Music Reviews

Adam Lambert

Velvet

Adam Lambert’s newest album lives up to its name with smooth and luxurious tracks which are some of the singer’s finest work.

His fourth studio offering is a stand-out performance with 13 tracks which infuse his raw talent with soulful jazz influences.

Opening track Velvet sets the tone as Lambert expertly flirts with the jazz genre.

The album veers into darker territory towards the end, before an emotional climax with the tender Feel Something.

The album is an exceptional offering from the wellestablished singer and an exciting demonstration of his range for a new audience.

8/10

Morrisey

I Am Not A Dog On A Chain

I don’t want to suggest Morrissey has become a self-parody but the opening track on this new album, Jim Jim Falls, features the lyric: “If you’re going to kill yourself, then to save face get on with it.”

The title track sees him venting at the media – “I do not read newspapers, they are troublemakers...in a civilised and careful way, they’ll sculpture all your views”.

In truth, die-hard fans will lap up much of the album, typical Morrissey fare with a fresh twist provided by a pronounced synth influence and the highlight of soul star Thelma Houston’s backing vocals on first single Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?

However, as it progresses, the album becomes increasingly self-indulgent with The Truth About Ruth and the eight-minute The Secret Of Music borderline unlistenable.

5/10

Moaning

Uneasy Laughter

When LA-based post-punk trio Moaning recorded an album “largely about dealing with the anxieties of the 21st Century” they couldn’t have known how relevant that would be by the time of its release.

Uneasy laughter is synthled and has echoes of the Bunnymen. We get tracks such as Make It Stop and What Separates Us, while vocalist Sean Solomon croons: “I wanna be anybody but myself” in Ego.

Solomon wrote the album after becoming sober and educating himself on mental health and it provides a fitting self-isolation soundtrack.

7/10

Niall Horan

Heartbreak Weather

Niall Horan was the dark horse of boy band One Direction, lacking the good looks of Harry Styles, and the confidence of Liam Payne.

What he did have – and Heartbreak Weather proves this in spades – is a real musicality and even a hint of the rock and roll spirit.

Where Liam Payne’s solo debut LP1 failed to hit either the pop highs of his past or the supposed maturity of his present, Horan’s second, achieves both with panache.

Black And White replicates his former band’s stadiumsized singalong, while Small Talk laces slick pop with a hint of grunge.

And acoustic numbers Dear Patience and Still will keep the teenyboppers happy.

If Heartbreak Weather proves anything, it’s that the old adage is true: Watch out for the quiet ones.

6/10