★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of 5
It has been almost three years since stumbling across the eventual pop gem that is Adam Tyler's almost perfect debut album Shattered Ice. From infectious singles like "Like A Drug" to personal anthems including "Pull The Trigger" and "Forgive Me", the project was packed with potential hit after hit that allowed listeners to take Tyler seriously as a talented recording artist.
Fast forward to 2014 and Tyler is thankfully re-releasing his debut record with a crazy 31 tracks included on the finished product. Preceded by current single "Knew You Better", the deluxe edition will reintroduce the male pop artist to the music world while still pleasing the fan base he has acquired during his short time on the scene. Never a huge fan of album re-releases, but for Adam an exception can always be made.
Said to be his inspired by Kelly Osbourne's still amazing "One Word", the new album opens with current single "Knew You Better", a synth-dance creation built around a repetitive yet catchy hook. Tyler showcases his ever-improving, suave vocals across a killer beat with French interludes thrown in for good measure. The thumping pop track is a great introduction to the artist's new material and may be among the stronger of his recent efforts.
With a premiere last year on MuuMuse, a supporting dubstep beat and heartfelt lyrics, "Fade Into the Light" was a slight departure from Tyler's previous releases. Instead of hard dance production, listeners got a soft, tranquil vibe from a song where the artist sings of his incapability of letting someone go. The track was a great change of pace, but there was something that kept it from its full potential. It's good, just not amazing.
"Electric Valentine" is an adorable, carefree love song that may have some restrictions on when it can be played. Currently his most popular release (in terms of times heard), the electro-pop track is still a well-crafted and executed effort many can relate to. Tyler's vocals come off as those of a lovestruck teenage, innocent and cute, as he sings of the perfect love we all hope to find in the month of February. Aww!
The previously heard "Waiting In Line" is definitely one of the highlights off the new project as it still carries a powerful pop impact even two years after its initial release. With a loud 90s-sounding beat, the song is edgy, carries a somewhat darker vibe and becomes quite an earworm. "I'm standing in line up against the wall, I'll wait forever and a day because you're good for me," Tyler sings on the chorus before getting to the rap-like of a closing.
With more confidence in his talents, a bit of Euro-dance flavor and extremely seductive vocals, "Concrete" is a fast-paced, production-heavy pop track which paints Tyler as some kind of coldhearted lover. Scandalous. Though the background noise overwhelms the impressive vocals at times, the finished product is a solid effort that makes a lasting impression. Love is just a word to the artist on the addictive pop tune.
On "Magic", love is once again the subject of another catchy pop effort, surrounded by euphoric, dance-worthy beats. "When the day turns night, all the stars align, I feel the magic, the magic," Tyler sings on the captivating chorus. The four and a half minute track definitely shows a reinvention when compared to the artist's earlier work. There is an emphasis on the dance production, an intriguing breakdown and close attention to vocal delivery.
Tyler apparently enjoys every aspect of constructing a song as he focuses on the beats and production for "Paradise". While there is not much going on in terms of vocals or songwriting, the effort is still able to attract attention with its serene vibe. It does not come off as complicated or groundbreaking, but it does give a chance for the artist to experiment with sounds fit for his style of pop music.
"Criminal", a high-energy, aggressive, thumping pop track immediately soars to the top of Tyler's best work to date. Inspired by his first trip to the United Kingdom and a run in with the country's immigration officers, the track is effectively supported by infectious electronic beats, a sickening chorus and strong, ever-improving vocals from the young recording star. It is another well-written, sure fire electro-pop smash.
The new material on the album ends with "Only One", a track which carries a slightly darker tone than most of the artist's work. Said to be Depeche Mode-inspired and about his never-ending quest to find his soulmate, Tyler surprises fans in a remarkable way. "Make me blind with tragedy, hold me down with gravity, but I won't stop this search of mine," he sings on the chorus on the four-year-old song he thankfully unleashed from the vault.
For the new release, Tyler also included updated "2.0" versions of Shattered Ice tracks "Emergency", originally a piano ballad, and "Music Freak", both of which stand alone as separate entities and positively contribute to the overall feel of this better-than-expected deluxe edition. As for the rest of the track list which made of Tyler's debut album, check out my original review of the effort, written almost two and a half years ago. Time sure does fly by.
Shattered Ice (Deluxe Edition) is an impressive, strong effort which only continues to build the positive buzz which has surrounded Adam Tyler since the beginning of his career. Not necessarily a simple pop album, the artist incorporates hidden tracks and different genre influences into the new tunes to give his devoted fans something to truly enjoy. Tyler has proved to us he knows how to craft a killer chorus, wrap it in infectious beats and deliver in terms of his confident vocal performances. The new material could have been an entirely different album on their own, but it's nice to see him go back to his start. Well done.
Tracks to Hear: "Knew You Better", "Waiting In Line", "Concrete" and "Criminal"
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