Release The Stars

2007, May 15

Apple Spotify Singer-Songwriter Chamber Pop Baroque Pop 93 Geffen Pitchfork 6.7/10 A.V. Club C NME 2.5/5 Rolling Stone 3/5 All Music 3/5 Under The Radar 5.0/10 The Observer 5/5 Slant 3.5/5 Pop Matters 7/10 The Guardian 4/5 music OMH 5/5 Sputnikmusic 4.0/5 Uncut 8/10

Pitchfork 6.7/10 Continuing in the tradition of 2003/04's double-shot of Want One and Want Two, Release the Stars finds this singer-songwriter flitting between opposite poles-- lovestruck and glib, opulent and gimmicky, overblown and undercooked-- with rumpled uncertainty.

A.V. Club C The son of singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folkie Kate McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright has released a fairly stunning self-titled debut. While his folk pedigree suggests an obvious career path, Wainwright's music has as much in common with cabaret as it does Pete Seeger: Like Randy Newman's early,…

The Observer 5/5 Pop's risque Wagner is back and more ambitious than ever. Don't sing these songs in public, though, warns Stephanie Merritt.

Slant 3.5/5 Rufus Wainwright must have one hell of a rolodex.

The Guardian 4/5 (Dreamworks)