Dig These Discs :: Adam Lambert, Mika, Nate Ruess, Giorgio Moroder, Ben Lee

Saying 'no way' to an '80s album, Adam Lambert switches labels and finds his own "Original High." Aussie artist Ben Lee drops his 10th studio album this month, "Love Is the Great Rebellion," returning to his beloved sing-song melodies and Caribbean rhythms. Disco founder and electronica trailblazer Giorgio Moroder releases his first solo album in over 30 years, "D�j� Vu," with a lot of help from today's best female pop stars. Nate Ruess of fun. fame drops his first solo album, and meshes the worlds between the two. Sexually ambiguous hottie Mika drops his fourth album this month, and the multi-platinum star really shows us what he's spent the past two years working on.

"The Original High" (Adam Lambert)

After leaving his former label RCA over creative differences (they wanted him to do only an '80s cover album), "American Idol" champ Adam Lambert moved over to Warner Bros. Records, where he's now introduced his third studio album. "Vocally, I think it's my most tasteful, sophisticated one to date," Lambert said in an interview. He kicks things off with "Ghost Town," a song of surreal imagery about "God and James Dean," with a massive deep house beat. He's back in Hollywood feeling "the rush like the first night" in the title track, a decent dance track. "Another Lonely Night" is a slow tune that will leave you melancholy, and "Underground" is a power ballad with stark piano, synths, snaps and snares, as he professes, "you got me hooked on you now, I'm in trouble... I want you, I need you, I want you to take me underground." "There I Said It" sounds like show tune making love to a ballad. Tove Lo of "Habits" fame sings on "Rumors," and Brian May of Queen joins in on the warning song, "Lucy." He's "danger by day" and "Evil in the Night" in Lambert's bombs over Broadway tune, and apologizes for getting too heated up in "Things I Didn't Say." "The Light" is one of the catchiest dance tracks on the album, with lyrics like, "I am the fire and you are the rain, washing me out," he sings. He finishes with "Heavy Fire," a drama-laden cut that has "the devil at my feet." The Deluxe Version includes three extra songs, the percussion-heavy "After Hours," the unabashed "Shame" and "These Boys," which is reminiscent of early George Michael cuts in its playfulness. Check out what Lambert can do with the support of his new label.
(Warner Bros Records)

"Love is the Great Rebellion" (Ben Lee)

Aussie artist Ben Lee drops his 10th studio album this month, "Love Is the Great Rebellion." He returns to his beloved sing-song melodies and Caribbean rhythms in this album about forgiveness and contentment. He starts with the feel-good "Giving Up on Miracles" and spits out vocals fast in the acoustic cut, "Goodbye to Yesterday." His single "Big Love" is described as a "ukulele techno song." You'll love the sunny "Forgiveness" and the silly song "Happiness," featuring his father, '60s folk singer Donovan. His wife Ione Skye and their five-year-old daughter chime in with background vocals on "I'm Changing My Mind," and get folksy in "The Body of Love." Lee is surprisingly upbeat in "Everybody Dies," even as he sings, "My gram was 97, lived as long as she was able/ my dad went kind a suddenly on an operating table." He determines that "I'm more aware than ever I'm here on borrowed time." The acoustic intro in "Everything is OK" is heartwarming as he sings of love, and the horn intro in "Victory" gives it pep. The soft touch on "The Universe Inside" is sweet, and "Don't Let the Fire Die" combines bagpipes and drums to create a marching tune. He comes to a soulful end in "God is a fire." Lee kicks off US dates in his tour on June 27 in Philly, and tours the East Coast before heading back to Canada in July. If you love shit that rhymes and is insanely happy, Ben Lee is the man for you.
(WB Records)

"Grand Romantic" (Nate Ruess)

Nate Ruess of fun. fame drops his first solo album, and meshes the worlds between the two. His "Grand Romantic (Intro)" uses the operatic harmonies fun. is known for, as does the melancholy "Great Big Storm." And "AhHA," one of the best on the 12-song album, samples from the band's hit single "Some Nights." He tackles the rock ballad format in "Nothing Without Love" and the sad tune, "Moment." Wilco's Jeff Tweedy plays guitar on "Take It Back," as Ruess sings, "We're just two ships passing through the night, two lost lonely people inside..." The saxophone break gives it a real '90s vibe. The '80s are back with the pop tune "You Light My Fire," complete with the clap tracks that made hits by bands like The Go-Gos stick. Beck adds folksy vibes to "What This World Is Coming To," singing about getting high in the moonlight and leaving something in the afterlife. Father time is catching up in "Great Big Storm," and Ruess takes a frank look at life in the piano and strings ballad, "It Only Gets Much Worse." "Grand Romantic" is an anthem of love, loss and regret. Ruess slips into midnight, and nothing is bringing him down in "Harsh Light." "Why'd you take the long way home?" he asks in "Brightside," a song about a girl who won't go away from the guy who makes her cry. His very tongue-in-cheek electro track "74 is the New 24" will earn a chuckle. If you're looking for fun., look no further than Ruess.
(Fueled By Ramen)

"Déjà Vu" (Giorgio Moroder)

Disco founder and electronica trailblazer Giorgio Moroder releases his first solo album in over 30 years, "D�j� Vu," with a lot of help from today's best female pop stars. This influential Italian producer and DJ teams up with Charli XCX for "Diamonds" and Mikky Ekko for "Don't Let Go." The electro track "Diamonds" is sure to see remixes on dance floors across the country, with Charlie XCX singing, "in my heart, in my room, in my bed /you're shining like you're one of them." And Ekko's earnest voice fits the pleading tone of "Don't Let Go" very nicely. Sia lends her exquisite, unique style to the title track, which debuted at #2 on the iTunes Electronic Chart. "Good things come to those who wait, I think I found my baby," she sings, hitting her characteristic high echo notes on the chorus, "D�j� Vu." The video finishes with a young man saying, "Via andiamo," (okay, away we go) in Italian, in a cute turn. Kylie Minogue sings on "Right Here, Right Now," which hit #1 on the Billboard Dance Chart. The video takes advantage of the wild kalidescope techniques favored back in the disco era, as Minogue sings, "I can look for love in the deepest kiss, nothing ever felt as good as this/ There's nowhere else but right here right now." Other featured artists include Britney Spears on an excellent cover of "Tom's Diner," which is perfect for her high, thin voice. Foxes teams up with Moroder on the instrumental cut "Wildstar," and Kelis on "Back & Forth." "I Do This For You" features Marlene, and "Tempted" features Matthew Koma. Maybe a 30-year break is what all artists need to recharge. It's working for Moroder.
(RCA Records)

"No Place in Heaven" (Mika)

Sexually ambiguous hottie Mika drops his fourth album this month, and the multi-plantinum star really shows us what he's spent the past two years working on. The album relies on help from Grammy-nominated producer Gregg Wells, with the two creating a mature record the showcases Mika's songwriting talents and amazing vocal prowess. The ambitious album has a real '70s-era vibe to it, with 14 full-length tracks. He kicks it off with "Talk About You," walking through the city, haters be damned, looking for his true love. It has a very theatrical feel to it. His "All She Wants" is like a Beach Boys tune, with its clap tracks and bells. He slows things down with the piano ballad "Last Party," singing, "If you could look into the future would you even want to/I got a feeling there's bad news coming." His "Good Guys" is a rolling anthem that has Mika bemoaning the last of the good guys (although at times it reads as 'gay guys'), giving shout-outs to Dean, Emerson, Bowie, Rimbaud and Cocteau, among others. He loves her, but "Oh Girl, You're The Devil," he sings in a R&B-influenced ditty. He begs forgiveness in "No Place in Heaven," and spends his days "Staring At The Sun," in another track singing, "I don't care if it hurts my eyes/ because my love is blind." He shows his vocal prowess in the ballad "Hurts," about harsh words from a lover, and sings about how he would be a "Good Wife" if the tables were turned. The swinging "Rio" finds Mika wishing he could "be just about anyone else but me." He goes back to the theatrical in "Ordinary Man," which wouldn't be out of place in a Streisand film. He's got money in his pocket and the whole world's bringing him down in "Promiseland," and hits the higher notes in "Porcelain." He finishes up with the "Night Time Mix" of "Good Guys." Fans of world music will love Mika's stylings.
(Virgin EMI)