Adam Lambert Will Not Be Restrained

noah | October 20, 2009 10:00 am

Our every-so-often look at the closing lines of new-music reviews brings us to a roundup of reactions to Adam Lambert’s first single, “Time For Miracles.” The Alain Johannes/Natasha Shneider-penned superpower ballad was released to the iTunes Store over here today after leaking over the weekend. After the jump, a sampling of reactions from American Idol experts: • “The biggest challenge for Adam, as far as I see it, is there really isn’t anyone quite like him on modern radio — a male singer with a monster-truck-sized voice who isn’t afraid to bring the bombast and the drama to match it. But I’m guessing that Adam — with his vampires-vs.-aliens chic and booming instrument — will be impossible for even the least adventurous radio programmer to ignore.” [Michael Slezak, EW] • “Lambert communicates this context through a world-weary approach in the early part of the song, including a nice, depressive blue note in the middle of the first verse and a vocal crack a few phrases later. There’s not much drama for him to milk here — no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise, just an aching heart and some deeply familiar romantic imagery. Lambert works his way through the undying flames by keeping it conversational, adding a slightly soulful twist as the strings swirl behind him. Then, three minutes in, Lambert’s melismatic growl signals that the summit’s within sight.” [Ann Powers, LAT] • “Don’t get me wrong, Idol fans. I think ‘Time for Miracles’ is awesomely (and appropriately) over the top. I appreciate the build-up, which allows for Adam to showcase both sides of his meaty vocal chops: tenderly quiet and ear-drum-bashing-octave-jumping-fist-pumping loud. But considering Lambert and his record label, 19 Recordings/RCA, have been vocal about ‘Time for Miracles’ being a side project that doesn’t reflect the tone of his major label debut, isn’t it odd that they’d allow this non-album throwback track be the first taste the world gets of their new performer?” [Jim Cantiello, MTV] • “Adam Lambert can go bombastic every time he steps into a recording studio or up to a mic, but I hate wailers. So what if a person can hit high notes? That doesn’t make great music (see Mariah, Christina, et al). I’ve always thought Lambert would be most interesting if he reigns [sic] it in, controls it…for entire songs. Not abandoning it all together, but not always performing those glory notes.” [Top Idol] Time For Miracles [iTunes] Earlier: Adam Lambert’s First Single Gets Kicked Online A Little Bit Early