Sunday, June 3, 2012

REVIEW - Trespassing by Adam Lambert




       Review


Artist:Adam Lambert


Album:Trespassing


Label:19, RCA




Rating :





Adam Lambert's Trespassing was the first album by an openly gay artist to debut at number one on the Billboard charts. That fact, both triumphant and sadly indicative of the slowly waning prejudices of the past, colors all of the songs in this spectacular pop album. The duality of the Lambert's open sexuality and his deserved success help charge these songs to transcend pop into a statement, both of Lambert's belief in the power of freedom of choice and the strength of unity forged on the dancefloor.

From the raucous, Queen-recalling, stomp-clap of the title track [Trespassing] to the dark, disco-funk of "Shady" to the skyrocketing, gut-punch chorus of midtempo killer "Better Than I Know Myself", producers' fingerprints are all over these songs. Pharrell's minimal, percussive touch on "Trespassing" (think, "Grindin'" by the Clipse...but switch out the cocaine-rapping for unstoppable, rock-tenor vocals), Nile Rodgers (of disco legends Chic!) adds a disco influence to "Shady" and Dr. Luke's "Better Than I Know Myself" would not sound out of place on a Katy Perry album. But that's ignoring a couple crucial facts. First, Lambert has developed a fiendish melodic touch as a writer and contributes executive production and co-writing credits to all tracks. And second, that voice.

And that voice indeed. Because honestly, from his days on Idol to his rushed, irregularly glammy first album...his voice, literally soars over all. His tender, falsetto start to ballad "Outlaws Of Love" is spun sugar, which slowly builds into crystalline, rock-candy wails by the end. And the songs lyrics ("Everywhere we go /We're lookin' for the sun /Nowhere to grow old/We're always on the run/They say we'll rot in Hell/But I don't think we will/ They've branded us enough/Outlaws of love) bravely stakes out Lambert's place as a stalwart, un-pushy, activist as well as a true-blue pop musician. And his voice, literally and metaphorically, is stronger than ever.


Key Tracks: Cuckoo (pop confection with a funky beat-breakdown in middle and a funny double entendre about a "straight jacket"), Outlaws Of Love (killer ballad that showcases his versatile voice and wrenching lyrics), Nirvana (a Zen-calm midtempo number with gorgeous vocal harmony), Runnin' (a pounding, sinister club thumper with some low (!) notes on the verses


Bottom Line: Well-crafted, thoughtful, hellishly catchy sophomore album with diversity and danceablity to spare.





2 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! where to start? This review is so great, that opening paragraph really made the perfect statement to summarize the album. I particularly liked the comment that this being the first #1 album by a gay person is "both triumphant and sadly indicative of the slowly waning prejudices of the past" so true, so true. You mention Runnin and Nirvana, they are very high on my play count, so amazing.

    Love this album, loved this review....

    thanks

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  2. I tweeted the following, but thought I'd share it here in comments as well.

    Dear follower, allow me to direct your attention to a remarkably well-written review of @adamlambert 's Trespassing by one @aVeryMossyMan - Convertz Of Good Taste - http://tinyurl.com/cj8dypw . Its difficult to single out any one stand-out sentence or phrase - they are all so pleasing to the eye and ear. But this one is certainly a beautiful grouping of words that paint a delightful picture, in addition to being a spot-on description! "His tender, falsetto start to ballad "Outlaws Of Love" is spun sugar, which slowly builds into crystalline, rock-candy wails by the end." Nicely done, Mr. Moses! Nicely done indeed!

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