Rufus Wainwright

Unfollow the Rules

In Froom’s expert hands, ‘Unfollow The Rules’ feels like a gentle stroll through the various stages of Rufus’s career; far from creating the impression of Rufus covering his own back catalogue, the effect is like a timely reminder of everything that’s wonderful about Wainwright.

While intended to hark back to the debut, at least in subtle ways, Wainwright's growth as a composer/arranger and his experiences in the classical realm are apparent here.

The burst of energy on Unfollow the Rules might come as a surprise, but perhaps not an inexplicable one; the energy once spent blazing the trail forward is now spent dancing in place.

It is a relief to see Wainwright honouring his formidable songwriting talents with songs as luscious as those on Poses or Want One.

Wainwright has returned with a generous and positive record that suggests a more mature, philosophical perspective, thankfully without losing his impish sense of humour and taste for lavish arrangements.

Unfollow the Rules is full of Wainwright’s trademark flair, with lush, symphonic arrangements set next to stripped-down piano ballads.

To coin a phrase, Unfollow the Rules, like Wainwright himself, contains multitudes.

Wainwright’s 10th studio album is a lush, engaging study in domestic bliss.