"Remixes" by Adam Lambert
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Now that Adam Lambert’s been on the scene a bit, it’s time for the music to be stretched and pulled (and for the additional dollars to be eked out of the album).  “Remixes” is the first such effort, offering a new take on his earliest singles.

This is a short, concise set of remixes, which makes sense since he’s only had two radio hits.  The division’s a bit odd; there’s three mixes here from Whataya Want From Me, two from For Your Entertainment, and a new song, Voodoo.  So right off, you’re only getting five mixes (and fortunately, it’s priced accordingly).

The mixes, however, liven up the songs.  As I mentioned in my review last fall, I wasn’t incredibly enthusiastic about the final result of his first album; there was a lot of promise, but the music fell short.  The remixes liven up the proceedings, each with their own individual vibe, but remaining true to the songs themselves, and the result is a rewarding listen.

First single “For Your Entertainment” gets a beat revamp from Brad Walsh, keeping the tempo but making the musical accompaniment a bit more energetic and exciting. The Bimbo Jones remix shakes up the beat and makes it a more straight-ahead dance tune, but keeps a bit of that swagger feel to it.

“What Do You Want From Me” gets the best treatments, however. Brad Walsh again takes remixing duties, this time with a minimalist beat that drives the track along, and builds nicely through the chorus. Fonzerelli’s mix turns the clock back a bit, with an early 80s feel that feels quite natural with the song.  If you’re a fan of artists like Dead or Alive, this is a treat. Finally, Jason Nevins provides the more traditional track, and it sounds like a more modern take of the Fonzerelli mix, with more in the now sounding accompaniment and beats (and this mix keeps the guitars in place for portions of the song, keeping a link to the original).

Finally, new track Voodoo has a bit of an edge to it - it’s dark, moody and the production is quite lovely on it.  The moodiness works for Lambert.

All in all, this is worth a look.  Depending on your taste of music, not all the remixes may appeal to everyone, but they do a nice job energizing Lambert’s first round of singles.

Reina - Don’t Let Go

"Don't Let Go" by Reina
 

A favorite of many and one of dance’s strongest singers, Reina, has returned with her new release from Robbins, “Don’t Let Go,” which is sure to please fans of the singer.  

Robbins wisely sticks to what has worked for Reina: a track with a solid beat and a good showcase for Reina’s vocals.  This go-around, some of her trademark vocal flourishes are here, but this is a more subdued affair.  

The original version has an equally subdued beat, which gives it more pop and top 40 appeal.  The Paul Wonder mix turns on the charm, wisely offering that harder beat that Reina dancefloor fans will appreciate. The Jupiter Ace version falls in between the two.  Of the two remixes, I favor the harder beat of the Paul Wonder version; it seems to fit Reina better.

It’s a nice song and a welcome return for the singer who has been gone just a bit too long (her last single came out over three years ago!). She’s been on the scene over a decade, but her latest single shows she’s far from done.

Tags: 2010, 37-07, EARLY APRIL