Casually Brilliant – Wainwright Releases A Heavenly Body of Work
by Bambi Weavil
Rufus Wainwright (MySpace) may just be one of the greatest entertainers and creators of my generation, based on his amazing songwriting talents and lively focused energy on Release The Stars. Wainwright’s voice, a glorious instrument among a orchestra of rich sound, has a vulnerable sweetness peppermint swirled with deepening experience. Release The Stars, his fifth release, produced by Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant, is incredibly personable. Wainwright has the ability to have you believing his every word and apply it to your own life experiences. “Release The Stars” has a evident opera-pop/rock presence reminiscent of Freddie Mercury’s musical vision. Wainwright’s voice is just as strong and powerful as Mercury’s and incredible as one of his idols, Judy Garland. I have never found a artist until now that I felt could truly carry this grand main event scale of music to the new generation.
Wainwright says about his songwriting focus that the songs “are built to have a series of love affairs with different settings,” and he accomplishes this flawlessly.
“Do I Disappoint You,” written originally about a close friend who no-showed his landmark Judy Garland concert last February at Carnegie Hall, kicks off the album with a humming charge built on being more than given credit for. Wainwright says “Do I Disappoint You” is the essential theme for the whole album: “It’s written about the idea that it’s time for both me and her — and, let’s say, for all people in their thirties, our generation—to let everything go and to love as much as possible and really be the best you can be as a person. Now that we’re in our prime, having scaled the wall of adolescence, ridden the train of our twenties, and been around, once you hit your thirties, the die is cast. It’s about action at this point; you have to fulfill your destiny or muddle into uselessness. That’s the essential message of the song and it is the message of the record: Now is the time to act on your desires and your dreams, to use your good side. Let’s get on with it.” And get on with it, he does.
“Going To A Town” is one of the most powerful songs on the album reminding me of Robert Frost poetry, with lyrics such as “I got a life to lead America / I got a life to lead / I got a soul to feed / I got a dream to heed / And that’s all I need ,” that Wainwright wrote in five minutes while traveling in Europe. “Tiergarten” stole my heart with the visualization of having someone to walk with you through the rain and all the elements to get to “the other side of town” or through the other side of life. “Nobody’s Off The Hook” really embodies the imperfections of all of us, recognizing them frankly, realizing that everybody falls sometimes.
“Between My Legs” with special guest speaking appearance of British actress Sian Phillips, of Masterpiece Theatre fame, champagne toasts love with a upbeat track that is sexy and charming. “Rules and Regulations” is a nice ode to knowing you aren’t as much as a masterpiece as someone else, according to everyone, and accepting it with a John Lennon flare. “Slideshow” is one of the bravest commentaries in this beautiful embodiment of work with one of my absolute favorite addiction-questioning “Do I love you because you treat me so indifferently? / Or is it the medication? /Or is it me?” love songs.
“Tulsa” is the most ambitiously fun and intoxicating song of the album, with delicious lyrics such as “You taste of potato chips in the morning / Your face has the Marlon Brando club calling. ” paying ode to a time in a town, as well as being about Brandon Flowers of The Killers.
There is so much going on in this album, a beautiful painting of constant movement, love, sadness, tribute, tragedy and triumph. If there is only one album you purchase this Spring, please make it this one. I have never been more sure of a album that is as brilliant and casual as Wainwright’s Release The Stars.
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[...] songs on the album and 23 songs on the DVD, with the main focal point being select songs from the Release The Stars release. Other highlights include a unforgettable performance of Noel Coward’s “If Love Were [...]