Joe Vogel: Review: Lambert's "For Your Entertainment" An Instant Classic

Adam Lambert "For Your Entertainment" (19/RCA)

Ten or twenty years from now, when people are reflecting on the defining albums of the current pop-synth-glam moment, For Your Entertainment will undoubtedly be at the top of many lists.

This, of course, doesn't mean it is a perfect album. Lambert's debut, for the most part, lacks the emotional subtlety and range of some of the singer's best moments on American Idol ("Mad World," Tracks of My Tears," etc.; the stunningly haunting "Broken Open," co-written by Lambert, is a notable exception). It also refrains from some of the risks and experiments of artists like David Bowie or the social commentary of Radiohead. What the album generally lacks in depth, however, it makes up for in sheer energy, play and pleasure (this, indeed, was Lambert's intention). It is best viewed, then, not as a final statement, but as a starting point, a launch pad to what is certain to be a fascinating and diverse artistic odyssey. For Your Entertainment can be viewed as Adam Lambert's Off the Wall, a coming out album that not only symbolizes a re-invigorated hybrid aesthetic and sound, but introduces the world to a transformational new pop superstar.

For Your Entertainment certainly isn't lacking in potential hits. "Music Again" is the sonic equivalent of the album cover art--a deliberately campy, effectively updated glam rock homage to several of Lambert's inspirations (Queen, David Bowie, T. Rex). The result is an invigorating, sing-along opener that will sound utterly fresh and unique next to most contemporary Top 40 material.

Lambert re-visits some of these retro themes in "Soaked," a flourishing Queen-like ballad contributed by Muse, in which Lambert is able to demonstrate his remarkable vocal range. The racing strings and piano add exotic drama to the song.

Generally an uptempo dance record, Lambert does slow it down occasionally. While its chorus strings together some tired pop cliches, "Whataya Want From Me" still manages to make one of the album's more poignant emotional statements, anticipating the heavy burden of expectations the singer is likely to carry while expressing vulnerable appreciation for the acceptance he has received. "I'm a freak," he sings, "but thanks for loving me/ 'Cause you're doing it perfectly."

For Your Entertainment, however, primarily operates from a disco/glam aesthetic of escapism and liberation via dance, dress-up, and desire. This intention is on full-display in club-ready hits like the title track, "Strut," "Fever" and "If I Had You," all of which fully accomplish what the singer had in mind for the album: songs that make you want to let loose, dance, work out, have fun.

The album's hidden gem, however, is the closer. An ethereal electro-soul ballad, "Broken Open" is a powerful expression of loneliness, vulnerability and yearning for connection. Sonically, it feels like it belongs alongside Thom Yorke, The Killers, and Grizzly Bear on the New Moon Soundtrack.

While eclectic, For Your Entertainment works surprisingly well as an album. Most listeners likely won't be skipping for the token three or four "singles" since it effectively maintains strength, variety, energy and catchy choruses throughout. "Aftermath" is the lone glaring weak track, hearkening regrettable Idol anthems like "No Boundaries." Yet this is a small quibble for an album so viscerally enjoyable.

As a whole, For Your Entertainment marks one of the most impressive mainstream pop album debuts in recent memory, surpassing its trailblazing sister-album, Lady Gaga's The Fame. While Lambert's work obviously covers some similar terrain (thematically and sonically), it also showcases greater consistency and creativity. It also should have wider appeal, given its pop and rock attributes.

From its iconic cover, to its unique retro-contemporary fusion, to its memorable hooks, Lambert's appropriately labeled album contains all the elements of a massively successful--and influential--pop-rock classic. And fortunately for fans, it only seems to be scratching the surface of its creator's potential.

4.5 stars/5