By Harry Painter on June 28th, 2011 in

Whatever can be said about the wisdom of investing in CD’s, Rufus Wainwright is counting on fans to buy them. Nineteen of them, in fact. As Clash Music reports, Wainwright has put out a YouTube video detailing his new 19-disc comprehensive box set, House of Rufus.
It may as well be a trip to Wainwright’s house, as intimate as the set is. It comes in a red velvet case and, among tour posters, comics, and handwritten lyrics, includes an 88-page hardback book covering Wainwright’s nearly 20-year career. One couldn’t ask for more on the music front; it even includes Wainwright’s six studio albums: Rufus Wainwright, Poses, Want One, Want Two, Release the Stars, and All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu. And even those who have the albums will be privy to some previously unreleased bonus tracks. Beyond the studio work, the set includes the concert recordings Milwaukee at Last!!! and the two-disc Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, which will also feature unreleased material. Finally, just because 15 discs isn’t enough, Wainwright threw in four additional discs featuring rare and live material.
The set drops July 18th in the UK. A rep for Wainwright confirms that no U.S. release date is planned, but stateside can purchase through the UK store. Either way, you’re going to feel like a doofus when you spend roughly $255 on this set, especially since you’ll be dishing out more cash for Wainwright’s Mark Ronson collaboration which drops shortly after, but don’t fret. Your obsession is perfectly natural. In the meantime, here’s a quick fix — if not just a downright teaser for your wallet.