★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
Well, well, well... After her short but sweet run on the seventh season of American Idol as the adorable Danny Noriega, RuPaul's Drag Race season six finalist Adore Delano finally graces the music world with her debut album, the genre-jumping, slightly psychotic Till Death Do Us Party. With pop, rock and hip-hop influences and a guest appearance by the lovely Alaska Thunderfuck, the album will definitely make you want to PARTY!
Preceded by the chola-tastic "DTF", the album delicately borders on the thin line of radio-friendly and pure camp as Delano sets out on a mission to make drag mainstream once again. Some moments may make listeners literally laugh out loud, but there is no denying that the performance artist has a set of commendable pipes to warrant the new release. If you want music with a shock value to blast through your speakers, look no further.
Opening with "Speak My Sex" listeners could quickly be turned off by the new album as Delano's abrasive nature comes to the forefront. While the songwriting is clever in a tongue-in-cheek way, the finished product seem a bit amateurish without a real chorus to carry the heavy weight. The song does not take itself too seriously, which makes it easier to swallow, but it isn't the best representation of the artist's talents.
Lead single, "DTF", was released soon after the conclusion of Delano's season of Drag Race and quickly garnered a positive response. Channeling her inner "chola" persona, the artist gives a nasty, trap/hip-hip-inspired performance on a track that leaves little to the imagination. "Paper bag bitch, busted in the face, but got that bomb dick, not a total waste," Delano sings of her unapologetic Grindr hookups.
"Party", rumored to be the effort's third single, is a carefree, summer-ready anthem that sounds to have borrowed a note or two from Eddie Murphy's 1985 tune. Layered in sugary sweet production that would fit in perfectly with any Katy Perry album, Delano sings of letting go of worries and inhibitions to just have a good ole time. The song is cute, it allows the artist to show off her vocals, it's a simple solid effort.
After witnessing her viral cover of Robyn's "Dancing on My Own", everyone was waiting for Delano's equally brilliant moment. Thank goodness for "I Adore U", the album's official second single. "This is how it ends, never meant to hurt you, I'm a pretty mess and I don't deserve you," she sings with vocals similar to those of indie pop artist Simon Curtis. The pop ballad has the potential mainstream success Delano has been desperately craving.
Laced in attention-grabbing electro-pop beats, "Calling All Goddesses" could be a spiritual sister to Lady Gaga's chaotic yet epic "Venus". As Delano references mermaids, Aphrodite and Cleopatra, the production clutter drastically changes tone throughout but still becomes a enjoyable, magical listen. The artist switches back and forth from her innocent pop image to a tougher, hip-hop style and is able to pull both off.
Adore gives fans an updated cover version of Shannon's moderate 1984 dance hit "Give Me Tonight", keeping the track's darker, eerie essence while still putting the Delano stamp on it. The production on the song is changed a little to keep the effort from sounding completely outdated, but for the most part, it is a step-by-step cover that allows the artist to showcase her vocals on an underground dance club environment.
The only featured guest, Alaska Thunderfuck from season five of Drag Race, assists Delano on "I Look Fuckin Cool", a hilarious, explicit sing/speak ode to overconfidence. "Don't need to brush my hair out, birds need a nest to hang out, heels are a step from breaking, I'm so a-a-amazing," she sings on the fast-paced, self-bashing verses before the song gets to the loud and abrasive chorus. Both artists give a fun performance for a not-so-serious effort.
"Hello, I Love You" carries the creepy, stalker vibe as the artist sings of leaving countless voice messages and watching her man dream in his sleep. The song is a very different take on the typical love track with bright and airy production, solid songwriting and a funny interlude towards the end. Again, the effort shows a good balance of Delano's comedic nature with a strong pop influence instantly ready for radio airplay.
Perfect for your next Halloween party, "The Creeps" dives into the world of things that go bump in the night as Delano references Dracula, mummies and witches as a metaphor for those in her life who truly freak her out. The production and progression lean more on the hard rock side than that of bubblegum pop and ultimately becomes an average cut for the album, nothing horrible or truly memorable about the finished product.
The album closes out with "My Address is Hollywood", a track that discusses Delano's new found fame as a reality star. "I'm a city angel, but it doesn't pay well, baby that's okay," she sings on the hook of the mid-tempo ballad. The three-minute track is hard yet soft at the same time, appears to be a look into the artist's personal life and is a strong way to end a debut. The vocals are there, the lyrics are solid, job well done Adore.
Till Death Do Us Party is a project which easily exceeds initial expectations. While most former contestant's from RuPaul's Drag Race tend to release generic material void of any vocal merit, Adore Delano proves her time on American Idol was well deserved. The subject matter found on the effort may not be extremely personal or important, but the artist uses every single moment to shine. She has set out to make a mainstream statement for drag culture and has done exactly that. From her tragic, heartfelt ballads to her fun and immature party tracks, the album gives a nice representation of the kind of pop figure she could really be in the future. She's got that Charisma. Uniqueness. Nerve. and Talent!
Tracks to Hear: "DTF", "I Adore U", "I Look Fuckin Cool" and "My Address is Hollywood"
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