The gay Idol’s sophomore CD reminds us why we first loved Adam Lambert
GLAM MORE | Adam Lambert rocks and grows in his flawed but compelling second CD, ‘Trespassing.’
……………………
3.5 out of 5 stars
TRESPASSING
Adam Lambert
RCA Records
……………………
Whether to prove himself as a major player or to shed any remaining bits of American Idolatry, Adam Lambert brought in some big guns to help in his second full-length studio release, Trespassing. Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams and Sam Sparro are some of the familiar names that join Lambert this time around, but the album is distinctly his. The gay glam boy shows his mettle — and it’s mostly heavy.
Lambert explodes out of the gate like a champion with the title opener. The bass beat is hard and made heavier by the blazing guitar riffs, but Lambert’s voice is the star. Williams teams with the singer creating a strong start with its addictive chorus and beats. And Lambert is keen on proving his rocker gay side while keeping a dance flair for his pop audiences.
Where his collab with Williams is winning here, a later track, “Kickin’ In,” is out of control. The frenzied song has zero gravity and the cheerleader-y chorus dumbs down their talents big time.
Tag this as “most embarrassing track” and press “skip.”
Coincidentally, the same befalls the Sparro pairings. The gay singer brings his innovative pop perspective to Lambert’s team on “Shady,” a strong track that has evident Sparro-esque touches without taking away from Lambert. The groove is patient but not glacially paced like their second collaboration, the ninth track, “Broken English.” While the sound is massaged into a languid state, it brings the album to a shocking halt like someone pulled the plug on a treadmill; we’re left bruised trying to figure out what just happened.
Perhaps it’s fortuitous, then, he limited Bruno Mars to one track only — the satisfying single “Never Close Our Eyes.” Even with major players in tow, Lambert keeps his identity and sound intact on the CD, though you definitely hear the brilliance of Mars’ talents in small touches like the acoustic guitar against the heavy dance beat or lyrics such as Why can’t we just live life with no consequence / And always live in the now. But the album is all Lambert’s.
He makes us want to dance with tracks like the electronica-laden “Cuckoo,” which pushes all the right buttons. In a goofy way, he perpetuates his rebel-without-a-cause image, emphasizing naughty language such as “cocks” and “fuck,” but he backs it up with a well-constructed melody.
Lambert repeats that formula with the edgy dance rocker “Pop That Lock.” Mixing his glam with some tortured electric beats a la Skrillex, this is the image he strives so much for and achieves.
His gift is keeping a song interesting even when it reeks of cliché. The writing team behind “Better Than I Know Myself” channel their inner Diane Warren for this electro-ballad. The song is the stuff inspirational montages are made of for an episode of Oprah’s Lifeclass or Extreme Home Makeover. Still, Lambert shows heart in his singing and keeps it afloat. The same goes for the stripped-down “Underneath” and the misstep “Outlaws of Love:” Lambert is sexy on the former, but the drama yawns from the latter which is a tragic fate to end the album’s dozen tracks.
But wait, there’s more!
No pop star would be complete without the special edition of their own new album — you know, instead of just putting the tracks on the regular listing. Lambert is no exception. Three extras add to the deluxe package.
He scores big with “Runnin,’” which rocks in all the right areas and has some of that intensity that we hear often from fellow AI alum Kelly Clarkson. There is an epic quality to the track and displays a matured song construction. While other songs grabbed my attention, this song demanded immediate repeats.
Following up with “Take Back,” the album forgets the buzzkilling “Outlaws.” Lambert flexes big time muscle and takes home the trophy with this track and we’re back on a big up. These two tracks make the special edition a worthy purchase. Glamberts will already get this version, but he expands his talents superbly here.
Having said that, he repeats the same earlier mistakes by the finishing off with the dragging “Nirvana.” The song deflates all that great energy we worked so hard to enjoy. But Lambert’s smart to take time between albums and it shows in Trespassing with major growth. This is what makes him exciting. Mistakes can be made, but he’s on the right track to really be a major influence in pop music.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 11, 2012.
Please ENOUGH with the Gay mentions. Would it have been too difficult to have used Grammy Nominated instead! The review is quite good overall, but unfortunately the overuse of Adams sexuality has put me off tweeting it to his 1.3.million fans.
@UKGlambert – This is a gay publication. There is such a thing as context, and you’re ignoring it. Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful review, although I love each and every song, including the ones you found lacking. I’m just pleased you recognized the tremendous growth Adam has demonstrated between FYE and this album. He is a huge and exciting talent, and I can’t wait to watch his career continue to develop.
Ok I shall tweet to followers. Just get a bit sensitive ya know when articles focus on his sexuality. No malice here I get it ♥
Pretty good review. Heard the album streaming after I saw some mainstream media sites posting Outlaws of Love (so appropriate this week). Solid album. I will be getting it next week. I’m a little surprised you found OOL a mistep as the regular media is loving its use as an anthem. I tend to agree with them. It touched my heart deeply after the loss in NC.
Great review! Although I gotta disagree on Kickin In, that zany track is like absolute crack to me, cannot stop listening. But I’m more of pop fan, maybe that’s why I love it so hard. Anyway, great album from Adam Lambert, he’s deff getting my monies when it drops forreal.
Just shows how subjective music is because Kickin In, Broken English, Naked Love, Nirvana, Trespassing, and Pop That Lock are my faves on the album. Whereas I find Runnin and Take Back to be somewhat generic soft rock, and think Adam made a wise choice leaving them off the main album. Take Back is the weakest song out of the bunch IMO.
I wish non LGBT Adam fans would either stay out of commenting on articles/reviews written in our media or at least have some RESPECT for the fact that it IS our media!
As to this review I think it is well-written and fair. I don’t agree with some of it but then my taste is my taste. I love Outlaws of Love and Underneath. My favorites (this listen lol )are Trespassing, Shady, Runnin and Broken English. I think, having been a lesbian activist for the last forty years, I am just simply thrilled to have this album out there and getting excellent reviews by straight media.
Thanks for the review. This is a great cd from start to finish, including the three you did not like. I kinda think you are just nitpicking. No missteps here. In fact Kickin in, Shady and OOL are three of my favorites. This work is very cohesive and flows extremely well. No fillers here. I understand music is an individual thing but I think you are really off with your “critique”. Buy it people. You will not regret it.
Great review! Runnin, Underneath are 2 of my favorites. Disagree about Nirvana, a beautiful swirling dream of a song which brings a perfectly still and hopeful ending to a stunning album.
Solid, fair review. I would give the album the same rating, although funny thing is that you seemed to like the tracks I did not like as much. Popping that Lock is a fun track, but junk can be fun too if one packages it pretty. The Bruno Mars tune sounded just like Bruno himself, and I felt that that track should’ve been replaced by Running. Kickin In is something I’ve never heard before, and I love it. Different strokes. That’s how it goes, though. I hope this album gets the exposure it deserves.
Thanks for the review. It’s interesting to see what people think of the songs, Kickin’ In seems to be quite a divider on the album. Some love, some absolutely don’t. I think the album is mostly fantastic, Adam did a very solid yet not repetitive album. I’m just a little surprised you think Outlaws of Love is a misstep. I think it’s a touching song about a struggle and how it hurts.
Thank you for the thoughtful review. It’s so rare to find an album like this in pop today where the songs are such a high quality that you don’t skip any or skip very few.
Great review & thanks for reminding us that AFL is gay, again & again & again….
Even though I don’t agree with the “most embarrassing track” label for “Kickin’ In” (it’s my FAVE!!!), I truly appreciate the thoughtful reviews for each track, including the bonus tracks. I only wish that a link to AdamOfficial (or some such) was provided for readers to listen to the tracks (in full) for themselves to compare your opinion against their own. All in all, great review! 3.5 Stars out of 5.0 ain’t bad!
Rich, thanks for a really thoughtful and informed reviewe of this album. Glad you comented on Runnin’ – it was a big surprise to me and a lot of people – wish it weren’t a bonus track. I LOVED your last lines
“…Lambert’s smart to take time between albums and it shows in Trespassing with major growth. This is what makes him exciting. Mistakes can be made, but he’s on the right track to really be a major influence in pop music.”
THis is is exactly the sort of insight I’m looking for in music reviewers – a tough eye (hear?) in assessing the album, but also looking at it in context of an artist’s career. I’m a big fan of Adam’s and look forward to both seeing how he changes these songs up for his great live performance and where he goes next. Again, kudos!!
Rich, thanks for one of the most informed, thoughtful and respectful reviews I’ve seen of this album! Have to admit I resisted Kickin In then it sucked me in but I still can’t hear Naked Love without thinking Kesha vid (not nec a bad thing I guess ha). Really enjoying Runnin – that was a big surprise as a bonus track and am liking Outlaws of Love &Underneath more than you do but recognize it might be a bit bathos for some. Anyway, thanks again! I’m thrilled to have Adam out there – visible from the start of his career, comfortable in his own skin, and sharing both his journey as an artist but as a confident gay man navigating a resistant industry.
Not reading others’ comments first. I thought Mars merely provided the song, the composition, not any of the beats, music etc.
I believe you have given a fair account as this album has affected you, but many of us disagree that OOL or Nirvana are a ‘loss’ to the over all album and it’s messages. We see this as a large leap ahead for Adam and his maturity and complexity with nary a track which is throwaway.
Why do you feel the need to refer to him as a “gay” singer. When writing about Beyonce do you headline the article “The black singers CD”?
Do you say “Beyonce is keen showing us how black she is,” and call her “black girl” four times in one article?
No, I didn’t think so.
It’s a shame, because your review would have been more appealing if you just wrote the article without the inappropriate “gay” references.
Each time a read an article with gay gay gay I more and more understand and feel the lyrics to Underneath.
“Everyone wants to talk about a Freak, no one wants to dig that deep.”
Thank you for a terrific review. As a fan of Adam’s I would rather read an intelligent, caring analysis of Trespassing with both praise and criticisms over an empty rave designed largely to get hits from his fans. I too am loving ‘Never Close Our Eyes’ and hope it gains the audience it deserves. And while I had a similar reaction to yours to ‘Kickin In’ at first, I have to admit it has sucked me in and now it’s one of my favorite fun jams. Also, was more touched than put off by Outlaws of Law. You are right – Adam is an exciting artist and, unlike most pop stars, one sees him taking control, learning as he goes, and taking chances with an album he asked to executive produce. As always, Adam takes responsibility for his work – hits and misses – and delights in being able to create. That’s one of reasons I admire him so much.
Finally, I would like to say that as a member of the LGBT community and a diehard Lambert fan, I am disappoint to see other fans criticizing an LGBT pub for noting that in addition to being a gifted artist Adam is also a gay man. In fact, there are very few mentions of that fact in this lengthy, music-focused review. Adam often raises the issue of his sexuality himself, such as when discussing Outlaws of Love, Kickin In, Shady. The word gay is NOT a source of shame or titillation (for us at least). It is, however, a shame that some of the young people Adam hopes to inspire can now see that some of Adam’s fans are ‘sensitive’ to the word gay being used in an LGBT forum; what message do you think they take away from that?
Great review! As an obsessed Adam fan (ok, ok Glambert! Yes, Adam I understand branding, but do we have to be “Glamberts?” Really?) *ahem* As a “Glambert” I’ve read many, many reviews of Trespassing and one of the most interesting things about them is the polarization on Kickin In! For some reviewers it’s the best thing on the album. Others hate it. Beyond that song, every reviewer has a song or two that they don’t feel match the strength of the album overall. But they’re not the same songs! It really comes down to a matter of personal taste. What everybody does agree on is that it’s a terrific album!
And yes, fans, I know we’re all hyper-sensitive to mainstream publications doing a “gay review” of Adam’s album and using the opportunity to trot out every demeaning stereotype in their arsenal under the cover of being “humorous.” But as a previous poster mentioned, this is a gay publication and context matters. It’s perfectly appropriate to discuss the fact that Adam is gay here. As a feminist/lesbian activist for the past 30 years I am delighted to see the serious attention and appreciation for his art that Adam is getting from the gay community. And Community, please be aware that, as Adam’s fans who are constantly searching for information on him, we encounter a lot of ridicule and hate-speech that is directed at him by anti-gay activists. We’re very protective and may have some knee-jerk reactions, even when there is no malicious intent. Please try to understand and be somewhat tolerant if we over-react. Thank you.