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For reasons still unfathomable six months later, Adam Lambert finished second in this year's "American Idol" competition to Kris Allen.

But none of that matters now: With the release of his debut album, Adam Lambert is about to become a huge star. Few human beings have ever been blessed with a voice like his, a ridiculously multi-octave weapon that can coo seductively in the lower registers, and shatter diamonds in the highest ones (Gene Simmons is probably still half-deaf from the high note Lambert uncorked at the end of "Rock And Roll All Nite" during the show's May finale when he sang with Kiss.)

This vocal chameleon can be all things to all listeners, and he kills at whatever he sings. Lambert is equally adept at hard rock, pop, disco and power ballads, often blending ingredients of several in a single track to produce unforgettable results.

A perfect example is "Sure Fire Winners," a hip-hop-infused track with scratches and weird sound effects, yet just enough heavy guitar and drums to appeal to the rockers, and a sing-along chorus to tie it all together.

"Music Again" is a sinewy, guitar-heavy rock anthem set to a funky beat that would have made a fine Queen song. There's unquestionably a lot of Freddie Mercury in the over-the-top Lambert, and it wasn't by accident that the "Idol" producers had him and eventual winner Kris Allen do a duet with Queen on the show's finale.

On "Soaked," Lambert channels his inner Mercury even more, starting with the melodramatic keyboard and strings flourishes that conjure images of him pirouetting in a bullfighting ring. Then he croons softly a la "News Of the World"-era Queen, before launching into yet more soaring vocal drama on the chorus and later verses.

"Strut," co-written with "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi, is a preening, pounding ode to attitude, and he gets a songwriting assist from Pink on "Whataya Want From Me."

The rock-disco "If I Had You" is yet another of the four or five tracks on this album that could become smash hits, and "Broken Open" recreates the vibe of Lambert's breakthrough performance of "Mad World," which vaulted him to the top tier of contenders during last season.

Wayne Parry, Associated Press

'For Your Entertainment'

Adam Lambert

(19/RCA)

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