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Occasionally, music critics unite and universally adopt one talent and hoist them well above their peers in an effort to break said act into the mainstream. Sometimes the subject deserves is, sometimes not. For the last 10 or so years, it has been widely accepted that New York born Rufus Wainwright deserves it and yet, despite all the acclaim he’s never broken through into the real mainstream conscience.
Release The Stars, his 5th album had long been tipped to finally break that spell by the people in the know, before anyone had even heard it. After the magnificent Want One and Want Two had established a loyal fan base, surely the critic’s darling would finally get his dues. All he needed was another album of his always immaculate pop songs, torch songs and orchestral stage musicals. After doing it 4 times before, surely it would be easy.
So does it deliver?
Nope, I’m afraid it doesn’t. Not by a long way. The problems are immediately evident from the opening; “Do I Disappoint You” shows a lack of creativity that would soon become apparent through the entire album. Gone are the outstanding crafted intros that existed on previous albums. Instead choosing to start somewhere near 4th gear, it has nowhere to go, right from the start. The orchestration brought in towards the end smacks of desperation and trying to recreate past glories but it seems that Rufus has run out of ideas. In the very next track “Going To A Town” the same problems are repeated, a very sparse intro, followed by what almost breaks into a good song but lacks a killer hook. The first two songs don’t appear to have any noticeable intro or ending to them and considering that track 2 is one of the strongest on this album, it’s not looking good.
Writing this review shortly after listening to this album it’s occurred to me that I can’t remember anything about track 3 or much about the rest of the album. It genuinely lacks anything of interest and that’s something I never thought I’d say about Mr Wainwright who has shown so much creativity up until this point. The guy writes memorable songs.
To get back on track, (3) Tiergarten addresses the problems of the previous tracks, at least regarding an intro. It’s a pretty song that wouldn’t sound out of place in a 40’s musical but typically; it has that blandness too with none of Rufus’s usual spark.
Unfortunately this is sets the pattern for the rest of the album. Track after track of lushly orchestrated pop songs come and go but it’s all forgettable stuff with none of the wit, intelligence, imagination or elegance of his former efforts. It seems that in trying to go mainstream, he’s toned down all the exuberance that existed on Want One, that marked him out as such a prodigious talent.
Despite all the criticism I’ve levelled at RtS for lacking a great song, it doesn’t have a bad song on it either. It’s a solid effort that could never be called poor but it’s just not up to the standard of previous work. I think he can be forgiven for that.
There is a feeling though that Rufus Wainwright has missed his chance, he knows it and it shows in his performance, which is lacking conviction and his usual bravado.
Hopefully he will return to his former glory but a recent interview in which he seemed more interested in other projects, suggested that he’s run out of ideas. That’s the impression you’ll get from listening to Release The Stars. It’s certainly worth a listen, whether you’d go back to it afterwards though or just stick Want One on instead, is another matter.
Release The Stars, his 5th album had long been tipped to finally break that spell by the people in the know, before anyone had even heard it. After the magnificent Want One and Want Two had established a loyal fan base, surely the critic’s darling would finally get his dues. All he needed was another album of his always immaculate pop songs, torch songs and orchestral stage musicals. After doing it 4 times before, surely it would be easy.
So does it deliver?
Nope, I’m afraid it doesn’t. Not by a long way. The problems are immediately evident from the opening; “Do I Disappoint You” shows a lack of creativity that would soon become apparent through the entire album. Gone are the outstanding crafted intros that existed on previous albums. Instead choosing to start somewhere near 4th gear, it has nowhere to go, right from the start. The orchestration brought in towards the end smacks of desperation and trying to recreate past glories but it seems that Rufus has run out of ideas. In the very next track “Going To A Town” the same problems are repeated, a very sparse intro, followed by what almost breaks into a good song but lacks a killer hook. The first two songs don’t appear to have any noticeable intro or ending to them and considering that track 2 is one of the strongest on this album, it’s not looking good.
Writing this review shortly after listening to this album it’s occurred to me that I can’t remember anything about track 3 or much about the rest of the album. It genuinely lacks anything of interest and that’s something I never thought I’d say about Mr Wainwright who has shown so much creativity up until this point. The guy writes memorable songs.
To get back on track, (3) Tiergarten addresses the problems of the previous tracks, at least regarding an intro. It’s a pretty song that wouldn’t sound out of place in a 40’s musical but typically; it has that blandness too with none of Rufus’s usual spark.
Unfortunately this is sets the pattern for the rest of the album. Track after track of lushly orchestrated pop songs come and go but it’s all forgettable stuff with none of the wit, intelligence, imagination or elegance of his former efforts. It seems that in trying to go mainstream, he’s toned down all the exuberance that existed on Want One, that marked him out as such a prodigious talent.
Despite all the criticism I’ve levelled at RtS for lacking a great song, it doesn’t have a bad song on it either. It’s a solid effort that could never be called poor but it’s just not up to the standard of previous work. I think he can be forgiven for that.
There is a feeling though that Rufus Wainwright has missed his chance, he knows it and it shows in his performance, which is lacking conviction and his usual bravado.
Hopefully he will return to his former glory but a recent interview in which he seemed more interested in other projects, suggested that he’s run out of ideas. That’s the impression you’ll get from listening to Release The Stars. It’s certainly worth a listen, whether you’d go back to it afterwards though or just stick Want One on instead, is another matter.
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Occasionally, music critics unite and universally adopt one talent and hoist them well above their peers in an effort to break said act into the mainstream. Sometimes the subject deserves is, sometimes not. For the last 10 or so years, it has been widely accepted that New York born Rufus Wainwright deserves it and yet, despite all the acclaim he’s never broken through into the real mainstream conscience.
Release The Stars, his 5th album had long been tipped to finally break that spell by the people in the know, before anyone had even heard it. After the magnificent Want One and Want Two had established a loyal fan base, surely the critic’s darling would finally get his dues. All he needed was another album of his always immaculate pop songs, torch songs and orchestral stage musicals. After doing it 4 times before, surely it would be easy.
So does it deliver?
Nope, I’m afraid it doesn’t. Not by a long way. The problems are immediately evident from the opening; “Do I Disappoint You” shows a lack of creativity that would soon become apparent through the entire album. Gone are the outstanding crafted intros that existed on previous albums. Instead choosing to start somewhere near 4th gear, it has nowhere to go, right from the start. The orchestration brought in towards the end smacks of desperation and trying to recreate past glories but it seems that Rufus has run out of ideas. In the very next track “Going To A Town” the same problems are repeated, a very sparse intro, followed by what almost breaks into a good song but lacks a killer hook. The first two songs don’t appear to have any noticeable intro or ending to them and considering that track 2 is one of the strongest on this album, it’s not looking good.
Writing this review shortly after listening to this album it’s occurred to me that I can’t remember anything about track 3 or much about the rest of the album. It genuinely lacks anything of interest and that’s something I never thought I’d say about Mr Wainwright who has shown so much creativity up until this point. The guy writes memorable songs.
To get back on track, (3) Tiergarten addresses the problems of the previous tracks, at least regarding an intro. It’s a pretty song that wouldn’t sound out of place in a 40’s musical but typically; it has that blandness too with none of Rufus’s usual spark.
Unfortunately this is sets the pattern for the rest of the album. Track after track of lushly orchestrated pop songs come and go but it’s all forgettable stuff with none of the wit, intelligence, imagination or elegance of his former efforts. It seems that in trying to go mainstream, he’s toned down all the exuberance that existed on Want One, that marked him out as such a prodigious talent.
Despite all the criticism I’ve levelled at RtS for lacking a great song, it doesn’t have a bad song on it either. It’s a solid effort that could never be called poor but it’s just not up to the standard of previous work. I think he can be forgiven for that.
There is a feeling though that Rufus Wainwright has missed his chance, he knows it and it shows in his performance, which is lacking conviction and his usual bravado.
Hopefully he will return to his former glory but a recent interview in which he seemed more interested in other projects, suggested that he’s run out of ideas. That’s the impression you’ll get from listening to Release The Stars. It’s certainly worth a listen, whether you’d go back to it afterwards though or just stick Want One on instead, is another matter.
Release The Stars, his 5th album had long been tipped to finally break that spell by the people in the know, before anyone had even heard it. After the magnificent Want One and Want Two had established a loyal fan base, surely the critic’s darling would finally get his dues. All he needed was another album of his always immaculate pop songs, torch songs and orchestral stage musicals. After doing it 4 times before, surely it would be easy.
So does it deliver?
Nope, I’m afraid it doesn’t. Not by a long way. The problems are immediately evident from the opening; “Do I Disappoint You” shows a lack of creativity that would soon become apparent through the entire album. Gone are the outstanding crafted intros that existed on previous albums. Instead choosing to start somewhere near 4th gear, it has nowhere to go, right from the start. The orchestration brought in towards the end smacks of desperation and trying to recreate past glories but it seems that Rufus has run out of ideas. In the very next track “Going To A Town” the same problems are repeated, a very sparse intro, followed by what almost breaks into a good song but lacks a killer hook. The first two songs don’t appear to have any noticeable intro or ending to them and considering that track 2 is one of the strongest on this album, it’s not looking good.
Writing this review shortly after listening to this album it’s occurred to me that I can’t remember anything about track 3 or much about the rest of the album. It genuinely lacks anything of interest and that’s something I never thought I’d say about Mr Wainwright who has shown so much creativity up until this point. The guy writes memorable songs.
To get back on track, (3) Tiergarten addresses the problems of the previous tracks, at least regarding an intro. It’s a pretty song that wouldn’t sound out of place in a 40’s musical but typically; it has that blandness too with none of Rufus’s usual spark.
Unfortunately this is sets the pattern for the rest of the album. Track after track of lushly orchestrated pop songs come and go but it’s all forgettable stuff with none of the wit, intelligence, imagination or elegance of his former efforts. It seems that in trying to go mainstream, he’s toned down all the exuberance that existed on Want One, that marked him out as such a prodigious talent.
Despite all the criticism I’ve levelled at RtS for lacking a great song, it doesn’t have a bad song on it either. It’s a solid effort that could never be called poor but it’s just not up to the standard of previous work. I think he can be forgiven for that.
There is a feeling though that Rufus Wainwright has missed his chance, he knows it and it shows in his performance, which is lacking conviction and his usual bravado.
Hopefully he will return to his former glory but a recent interview in which he seemed more interested in other projects, suggested that he’s run out of ideas. That’s the impression you’ll get from listening to Release The Stars. It’s certainly worth a listen, whether you’d go back to it afterwards though or just stick Want One on instead, is another matter.