Precious Morsels For Your Entertainment - UPDATED

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WOW! What a collection! That voice!

I'm ill at the moment and my head is too congested to write anything that makes sense so I'll just leave you to listen and listen again:



EDIT: Thank you for all the well wishes and apologies for the delay. It's hard to listen properly to music when everything sounds like it's underwater. I still haven't fully shaken off my lurgies, but if I left it any longer, this post would become irrelevant. We were still on a giddy high from hearing the single when the album previews became available so I was surprised about the timing. Amazon UK has since taken them down which has left me stroking my chin fabricating various theories. Surely it couldn't have been down to incompetence? When I realised the clips were available, I hesitated, weighing up whether or not to wait to hear the full high quality songs first rather than short snippets. I promptly hit play. Then hit it again. And again. Then put together the video so I could have it on loop.


1. MUSIC AGAIN (3:16)
Writer: Justin Hawkins  Producer: Rob Cavallo
“Glam is back, motherfuckers!”
Glam rock for me has never been my music of choice to listen to and I think it suffers a little if the visual aspect is missing. To enjoy glam, I need to be experiencing it in the right frame of mind, perhaps taking the piss, playing air guitar with friends and appreciating it in an ironic way. Here's a bit of trivia for you: Gary Jules's version of Mad World was a surprise Christmas number one in the UK in 2003, having edged out Justin Hawkins's band, The Darkness's 'Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)'. I was glad because Mad World was the first song in a long time to appear in the charts that I really liked a time when they were already saturated with cheese. For Adam to be able to span both styles is astounding. I don't dislike everything by The Darkness, but when I heard about the collaboration with Justin Hawkins, I was concerned about the joke act potential.  The snippet opens with very a OTT falsetto and despite my musical snobbery, I immediately love it. I love the ballsy statement this makes as the album opener. It's like a big bold 'Fuck you!' to those critics who considered him too theatrical/gay. It's one to dress up for and bring out the mischievous party animal alter ego. The stomping beats and guitar bring back thoughts of big stadium rock bands of the '80s and the harmonies are reminiscent of Queen. You can't not love those lyrics. It jumps around quite a lot melodically and vocally in those 30 seconds but it makes it one of the most exciting tracks to look forward to. It definitely compels me to want to listen again.

Look into my eyes in my eyes
Oh you make me wanna listen to music again
Yeah you make me wanna listen to music again
There had been many moons before I met ya
And I ain't going nowhere
And now you give me back my raison d'être

2. FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT (3:35)
Writers: Claude Kelly/Dr. Luke  Producer: Dr. Luke
Full review HERE


3. WHATAYA WANT FROM ME (3:47)
Writers: Pink, Max Martin, Johan Shellback  Producers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback
“It works on a relationship level, but I also relate to the sense of talking to the public. Like, 'This whole thing's a little freaked out, but please have faith in me, because I won't disappoint you'”
After those first two songs, this one with its drop in pace sounds comparatively bland but it does have quite a catchy hook. I can see this as being one to sing along to, maybe even as a good driving song but I'm going to have to wait to hear the verses. The preview only includes the chorus which has a lot of repetition so I'm not very inspired so far. Plus I have an aversion to the spelling of the song title.

Whataya want from me
Just don't give up, I'm working it out
Please don't give in, I won't let you down
It messed me up, need a second to breathe
Just keep coming around, hey
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me

4. STRUT (3:29)
Writers: Adam Lambert, Kara DioGuardi, Greg Wells  Producer: Greg Wells
“It's a Gary Glitter/T.Rex-type thing with an empowerment lyric. You're not gonna find love and happiness unless you let your hair down and strut your stuff.”
This is a funky one with a bassline melody that reminds me of 'Tainted Love'. It's exactly the type of choppy sound to strut to and I love the guitar solo. I look forward hearing the rest of lyrics in the first of the songs Adam co-wrote. I think there'll be some interesting, maybe funny commentary on people who are too up-tight.

...how you wanna be
Everybody's looking for some love but they don't know
How to let it all hang out and that's why they're solo solo solo
Don't wanna be solo solo solo
Don't wanna be solo
We're a complicated nation...

5. SOAKED (4:33)
Writer: Matthew Bellamy (Muse)  Producer: Rob Cavallo
This song is all about showcasing Adam's achingly beautiful voice. The tone is rich and full and powerful and makes me feel extremely greedy for more. I have a feeling that this one builds up into an epic performance with full orchestra. The tortured wailing reminds me a lot of Radiohead's Thom Yorke.

...alone
It's not the first time
It's not the worst crime
Your soul will be OK
And you've had enough
Searching for love

6. SURE FIRE WINNERS (3:33)
Writers: David Gamson, Alexander James, Oliver Lieber  Producer: Rob Cavallo
This is an electro-infused rock anthem with a great melody. Its bass would whip me onto the dance floor, pronto. It's like the result of a gangbang between Queen's 'We Will Rock You', LT United's joke Eurovision entry 'We Are The Winners' and even Da Luniz's 'I Got 5 on it' amongst others. I love the aggressive tone and Adams enunciation of the 't's in glitter. And this must contain the most badass lyric ever for Adam.

We are, yeah, we are, we are the sure fire winners
Sure fire winners, sure fire winners, sure fire winners

Flick the switch and the missile will fire
I'm a heat seeker when I'm full of desire
We're all drawn to the heat of the flame
'cause you wanna be a star in the hall of fame

I was born with glitter on my face
My baby clothes made of leather and lace
And all the girls in the club wanna know...

7. A LOADED SMILE (4:04)
Writer/Producer - Linda Perry
“It's a bit dark, with all the vocals in falsetto. It feels like you're floating in space.”
There's an electronica vibe with spine-tingling vocals. It starts off quite dark but I expected it have an even darker other-worldly feel with more of a trip-hop vibe. I prefer the sound of the start of the snippet to that of the end with the louder instrumentals so it'll be interesting to hear how the rest of the song unfolds.

I, I never felt so satisfied
Everything falls into place but
I think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive

8. IF I HAD YOU (3:48)
Writers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback, Savan Kotecha  Producers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback
This song seems very jarring after a slow track. The sound isn't particularly distinctive and I can hear it as a staple of Soho's gay bars with its slightly cheap-sounding production for the backing track. It does have the potential to take off as an Ibiza club anthem in an annoyingly catchy way though. The clip is mainly of the chorus whose multi-layered vocals mask Adam's voice a little. I like the thumping break and love the vocals at the beginning of the verse so I expect to enjoy the verses much more than the chorus. Dance tracks like this are usually dominated by female voices so I'm hopeful Adam's voice gives it that extra edge and saves the song.

Fame and fortune never could compete
If I had you
Life would be a party it'd be ecstasy
Yeah if i had you
You y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do
If i had you
From new york to la getting high rocking

9. PICK U UP (4:00)
Writers: Rivers Cuomo, Greg Wells, Adam Lambert  Producer: Greg Wells
This is a pleasant sounding rock song and reminds me a little of Kelly Clarkson. It's not the most exciting so far, but I think its strength will be in the verse lyrics. I've spent far too long trying to work them out but they're still not right. Any suggestions would be welcome.

... my life I've been waiting
Pass my time procrastinating now
It's a trip on a fume
And flash right through the sea
Can't you see what I mean?

10. FEVER (3:26)
Writers: Lady Gaga, Jeff Bhasker  Produce: Jeff Bhasker
This synthy disco number is fun and reminiscent of the Scissor Sisters. A small gripe I have is that I can't tell that the voice in the chorus chant belongs to Adam. I do love the low voice in the verses though, and the injection of camp OTT theatricality.

I’m sick of laying down alone, hey
With this fever fever, yeah
My one and own
I wanna get you alone
Give you fever fever yeah

There it goes
You're still my soul and so
’cause, sweetheart
No-no-nobody a-kno-kno-knows me
Or can find ...

11. SLEEPWALKER (4:26)
Writers: Ryan Tedder, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey  Producer: Ryan Tedder
This one has a grand dramatic feel with echoing drums and what sounds like a small choir in the background. The melody and lyrics are beautiful and I absolutely love the harmonies.

Outside the rain's fallin' down
There's not a drop that hits me
Scream at the sky but no sound
Is leavin' my lips

It's like I can't even feel
After the way you touched me
I'm not asleep but I'm not awake
After the way you loved me

I can't turn this around
I keep...

12. AFTERMATH (4:26)
Writers: Adam Lambert, Alisan Porter, Ferras, Ely Rise  Producer: Howard Benson
This uplifting song has the sound of a big '80s power-ballad and could become the soundtrack to many awkward teenage years. The start of the clip is a little shrill for my ears but this song will give full license for Adam's voice to really let loose and soar.

In the Aftermath
Anytime anybody pulls you down
Anytime anybody says you're not allowed
Just remember you are not alone
In the Aftermath

You feel the weight
Of lies and contradictions that...

13. BROKEN OPEN (5:03)
Writers: Greg Wells, Adam Lambert, Evan Bogart  Producer: Greg Wells
“...is about encouraging a lover to become vulnerable enough to cry.”
This has a dated feel but it's all about the breathy emotional vocals. The sparse echoey arrangement of this song makes me feel like I'm lost and drifting alone with the only hope of rescue coming from Adam's ghostly voice beckoning me back. An enchanting song.

I don't want you to go
Don't wanna see you back out in the cold
Air you're breathing out fills you with grey
Don't run away, find me
I know the battles of chasing the shadows of who you are

14. TIME FOR MIRACLES (4:42)
Writers: Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider  Producer: Rob Cavallo
Full review HERE


The album is quite the box of tricks and contains such a huge variety of songs. It was a brave choice to put so many different styles together and you have to admire Adam's versatility. The snippets are a bit jarring but I'm going to wait to hear the full album before deciding how well the collection works. As expected, he's stayed away from boxing himself into any genre with an eclectic mix of pop songs. There's something for everyone and I'm sure we'll all have different favourites. I was hoping to be freaked out by a brand new sound so for me it feels more retro and safer than I would have wanted, but as a first album it's understandable. I prefer the first half, which contains stronger, more interesting sounds and less of the straight-up rock which isn't as distinctive. I'm sure I'll feel different when I hear the full songs. Although tasty, these precious morsels just aren't quite enough and only serve to further stimulate my appetite.

THIS SONG IS A FUCKING PARTY!!!

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Original post 30/10/09 18:44: Yes, and I totally meant the double entendre of that post title. Here it is:



My ass has swivelled itself off its joints, my feet have stomped pits into the ground, it's time to let loose, bitches!  This is a seriously feel-good sexy track with a pulsating catchy-as-hell beat. I expect it'll become the anthem of the upcoming party season and initiate plenty of sweaty flexi-sexual grinding for an orgy on the dance-floor. I'm salivating for the video where I'm picturing Adam looking particularly fierce. He'd be dressed up in a mind-blowing costume and would work the part of a dominator getting down and dirty with risqué moves against other amazingly costumed and beautiful folk on the dance-floor. There'd be lots of glitter and glistening sweat on luminous skin with a feeling of danger and debauchery amongst the ecstasy.

EDIT: The crack of a whip signals the start and we know it's going to be exciting. There'll be none of that bland middle-of-the-road crap that's only use is a sedative.  In come the driving synths for a distinctive introduction.  It's important for that instant recognition.  Imagine the silence at the end of a DJ set, the lights go down, the crowd is panting a little and then the crack snaps through the air.  In that moment the partygoers are suddenly alert and attentive like meerkats, eyes light up in recognition with a burst of excitement, tired feet are forced to rush back to the dance-floor miraculously rejuvenated, just in time for when Adam's voice kicks in.

Adam's voice wasn't immediately recognisable on my first listen as it has a different quality to anything I've heard him sing before, the closest being 'Kiss and Tell'.  The pitch is much lower and he sings with aggression, sounding very masculine.  The beat is a simple one making it easy for even the most rhythmically challenged to shuffle to, and warrants a good sound system with booming bass cranked up to ground-shaking levels.  The song doesn't showcase his voice as well as it could and there are are tiny parts where it sounds overly manipulated for my liking, but it still has so much vitality. My favourite parts of his vocals come at 'over' which is just rough enough and has a little vibrato, the orgasmic 'Woah-oh's, and of course the 'scrayeeayeeyayeeaym!'.  What's great about the lyrics is that it's really left up to the listener to make of them what they will.  From what I've gathered about Adam, he enjoys sneaking in double entendres where he can so I think he loves the salacious interpretation.  The abrupt ending adds to the playful feel of being Adam's bitch after a mind-blowing session of hot rough sex.

The song doesn't have a pioneering new sound as I'd been led to believe, being highly reminiscent of Sam Sparro's 'Black and Gold' and the synthy bass brings to mind Goldfrapp's 'Ooh La La'.  It rides the wave of artists such as Lady Gaga, Little Boots and La Roux but doesn't lead, however he is a rare male representative.  Despite being so far removed from anything I associate with AI, I have a feeling it still sits on the 'safe' end of the Adam spectrum and is just a prelude for more experimental material which would otherwise freak people out.  It's a solid first single with commercial appeal to introduce Adam to the world, giving us a taste of his sound and announcing what he's all about.

The cover is beautifully fierce as you're drawn in and hypnotised by Adam's eyes.  The chains on the jewellery adorning his hand are suggestive of something a little kinky along the lines of pleasure/pain.  It has a current and edgier feel to that of the album and seems to be pretty universally liked but won't be generating much in the way of headlines.  Doesn't it feel so safe now?!

I've mentioned before that feelings about a piece of music are much more than the production, vocals, lyrics, rhythms, melodies and instruments being pleasing to the ear.  It's also about the emotions and memories weaved into it.  Music is the soundtrack to life, the soundtrack to events big and small and can be used to powerful effect. It can evoke feelings that end up lodging and breathing within it and has the ability to re-awaken long-forgotten memories. Reactions are highly dependent on whether your mood is receptive.  A catchy pop tune like this might elicit a very different response if you hear it for the first time on a club dance-floor when the party's in full swing, or if you're rushing about tired and stressed in a crowded shop trying to buy a last-minute gift.  From the timing of its release, I expect it to become a staple of end-of-year parties, which should generate plenty of positive reactions.

Right now, I associate this song with the culmination of Adam's hard work, the validation of all the choices he's made up to this point.  I associate it with everything that has happened both good and bad since I got sucked in, of you, the friends I've made from all over the globe who share this obsession and have supported me since this journey began.  After all the waiting and speculating, the projected political issues, the controversy and the ups and downs of fandom, this song feels like such a relieving burst of much-needed pure uncomplicated fun, a celebration of both passing a finishing line and the start of something new. It's an unapologetically shallow but refreshing light-hearted playful ditty done with a naughty glint and a wink. It's telling us to leave inhibitions and baggage at the door as it's time to let go and party with hedonistic abandon, because all that matters is now, bitches!

Here are the lyrics as far as I can decipher:

So hot, out the box, can we pick up the pace?
Turn it up, heat it up, I need to be entertained
Push the limit, are you with it? Baby don't be afraid
I'mma hurt you real good baby

Let's go, it's my show, baby do what I say
Don't trip off the glitz that I'm gonna display
I told ya I'mma hold ya down until you're amazed
Give it to ya 'til you're screaming my name

No escapin' when I start
Once I'm in I own your heart
There's no way you'll ring the alarm
So hold on until it's over

Oh! Do you know what you got into?
Can you handle what I'm 'bout to do?
'cause it's about to get rough with you
I'm here for your entertainment

Oh! I betcha thought that I was soft and sweet
You thought an angel swept ya off your feet
Well I'm about to turn up the heat
I'm here for your entertainment

It's alright, you'll be fine, baby I'm in control
Take the pain, take the pleasure, I'm the master of both
Close your eyes, not your mind, let me into your soul
I'mma work it 'til you're totally blown

No escapin' when I start
Once I'm in I own your heart
There's no way you'll ring the alarm
So hold on until it's over

Oh! Do you know what you got into
Can you handle what I'm 'bout to do
'cause it's about to get rough with you
I'm here for your entertainment

Oh! I betcha thought that I was soft and sweet
You thought an angel swept you off your feet
Well I'm about to turn up the heat
I'm here for your entertainment

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
I'm here for your entertainment

Whoa-oh! Do you like what you see?
Whoa-oh! Let me entertain you til you scream!

Oh! Do you know what you got into?
Can you handle what I'm 'bout to do?
'cause it's about to get rough with you
I'm here for your entertainment

Oh! I betcha thought that I was soft and sweet (betcha thought)
Your fallen angel swept you off your feet
Well I'm about to turn up the heat
I'm here for your entertainment

Happy Halloween!

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“The box with the Halloween costumes stayed out all year” - Leila Lambert (Rolling Stone)

“My favorite holiday is coming! I think i shall rock Halloween as a GLAMPIRE. What are you going to dress up as?” - Adam Lambert (Twitter)

“Ah yes.. the only kid in Hebrew school that insisted that Halloween was a High Holy day” - Eber Lambert (Adam's old MySpace)

“Adam's favourite thing was a big box of Halloween costumes. Halloween could happen at any time and anywhere during the year for Adam.” - Neil Lambert (E! True Hollywood Story)

What a fantastic Halloween treat we have in being able to party to Adam's new single. Now, who's excited about his costume for today? What's your favourite costume of his?

Artwork For Your Entertainment

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When I first found out the title of the album, I was a little surprised that it wasn't more abstract. I expected there to be a play on words with some clever oblique references and enough ambiguity for multiple interpretations. I've obviously spent much too long poring over it! Instead it's quite direct, descriptive of Adam not just as a singer or a musician but as an entertainer. The title takes me back to my initial thoughts about Adam's tour jacket where he would play the part of an eccentric circus ringmaster from a twisted fantasy world, perhaps like a glammed-up alien Willy Wonka for adults. That was the image I had in mind before I saw the cover.



When I first saw it, I thought it was fan art done in an '80s fantasy style (unicorns, planets and stoner paraphernalia come to mind) because of the airbrushed plastic-smooth complexion, the glittery background nebulae and the simplicity of the composition. Someone had skillfully created the image from scratch for a remarkable likeness which was more sophisticated than all the fan creations I'd previously seen. I then realised it was a photo but couldn't recall which one was used as a base before realising it was new and it hit me that this was the album cover. Yes, I'm that slow!

Unsurprisingly, I love the electric blue hair and the colour scheme, which fits in perfectly with this blog. Adam went for a gender-bending androgynous look, a prettier David Bowie, a softer Annie Lennox. When he's been dressed up before, his look has never been as feminine as this. Even when he's gone for the pretty, there's still plenty of masculinity. For example, in the photo used in one of my attempts at artwork some time ago (see the similarities?), he's all glammed up but still retains a patch of glittery beard. I'm not a fan of the pose which I find a little too passive, and coupled with the soft focus is like the result of one of those 'free' makeover adverts that charge ridiculous amounts for the photos. I would have liked to have seen him with a more animated expression in a composition that pushes the envelope more.  I don't like the over-used airbrushing but I understand its contribution to the other-worldly ethereal android look, like he's a CGI Final Fantasy character. Although radiant, he just manages to escape looking like a cosmetics advert thanks to the cold colours. His shoulder just looks strange, very 2-D. I do love the fierce stare enhanced by the dramatic eye make-up, and where he pulls his eye slightly taut changes the shape of his face making him look even more feminine. Those and the dreamy alien glow remind me of Princess Aura (below) from Flash Gordon. There's no denying that it's a bold image and Adam looks beautifully bewitching. But how well does it work as his first album cover?

Adam described the album sound as being "as if a '70s time-capsule blasted off into space and you're watching it through a holographic filter." The artwork does indeed embody those words with a very kitsch glam retro feel. It complements the rather conventional title of the album by paying homage to some of Adam's influences which some bloggers have pointed out. The fundamental issue I have with it as a cover is, although it's beautiful, it looks too dated and could easily pass as an old vinyl cover from the early '80s. Albeit not as important in the digital age, it's still supposed to help establish the image of an artist but there's nothing new and the typography incorporated looks like it's from the cheesy side of that era. It makes me think that the album is all retro-glam, which may perhaps be correct, we don't know yet, but I'm disappointed by the distinct absence of modern elements being represented. It lacks fun, doesn't tell me it's fresh, nor does it tell me it's something completely new and monumentally different, which is what I've been led to believe. It's soft rather than hard and edgy and it conflicts with my personal expectations for the album. But that's part of the problem - Adam is so versatile and spans such varied genres that we all have different expectations and it's hard to find an all-encompassing cohesive image to please us all.

The artwork, like the title, is only a component of the album.  In the way that the cover's references make up for the title's lack of them, only when I hear the album will I really be able to judge how effective it is. Maybe Adam warps retro through his holographic filter, making us see something modern and futuristic. We'll just have to wait and see. Judging by your comments, it's very polarising and that in itself has generated plenty of buzz. It still represents Adam's view that if you're pleasing everyone, you're playing it too safe. I'm happy that the album cover is not a safe choice. It is distinctive and challenges people's discomfort and acceptance of feminine beauty in men.

Time for Miracles - Video Review

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Yes, I'm slow. I wasn't going to do a review of the TfM video (HQ version here) but since there's not been a lot over the last few days, I thought I might as well. I wasn't as excited about seeing it I was on hearing the song probably due to a slight aversion to big budget Hollywood disaster flicks. All the film-makers seem to have gone to the same school, churning out the same disaster-movies-by-numbers stuff. I guess it's like one of those foil balloons that come in certain shapes - all garishly decorated on the outside and hollow on the inside. Maybe I should stop turning my nose up at these but I'm just too jaded for my own good.

I didn't have high expectations because of this but was still hoping that what I predicted turned out to be very wrong. The opening shot is one of Adam looking reflective, crouched up on a city rooftop in front of an apocalyptic sky. Although the colours are pretty, we know it's a harbinger of looming disaster. Walking through a burnt-out smoky landscape interspersed with solar prominences, we get to see end-of-the-world Adam close up singing the first verse. A little unkempt and stubbly, his skin looks darkened by dirt although his eyes remain gleaming and his teeth shine a bit too brightly. His hair is a little matted but slightly different on each shot. The epauletted coat and scarf are a little scruffed up but the look is still signature Adam. He finishes the verse with puppy-dog eyes and a pleading look. I'm not a fan of the clichéd slow-motion shots especially as they're not synched very well.



On reaching the chorus, we get to see more destruction including the obligatory explosions and cars on fire. Some of the expressions seem inconsistent, cutting from sad resignation to singing his guts out. In the first close-up on the roof the lighting is a little strange and quite unflattering. Adam's blue-grey eyeshadow looks much too dark, almost like he's just changed out of drag and hasn't had enough time to remove the excess make-up. It doesn't seem to be in keeping with his overall look, which takes me back to his semi-final performance of Satisfaction. It's followed by some close-ups sans eyeliner that make up for it though.

The second verse is illustrated by a walk down a panicked street with chaos all around and people bumping into Adam but he seems oblivious and very much focused on his own inner struggle - hoping for a miracle to save a doomed relationship. There are some pretty shots but I find myself distracted by the mysterious appearance of Groucho Marx eyebrows.

The scenes of destruction and explosions become grander in scale as the whole world seemingly crumbles when we approach the climax. Adam breaks into a march with a purpose and sings with ferocity, flared nostrils and all. His expressions emote the magnitude of the OTT scenes of the planet's annihilation. Subtle it is not but suitable it is. We're later greeted with sunny scenes that spoil the end of the film - not that anyone thought there would be anything but a happy ending. The video ends with Adam in a memorable and commanding pose in front of the city skyline.

The video is shorter than the mp3, omitting some of the chorus repetition after the crescendo. The cutting between scenes is a little too fragmented for my liking and ends up impeding my enjoyment of the video. It doesn't do justice to Adam's acting abilities. Although I would have preferred more Adam time, I think it hit a fairly good balance in not being too self-indulgent. It doesn't look like it was done on the cheap with all the special effects but what I find strange is there seem to be many details that were overlooked which leaves ample room for improvement. This is his first music video but it's not his project - he's merely the paint for the canvas, not the artist. The result is predictable and lacks imagination but it has a brief to fulfil which I think is met with fairly enjoyable results.

What I'm really looking forward to though is seeing the canvas by Adam the artist. I have no idea what to expect which makes it all the more exciting. The only expectation I do have is that he won't be painting by numbers. We are so agonisingly close. Aaagh! I can't wait!

Intimate Details

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Before chiming in, I thought I'd wait to see the actual photos from the Details shoot rather than the distorted and slightly out-of-focus photos of the magazine that were in circulation. I had wondered beforehand where exactly 'racy' sat on the Adam barometer, thinking it would probably be very sexually suggestive, maybe a little kinky. In terms of this wave of publicity though, I think it came a little too soon after the leak of TfM. In the morning we were all excited about TfM and later on that day, it was all about the photos which ended up slightly overshadowing the music.

The cover shot features a heart-stopping look directly at you, brooding and slightly accusatory. The styling is Teddy Boy meets Top Gun, the result a dark and mysterious stranger. The pose looks a little unnaturally forced, but overall I like the result and I'm very thankful it wasn't artificially smoothed over with an airbrush.

When I first saw the portrait of Adam at the start of the article, I thought it looked very strange - it didn't resemble him and looked conspicuously photoshopped. He looked way too thin and angular but the light reflection suggested the magazine wasn't flat. No wonder Details was trying to get the photo pulled because it didn't do it justice. The black and white image is striking and you're drawn straight to his intense gaze. The feel of it hearkens back to classic Hollywood screen icons of the 50s. The chiselled features, the strong jaw, the slightly stubbly rugged complexion, the pensive gaze with the wrinkled forehead and thick furrowed brows all make him look classically handsome. The slicked hair, the simple white T-shirt with the gathered sleeves and the earring give off a rebellious air - the dangerous bad boy you want to ride off into the sunset with. It's a beautiful portrait.

The rest of the photos see Adam with closed eyes sporting a strange manicure posing with a naked model in various positions for some intimate shots. The photos are sensual but due to the light touch and positioning of Adam's hands, I don't see them as that sexual. Neither Adam nor the model look fully engaged in each other but absorbed in their individual pleasure. For the model it appears to be pride at achieving her conquest and for Adam it's the fascination of the female aesthetic. The kiss I find a tiny bit clumsy because their mouths are so far apart. The horizontal one shows his passion for the female form as if it were a work of art, a sculpture. His plain black T-shirt and position makes me think of him as an artist, maybe a dancer. The last one in the mag is the most explicit where he's sporting a Teddy Boy look. I think this is my least favourite because it lacks the believability factor for me. On seeing the rest of the photos on the site, the kissing one works better cropped without the hand cupping the breast, and the licking one works better without the model's rear on full display. I actually find the shots they didn't use in the mag more beautiful and prefer the one with the exposed nipple to the one where Adam's hand is on it.

The photos portray Adam as very masculine which I find very different to the RS shoot where I thought his effeminacy was highlighted. The imagery and feel of the photo shoot, although not quite as steamy, remind me of the work by Herb Ritts, who in addition to being a photographer, directed one of the most beautiful music videos - Wicked Game which I've included here. Watch it and you'll know what I mean. The portraits of Adam are quite reminiscent of the close-ups of Chris Isaak in the video.

The racy photos I'm sure have already been discussed to death but I might as well pitch in.  I don't see it as Adam betraying his sexuality and selling out. The shoot is for a lads' mag, and lads' mags aren't subtle and need breasts to sell. These are comparatively high-brow compared to the bulk of them. I think the point of those photos is to illustrate the sub-heading of the article 'Why does every woman in America want to sleep with Adam Lambert?' and to reinforce Adam's view that attraction isn't necessarily dictated by sexual orientation. Being gay doesn't exclude you from appreciating the opposite sex and the photos show him exploring that beauty. The editor decided to include in the mag the shots with the greatest shock factor, which I find a little vulgar and gimmicky. I'm fine with the nudity but I'm one who prefers the sexy to be implied and think the same message could have been put across without resorting to as much gratuitous flesh fondling. I think Adam was rather shocked himself on seeing them but seemed to get a kick out of it.  He liked the results and I consider them a success having achieved the goal of fuelling fantasies and generating quite a stir. It's kept us talking, given headlines to the magazine and helped maintain the buzz. It also gets the controversy over and done with should Adam want to put his bi-curiosity into practice or cavort with the opposite gender in his music videos. It's certainly keeping people very interested in what he does next.

The article, although eclipsed by the photos, is interesting and elaborates on what was said in RS. Adam appears to be getting comfortable with being more forthright in his speech. I felt he had an increased impatience towards the overzealous Christians who he's mentioned before, and more annoyance directed at those fans who think he owes them. Although he was a big tease about being tempted to make out with women, I think the article could have delved a little deeper. After all, that was supposed to be the heart of the article but I felt that it was more like an excuse to show the photos. He talked in a bit more detail about his past issues and his destructive streak. I have a liberal attitude towards recreational drug use and don't find it surprising, but I'd suspected he'd done speed rather than coke judging by some old photos where he looked very thin. It surprised me a little that he talked about having slept around, I thought he'd keep that a mystery but I guess its purpose is to lay the foundations for future eye-rolling if anyone steps forward with a tabloid kiss and tell. I'm pleased for his success and it's always reassuring to know that Simon Fuller recognises what a rare talent Adam is, putting him amongst the all-time great singers. I often find myself shaking my head in disbelief when I remember that Adam came out of Idol. Looking at this latest article, it seems he couldn't be further from it.