from full ochestration to Rufus and a piano. I particularly like the recorder at the end of Rules and Regulations and the little theme from Sanssouci that gets inside your head. You just never know what to expect with RW - Slideshow starts off as a bit of a gloomy lovesong and turns into a meglomaniac's call to be "prominently featured in your next slideshow". Witty, fun and beautiful to listen to.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am a huge Rufus fan & this album is equally as great as his previous four....lush string arrangements (being a classical violinist I am really impressed & moved by these gorgeous sounds!), beautiful soaring flute & harp....orchestral & full sounds. His lyrics are poignant & heartfelt as ever. All of the songs are real gems. I really love Tiergarten but every song is really amazing!! This CD has been on repeat since I bought it only yesterday & I just can't get enough!! With each play, you hear something else underneath all the layers of beauty. Buy this now, you won't regret it!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
release the second generation wainwright
I am a great admirer of this guys Mum and Dad - particularly his Mother and Aunt -the wonderful mcgarigle sisters. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by Mr. D. J. Smith
A Brilliant Album....Rufus is a genius for our time!
I fell in love with Rufus Wainwright's music irrevocably listening to this, my first of Rufus' albums. Read more
Published on 2 July 2009 by Susannah
Probably buy this album
Having been introduced to Rufus Wainwright by 'Want Two,' I was initially intrigued and relieved by this album's similarly dense composition, and occasionally dischordant... Read more
Published on 10 April 2009 by C. E. Foster
pretty good,whats next for rufus?
Its not bad i originally came know rufus music through hearing track 2 going to town and loved it,i discovered it at the liberary and each track grew on me,especially... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2009 by Ms. A. N. Akuffo
I so much wanted to like this
I so much wanted to like this CD. I have listened to it several times,and tried to get something positive out of it. I have failed . Track after track of self indulgent meowing. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2008 by avid fan
21st Century Renaissance Man
Restraint is a quality not easily ascribable to Mr.Wainwright.
"More is More" rather than "Less" shall be his epitaph. Read more
"More is More" rather than "Less" shall be his epitaph. Read more
Published on 22 April 2008 by The Wolf
Does anyone know when Rufus will be touring the UK again?
I first time heard Rufus Wainwright was at the end of Brokeback Mountain, where they play "The Maker Makes". Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2007 by Angelfish
Five out of Five
Can't believe some of the reviews here. I've been a fan of Rufus since Poses and this CD is every bit as good as his previous 4. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2007 by Mr. M. J. Morris
a unique talent
This was the first RW album I bought and was soon followed by his others. If you're reading this in an undecided mood, I would say that it is impossible to pigeonhole Rufus BUT,... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2007 by Jack Henderson
Four Star Release!
This has probably been my most eagerly awaited album this year so far (with the possible exception of Arcade Fire) and anyone who owns Poses, Want One and Want Two will know why. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2007 by A. Sweeney
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