SOUND NT JUDGEME

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

UNFOLLOW THE RULES

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT ★★★★ ★

F SCOTT Fitzgerald wrote there are no second acts in American lives, but Wainwright says Frank Sinatra, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon produced their finest work when they hit their 40s, and, now he is at that age himself, he’s aiming to do the same.

First single Damsel In Distress, all strings, woodwind and references to Chelsea skies, is a homage to Joni Mitchell and Laurel Canyon, where he now lives, and the classic 70s LA sound, while the title track is a piano-led ballad.

Despite its title, Wainwright isn’t breaking the rules here, but he’s as good a songwriter as is working right now and at the peak of his powers.

NONE OF US ARE GETTING OUT OF THIS LIFE ALIVE

THE STREETS ★★★ ★★

THIS marks the first full-length Streets record since 2011, and fans will be pleased to know it also marks a significant upturn in quality from some of the more recent releases.

The Brummie-cum-Londoner has always championed urban talent and often the record is a showcase for them rather than him. Among the highlights are Donae’o and Greentea Peng on the dubby I Wish You Loved You As Much As You Love Him and Jesse James Solomon, a south-east London poet-rapper in some ways made in Skinner’s image, whose collab on I Know Something You Did is perhaps the pick of the bunch.

CINEMA PARADISO

KATHERINE JENKINS ★★★ ★★

THERE are few surprises on Cinema Paradiso.

In fact, the greatest surprise is that it took Katherine Jenkins so long to record an entire album of songs from the glittering world of film. The Welsh mezzo-soprano and bona-fide national treasure’s 14th studio effort features an array of favourites and its CD is certain to become a best-seller among her fans.

Jenkins’ voice is of course beautiful and she attacks each composition with gusto.

For the casual listener hoping for a dose of nostalgia, this is as good as you’ll get.