Rufus Wainwright Sets Mark Ronson-Produced 'Out Of The Game' for May 8

Rufus Wainwright will release Out of the Game, his new Mark Ronson-produced studio project, on May 8 via Decca/Universal. The seventh album from the eclectic, genre-crossing singer/songwriter is, according to Wainwright his "most sort of 'pop' and commercially viable, radio-friendly work" and will feature members of the New York retro-soul band The Dap Kings, sister Martha Wainwright, guitarist Nels Cline of Wilco, Sean Lennon and "Doveman" Bartlett. Ronson is best-known for his R+B flavored pop productions and work with Amy Winehouse.

Wainwright says that his new daughter Viva, born to Leonard Cohen's daughter Lorca, influenced the album's direction along with the classic pop/rock of Elton John, Queen and David Bowie. Says Wainwright: "I hate to say it, but it's kind of a very manly record, I think, which I think is cool. I've certainly made enough gay records."