Arts

Music: Lady Gaga Returns, More Outrageous Than Ever

by Shawna Taylor

“I killed my former and left her in the trunk on highway 10.”
That’s how Lady gaga opens up her third full-length album, “ARTPOP,” which was released on November 11. It’s testimony to a new Gaga, one who is more open and a little more outrageous. How that’s possible, I’m still not sure.
“ARTPOP” has been one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Marked as Gaga’s big comeback, it was supposed to be the album of the millennium. Instead, it’s a lyrical disappointment.
Common themes throughout the album’s 59 minutes are fashion, drugs and sexuality, nothing terribly new for Gaga’s work.
Those outside of Lady Gaga’s “Little Monsters” will probably look at the album as irrelevant. None of the songs prove to be anything that could possibly become a staple for all mainstream radio stations.
This is due in large parts to the fact that Gaga opted out of extensive work with RedOne, the producer extraordinaire responsible for all of her biggest hits (“Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance”).
The lowest point for the album is probably “Jewels N’Drugs,” a song featuring rappers TI, Too $hort and Twista. Listening to Lady Gaga, of all people, repeatedly sing “don’t want your jewels, I want your drugs,” is outrageous, even for her. However, TI, Too $hort and Twista give a solid performance on the track. Luckily, the closing trifecta proves to be Gaga’s best effort of the album.
On “Dope,” a soft piano ballad, Gaga abandons the excess of synthesizers and club beats to show off the pure musical talent that she possesses, while phrases like “I need you more than dope” show off her true Gaga spirit.
“Gypsy,” my favorite track, is arguably the only song of the 15 on “ARTPOP” worth listening to. Finally, the disc closes with “Applause,” the one song that sounds the most like Gaga of the past.
No matter what I think of “ARTPOP,” I have to give credit to Gaga where it’s due. She’s one of the few artists in pop who is willing to push the boundaries and try new things. Plus, “Bad Romance” will always be the best song in the history of pop.