LADY GAGA - ARTPOP era - restarting April 2014!

[die Lotterie]

Lol, "You just called me a pig and disgusting, haha!"

[SPRΞΞ]

more bad news...

Metacritic score after 26 reviews: 61

[Sir Benji]

This reminds me of her debut and TFM with the best parts of BTW sprinkled in. The predictions are surprising. I'm usually not surprised by sales projections but I will admit I am surprised that she is not on track to sell more than Katy Perry and Miley. (I was honestly expecting about 300K or a little bit less.)

[cause_for_celebration]

My ranking of ARTPOP:
LOVE
Applause
Gypsy
Do What U Want
Manicure
Venus
Dope
Aura
Guy
Sex Dreams

LIKE
Swine
Jewels N Drugs
Artpop

MEH
Fashion
Donatella
Mary Jane Holland

[die Lotterie]

A+ Amazing:
Artpop
Do What U Want
Venus
Fashion!
Applause
MANiCURE
Sexx Dreams
G.U.Y.

LOVE:
Mary Jane Holland
Swine
Aura
Donnatella
Gypsy
Dope

LIKE:
Jewels N Drugs

[Love Plastic Love]

Sexx Dreams finally grew on me and holy crap that chorus once you get to it is divine.

[addict03]

The chorus just owns! One of the best pop hooks of 2013.

[smokey]

Funny that sexxx dreams is growing on everyone. After another week with the album I'm starting to think it might be a better fourth single than G.U.Y. I really like G.U.Y. but it's already starting to burn on me, whereas sexxx dreams is getting better with each listen.

[fhscott100]

Nov 14, 2013 12:19:39 GMT -5 Adonis the DemiGod! said:

Nov 14, 2013 7:48:42 GMT -5 fhscott100 said:

I have nothing against her, I even enjoy many of her songs but she's no punker-rocker LOL
That's so absurd.

Now why would you need to be a punk rocker? I mean seriously?

What do you mean? I never said I was one lol

[Hussy]

I finally listened to the album in full

Applause, DWYW, Aura, and Manicure are my favorite songs so far

some of the tracks are just noise !!

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2013 16:33:08 GMT -5 Love Plastic Love said:

Sexx Dreams finally grew on me and holy crap that chorus once you get to it is divine.

That's actually my least favorite part of the song, lol. It's grown on me quite a bit, though it's still in the bottom 1/3 of the album for me.

[Jack]

It's just a very poor album.

[Love Plastic Love]

Finally, my review

I will first start by saying that I was falling out of love with Gaga through the Born This Way era. While I thought the music was top-notch, I even grew tired of her persona. I feel like her performances were weaker, her interviews often obnoxious, and a lot of what she did actually detracted from the strength of the cd such as scrapping The Edge of Glory video, going against her label's MUCH better single plan for the era, and just generally garnering a bad atmosphere and attitude about her and the cd. This carried over to Applause being released in quite possibly the most obnoxious way possible and Applause itself not being that interesting at first. So, the cd and Gaga had some work to do to get me back on board.

That being said, praise Jesus for this cd. She can be the most obnoxious, pretentious person on the planet and I will still be buying her stuff if it remains on this level of quality.

I will do a song-by-song review followed by overall thoughts.

Aura-I actually never listened to the demo of this song that everyone seems to love. That is probably a good thing because I love this song. The production on this is absolutely sublime and the "Do you want to see me naked, lover" part is one of the catchiest parts of the entire cd. It is fun, different, and gritty. I like to think of this as Gaga being self-aware of the image she has created around herself (or aura I suppose) and having a bit of fun with it. I do have to pretend like she does not mention a burqa in there though. 9/10

Venus-Pure cheesy, campy fun that I would not have any other way. I love the multiple hooks and messiness of the production. The lyrics are pure cheesy fun. She delivers the song well and, again, like Aura, she has a catchy pop hook to make the strangeness of other parts of the song more palatable (When you touch me I die...) 10/10

G.U.Y.-This might reach my top 10 Gaga songs of all time. There is absolutely nothing I do not love about the lyrics. They are unique without being obtuse or trying too hard. I love the way she is dealing with gender/sexuality issues here much more than in other songs (like Aura). The production is insane in a good way leading up to the climax that is pure heaven (I don't need to be on top...). This song is what I signed up for when I first bought The Fame Monster. Catchy dance songs with somewhat unique lyrics and a bit more
to them than the surface level expectation for pop music. 10/10

Sexx Dreams-This one actually took awhile to grow on me. I have a hard time, in general, with talking/giggling in songs like she does so I was immediately put off. However, the production drew me back in. I am not even sure who is responsible for what on this cd, but the production in this song (and GUY) is absolutely delightful. This needs to be listened to with a good sound system and the bass turned up. The chorus is also ridiculously catchy again. 10/10

Jewels N' Drugs-This is the song that I should score extremely low, but I just love it. I have a weakness for pop stars in these types of songs. It isn't technically a good song, but, like Gaga, I will be turning this shit up and pretending like I am cool enough to own it for a very long time. 8/10

Manicure-This is another like Sexx Dreams that had to grow on me. I can actually see Christina doing this song for some reason. It is fun and catchy. I find the muddled delivery of the lyrics a bit distracting and honestly like the rockier live version better. However, another fun track and a dark horse for a single choice, I would say. 7/10

Do What U Want-Speaking of Christina, this is just a great song that she delivers effectively. I think it could be a huge smash for her and it shows a great diversity in the types of sounds she can own. I don't quite find it as engaging as other people seem to find it, but it is definitely the best choice to reach a mainstream audience. 9/10.

ArtPop-The production on this is absolutely hypnotic. There is something about it that makes me think it sounds more like an intro/outro/interlude than an actual song, but it has grown on me despite that. I really like the lyrics to this one. They are more complex and less pretentious than they seem at first glance. Her voice glides over the hypnotic beat for a mesmerizing result. 10/10.

Swine-This is actually one of those songs that I just don't quite get. The beat is amazing, but, to me, it is jarring without quite the pay-off that other songs have on this cd. Like, Aura, Mary Jane, and G.U.Y. also have jarring beats, but enough softness or catchiness elsewhere to make them palatable. This just misses that mark for me. The lyrics are interesting and I give her bonus points for having song themes that are unique and not just lifetime movie soundtrack songs, but ultimately I think it needed a bit more tweaking. 7/10

Donatella-This is another song that I feel like I should like more than I do. I think this is the exact moment that this driving beat starts to feel repetitive to me in the cd. The song is fun, but I feel like it isn't fun enough or campy enough for the subject matter. 6/10

Fashion!-I don't get this song. It started interesting, but as soon as the beat kicks in I am done. This is one of the few songs that feels like filler to me on here. 5/10.

Mary Jane Holland-It may be because I love weed, but I love this song. I get the lyrics and find them very, very true. It is mildly reminiscent of some of the other driving beats we hear in the cd, but the shift halfway through the song distinguishes it enough to make it not just a rehash of that formula used elsewhere. The entire theatrical breakdown and bridge through the final chorus is extremely well-done and this marks where the cd starts to pick back up for me. 9/10.

Dope-Oh Dope. I love the idea of this song. I actually prefer the dramatic, emo, dark lyrics to the ones it had before. My only issue is how childish the actual dope line sounds. I will literally pay someone if they can or know how to edit that part out and somehow slap in her singing the original line or something. Is that even possible? Anyway, I actually like how she sings this and it feels very genuine. I think the Dope line bothers me a bit just because sometimes Gaga needs to trust that her fans will get something without needing to be hit over the head with it. There were much more delicate ways to express a drug issue without throwing in that clunker of a line. I also wish she at least sang the chorus one more time or had some sort of bridge. It feels a bit unfinished. I do ultimately think this has a place on the cd, but it does throw off the cohesiveness. It may have been better as a hidden song at the end or a B-side/special release. I do like it live and part of me really does believe that Gaga would hate herself until she died if she drove all her fans away. There is a somewhat sweet, but also uncomfortable truth in there. 7/10.

Gypsy-This is like Edge of Glory and Marry the Night had a beautiful baby. It is light and, in my opinion, one of the most universal songs on the cd. This is just a breezy, catchy way to roll signal the end of the cd. 9/10

Applause-I stated at the beginning that I was not crazy about this song. That has not changed, but it has grown on me. The chorus is very catchy and I think this is what she needed to get back on radio's good graces after suffering a bit with her last cd. It works as the cd closer and I think it will be a fun addition to her tourlist and discography, if not the standout star. 8/10

Overall thoughts
I think this is a good mixture of hard and abrasive combined with catchy and soft for a pretty successful mixture of songs. The producers deserve gold medals and every penny they earned making this cd. I don't agree at all with people saying it is too busy or muddled or poorly mixed. The HQ version through a good sound system is absolutely divine and some of the best production I have heard all year. It is hard where it needs to be hard, soft where it needs to be soft, busy when it needs to entertain, and quiet when you need to breath. They really came through for her.


Overall, this is probably my favorite pop release of the year. She is suffering a backlash and, unfortunately, there isn't much you can do with that. She got too big too fast and grew an attitude to match that. It is her turn to be dragged down and shown her place by media and general public no matter how nonsensical the arguments. It is a shame as a fan because she has delivered some of the best songs of her entire career, but we get to see entire reviews and responses ignoring the music entirely to whine about how she relies on shock factor too much and it is boring now (even though she hasn't even relied on shock factor much at all this era). I would also argue that the cd itself is anything but boring in the pop landscape right now. Boring would have been recreating Fame/Fame Monster songs after everyone declared BTW a flop. Boring would have been following Adele and suddenly being inspired to create a "mature personal" cd with mostly ballads and midtempos. She has found a way to surprise me again and create a cd that is what I expect from Gaga, but not too much of what I expect. Several of the songs surprised me in positive ways. She has given me what I didn't know I wanted and if you asked me a year ago if I wanted a hardcore dance cd from Gaga I probably would have rolled my eyes. Overall, a really fun cd from a unique pop talent that I hope is eventually rewarded for the quality of her work.

[Deleted]

LOVE

Aura
Venus
G.U.Y.
Sexxx Dreams
MANiCURE
Do What U Want
ARTPOP
Swine
Mary Jane Holland
Gypsy

LIKE

Donatella
Fashion!

HATE

Jewels N' Drugs
Dope

Nov 14, 2013 19:46:58 GMT -5 @drag27 said:

That's actually my least favorite part of the song, lol. It's grown on me quite a bit, though it's still in the bottom 1/3 of the album for me.

OMG. :( Sexxx Dreams is one of my favorites, and has been since the iTunes Festival.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2013 20:34:43 GMT -5 @lastinline said:

OMG. :( Sexxx Dreams is one of my favorites, and has been since the iTunes Festival.

It was my least favorite during the iTunes Festival. I feel like it'll be the "Marry the Night" of the era where the majority love it and I'm like, it's alright I suppose. Luckily, there are a few stronger songs that I do like that are more likely to be singles (namely G.U.Y., Gypsy and MANiCURE).

[Deleted]

Sexxx Dreams is one of my favorites too, I've loved it since iTunes Festival. Has sort of an MGMT Electric Feel vibe to it. I wanted it to be a single, but after hearing it censored I don't know…..the censoring makes it sound dirtier than it is.

I was listening to MANiCURE today and I actually think it could make a cool single. It's different but its hooky and catchy.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2013 21:49:49 GMT -5 @drag27 said:

It was my least favorite during the iTunes Festival. I feel like it'll be the "Marry the Night" of the era where the majority love it and I'm like, it's alright I suppose. Luckily, there are a few stronger songs that I do like that are more likely to be singles (namely G.U.Y., Gypsy and MANiCURE).

Hehe, you can hate Sexxx Dreams, it's fine. I'm just shocked that's all, since it's such an amazing song to me. I sure hope that G.U.Y., Gypsy, and MANiCURE become singles, so I agree with you there! :)

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2013 22:04:52 GMT -5 @ihavemcpheever said:

I was listening to MANiCURE today and I actually think it could make a cool single. It's different but its hooky and catchy.

The heal me, cause I'm addicted to love hook is probably in my top 5 favorite GaGa hooks to date. That song is seriously such a light, fun, infectious jam and I really feel as though that side of her music needs to be highlighted more during this era to get the general public back on her side.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2013 22:07:42 GMT -5 @drag27 said:

Nov 14, 2013 22:04:52 GMT -5 @ihavemcpheever said:

I was listening to MANiCURE today and I actually think it could make a cool single. It's different but its hooky and catchy.

The heal me, cause I'm addicted to love hook is probably in my top 5 favorite GaGa hooks to date. That song is seriously such a light, fun, infectious jam and I really feel as though that side of her music needs to be highlighted more during this era to get the general public back on her side.

So true, I agree. This album has really showed me how great she is at writing a hook…every song is filled with them. But yeah I love the kinda 70's psychedelic rock vibe in MANiCURE, and I hope she highlights that fun, carefree side of her this era.

[Rocky]

I love this O2 Commercial look! Angelic.

[die Lotterie]

Gorgeous, giving me blonde Zooey Deschanel teas.

[Rocky]

Nov 14, 2013 22:32:41 GMT -5 die Lotterie said:

Gorgeous, giving me blonde Zooey Deschanel teas.

Lol, that was my first thought too. Bitch better use this wig in the DWUW video.

--------
wait. "Jewels n' Drugs": "But I won't die at the hands of another
I'm your mother, sister, father, brother"

It's giving me brothersister-teas.

[chartfreak]

Nov 14, 2013 11:04:04 GMT -5 Elusive Chanteuse said:

Nov 13, 2013 22:16:57 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

lol, radio isn't gunning for anything. Those are the songs that z100 played (or was told to play) on the album release day. It was a radio blitz.

Dude, chill.

I know there was a radio deal but why did some songs got played more than others? That kinda does seem a bit weird.

Clear Channel will air the Lady Gaga iHeartRadio Album Release Party, a 30-minute radio special hosted by Ryan Seacrest, tonight at 9pm ET/6pm PT, its because of this, some stations may not have played the entire thing,causing the different numbers or, some stations then played a song more times.

[Deleted]

And now she's running from them
Same guy by the way

http://instagram.com/p/gmf64EqMxs

#

[Me. I Am Justin...]

Yeah, I get that it's last on more than a few peoples lists, but "Fashion!" makes me wanna dance! I can't get "Lookin' good & feelin' fine" outta my head.

[Rocky]

Nov 15, 2013 5:33:42 GMT -5 Me. I Am Justin... said:

Yeah, I get that it's last on more than a few peoples lists, but "Fashion!" makes me wanna dance! I can't get "Lookin' good & feelin' fine" outta my head.

The reason for that is probably that most people who post here like some songs so much that "Fashion!" comes last. I still like it and think it's a decent song despite being at the end of my list. My favorite part is maybe the "Faaaaaashiooon fasssshioooon" at the end of the world and the "Marry The Night" reference.

[The Upper Hand]

"Do What U Want" (with my body)??

[Myeahhh.]

Giving us Chucky teas I see.

[smokey]

Hahaha just listened to "X Dreams." So much dirtier.

[hypable]

Nov 13, 2013 21:26:33 GMT -5 Elusive Chanteuse said:

--------- 77 LADY GAGA Gypsy 85 0 85 0.742
--------- 100 LADY GAGA MANiCURE 60 0 60 0.484
--------- 103 LADY GAGA Sexxx Dreams 58 0 58 0.472
--------- 152 LADY GAGA G.U.Y. 26 0 26 0.258

Radio is obviously gunning for Gypsy to be the next single. I'm a little surprised to see G.U.Y. with the least spins but it should be the 4th single anyways. MANiCURE is rightfully above Sexxx Dreams and should be the 5th and final single of the era.

This is like my ideal list of future singles in the order of safe to bizarre   of course Venus should be in the list too ;)