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Release The Stars Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 76 Ratings

  • Summary: The singer-songwriter self-produced (with the help of Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant) this follow-up to 'Want Two.' Richard Thompson guests.

Top Track

Going To A Town
I'm going to a town that has already been burnt down I'm going to a place that has already been disgraced I'm gonna see some folks who have already... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 33
  2. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Complex, melodramatic, ambitious, vain, beautiful and frequently magnificent - Release the Stars may not yield many chart hits, but it feels like an album that will endure.
  2. It’s as warm and forgiving and generously tender a collection of songs as you’ll hear all year.
  3. His melodies — and what melodies they are — are drowned out by the bombast. But he still yearns more beautifully than anyone.
  4. Billboard
    70
    Though the final third of the album drags a touch as Wainwright lets up on the heart-pounding melodrama, the highs here are exceptional. [19 May 2007]
  5. Release the Stars is a coherent, sophisticated exposition of the usual Wainwright themes, but it won’t be the shooting-into-mainstream pop-rock opus Wainwright was potentially hoping for.
  6. The real problem with Stars is that the most poignant, affecting songs sound like natural, and somewhat neutral, follow-ups to his other songs.
  7. The outlandish baroque-cubed excess here, from the warbling chorales to the bleating woodwinds, weighs down track after track after track after track.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 58
  2. Negative: 3 out of 58
  1. JasonV.
    Aug 3, 2007
    10
    I think music lovers so respect and revel in Rufus' music, that many of them desperately want to see him reach the level of what the I think music lovers so respect and revel in Rufus' music, that many of them desperately want to see him reach the level of what the media tells us is great. I'm personally glad he's not Rob Thomas, or Fergie. 40 years from, when the pop mainstream as we currently know it is lumped into a genre of the time, Rufus Wainwright will be noted as a genius and standout, who's work will continue to intrigue and inspire musicians and music lovers for generations to come. I don't think we'll be able to say the same for Maroon 5, but man they sure do know how to get on the charts!!!....who cares? Rufus is one of the greatest composers of our generation...try and enjoy it. Collapse
  2. ElizabethA
    May 15, 2007
    10
    Simply amazing. Rufus has definitely done it again.
  3. EdwardR
    May 30, 2007
    10
    As a long-time Rufus fan, this is by far his best CD to date. All 12 tracks are stunning, it has a cohesive whole, and the melodies and hooks As a long-time Rufus fan, this is by far his best CD to date. All 12 tracks are stunning, it has a cohesive whole, and the melodies and hooks are impossible to get out of your head. A fantastic release. Expand
  4. wander
    May 3, 2007
    9
    best album from rufus - great job
  5. joser.r
    May 22, 2007
    9
    It´s very absurd the ratings in your web....This records belongs to more than 80 category. You posh people of the press !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It´s very absurd the ratings in your web....This records belongs to more than 80 category. You posh people of the press !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It our new Mozart but you don´t notice. So keep listening Panda Bear and go insane men!!!! Expand
  6. MattD.
    May 22, 2007
    7
    The production is just too much after a while, but his mind is very active, leading to quite a few thrilling moments.
  7. elizag
    May 17, 2007
    2
    big fan of the first four cds; he laid an egg with this one. 2 stars for a few moments with potential--going to a town has a decent hook, but big fan of the first four cds; he laid an egg with this one. 2 stars for a few moments with potential--going to a town has a decent hook, but is too strident, sanssouci is melodic but trite, tulsa has some amusing cheekiness to it. been a fan since poses, hoping rufus can finally produce a breakout album and get the widespread acclaim he deserves. this is not that album, tho--too bad. Expand

See all 58 User Reviews