Debut albums from American Idol alums are notoriously rushed efforts. Even the best of these albums fail to show the full potential of the artists recording them. More than with most artists, the second album is usually key in determining where the artist will go in the future.
That’s the place Adam Lambert is at right now. His debut, 2009’s For Your Entertainment, was a surprisingly strong collection of songs with a wide range of input from artists and producers like Lady Gaga, P!nk, Linda Perry, Max Martin and Dr. Luke. The result was a sometimes thrilling, sometimes maddening album that showed a lot of potential, but also felt a tad too schizophrenic at points.
With his sophomore effort, Trespassing, Lambert establishes a more solid musical personality: the wild child of the Idol bunch. Trespassing is an arresting collection of fierce, funky dance tracks and deep, pensive ballads. Rather than mix the two styles, the album splits the two into separate halves.
The first seven tracks serving as a non-stop barrage of sassy fun over dubstep-influenced pop. The tracks take on different styles. The title track and “Kickin’ In” both come from Pharrell, and include his signature production style. There’s more attitude on these two tracks alone than you’ll find on an entire Katy Perry album. “Shady,” meanwhile, pairs Adam with Sam Sparro and Nile Rodgers (of Chic fame), and is probably the single coolest song Adam’s recorded to date.
Another pair of songs on the front half of the album are just begging for single release. The first, “Cuckoo,” is a dance song with an immediately catchy chorus. The second, “Naked Love,” is a slightly more laidback song that sounds like a Bruno Mars track with a dance beat. It’s a good thing.
The five tracks that make up the back end of the standard edition are, by comparison, a lot slower. The second half opens with lead single “Better Than I Know Myself,” which works surprisingly well at transitioning the album. It’s the closest Adam comes to replicating his biggest hit, “Whataya Want from Me.” It also starts a theme covered in the back half of the album about troubled relationships. “Broken English” tackles problems with communicating, while “Chokehold” describes the thrill of a toxic relationship.
The highlight of the album is its closer, “Outlaws of Love.” While For Your Entertainment didn’t exactly avoid Adam’s sexuality (with “Fever” being the most prominent example), Trespassing is a bit more explicit in its subject matter, and “Outlaws of Love” is the most haunting example of songs performed from an LGBT perspective. It’s all about the longing for acceptance, a topic that should resonate with many of the album’s listeners.
Trespassing is one of the stronger, more consistent mainstream pop albums to come out in the past year, and with the right push from RCA Records, it could be a big hit. My one complaint? The singles released so far, while good, do not do this album justice. Releasing “Cuckoo” would be a step in the right direction.
Rating: A-
So glad you enjoyed the album. Love all the tracks especially Chokehold, Trespassing, Underneath, Outlaws of Love, Naked Love, Broken English.
The man has so much talent.
Thanks for the great review Elijah. I read these reviews and find myself frustrated that Adam felt he couldn’t release other songs on this album instead of the first two. He is so desperately trying to fit into the pop world and garner radio airplay. Please say he “screams” or “wails” and he doesn’t do that on his first two releases. He is working so hard and trying everything to get noticed.
As a Glambert I am so tired of the usual suspects like Katy Perry who has what, 8 songs released from her album and all of them charting or #1? Someone please find a song that Adam can sing and will get some respect. I’m sure he could sing everyone of Katy’s or Britney’s or Bruno’s songs and they wouldn’t be hits. There is so much more to creating a hit than vocals and beat. Station owners and DJs just don’t respect him. He doesn’t have the huge fanbase, but he deserves some airplay.
Good reviews will help, but I’m sure America won’t jump at this too quick. I look forward to getting my copy and seeing him perform with Queen. Thanks again.
Great review! I am listening to the album right now and I really like it!
Great review for a fabulous artist. You get it. Just hope radio plays him and he has Katy Perry’s or Adele’s success.
How I wish you had included the 3 bonus tracks on the the deluxe in your review. Runnin is the biggest surprise and one the best songs on the album. It is totally addictive. Take Back another. So universal and the production, vocals, lyrics and melodies are out of this world!! NIVANA is the perfect end song as it takes us all on a trip to Burning Man and all the freedom from every day life that must be felt there. These should never have been bonuses but on the CD period. Runnin has just got to be a single!! Listen and would love to know if you agree. UNDERNEATH is a song that will always define Adam. The song has such soul and depth and we all have been there. It tears my heart and soul to shreds each and every time!!
It is great to hear a song written by an artist who actually belongs to the gay community. Outlaws of Love is heart wrenching and beautiful, coming at a time in cultural history when it matters most. The rest of the album sets Adam up as a serious contender for album of the year. Great review, thank you.
Great review! I’ve had the stream on repeat on and off ever since it went up, and I’m kinda in love with this whole album. Only thing I’d disagree with is that I really dig his current single, Never Close Our Eyes. I just can’t stop myself from singing along with that really cool eyyyyeeeee-EYYYYYYEEES moment, it’s totally my jam.
Adam’s deff getting my money for this one, I want the whole thing in HQ to crank up on the Bose!
Thank you for this thoughtful review. Adam is the most talented artist on the scene today. Time will tell if he will be as popular as some of the other pop artists, mainly female, in this genre. We would like to see more air play for his singles. Not quite an even playing field yet, don’t you agree?
Elijah, You and I agree on everything you mentioned in your review except I think NCOE is the right choice for a 2nd single. I love this song it’s even better when Adam performs it live. Did you watch him on Kimmel perform this? He was perfection. NCOE has a sexy beat with insightful lyrics that make you think twice about living our lives to the fullest. This song won’t officially be released to radio until 5/29 then I’m sure it will get more airplay. But I do agree with you on Shady which is a fan favorite and Cuckoo and/or Naked Love should be singles. Why not Trespassing? Great beat for those who’ve already heard it and watch Adam perform it I think radio would love it. Looking forward to getting that album in my hot little hands hopefully tomorrow. Thanks
I did see Adam’s performance of “Never Close Our Eyes,” and while it was good, it seemed to me like he wasn’t connecting with it the way he was with the other songs he performed. Hopefully the album’s release this week and Adam’s Idol appearance Thursday will help get the song some airplay.
As for “Trespassing,” I think it’d be a good single, but I think it would’ve made more of an impact as a lead single. “Cuckoo” and “Naked Love” are, in my opinion, the two songs that really just FIT in with what’s playing these days.
Great in depth review.Trespassing is a Pop Masterpiece !
Thanks for the review, Elijah! I would LOVE to read your insights/comments about the three “bonus” tracks that follow “Outlaws of Love” found on the Deluxe CD…especially because I love them so, and tend to listen to them on repeat more than some of the other tracks. “Runnin’” and “Nirvana,” definitely have my heart! Thanks again!
you missed a teeny-tinie vertical line in your A -….for me its an A+ album :full of surprises,full of Nr.1 single hits,shows his capacities as an artist and his personality as a human.”For your entertainment”…I think you mistake “Shizophrenic” with “Versatility “.I love the album and I think its a real “Lambert-buffet”. Theres something on the table for everybody s taste. Thanks for the review!!!