Adam Lambert Releases 'For Your Entertainment' - Not Exactly a Rock Album

So everyone and their sister is calling Adam Lambert's debut For Your Entertainment the most anticipated album of the year. I'll go along with it being well anticipated. I'd heard snippets last week and listened to the full disc last night.

I am not impressed.

While the fans over at Idol Forums and AdamOfficial lineup here to scream at me, let me speak my peace. The damn album is not rock. I'm sick and tired of reading all sorts of reviews all over the interwebs calling the damn thing the return of glam. Do you know how many times I've read "Adam brings back glam with For Your Entertainment?"

This isn't to say the songs on For Your Entertainment are bad. There are  a few really good songs. Justin Hawkins of The Darkness wrote "Music Again," probably the best track on the disc. It's the closest thing to a rock tune and "Whataya Want From Me" is also quite good. Plus, guitarist Orianthi (of Michael Jackson's This Is It fame) plays some awesome guitars on "Sleepwalker."  The album is more dance and pop than metal...so why do people keep comparing Adam to David Bowie and Alice Cooper? I don't get it.

Just putting on a racy performance doesn't make you a shock rocker.

Speaking of racy performances, Adam's performance on the American Music Awards Sunday night was a hot mess. Look, I don't care if it was sexually charged. Please. Nothing like that offends me. I was more appalled by the the entire concept and the crappy vocals. I don't get it. Lambert has one of the best voices on the scene today. He can make jaws drop just by standing and singing. He doesn't need over-the-top theatrics and hype to gain fans, but whatever. Someone needs to tell him that appealing to the lowest common denominator isn't always the best plan. Yes, it's Adam's career and he can do what he wants. Unfortunately I think he's been taking some bad career advice. Also, a note to the tweens that think Adam gets to make all his own decisions regarding his album and live performance: he doesn't. The music industry doesn't work that way.

Back to For Your Entertainment. Again, the album isn't bad. It's just not what I - or probably a lot of people - expected or hoped for. So, the new album is on my iPod and will be gym fodder. My dreams of Adam Lambert saving arena rock are dead. Oh well I guess. I was open-minded, hopped on the bandwagon and hoped for the best. It didn't work out. All that said, should you buy the album? Yes, if you like more than just hard rock and enjoy pop music, this album will suit you. If you're metal all the way, For Your Entertainment isn't up your alley.  

The clip of Adam on the American Music Awards isn't available online thanks to Dick Clark Productions.

Comments

[Kenny Ozz]

I was an Adam supporter through and through during American Idol. But it seems like ever since the show ended he has gone out of his way to fuck up his career. The sappy ballad for the movie 2012 is lackluster, and the performance Sunday night at the AMA's was ridiculously bad.Adam is obviously taking some horrendous career advice. Sad to say, that plain white-boy Kris Allen's new single blows Adams out of the water. Maybe America DID get it right. So sad.

[looksthatkill]

The mix at the AMA's was horrible, probably because most artist lip sync and they didn't know how to deliver a live performance. Even so he tanked the song in more ways than one. I don't see this moving a ton of sales, but then who knows these days? They should have brought in 1 producer, Howard B was the only stand out in the 9 people that produced it (too many) and all the writers? if they stripped it back and focused on straight ahead catchy rock it would have made a world of difference. And don't even get me started with the album cover (worst of the year).

[glam man]

What happened to the love fest people used to have for this guy. Months ago you all blasted me for telling you this guy isnt glam, yet alone that great of a rock singer. Funny how things are changing!! I told you months ago this guy is terrible.

[GEO II]

You didn't hop on the bandwagon, you hijacked it. You were so in to Adam Lambert, that your obsession cost you readers. I stopped coming to this site for a long time. I de-friended you on myspace, because I got tired of hearing about Adam Lambert.

[Allyson]

Glam man - note I didn't say Adam is "terrible." Quite the contrary - he's an amazing singer. I'm disappointed with his choice of songs and his decision to go pop, not his voice. I want to be clear on that.

GEO - you still use Myspace? Still using that page to blast Adam's sexual orientation?

- Allyson

[Lucifer]

Never have been a big fan of Adam Lambert, and I doubt I ever will be, so this doesn't really affect me. Still it would have been nice to get a modern Glam rocker into mainstream culture. But I guess that's the nature of mainstream, you can't stick out, you have to conform, and he, sadly, seems to have done that. Balls.

[bob]

Allyson, I have to admit that after hearing the pile of molten feces that is Adam lambert's album, I was looking forward to reading what you had to say about it. Although I do love this blog, your constant fangirl postings about Lambert were getting kinda old. I am so happy to hear that you too are not impressed with this release because I was wondering if you had any objectivity left when it came to him. Although I never much cared for him, I did, and still do think he has an amazing voice. Sadly, he has been sucked into the music industry machine now where that voice will never truly be able to be utilized the way it should.

[MotleyCrue666]

I was a huge fan and expected an amazing album but only got a good one.
Music Again is an amazing queen/darkness song but still doesn't make up for the lack of metal on the album.
still good but could have been waaaaaaay better

[kari]

Looks like the hype on Adam is going to go down hill fast! I thought his performance on the AMA's was terrible and the song, UGH! just plain bad - and yes, I do like a lot of pop music. He's shot himself in the foot this time, GMA just cancelled his appearance. HA HA! Guess you'll listen to Gene Simmons next time he gives advice, Huh Adam?

[Damnp78]

I truly could care less either way. But I am glad that the Glam Mistress has given her un-bias opinion. That counts for a lot after all of the flag waving. It's good to see that she scores it the way she hears it !

[Gary]

Props Ally. You surprised me with this column, as I too had come to believe that if Adam Lambert farted into a microphone, you would have found the "melodic resonance" in said flatulence! This guy does in fact actually have a voice that could take him really far, but IMHO, he needs to just let his natural talent carry him, and dump the over the top "flaming campiness", the incessant screaming, and obviously whomever guided him to this debut....

[Liam]

Only because your bisexuall dosent mean that you must show it all the time, is tyring and boring.

[jr.]

I told you Ally!

[wddb]

Grammy nominee.

[inhigodatit]

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