Unfollow the Rules: The Paramour Session

by Rufus Wainwright

Overview

In lieu of touring at a point relatively early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, Rufus Wainwright livestreamed a physically distanced concert in late June of 2020 in anticipation of the July release of his album Unfollow the Rules. Featuring only Wainwright, a pianist, a guitarist, and a string quartet, Unfollow the Rules: The Paramour Session is an abbreviated version of the performance, which took place in the ballroom of the Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles. Of the album's ten tracks, seven were taken from the titular studio album. Sweetening the pot are two previously unreleased songs and a gripping, stripped-down version of the melancholy "Going to a Town" from 2007's Release the Stars, in which he airs frustrations with America. Essentially the whole album is engrossing, however, as Wainwright's charismatic performance style and larger-than-life vocal delivery are audible on a recording that takes advantage of the space's natural reverb and minimal accompaniment. Songs like the title track and "My Little You" are largely loyal to the studio versions, as piano pieces to begin with. While removing drums, the former re-creates the original's eerie, sliding string tones. Other tracks, like the intense, operatic "Devils and Angels (Hatred)," sound like more than the sum of their parts. Thoughtfully sequenced for live effect, he follows "Devils and Angeles (Hatred)" with the understated "Only the People That Love" ("may fly"), which mixes acoustic and atmospheric electric guitar accompaniment. Wainwright closes the set with the two song premieres, "Treat a Lady" and "Happy Easter." The former is a playful piano ballad of manners set in New York, and, set in quarantine, the lyrical "Happy Easter" will connect with listeners wondering how relationships make it to the other side. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/10/2021
Label:	Bmg
UPC:	4050538655278
Rank:	106079

Tracks

1. Unfollow the Rules
2. Damsel in Distress
3. This One's for the Ladies (That Lunge!)
4. My Little You
5. Going to a Town
6. Peaceful Afternoon
7. Devils and Angels (Hatred)
8. Only the People That Love
9. Treat a Lady
10. Happy Easter

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rufus Wainwright   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Brian Green   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Rebecca Schlappich   Violin
Eliza James   Violin,Soloist
Jacob Mann   Piano,Celeste
Danica Pinner   Cello
Jayna Chou   Viola

Technical Credits

Maxim Moston   Arranger,String Arrangements
Bob Ludwig   Engineer
John Loeffler   Producer
Rob Moose   Arranger,String Arrangements
Rufus Wainwright   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Jorn Weisbroedt   Producer
Will Kennedy   Producer
Paula Quijano   Producer
Chris Sorem   Engineer