This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. Bust out your precious vial of glitter and slip on your leather boots because the glam rock king has returned to us!
After cruelly teasing his devoted followers for weeks, former American Idol runner-up and new Queen frontman Adam Lambert has finally unleashed his latest single, his first since 2012 (not including his "Lay Me Down" collaboration with Avicii)... and it's as crazy and brilliant as one could have imagined.
"Ghost Town", the lead offering from Lambert's upcoming third studio album, The Original High (out in June), trades in the camp and theatrics for a darker, straightforward tone along with an insane production mix of acoustic guitar and 90s dance/house beats that should not work together on paper... but they do and it sounds absolutely amazing. Radio, get ready!
Produced by Max Martin (Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift), who also serves as co-producer on The Original High, the new track serves up some deliciously haunting ("Ghost Town", get it?) vocal effects on Lambert's chilling delivery as he sings of heartache and the unsatisfying current state of Hollywood and the music business. Following a soft acoustic intro, that lures listeners into the artist's retrospective world, an infectious whistle comes through and the song takes a turn for greatness.
Sitting nicely alongside impressive production work are Lambert's reflective songwriting skills, which immediately command attention. "I tried to believe, in God and James Dean, but Hollywood sold out," he croons on the opening verse before one of the best hooks of 2015 comes through the speakers with its one-two punch. Towards the end (the last minute is easily the highlight of the single), Lambert throws in a small dose of profanity to get the blood really pumping. All the elements work.
"Ghost Town" was given immense early praise by those few lucky critics who were able to preview the track before its release today, and it definitely lives up to that positive reception. Lambert is primarily known for his powerhouse vocal range, but fitting to the vibe and theme of his new single, he scales back his performance in order to let the words and beat make an impact of their own. The chorus is fit for the clubs, pulsating and vogue-tastic, however it shouldn't be lumped in with the rest of the bubblegum dance crowd either. This is experimental pop at it finest!
Though the track has been on repeat for this blogger since its official release last night, there is one nit-picky misstep. While his restraint vocals should be commended on the new single, some more power was needed when the hook rolls around the second time, it's a glaring missed opportunity that prevents the song from reaching the "perfection" status. Other than that... it's the most creative and hard-hitting release this year.
I never thought Lambert would ever release such a strange hybrid of a song, one that alienates an entire population of music lovers who can't whistle worth a damn (*bows his head in disappointment), but "Ghost Town" is his strongest and boldest move to date. He is not singing about leather and eyeliner, he isn't supported by a rock 'n roll, clap-along beat, he's sharing some of his more darker, personal thoughts with the assistance of a beat that already has the pop royalty stamp of approval.
Lambert is truly our only male pop star, he has secured a top ten hit, a number one album and a much deserved GRAMMY nomination... and he's coming back in 2015 with a vengeance.
UPDATE (04/29/15): The wait is over. After much anticipation for the Hype Williams-directed visual to his unique and brilliant "Ghost Town", pop icon Adam Lambert has finally shared the official music video in support of The Original High's lead single. Premiering exclusively on Entertainment Tonight last night, the beautiful black-and-white filmed visual shows Lambert interpreting the song's open-ended lyrics in an abandoned town while numerous backup dancers move to the beat of the infectious track.
There's no pop of color, we unfortunately don't get to see Lambert bust out a choreographed routine ala "Never Close Our Eyes", but the glam rocker looks drop dead gorgeous in the new music video as he channels a late Elvis Presley throughout and impressive vampire-ish close ups of his sultry eyes give his devoted followers something to salivate over. With a fresh, creative premise, a cameo from RuPaul's Drag Race season 3 winner Raja and Lambert's perfect complexion at the forefront... this may be one of the artist's strongest videos to date.
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