★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
We've learned to approach a full length music project from a RuPaul's Drag Race alum with caution. Most are void of any artistic merit, causing most to cover their ears, instead of embrace the sound. However, a handful of entertainers have proved their worth in the music industry, one being: Adore Delano. Following the success of her debut album Til Death Do Us Party, the season six contestant returns with her official sophomore effort.
Featuring 13 new tracks (not the 22 as originally promised), all co-written by Delano, the anticipated After Party finds the singer/songwriter approaching her pop craft with a more serious attitude. After diving into the world of hook ups, bratty behavior and stalking, Delano faces the somber music once the spotlights have dimmed and the 15 minutes of television fame have long vanished. This realization helps the artist create songs with more of a personal touch.
Preceded by the seductive "Dynamite", the new album dives a little deeper, looking past an exterior of technicolor wigs and bright red lipstick to get to the soul of an aspiring, hardworking artist. As Delano contemplates loss, letting go of inhibitions and the signs of a blossoming love, gone are the in-your-face drag culture references in exchange for a proper dance/pop sound that's ready for radio airplay. The childish antics are now managed, allowing listeners to witness growth and maturity right in front of their eyes.
Delano is slowly recovering from the aftermath of a broken relationship, barely healing from the damage, on opening album track "I.C.U.", a clever metaphor for finally letting go of any chance of a second time around. With a production structure and progression similar to "I Adore U", the artist holds back the tears on the verses with a powerful rap-like vocal delivery while allowing the hook and chorus to carry an effective, radio-ready tone.
"Dynamite" steers clear of the comedic and campy inspirations and grabs on to the mysterious and seductive pop nature of past James Bond film theme songs. The alluring charm of the lead single is its strong point, as is the confident, enticing vocal performance from the self-proclaimed Libra mermaid. Instead of a loud, radio-tailored tune, Delano goes in the direction of a mid-tempo ballad but with a bit more upbeat approach. A strong track to generate buzz with.
Current second single "Take Me There" (we all know how fast Delano moves with singles), is a breezy, carefree pop track that Katy Perry wishes she could have recorded. "So we're young and we got some dirty minds, ripped jeans and we got a bottle for the night, we're the kids who can bring the world to life," the artist belts on the track's catchy hook of living life without any worries. The sugary-sweet sound was touched on her debut album, but perfected for her second.
Inspired by the countless romance films that have graced the silver screen, as well as actress Phoebe Cates, the affectionate "Better Than The Movies" shows a softer side to Delano that has not been highlighted before. With the spotlight on the artist's tender vocal performance, listeners are whisked away into the early days of a blossoming relationship. The relaxed nature of the song may be due to the "young, dumb and in love" age, an aspect that carries the endearing number.
The explicit "Foreign Lover" features an amusing, multi-cultural intro as Delano introduces herself to the man she has had her eyes set on from across the club floor. The lyrical content is kept to a minimum, though the few lines are still conveyed with a sense of confidence and dominance. Instead, the track becomes a beat-heavy number fit for the next local rave. It may not show many of Delano's artistic talents, but it will be difficult to not blast the song on high volume.
Once again, Delano lets that pesky, uncontrollable emotion of love get the best of her on “Bold As Love”, an electro-pop track that starts off as a delicate ballad, only to build up and transform into a full-fledged dance effort once the chorus comes around. While the verses are heartfelt and personal, the song seems to be dealing with an unfavorable identity crisis. In pieces, the song is a commendable offering, but as a whole, those pieces just don't fit together quite as snug as they should.
The seductive and straightforward personality of Delano returns on the album's intimate and deliciously explicit title track. "After Party" immediately kicks into high gear with dark and captivating production as the artist begins to demand sexual attention from her helpless prey. "Pull my hair, I'll tie your arms around my favorite chair, I'll kiss your neck and then I'll kiss you there," she sings with a commanding, dominatrix-like attitude on the potential future single.
With summer just around the corner, every pop album needs an ode to the joyous, laidback days on the beach. On "I Really Like It", Delano is untroubled as she sips vodka out of red Solo cups and enjoys some good ole fashion skinny dipping. Though it may be the shortest track on the new album, it doesn't mean the song falls short on energy. Again, production and subject matter sound as if they were ripped straight from Perry's pop-fueled catalog, mixed in with a dose of Delano flare.
"Out Of The Blue" is the fierce, underground club track carried by an 80s-influenced beat and naughty lyrical content describing a passionate affair with a stranger. As Delano sits in the shadows at the crowded, bar her enticing vocal performance lures her potential victim into her perfectly manicured clutches. "If you wanna light my cigarette, I might let you have a hit, I'm not into playing hard to get, we can have a night we won't regret," she teases with a candid approach.
Though the drag performer has found the man she could see herself with for the rest of her life, she holds back due to a possible fear of commitment on "I Can't Love You", a mid-tempo ballad where Delano lays out all her reservations and insecurities. The song is a bittersweet moment on the album. Just as the artist's face brightens up by the image of her new found lover, the mistakes of past relationships reassure her that the happy fairytale won't last forever.
Encounters with former flings never go according to plan as Delano highlights on "Save Your Breath", a revengeful piece of synth-pop with darker undertones. Looking straight into their eyes, the artist wonders if the love the two had was ever real, just as she realizes those romantic feelings may have never completely vanished. The mixed emotions come off sincere and honest, Delano's soft vocal delivery conveys that, as she comes to terms with letting go for good.
Delano is letting the sense of intimacy take control on “Constellations”. The artist is traveling through a different dimension as the enjoyable high of love and happiness sends her flying through the stars and technicolor lights. The message is endearing and adorable, there’s no second guessing or fear this time around, she’s ready to take the leap into the unpredictable. "A million stars light up the night, the constellations give me life, and heaven's boulevard, it's shinin'," she sings.
The album closes out with "4AM", a personal retelling of the feelings that come with the moment a heart breaks. With lyrical content that reads as if ripped straight from a private journal, Delano contemplates the idea of complete loneliness as tears pour down her face in the middle of the night. The artist has always portrayed herself as a tough, independent individual, but there are sometimes when all one can do is cry. Strength comes out of a moment of weakness.
After Party highlights the maturity of Adore Delano in every way. While her debut album was a fun, rebellious expression of disorder and debauchery, her sophomore album plays out as a therapeutic session that shed light on how one deals with the unfortunate aftermath of losing loved ones. While the subject matter gets heavy and personal on most of the tracks, it's evident that Delano has not ignored the need to let loose every once in a while. That balance allows for a different, complex experience on every track, even if it's just about getting drunk and kicking back. On the second time around, the songwriting is sharper, it holds more meaning, and Delano has perfected her vocals to radio-ready levels. The college party, EDM vibe may be missed by some, but growth and the perfection of one's craft is much more appreciated.
Tracks to Hear: "I.C.U.", "Dynamite", "After Party", "Out Of The Blue" and "I Can't Love You"
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