When you consider your yet to be released album to be the greatest album of the decade only a year into the decade, it could turn people off and mark you as a pompous cunt who needs a reality check, or they could be like me and challenge the theory. Last week the album accused of being the greatest of the decade leaked and what album is that? Lady Gaga's HIGHLY anticipated 2nd (3rd if you include Fame Monster) Born This Way. Despite my initial disgust with the 1st single also called Born This Way I was turned off on the entire project, however after the 2nd single and previews from the album I got excited and really wanted to see what her new album was about.
Opening with the electric piano/organ of Marry The Night, the album starts off on a good note with then switches into a dirty Disco/Rock number with 4 to the floor and insane synths that'll put most indie dance acts out of work. After the 2nd track which is the title track flows through she quickly takes us to possibly one of the more exciting tracks on the album Government Hooker. Opening with the operatic chant of her name following another goth like chant of Il Ritone (Italian for I will return) The hardest electrorock beats slam with Lady Gaga stating "I can be cool, I'll be your everything, Just touch me baby" and later in the song making an infamous statement "Put your hands on me John F. Kennedy". The song leads you to believe it's about the late Marilyn Monroe who's been said to have had an affair and murdered by, the Kennedy Administration.
However despite the highs of the album the lows blow in pretty early the first being the album's title track, despite being her 3rd biggest hit of her career the song to me sounds empty and contrived and the message being very corny in a way. There are plenty of other message songs on the record (Bad Kids, Hair and Highway Unicorn) and they aren't bad at all. The second flaw is Americano, as a person of Latin American descent I thought I would like this however the production takes away from what this song is about,when asked about she describes the techno-mariachi influence of the record and about it being about immigration rights. However the record seems very cluttered and very demo like.
Despite this flaw the album still continues to hit harder than any pop album out now with tracks such as Scheiße, Bloody Mary and Black Jesus + Amen Fashion. The album is a great work of art which is something you would never hear me say about a commercial pop album in this day and age. The overall sound is of the likes of Justice, MSTRKRFT and other indie dance artist who beats hit harder than most. I highly recommend you check this album out and buy it even if you aren't a little monster.
4/5
