[Album Review] Adam Lambert - Trespassing

Adam Lambert will release his hotly anticipated sophomore album, Trespassing, this Tuesday, May 15th via RCA Records/19 Recordings.  To get the fans pumped up and ready to buy on Tuesday, the album can be streamed in it's entirety on Lambert's official website.  In addition to a standard and deluxe version of the album, Lambert is selling an exclusive Trespassing - Box Set for $49.99, which includes six 12" X 12" lithographs, Trespassing on vinyl, and the fan edition (CD/DVD). Eat it up Glamberts!

Read more »

Toni Braxton Reinvents Herself as a Dance Diva, Eighth Studio Album Due Next Month

90s R&B diva Toni Braxton is reinventing herself as a full fledged dance diva ya'll and I can't get enough!  "I Heart You" is the first single taken from Braxton's upcoming eighth studio album, a double disc set called Heartstrings & Synagogue Vibes, tentatively due in May. 

Written by Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis, "I Heart You" starts out like your run-of-the-mill Toni Braxton R&B ballad before launching into a rowdy dance floor anthem.  While the lyrics really lack much in the way of substance, the beat is so infectiously addictive that you don't really care what she's saying.  

I have to say, it's fantastic to hear Toni Braxton singing on a straight up dance track, a natural progression if you ask me, given how the majority of her more traditional R&B tracks were remixed for the clubs.  Toni's music has always been DJ-friendly, attracting big names in the industry such as Hex Hector, David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, Peter Rauhofer, Junior Vasquez and more.  One would hope that this single gets some bangin' remixes soon.  As it stands, "I Heart You" is this weeks #2 most added record on Billboard's Dance Chart {SOURCE}. Check out the extended mix by renowned DJ/producer Marc Picchiotti BELOW.

Read more »

Adam Lambert To Release Sophomore Album May 15th, Listen To Four New Tracks

FINALLY. The release of Adam Lambert's highly anticipated sophomore album is in sight. Trespassing was originally due to come out March 20th however in mid February, RCA announced a delay to allow time for Lambert to record new material.  The album is now scheduled for release May 15th in the U.S. and I couldn't be more excited.  Clearly, Adam's people were nervous after lead single, "Better Than I Know Myself" flopped its way onto the Billboard Hot 100, fizzling out at an unfortunate #76.  Not quite what everyone was hoping for.

The song, which I called a "drab" mid-tempo electro-pop ballad seemed to have all the makings of a hit, including a STRONG team of songwriters and producers (Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Ammo, Claude Kelly)...sooo what happened?  Well if you look back at Lambert's relatively short chart history, there haven't been too many smashes.  In fact, Adam Lambert has only one Billboard Hot 100 top 10 to his name and that was 2009's "Whataya Want From Me," which peaked at #10.  The next highest charting single - "If I Had You" which peaked at #30.  

Read more »

Hot Video Alert: Adam Lambert - Better Than I Know Myself

In case you missed it, 30 year old singer/songwriter (and American Idol alum) Adam Lambert premiered the video for his brand new single, "Better Than I Know Myself" earlier today.  The beautifully shot Ray Kay directed video features Lambert playing two different versions of himself, good versus evil, if you will. The video plays out in a split screen format, with each "version" of Lambert confined to it's own space. The evil dwells in a dark, blueish green tinted space while the good inhabits a much more zen, warmly lit room.  Very literal but still effective at getting the point of the video across.  In the end, breaking free from the confined space, Lambert's character seems to achieve some sort of balance and all is well again.  Definitely one of more interesting videos to come out in a while.  I'm wondering if it's supposed to be autobiographical in any way, given some of the star's recent press. Hmmmm...

Now...let's discuss the song.  Despite being impeccably performed my Mr. Lambert, "Better Than I Know Myself" is rather drab as far as Adam Lambert singles go.  It's a mid-tempo electro-pop ballad produced and co-written by Dr. Luke (Ke$ha, Katy Perry), Cirkut (Jessie J, Rihanna) and Ammo (Pitbull, Britney Spears) along with Claude Kelly who also served as co-writer on the track.  Lambert has one of the best male vocals in pop right now and he certainly sings the hell out of this song, but it's lacking something for me.  I don't know if it's the hook, or the depressing subject matter or what. Something just isn't connecting with me and I can't quite figure out what it is.

Released on December 20th, the single peaked at #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Currently sitting at #83, now that the song has officially been sent to radio (as of January 23rd), I'm hoping that the video helps give the song a little boost up the charts.  This very well could be a grower for me, and if the past is indicative of anything, we'll likely see a swarm of bumpin' dance remixes in the coming months which will likely give the song new life.  "Better Than I Know Myself" serves as the official lead off of Adam Lambert's forthcoming sophomore album, entitled Trespassing, which is due in March on RCA Records.  While Lambert did co-write many of the album's tracks, he also paired up with some of the industry's most talented songwriters and producers, including Pharrell Williams, Benny Blanco, Bonnie McKee, Nile Rogers, Sam Sparro, Bruno Mars, Nikka Costa, BC Jean and more.

UK Adam Lambert fans unfortunately have to wait until March 12th to download the single, but U.S. fans can download it on U.S. iTunes HERE. Check out the video below!

Check out Adam Lambert on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: BC Jean - I'll Survive You

Back in August I did a post about a promising new talent named BC Jean and I'm embarrassed to say it's taken me since then to do another post about her. Back in September, BC released her debut single, "Just A Guy," on J Records. Co-written by Jean and The Matrix, the song was produced by Ryan Tedder and seemed to be a pretty good sample of what we can expect from her debut album. The song is a feisty, girly anthem that showcased BC Jean's attitude and as well as her songwriting and gritty vocals.

Back in April, Jean released her follow up single, a lovely ballad called "I'll Survive You," that allows a completely different side of BC Jean to shine, vocally speaking. Co-written by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha and Shellback the song shows a more vulnerable side of Jean, sounding a bit like a blend of Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson and Kimberly Caldwell.

BC Jean is working on her debut album with talented producers and songwriters including Dallas Austin, The Matrix, Toby Gad and more. We can surely count of some more quality songwriting from Jean herself, who penned Beyonce's hit single, "If I Were A Boy," along with Gad. Jean's album is expected out sometime later this year.  Download "I'll Survive You" on iTunes HERE as well as her original single "Just A Guy" (HERE).  You can also snag "Anyone," another BC Jean ballad (HERE).

Check out BC Jean on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Singer/Songwriter BC Jean Is Ready For Her Pop Closeup

BC Jean is someone we should be watching VERY CAREFULLY.  She's absolutely going places. This talented singer/songwriter from LA releases her debut single, "Just A Guy" September 14th on J Records followed by her debut album in early 2011. Co-written by Jean and The Matrix (Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears) and produced by Ryan Tedder, "Just A Guy" is a feisty back-to-school, girl's anthem sure to leave a lasting impression when it's released this Fall.

Listen to: Just A Guy by BC Jean

An accomplished songwriter prior to "Just A Guy," Jean co-wrote (with Toby Gad) Beyonce’s Top 3 single, "If I were A Boy" and was quickly SWARMED with offers from labels looking to sign the talented artist. Not only did Jean impress the record labels but world class songwriters were scrambling to work with her.  According to Ryan Tedder,  

"This is first song I’ve ever produced that I didn’t write in six years…That’s how much I like this song. I have a good feeling about this one."  

Even Sony Music head Clive Davis was impressed.  

"You eagerly wait for a multi-talented new artist to come along like BC Jean. She's already proven her major songwriting ability, and, what's more, she's got a truly powerful voice with edge and natural soulfulness."

Listen To: Used by BC Jean

I gotta agree with Clive here.  While "Just A Guy" might not showcase her vocal abilities all that well, hearing her sing a song called "Used," you can tell that this girl's got raw talent to spare. Beautiful.  She sounds like a cross between P!nk and Meredith Brooks mixed with a little Jill Sobule and Joan Osborne. Edgy pop/rock is just what the radio needs right now so here's hoping that BC Jean can deliver.

BC Jean is currently in the studio working on her debut album, with a little help from some top-notch collaborators including Max Martin (Britney Spears, Katy Perry), Brian Howes (Daughtry, David Cook), Zac Maloy (David Cook, Jason Castro) and Howard Benson (The All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance), not to mention Ryan Tedder and The Matrix.  I LOVE that shes's paired up with a lot of ROCK producers. This is PERFECT because she's got a voice that lends itself PERFECTLY to an edgier pop sound.  Get ready for a BC Jean pop explosion come September.

Check out BC Jean on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Related articles by Zemanta

• BC Jean, Beyonce's ghost writer, finally gets a smash single (hollywoodnews.com)
• New and Notable: BC Jean (albumartexchange.com)