It’s not you, it’s me—that’s what the singer-songwriter reveals with his intensely personal music. Try as you might to internalize each song, a few well-placed details and an imposing voice make it clear that, like it or not, we are in Rufus’ world. Fortunately for outsiders, his lyrics are often universally relatable—okay, so maybe it is you… but don’t get carried away.

To really appreciate his music, you should know a little something about the man (the myth, the legend). Born to folk singer parents who divorced when he was young, Wainwright uses a difficult relationship with his family for lyrical inspiration. He began to play the piano at age six, and by thirteen he was touring with his sister, mother and aunt in their family’s band. He lived in Montreal with his mother for most of his childhood, and an absent father is often the subject of his songs. At age 14, he was raped in London’s Hyde Park after picking up a man at a bar (did I mention that he’s gay?). After producing a debut record that was referred to by Rolling Stone as one of the best albums of the year, Wainwright became addicted to crystal meth and went temporarily blind from his usage of the drug. He ended up calling friend Elton John (of all people) who convinced him to check into rehab.

All of this personal chaos has served to fuel his ability as a performer. Wainwright also transformed an interest in opera since his adolescence into a knack for layering harmonies to create a theatrical, operatic feel. Violins swirl in the background as he launches into self-revelation (the kind that listening to Verdi’s Requiem all day in the dark would do to a person). The grandiose orchestral sound complements his lyrics, which waver between brutally honest and just plain melancholy.

Release the Stars is Wainwright’s latest and fifth studio album. It is a crafty establishment of a sound he’s spent nearly a decade cultivating. Emotions are finely tuned; stories are more vivid, funny (well, not that funny), and real. The album is direct and personal. At this point in his career, Wainwright has honed the ability to hit the listener with exactly what he wants to say. Release the Stars is dedicated to his mother who had a serious operation during the course of the album’s creation. This seems to have brought home a sense of perspective, as well as a more relaxed stance on revealing his intentions.

This summer, Wainwright embarks on a world tour in support of the album. After he plays at a series of European festivals, he returns to the United States. The opening act will be The Magic Numbers, a four-piece band from England that consists of brother/sister pairs Romeo and Michele Stodart and Sean and Angela Gannon. Their music is somewhat of a cross between The Strokes and Belle & Sebastian. In the past, The Magic Numbers have supported colossal acts like U2, The Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, and The Who.

The US tour dates are as follows: