2.23.23 Adam News and Info

High Drama
Adam Lambert
BMG, Feb. 24
7/10

Conceptually, High Drama by Adam Lambert is relatively simple: The powerhouse vocalist takes a some of his favorite songs, turns them on their head and adds a dramatic flair. There’s no particular era, artist or songbook du jour here—it’s an eclectic array. The real stars of the show here are his unmistakable pipes. Few have the power and range of Lambert’s vocals, as evidenced by his recruitment to front Queen, a role he’s tackled with poise.

Lambert avoids flipping these songs into classic rock anthems. On his cover of Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out For A Hero,” the take is nearly unrecognizable from the original; it’s more in the proggy direction of Muse’s “Uprising.” Compare that with Lambert’s twist on SIA’s “Chandelier,” which is a little closer to the original but takes things in a more alternative post-grunge direction. At times, the chorus almost moves into the territory of Fall Out Boy or Panic! at the Disco. It’s fascinating to hear Lambert’s voice transition from track to track.

In the case of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World,” things shift entirely in the opposite direction, transforming the song into a piano ballad. It’s actually quite stunning, mixing in strings and orchestral elements that only add to the “drama.” Billie Eilish’s “Getting Older” opens with a Queen-esque harmonized vocal before shifting to a rock ballad. But that shouldn’t undersell the song, as the vocal performance is tremendous.


More + videos:  riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/adam-lambert-high-drama/