For Your Entertainment - Adam Lambert

Look. I'm as surprised as anyone to see this written on my blog, but American Idol Runner-Up Adam Lambert has actually released something pretty decent with For Your Entertainment. Better than pretty decent actually... it's very good!

Now I may not be as open minded as some, but to my eye, this is a fairly racy cover. Camp, one might even say. Not really my style, but I do love the irony and the homage of it all. Glam rock lives!

I most definitely went into this expecting yet another album churned out by the Idol machine. I had no doubts this guy could sing, lord knows every one of his performances on the American reality TV show was spectacular, but since when has that translated into a decent album?

Since now, as it turns out. This fun, well assembled album is jam-packed full of decent tunes, driven primarily by Lambert's voice and strong melodic lines. Glam rock certainly does live on and it's taking pop along with it.

Opening with the heart-pumping Music Again Lambert's pipe are in full wind (let's just say it's an organ term!) sounding at times like Mika or The Darkness. That could perhaps be because it has been written for Lambert by Justin Hawkins, former front-man for The Darkness and thoroughly nice chap. The track is fun and a great opener.

For Your Entertainment is another upbeat track just gagging for a remix, though truth be told it's ready made for any club in town as it is. Co-written by the man behind Since U Been Gone and My Life Would Suck Without You, it has hit written all over it. Not surprisingly, it was the first single released off the album and charted around the world.

Whataya Want From Me, was the second single from the album. Who wrote this? Oh just Pink. Driven more by vocals and melody line than the previous tracks, it too charted in several countries and is rockin'.

Strut is one of my faves from the album. It's racy, it's raunchy and it's dripping with attitude. Lambert co-wrote this track himself with, among others, Idol judge Kara DioGuardi.

Yeah sure Strut is good, but Soaked is brilliant. This actually is my favourite on the album. Written by Muse it opens with a full on orchestral operatic chorus before breaking into a soft piano and vocal. It all builds to a glorious crescendo - think sweeping, lush vocals, Shirley-Bassey-Bond-theme-esque. [insert satisfied smile and a deep satisfied sigh]

By now you're beginning to wonder if I'm going to go through the rest of the album track by track. Tempted though I am, I fear you would lose interest and I would run out of adjectives. How about just the Cliff Notes?

Sure Fire Winners - BIG vocals.
A Loaded Smile - Softer track, written by Linda Perry - the front-woman of 4 Non Blondes.
If I Had You - A beat driven track which I like a lot and predict you'll hear out in town a lot.
Pick U Up - Co-written my the producer of Mika's first album. Another not-unexpected link.
Fever - Yeah. Um. Lady Gaga wrote this one!! Like Strut this track is oozes spunk. Another favourite.
Sleepwalker - Co-written by the front-man of OneRepublic it curiously starts off like a Moby track.
Aftermath - Another high-point on the album. Vocally driven and co-written by Lambert.
Broken Open - The softest track on the album with full, legato vocals and synthed up backing. Full marks!
Time for Miracles - This track was released as a single, but is not officially considered his first from the album, that honour going to the aforementioned For Your Entertainment. It's the come-down track; a great finish to a great album.


There is a reason that all of these prominent musicians are rushing to help Adam Lambert - he's got talent. Real talent. This is a confident and excellent debut album. It wouldn't surprise me if someday, some of the big-name acts currently giving him a hand-up, were opening for Lambert's world tour.


As a whole, this album is up-tempo and a lot of fun. It's the kind of thing you might get caught singing along to at the traffic lights. Be loud and be proud! Flaunt it, just like Adam!

I initially took some convincing about this album, but one listen is all it takes. You'll be hooked. Don't let any preconceptions about Idol or the cover put you off. This is an album to be enjoyed with some cheeky friends and some cheeky drinks.


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