lambchops's Full Review: Release the Stars by Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright dedicates this fifth album to his mother Kate McGarrigle "who still whispers in my ear that I'm great." This bit of humility and humanity go to show that even the most gifted of artists suffer from uncertainty sometimes. Release The Stars features some of the most beautiful, evocative, and creative songs I've heard in a long time. Sure I own all of Wainwright's albums, but there is something very special with this one. Something I hope you will discover a trace of in my words and in your (future) purchase.
Release The Stars (Geffen, 2007) features the talented singer, songwriter, and musician also in the role of producer. While I don't think the overall product is on par with 2001's Poses it does rank alongside his self titled 1998 debut and 2004's Want Two. As with all things, opinions are a very personal thing but I fail to see how listeners won't be impressed by Release The Stars on multiple levels even if it does have some minor flaws.
Each of Wainwright's albums has a theme, if not in tone definitely in sound. In the case of this album it definitely is in cinema. Release The Stars is everything that is great in music with an air of confidence, some major theatrics, but entirely lacking in pretension. I hate pretentious things, and this is certainly not. Having dug through this CD with a fine toothed comb I can admit that I have once again fallen in love with Wainwright. He is an enigma in music today--classic and current, wild and wonderful, emotional and evocative. Artists like my dear Rufus are few and far between.
Opening with the most theatrical song on this album and on any other Wainwright offering, Release The Stars is consistently excellent save for a few merely average offerings. Do I Disappoint You barely qualifies as pop. Sure his overall category is probably pop, but there is an air of confidence that makes this song feel more like something off of a film score. Wainwright’s voice is an instrument—the strings, trombone, flute, and percussion are his backing symphony. It is truly excellent and along with later songs Between My Legs, Not Ready to Love, and Release the Stars the most remarkable of offerings.
Going to a Town continues in the vein of excellence. The song’s simple, quaint sound is dominated by a piano and very light percussion. The bittersweet tone is well suited to the style listeners have come to expect from Wainwright. About halfway through, backing female vocals are added to the mix as is a strummed guitar. It feels almost like a prelude to the rest of the album. Third song, Tiergarten is unusually bouncy and chipper. The inclusion of a timpani and harp helps set the song apart. It is a delicate, magical, and melodic offering even if it doesn’t strike me among the best.
Softly cinematic sounds help set Nobody’s Off the Hook apart. It is a classic song. The instruments are nothing like what you would expect from “pop” but still it sounds like something that will appeal to both young and old. Wainwright thinks about his music as a whole work. He creates sounds that resonate. The final line, the title, is softly muttered alongside a lovely piano and violin. Between My Legs is up next, and is an easy choice as album favorite. Immediately striking, it has a faster pace and sounds more like a regular pop song. Of course Wainwright does things a little different. In this case, the song is immediately memorable—it is a multi-faceted gem that makes me smile with its youthful exuberance. In fact, I’m reminded of U2. It sounds very much like something that band would do but features instead Rufus’ even-keel voice.
Release The Stars impresses even in the middle bit when many other albums tend to wane in quality. Rules and Regulations opens with an upright bass. I love the use of horns throughout. It’s hard to ignore the trumpet, tuba, and trombone. Not Ready to Love is another personal pick. It sways gently with the divine pairing of an acoustic guitar and Wainwright’s voice. Toward the middle of the song, percussion, backing vocals, and electric guitars all make an appearance. At this point I get the strange feeling that I’m hearing a modern rendition of a classic Pink Floyd track. Regardless of comparisons, I can’t help but be impressed.
Slideshow and Tulsa are my two least favorite. The former is beautiful, but doesn’t offer the creative verve of other songs. Sister Martha is on backing vocals so it is a bit disappointing it didn’t translate better. I do like that there are some blues elements, but it really does little for me. Tulsa is fine enough, but really doesn’t add anything to the overall product. It features a sound I enjoy from Wainwright (sparkly playfulness, Broadway drama, strings) but it goes nowhere. Fortunately Leaving for Paris No. 2 does simple right. Vocals, piano, and bass are the only elements. The fact that it is so lovely with such limited resources is a tribute to the singer-songwriter’s talent. The final whispered word, “goodbye,” echoes in my heart.
Sanssouci translates as “carefree” in French is also a German palace. My suspicion is that the song is about the castle as much of Release the Stars refers to Deutschland. It is upbeat, straightforward, and emphasizes melody. I like it, but there are better songs here. The title track and album ender is perfect. A perfect example of Wainwright’s talent it features an emotional, timeless sound. If I didn’t know better, I’d be hard pressed to identify the era from whence Release the Stars came. It is very old Hollywood drama with trombones, backing vocals, and harmonies that work beautifully together.
Overall Release The Stars has some issues, but I’m mostly in love with every note and thought. Wainwright is uniquely and richly talented. I can think of no better way to spend $15. Unless, of course, you haven’t purchased Poses.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Do I Disappoint You
02. Going to a Town
03. Tiergarten
04. Nobody's Off The Hook
05. Between My Legs
06. Rules and Regulations
07. Not Ready to Love
08. Slideshow
09. Tulsa
10. Leaving for Paris No. 2
11. Sanssouci
12. Release the Stars
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