
RAISING THE RUFUS Wainwright reaches for the Stars on his new CD, with all sorts of bells and whistles competing with the undeniable melodies
Ellis Parrinder
Credits
Release Date: May 15, 2007; Lead Performance: Rufus Wainwright; Genre: Pop
B+
Last summer, in a rave-reviewed show, Rufus Wainwright channeled Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, and now he's writing an opera. His ambitions, it seems, are increasingly outsize, and on Release the Stars, his fifth studio album, it feels like a mere pop album can't contain him. Alas, adorned with more strings, horns, choirs, and piccolo flute (!) than ever, his melodies and what melodies they are are drowned out by the bombast (see: the syrupy ''Nobody's Off the Hook''). But he still yearns more beautifully than anyone.
Posted May 09, 2007
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You Might Also Like
- Music Review Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall | Chris Willman
- Music Commentary Album covers that rock | Raymond Fiore
- 5 Reasons to Live Finally! An ''Idol''-free week! | Ken Tucker
- Download This Hear hot new tracks from Rihanna, Timbaland, Linkin Park, and more | Leah Greenblatt, Simon Vozick-Levinson


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