ALBUM REVIEW: Lady Gaga Born This Way

So I’ve given Lady Gaga’s new album about 5 spins and I still cannot get into it.  I really tried.  Though when an artist announces months before the release of their new album that it is going to be “one of the best albums of the decade”, there’s pretty high expectations.  In my opinion, the album is all over the place, trying to emulate several different genres of music.  There is no focus.  Maybe Lady Gaga has focused too much of her attention on her theatrics and costumes and strayed away from what was really important and what really had fans like me loving her: her music.  Before you Lady Gaga ‘little monster’ (aka fans) start to attack me for my opinion, let’s be clear about something.  When Christina Aguilera strayed off the tracks of her “norm,” she got nothing but backlash from Lady Gaga fans.  Several critics loved her new sound while others said she went off the deep end with her latest creation.  

Unlike those fans, I am not here to attack Lady Gaga or trash her album but simply give you my feedback and initial reaction.  To be honest (though as cheesy as it may sound) when I listen to a new album or song, I feel it or I don’t.  It’s as simple as that.  Something inside of me will react either negatively or positively to what I’m listening to.  When a song grabs me, I get goosebumps all over and get all tingly.  I know a good song when I hear it.  

Well, with Lady Gaga’s latest creation, I just cannot get behind most of the songs on the album.  I found myself cringing several times and even skipping ahead.  But it’s not all bad.  There are a couple gems I did discover on Born This Way.  Let me give you a song by song rundown on my reactions to her most recent album.

1. Marry the Night - Lady Gaga starts off sounding like something from 90’s disco and then the fast dance beat kicks in, trying to save the song.  It’s alright.
2. Born This Way - Since I first heard this song, it still hasn’t grown on me.  I am no drag queen and I definitely don’t want LG telling me what to do as a gay man.  This is not ever going to be my gay anthem.  And I still think she ripped Madonna.
3. Government Hooker - Okay so anyone who introduces a song by using their name (Akon take note) is a total d-bag action in my book.  Knock that shit off.  I’m listening to your album.  I know it’s you!  The beat is pretty sick (though reminiscent of something you’d hear on a NIN or Marilyn Mansion album).  I just can’t handle the screaming!  This should be the new backtrack for Disney’s Haunted House.
4. Judas - Once again, don’t start your song off with your name.  It’s incredible cocky and arrogant.  This song has been out for awhile, and I still don’t like it.  I find the chorus to be very annoying and her singing credibility is totally destroyed with her fake French accent.
5. Americano - A song in Spanish?  Really?  Okay so maybe she is trying to appeal to a bi-lingual crowd, which I can respect her for but.. I know that Yolanda Be Cool’s We Speak No Americano was real big in 2010, but did Lady Gaga really feel the need to re-create this song?  I digress…
6. Hair - I’ve already spoken my opinion on the song.  It’s definitely inspired by Willow Smith.  And geared for 9 year olds to relate to.  Fun but not her best.
7. Schisse - I took 4 years of German in High School and I still don’t like this song.  I could do without the speaking.  And the German term for poop.  Her fans will love it I’m sure.
8. Bloody Mary - Once again LG tries to emulate NIN or the Industrial Music genre and does it poorly.  Screaming once and awhile and garbling your lyrics here and there does not constitute a quality Industrialist song.  I also find the lyrics I dance dance dance with my hands hands hands above my head head head like Jesus said as quite ridiculous.
9. Bad Kids - LG pulls from 1994 with her dance beats and throws in some lyrics that I would rather never repeat again.
10. Highway Unicorn (Road 2 Love) - Finally!  A ballad anthem!  This song I can actually get behind - the chorus is quite strong and inspirational.  Upon first listen, I thought she was stuttering over the word ‘tit’ but it was just ‘top,’ my bad.  Still, the song has a great beat and will most likely do well on the charts.
11. Heavy Mental Lover - Sugary and sometimes sweet pop-dance track.  It’s alright.
12. Electric Chapel - I got nothing.
13. You and I - I had high hopes for this song.  It initially reminded me of Speechless and I thought ‘hey! LG is finally headed in the right direction!’  And then the guitar riffs come in… and all I can think is, where is Kid Rock and Atomic Mass?  He should be sitting on a porch in Alabama with LG and washing her golden locks with whiskey.  The song, although good, is a bit too country twang heavy. I think she was trying to emulate the great Def Leppard.
14. The Edge of Glory - The only song that was recently released that I had an immediate reaction to liking.  It has a good beat, good lyrics, great chorus and something I’d dance to.  Definitely more reminiscent of LG’s Bad Romance & Poker Face sounds.  This is bound to do great on the charts.  I just wish there was more of this on the album.

Had Lady Gaga focused more on the power anthem ballads and fun dance tracks like her previous works, this album could have excelled to greatness.  But instead, she did too much at once and created a catastrophic mess of music genres.  Marilyn Manson & Madonna circa 1996 were emulating throughout Born This Way.  I just don’t find the sounds to be revolutionary, as she earlier promised.  It definitely falls short of the “greatest album of the decade.”

Rating: ** of ***** 

What would I rather spend my money on?
Adele - 21
Natalia Kills - Perfectionist
Britney Spears - Femme Fatale 
Jessie J - Who You Are 

H O T.  Natalia Kills debut album cover artwork.