Adam Lambert: Poptimist of the Year?

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

Not really. But yeah, new Adam Lambert strikes me as a rare instance of a mainstream US artist taking on what I can only think of as "Eurovision style," a hodgepodge of hyper-glam, synth-pop, torch songs, and soarin' male falsetto. Somewhere between BWO and the Ark, or something?

Anyway, dramaqueenage abounds and the whole album is worth a listen -- as girlboymusic put it, "simultaneously mediocre and fabulous." Its mediocrity scans to me as workmanlike, but it's a different sort of work than I'm used to from American artists.

Do any other major American artists from the past few years sound anything at all like this? All I'm coming up with is Scissor Sisters -- but anyway they're way more popular in Europe.

Obvious echoes of Lady GaGa, who probably deserves some mention in this convo, in fuh-fuh-fuh-"Fever":

Synth-struttin':

No-that's-not-The-Feeling pop in "Pick U Up":

Etc. So what the heck is going on?

Comments

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Everyone I know who likes Adam Lambert does not like pop. They talk about pop in context of him and what it means that he's in pop and etc but since they have no interest in the rest of pop I find this somewhat offputting.

With the whole sexuality ambiguity he's a heartthrob for the fanfic generation with enough showmanship to create some essence of popstarness but his music appears to be atbest a weak vessel for his other celebrity. I've only heard him sing twice so might be being overly judgemental but frankly, Max Martin can fvck right off in my book and if that's the sort of thing people want then blergh.

Apparently he got his c0ck out at the AMAs or something?

/grump

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Nb: if anyone attempts to accuse me of homophobia for not liking Adam Lambert, I swear I will combust.

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're homophobic, I just think not liking Adam Lambert suggests that you irrationally hate all gay people.

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

Still can't figure out who that dude on the phone in your LJ pic is :(

[edgeofwhatever.livejournal.com]

I like Adam Lambert. I also like pop. WHAT NOW?

More importantly, I am waving my arms around like the Lost in Space robot at your telling Max Martin to fuck off immediately after dismissing people who don't like pop.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Waah what is wrong with Max Martin? He did my #th favourite song of the year (Britney's '3') though I guess you mean that early 90s boyband-Britney slsh-swurp-BING sound.

I am going to go and listen to some Adam Lambert now to form my opinion, brb.