Fans originally thought that Lady Gaga’s newest album, ‘‘Mayhem’’, was going to be a return to her roots, similar to her standout album, Born this Way. However, ‘‘Mayhem’’ is instead a combination of all of her music styles, showcasing not only her usual dance pop, but also incorporating elements of rock, electronic, techno, with even a few ballads mixed in. ‘‘Mayhem’’ is what makes Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga.
While the first single to be released from the album was “Disease”, the second single, “Abracadabra”, which was premiered in a MasterCard Super Bowl commercial), captivated audiences because it gave them exactly what they wanted: a return to classic Lady Gaga. Gaga’s ‘‘Mayhem’’ gives us campy, synth-y pop we can dance to, it is fast-paced, while also featuring haunting, spooky hooks. The chorus is complete gibberish however, with Gaga singing, “Abracadabra, amor-oo-na-na. Abracadabra, morta-oo-
gaga.” Needless to say, this song is not for those that find themselves listening to music for the lyrics; ere, the music speaks for itself.
The fourth track, “Perfect Celebrity”, stands out from all of the others on the album. While some tracks, like “Vanish into You” and “Don’t Call Tonight” can be easily forgotten, “Perfect Celebrity” is a song full of hard-hitting drum beats and some of Gaga’s best vocals. “Perfect Celebrity” discusses how Gaga feels as if she has become so detached from her alter-ego, attempting to separate her true self, Stefani Joanne
Angelina Germanotta, from the extravagant Lady Gaga.
She discusses the faults of the music industry, showing how idolizing celebrities has become more and more problematic. Gaga shows that celebrities are nothing like the persona they reveal to the world, even though she is guilty of it as well. Despite the lyricism, the track still hits hard, exposing a side of Gaga that leans into the rock genre.
‘‘Mayhem’’ is not without its flaws, however. Unfortunately, a lot of the tracks on the album do not stand out from each other, which is exactly what Gaga was trying not to do. The whole point of ‘‘Mayhem’’ is to be a showcase of all the different genres and aspects of music she is able to lean into, however, half of the
album can fade into the world of bland, radio pop. The last two tracks, “The Beast” and “Blade of Grass” are especially painful to listen to; being slow, heartfelt ballads that do not match the upbeat nature of the rest of the album.
It would be one thing if each track stood out, but slapping two ballads at the end of an electro-pop album will never work. Nonetheless, it is lovely to see the impact of Lady Gaga’s music, still encouraging audiences to dance ever since her debut in 2008 with The Fame.
She has become a pop culture icon over the years, but this album still left much to be desired. I only wish some of the songs stood out and were more creative. Overall, ‘‘Mayhem’’ is a strong 3.5 out of 5 stars.
