Album Drop: This Week’s New Releases, From Rihanna To Adam Lambert
Posted by: Kate Torgovnick
Filed in:
entertainment, video
3:59PM, Tuesday November 24th 2009
Today is not much of an indie day. Nope, today is a day for big, huge, mega-blockbuster releases from the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, Shakira, and Susan Boyle. Why? So that they’re in stores, sitting on the new releases shelf, on Black Friday when people storm the doors of Wal-Mart, hopefully not trampling people their way to big discounts. So if pop is your thing, congrats! And if it’s not your thing, come back next week.
Rihanna, Rated R
This album is fantastic. Like, I’ll probably play it as often as I did Good Girl, Gone Bad. It’s a dark mix of songs, which makes sense in the context of Rihanna’s life since last March, with momentary relief of Caribbean-infused songs. Overall: man, is it poignant.
Lady Gaga, Fame Monster
This album is conceptual—it’s Lady Gaga’s debut from last year, but packaged with eight new songs. Somehow that works with the theme though, right? The songs on this one are more of her patented electro-pop, but with tinges of disco and rock opera.
Shakira, She Wolf
Shakira’s hair has gotten straighter and her dance moves have gotten wonkier, but other than that, not a whole lot has changed for her since “Oral Fixation.” We’re still kind of digging her vibe, though.
Adam Lambert, For Your Entertainment
After his run on “American Idol,” we were expecting a lot more from Adam Lambert. But instead, he’s going the shock route. He’s adopted the theatricality of all the ladies above. Too bad his songs are tepid and stale. Even though they’re written by the likes of Gaga, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, and Rivers Cuomo. Next!
Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream
Susan’s voice is pretty, but this album is so expected it hurts. First off, it’s named I Dreamed A Dream, the song that made her an overnight sensation. Other than that, it’s covers—many she did on “Britain’s Got Talent.” I wish she’d taken more of a chance here.
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starduster
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 04:07 pm: [report]
Is it just me, or do the Rihanna and Adam Lambert covers look nearly identical?
And, after Lambert got pulled from “Good Morning America,” it seems highly unlikely he’ll have his album carried at Wal-Mart, no? No real loss there…I can’t imagine Lambert wanting his album sold to the people of Wal-Mart. Also - Rivers Cuomo wrote one of his songs?!
spatula
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 04:11 pm: [report]
@starduster that’s hilarious, when Lambert came out at the AMAs I thought for sure he WAS Rihanna, with a majorly unfortunate haircut.
Gabrielmelvoin
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 04:12 pm: [report]
lady gaga looks weird but has great music!
Kate Torgovnick
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 04:29 pm: [report]
Geez. You are so right. They could be mirror images of each other.
elina
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 06:05 pm: [report]
Getting the Lady Gaga album for sure! Love her!! And I know that Rihanna went through some heavy stuff this year but i still don’t like any of the songs that I’ve listened too….I hope she has a good dance tune! And I love Shakira but I wish she would stop imitating Beyonce so much. Dont care about Adam Lambert.
djplaster
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 11:07 pm: [report]
lambert cannot even sing!!
Anniushka
wrote on November 24 2009 @ 11:34 pm: [report]
I’ve given up on Shakira. Bought Fijación Oral, only liked 2 of the, what, 16 songs on it? Won’t be buying She Wolf. *sigh*
christinax4
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 12:00 am: [report]
yeah they do look alike! except the hair is going different directions, same comb-over flat-ironed look tho to both. i think they have the same nailpolish on, too weird! LOVED IT the bad romance video, Gaga is ammaaazing. AND WHO HASNT HAD A BAD ROMANCE!!!
spatula
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 08:41 am: [report]
@kate it’s downright spooky
@christinax4 LOL story of my life
christinax4
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:39 am: [report]
Mine too, @spat!
CheezeDoodles
wrote on November 29 2009 @ 10:35 am: [report]
Adam Lambert has got to be inspired by Pete Burns, the front man (?) of Dead or Alive. Until Pete totally screwed his face up with too many plastic surgeries and the procedure that mangled his lips, he made a hot woman and did gorgeous makeup.
Pete then: http://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dead_or_alive_pete_burns.jpg
Pete now (this picture is awful, I feel bad for him): http://www.liverpool.com/blogs/get-well-soon-pete….html
Pete Burns looks nothing like he used to, though he could easily pass for an Octomom double (gross). Yeesh.
I can’t listen to Adam for even a second, but I do love the eye makeup he’s wearing in the photo at the top of this column.
And as for Lady Gaga, I had been ignoring her until “Bad Romance.” She’s out there, but that’s why I like her. The song is absolutely addicting, and I’m looking forward to listenting to the others on her new CD.