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Adam Lambert's Album Cover: Xanadu, Or A Xana-Don't?

Posted Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:16pm PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

Apparently Adam "Glamerican Idol" Lambert was not kidding when he told the press that his much-anticipated debut album, For Your Entertainment, would sound "as if a '70s time-capsule blasted off into space and you're watching it through a holographic filter." Because if one can judge an album by its holographic cover, that is EXACTLY what For Your Entertainment is going to sound like.

Adam's disco-fevered album artwork was revealed today, and it seriously could be mistaken for an alternate cover of the Xanadu soundtrack (that is an awesome thing in my opinion, by the way):

Now, I adore this cover's absolutely fabulous retro vibe. (It looks so much like a beauty shot snapped by Andy Warhol in some glitter-dusted private party room at Studio 54, I can almost imagine Bianca Jagger riding a white horse in the background; what's not to like?) But it will be fascinating to see if such an androgynous android image goes over well with more mainstream record buyers (you know, the ones who are still trying to wrap their brains around the "shocking" fact that Adam dabbles in a bit of MAC from time to time).

Unfortunately, there might be many closed-minded (mostly hetero male) customers who'll be too embarrassed carry such a glamtastically Jobriathian album up to the cash register at Wal-Mart.

Their loss.

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11669 Comments

1. Ladan -
What can I say! He looks gorgeous!!

2. Yahoo! Music User -
he looks like a girl

3. Yahoo! Music User -
O M G !

4. Margie -
I think the cover's gorgeous, just like Adam. It's definitely "glammy"!

5. Yahoo! Music User -
I love it!

it's what album covers used to be... ART.. not some generic headshot where the artist just stares at the camera and smiles blandly.

6. MsA -
Stunning!

7. Jd -
Is...this a joke? PLEASE BE A JOKE?

I know AI album covers are always bad but this is so terrible I don't know whether to laugh or cry....holy shiiiiiiiiiiii

It's like REALLY cheap, bad fanart!!!! D':

ADAM, THAT'S NOT GLAM. That's....cheesy neo disco or something! BLEH!

The photoshop, the font, everything is so cheap and TERRIBLE.

ADAM is fabulous, but that doesn't make poor graphic design work okay.

Everyone, fans included are laughing.

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, CHANGE THIS ADAM!

8. Yahoo! Music User -
I gasped when I saw it. OMFG, this IS Adam. I love it. Only one complaint. I am obsessed with his lip freckles, and they did not make it to the cover. I might take my marker out and add them in...hahaha!

9. EJ -
I have no problem with Adam as a person, as an entertainer or as a singer. I love the Glam look and I love the cover. For people so afraid of being seen with the album, there's always Amazon.

10. Loretta -
Oooooh Miss Lindsey, you took the words right out of my mouth. Yes it does make me think of the style that Andy Warhol would be creating if he was with us today. And the cover art that Mr. Lambert has chosen for his official album, For Your Entertainment is so definitely Adam Lambert!!!

I also agree there will be some close minded hetero people who will be uneasy with this pic and may not buy Adam Lambert's album and that would be such a shame because they will miss out on a great album.

Thank you for your great & fair review of Adam's cover photo for his album.

11. Carl -
Awesome Cover! I hope the music is as good as the cover!!

12. Yahoo! Music User -
I love Adam, but I'd be almost embarrassed to carry this cover up to the cash register. Lyndsey, you don't just have to worry about male, heterosexual fans, but women with some level of taste as well. Yikes, this is awful!

13. Colleen -
I really like it. It's ethereal. He looks liked he might have just hatched. People surely didn't expect something safe from Adam, did they?

I could be naive, but I'd like to think that people buy albums for the more than the cover artwork.

14. Yahoo! Music User -
no thanks

15. Yahoo! Music User -
Two words: Glittery alien.

From the beginning Adam has challenged people. And he's just getting started.

LOVE IT.

16. Yahoo! Music User -
Nope, not diggin it. Too too feminine. No edge, no rock, no man. Dated graphics and colors. WTF? Cheesy block letter font for his name, ala AI I guess.

Not even passing for androg. I'll buy the music either way, but this cover stinks. He is going to attract a wrath of crap for this....

17. Yahoo! Music User -
While the cover is beautiful and certainly not expected (which Adam likes to shake things up), I too worry about the larger appeal for the album, especially as he is just getting started. Wonder why that picture? My husband likes his singing, but the cover put him off and I don't want to post his comment. I feel like the hot, sexy, fierce side got lost in space somewhere.

Therefore, I too wonder about the broader audience. Sorry, not feeling it personally either but will purchase his music no matter what. BTW, Lyndsey, I love your posts!

18. Yahoo! Music User -
This guy rocks! I love him so much!

19. Yahoo! Music User -
Exquisite! Mesmerizing. Entrancing.
A classy nod to glam.

Glam is back!
Controversy is here!

Let's rock!

20. Sara -
I agree with the fact that it looks like cheap fan art. Too much Photoshop is not a good thing. I could handle the cheesy lettering and starfield for thematic reasons but they went so overboard with Photoshop that it doesn't look like him anymore. It looks to me like they might've even taken some of the width off of his face. Not good, not good at all.
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