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Rufus Wainwright
Folkocracy
BMG
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It isn’t surprising that after 25 years of challenging the popular music status quo, Rufus Wainwright is still creating conversation. And in that decades-long expanse—across nearly 20 albums, in studio and live iterations—Wainwright’s journey in song has seen him utilize his own material and that of others. Whether adapting sonnets from William Shakespeare or reviewing Judy Garland’s rich catalog, Wainwright’s interpretive gifts are just as powerful as his own writing-composing skills.
Wainwright’s interpretive abilities guide him on Folkocracy, his twelfth studio recording. It’s an enterprising collection of various folk (or folk-based) selections spanning from modern to traditional, American to Scottish, political to romantic, and everything in between. Returning to the traditional element, there are six—out of the album’s total 15 tracks—which meet that description: “Down in the Willow Garden,” “Shenandoah,” “Hush Little Baby,” “Cotton Eyed Joe,” Arthur McBride,” and “Wild Mountain Thyme.”
The remaining nine songs find Wainwright mining several beloved songbooks: Ewan MacColl (“Alone”), Peggy Seeger (“Heading for Home”), The Mamas & the Papas (“Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)”), Neil Young (“Harvest”), Louis “Moondog” Hardin (“High on a Rocky Ledge”), Ellen Keho’ohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast (“Kaulana Nā Pua”), Van Dyke Parks (“Black Gold”), Franz Schubert and Matthäus Casimir von Collin (“Nacht und Träume”). Wainwright also throws in his own standard “Going to a Town” from his fifth album, Release the Stars (2007).
Heightening the already impressive scale of stock curated for Folkocracy is its cast of supporting characters. Wainwright has never shied away from artistic allyship; he teamed with fellow Canuck pop wonder Carly Rae Jepsen last year on the title track of her sixth set The Loneliest Time (2022) to critical cheers. For this outing, Wainwright assembles an eclectic roster ranging from his heroes, peers and family to join him on all but two cuts: Anohni, Andrew Bird, David Byrne (band leader of Talking Heads), Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Madison Cunningham, Susanna Hoffs (of Bangles renown), Chaka Khan, Lily Lanken, John Legend, Anna McGarrigle, Van Dyke Parks, Nicole Scherzinger (frontwoman of the Pussycat Dolls), Chris Stills, Chaim Tannenbaum, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche.
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The talents of Wainwright’s guests are deployed accordingly: they play their respective instruments, provide backing vox or duet with him. Folkocracy has a communal vibe, but the main man himself is never overshadowed. Best among these collaborations? “Heading Home” with John Legend and “Wild Mountain Thyme.” The latter entry is truly a family affair as Wainwright partners with his late mother’s colleague Chaim Tannenbaum, aunt Anna McGarrigle, cousin Lily Lanken and siblings Lucy and Martha.
Sonically, Folkocracy negotiates a gorgeous compromise between indie-pop grandeur and a roots-rock intimacy thanks to production from the legendary Mitchell Froom; he shepherds the additional session musicians gathered to create the acoustic-chamber pop paradiso awaiting listeners here. Emotion and theatricality remain touchstones for Wainwright’s vocal approach and his solo spotlights in “Shenandoah” and “Nacht und Träume” bring these qualities to bear beautifully.
Folkocracy is another well-rounded offering from this artist—simply put, there’s really no one quite like Rufus Wainwright.
Notable Tracks: “Heading Home” | “Nacht und Träume” | “Shenandoah” | “Wild Mountain Thyme”
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