Rufus Wainwright
Unfollow The Rules
BMG
After excursions into opera, Rufus Wainwright has returned to pop for ‘Unfollow The Rules’ ‘which is produced by Mitchell Froom, who has worked with Crowded House, Paul McCartney and Suzanne Vega in the past, with a richness to his production work that compliments Wainwright’s songs – rather than smothering them. ’Unfollow The Rules’ is split into three acts with songs that reflect on middle-age, love and the social and political climate that we wake up to each day on both sides of the ocean.
Act I opens with the dry wit of the rock/pop hybrid sound of ’Trouble in Paradise’ that is followed by the folk-pop of ‘Damsel in Distress.’ Situated near Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills is Laurel Canyon, which is steeped in cultural history. During the 1960’s, Jim Morrison of The Doors was shacked up there. If that wasn’t enough, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have or still reside in the area. Joni Mitchell is relevant to Rufus Wainwright’s this his ninth album. As is Laurel Canyon to Wainwright who lives there happily with his husband.
Wainwright’s partner introduced him to the music of Joni Mitchell. Later on: Wainwright and Mitchell hung out together and the song ‘Damsel in Distress’ is a splendid tribute to her. On the orchestral title track ‘Unfollow The Rules’ Wainwright sings about the differences in getting what you want compared to what you really need. ‘You Ain’t Big’ is a country infused track that you could imagine Johnny Cash singing at Folsom, which takes a tongue in cheek look at the somewhat outdated music industry belief that if you are not big in the ‘Heartland’ of America – then you are not big at all.
Act II includes the majestic sweetness of ‘Peaceful Afternoon’ that will surely go down as being one of Wainwright’s best, as he sings emotively about the years spent with his partner, as will ‘Only The People That Love.’
Act III sees Wainwright addressing the social turmoil of now with ‘Hatred’ which is like the younger brother of the magnificent ‘Going To A Town’ from many moons ago. Act III comes to an end with the Sinatra like ‘Alone Time.’
‘Unfollow The Rules’ is an immaculate multi-faceted collection of songs that will resonate for years to come.
Words: David Norbakht
4/5
‘Unfollow The Rules’ out July 10th
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