Folkocracy

Folkocracy
Studio album by Rufus Wainwright
Released	June 2, 2023 (2023-06-02)
Genre	Folk, Americana[1]
Length	60:50
Label	BMG
Producer	Mitchell Froom
Rufus Wainwright chronology
Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios (2022) Folkocracy (2023)

Folkocracy is a studio album by Rufus Wainwright, released by BMG on June 2, 2023.[2][3][4]

Composition

Folkocracy was produced by Mitchell Froom. Guests on the album include Anohni, Andrew Bird, David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Madison Cunningham, Susanna Hoffs, Chaka Khan, John Legend, Anna McGarrigle, Van Dyke Parks, Nicole Scherzinger, Chris Stills, and Chaim Tannenbaum.[5]

Promotion

"Down in the Willow Garden" served as the lead single.[5] "Heading for Home" was the second single released.[6] "Harvest" was released as the third single soon after.

A video for "Twelve-Thirty (young girls are coming to the canyon)", a short promotional video for "Hush Little Baby" and a live performance video in the studio of "Alone" were released as well in June and July 2023.

Over the summer, the album was promoted by the Folkocracy tour, on which most of the album was performed live with a band that included Rufus' sister, Lucy Wainwright Roche.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	7.3/10[7]

Pitchfork rated the album 7.3 out of 10.[7]

Track listing

Folkocracy track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Alone" (featuring Madison Cunningham)	Ewan MacColl	3:14
2.	"Heading for Home" (featuring John Legend)	Peggy Seeger	4:22
3.	"Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)" (featuring Susanna Hoffs, Chris Stills and Sheryl Crow)	John E.A. Phillips	3:42
4.	"Down in the Willow Garden" (featuring Brandi Carlile)	Charlie Monroe	3:05
5.	"Shenandoah"	Traditional	3:17
6.	"Nacht und Träume"	Franz Schubert Matthäus von Collin	2:41
7.	"Harvest" (featuring Andrew Bird and Chris Stills)	Neil Young	3:03
8.	"Going to a Town" (featuring Anohni)	Rufus Wainwright	4:16
9.	"High on a Rocky Ledge" (featuring David Byrne)	Louis Hardin	4:25
10.	"Kaulana Nā Pua" (featuring Nicole Scherzinger)	Ellen Keho'ohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast	3:37
11.	"Hush Little Baby" (featuring Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche)	Traditional	3:54
12.	"Black Gold" (featuring Van Dyke Parks)	Van Dyke Parks	4:40
13.	"Cotton Eyed Joe" (featuring Chaka Khan)	Traditional	3:15
14.	"Arthur McBride"	Traditional	7:33
15.	"Wild Mountain Thyme" (featuring Anna McGarrigle, Chaim Tannenbaum, Lily Lanken, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and Martha Wainwright)	Traditional	5:46
Total length:			60:55

Personnel

Musicians

• Rufus Wainwright – vocals (all tracks), guitar (track 11), piano (14)
• Madison Cunningham – guitar (1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11)
• David Piltch – bass (2–5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
• Rob Moose – arrangement, strings (2, 8)
• Patrick Sauber – banjo (2)
• Val McCallum – guitar (3, 5, 8)
• Mitchell Froom – harpsichord, Mellotron (3); piano (5, 6), electric piano (8)
• Pete Thomas – drums (3)
• Steve Amedée – tambourine (3)
• Patrick Warren – organ (5)
• Greg Leisz – lap steel guitar (7, 10), guitar (10), mandolin (11)
• Andrew Bird – violin (7)
• Jacob Mann – piano (8, 13)
• Blake Mills – guitar (9)
• Ted Poor – percussion (10)
• Van Dyke Parks – accordion, piano (12)
• Richard Parks – mandolin (12)
• Anna McGarrigle – accordion (15)
• Chaim Tannenbaum – banjo (15)

Technical

• Mitchell Froom – production
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• David Boucher – mixing, engineering

Charts

Chart performance for Folkocracy

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[8]	18
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[9]	23
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[10]	8
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[11]	3
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[12]	63

References

1. "Rufus Wainwright on His 'Blatant' Grammy-Bait New Album 'Folkocracy,' Released 25 Years After His Debut". June 2, 2023. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
2. Murray, Robin (March 7, 2023). "Rufus Wainwright Details New Album 'Folkocracy' | News". Clash. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
3. "Rufus Wainwright Announces New Covers Album Feat. David Byrne, Anohni, Chaka Khan, & More". Stereogum. March 7, 2023. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
4. Liebig, Lorie (March 7, 2023). "Brandi Carlile Joins Rufus Wainwright for Haunting Murder Ballad 'Down in the Willow Garden' [LISTEN]". 98.1 KHAK. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
5. Madarang, Charisma (March 7, 2023). "Rufus Wainwright Previews New LP With 'Masochistic' Folk Ballad Featuring Brandi Carlile". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
6. Major, Michael (April 11, 2023). "Rufus Wainwright Shares 'Heading For Home (Feat. John Legend)'". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
7. Soto, Alfred (June 6, 2023). "Rufus Wainwright: Folkocracy Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
8. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
9. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
10. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
11. "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
12. "Rufus Wainwright Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Rufus Wainwright – Down in the Willow Garden feat. Brandi Carlile (Official Video) on YouTube