2008 Woodie Awards
'Releasing a Star' in Rufus Wainwright's New Album
Katie Nichols
Contributing Writer
Issue date: 6/11/07 Section: Entertainment
"Release the Stars" marks the fifth full-length album from singer-songwriter pianist Rufus Wainwright.
"Release the Stars" provides the same lush arrangements and melodic vocals that is now a trademark of a Wainwright album.
However, it is more focused on his personal life. Many of the songs are odes to friends such as Brandon Flowers of The Killers and Lorca Cohen, the daughter of composer Leonard Cohen.
"Going to a Town," the first single, is a lament on being unsatisfied with the current state of affairs in America. The song is moved by Wainwright's woeful and questioning baritone voice with a simple yet beautiful piano line underneath.
This song sets the mood for what the listener is to expect from this album.
"Release the Stars" begins with "Do I Disappoint You," which is a deluge of musical instruments with an Eastern world sound.
It also provides the sumptuous, swirling tour de force that listeners have grown to expect on Rufus Wainwright's releases. Another anticipated element is background vocals provided by Rufus' equally talented sister, Martha.
"Tiergarten" is a Pet Shop Boys-inspired song that poses the inevitable question of how committed a person is to their love. This also poses as a nice juxtaposition to the smooth, flowing "Going to a Town" that precedes this song and "Nobody's Off the Hook" that follows this track.
"Nobody's Off the Hook" is an example of Rufus Wainwright's classical influence and style. This track shows the beautiful simple line of music that Wainwright creates and sometimes covers with a multitude of instruments and voices. Also, it displays Wainwright's flexible and wide vocal range.
The title track is very much a salute to one of Rufus Wainwright's idols, Judy Garland. This song features the established 1940s big-band, show-closer style that Garland perfected in her music variety shows.
"Release the Stars" is an ideal follow-up to the previous albums "Want One" and "Want Two."
It also proves once again that Rufus Wainwright is a talented singer-songwriter pianist who is going to be creating beautiful and unique music for many years to come -- much to the delight of his fans.
"Release the Stars" provides the same lush arrangements and melodic vocals that is now a trademark of a Wainwright album.
However, it is more focused on his personal life. Many of the songs are odes to friends such as Brandon Flowers of The Killers and Lorca Cohen, the daughter of composer Leonard Cohen.
"Going to a Town," the first single, is a lament on being unsatisfied with the current state of affairs in America. The song is moved by Wainwright's woeful and questioning baritone voice with a simple yet beautiful piano line underneath.
This song sets the mood for what the listener is to expect from this album.
"Release the Stars" begins with "Do I Disappoint You," which is a deluge of musical instruments with an Eastern world sound.
It also provides the sumptuous, swirling tour de force that listeners have grown to expect on Rufus Wainwright's releases. Another anticipated element is background vocals provided by Rufus' equally talented sister, Martha.
"Tiergarten" is a Pet Shop Boys-inspired song that poses the inevitable question of how committed a person is to their love. This also poses as a nice juxtaposition to the smooth, flowing "Going to a Town" that precedes this song and "Nobody's Off the Hook" that follows this track.
"Nobody's Off the Hook" is an example of Rufus Wainwright's classical influence and style. This track shows the beautiful simple line of music that Wainwright creates and sometimes covers with a multitude of instruments and voices. Also, it displays Wainwright's flexible and wide vocal range.
The title track is very much a salute to one of Rufus Wainwright's idols, Judy Garland. This song features the established 1940s big-band, show-closer style that Garland perfected in her music variety shows.
"Release the Stars" is an ideal follow-up to the previous albums "Want One" and "Want Two."
It also proves once again that Rufus Wainwright is a talented singer-songwriter pianist who is going to be creating beautiful and unique music for many years to come -- much to the delight of his fans.
Be the first to comment on this story