Rufus Wainwright — Release The Stars

With his penchant for excess, one would fear that in self-producing a record for the first time, Rufus Wainwright would cross the thin line from multi-layered complexity into ridiculous self-indulgence. However, this is happily not the case with Release The Stars. Maybe it's due to the influence of executive producer Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys), or more likely to Wainwright's maturation from drug-addled party-boy to focused sobriety — with composing as his new addiction of choice. Either way, Release The Stars is a stunning new path etched into Wainwright's musical journey, and a welcome return after the intriguing but uneven Want albums. The heavily orchestrated pomp and sheer magnificence of "Do I Disappoint You," "Between My Legs" and "Slideshow" are aptly balanced by the spare and sombre "Leaving For Paris No. 2" and "Going To A Town." Lyrically, Wainwright is still equal parts wry, self-effacing, politically astute and arrogantly poetic. His classical influences and brilliant pop sensibilities continue their love affair in this musical masterpiece.