React & Review: Lady Gaga - MAYHEM
What a Beast of an album.
Those who know me know that I have a pretty big musical gap that effectively spans the entirety of the 2000s era of music. I know the hits, but not much else.
That also means that I’ve never heard a Lady Gaga album in full. Just in bits and pieces with singles and whatever’s popular on the radio. But I’ve seen enough of my friends be excited about this album and the general hype after it came out to ignore it.
In fact, I had a different react and review planned for this week, but it’s now being sidestepped.
So, without further ado, here’s my first reaction and full review of Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM.
Disease
Vocals acknowledged. Beautiful, and I’m only six seconds into the track. I’m most certainly in for a treat. I love the slightly left panned snare drum. It is very minimal.
The intro and first verse have a very interesting sound. I wouldn’t say boring, far from it. But very flat and neutral in the sense that every instrument and vocal sounded like it was on an even playing field. It’s a very interesting production choice as someone who likes to listen to music on headphones and speakers with subjectively neutral sound profiles.
The chorus takes that same formula and cranks it up a notch. The hi-hats are sharper, and the bass digs a bit deeper (although, I would love for that bass to hit even deeper).
Speaking of bass, that bass line is killer. It goes against what I just said but I love how funky bouncy it is. I love that it’s more in your face than sub-bassy.
That Cure your disease line transitioning us from the bridge to the final chorus is to die for. So much grit and emotion in that one line. Love, love, love that.
Abracadabra
I remember this one when I saw the music video for it at The GRAMMYs. I was really into it at the time to the point I was frantically trying to Shazam it to no success.
Turns out, I needed to wait about 12 hours before it appeared on streaming. But I was fucking addicted. Again, not too familiar with Gaga’s music overall, but this song is a bop. A certified head bopper, for sure.
It definitely gives me modern 80s pop vibes. I say that in the most positive way possible because I have some nostalgia for that era of pop music. I am so here for this era of pop music. The dance pop aesthetic, the underlying synths? Yes, please.
Garden Of Eden
That kick drum is fantastic. Her music is definitely surprising and delighting me right off the rip and I honestly want it to continue because wow. I love that. Her stabby vocal pacing is exceptional, as well (only 11 seconds in, at this point).
Those pre-chorus backing vocals are perfect. The same can be said about her crowd vocals near the end of the first chorus.
I don’t have much else to say, however, this is easily a top three for me on this album. I’m really vibing with this track. And that’s saying a lot since I’m only three songs in.
Perfect Celebrity
That intro (first 18 seconds or so) is so good. Again with the surprise and delight. I love the mid-heavy intro there.
The hi-hat pattern introduced in the second half of the first verse is very good. That’s in addition to the quiet, centered hi-hat in the first half.
Wow, that chorus. I know this is a pop album, but this is giving classic rock vibes. Her vocals have so much grit and energy. I’m here for it. Combine that with the relatively tame verses? It’s a fantastic contrast.
The bridge is a great mix of both the verses and choruses. It’s giving quiet chaos.
I don’t think this track will make the top of my list, but it is very good.
Vanish Into You
I think this is the first track that didn’t really catch me off guard. That’s fine. Not every song has to. But her vocals are stellar, as always.
That first verse is so good though. Definitely getting 80s modern pop vibes. The synth bass, drum kit, guitar riff, and her vocal pattern are exceptional. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the track based on the intro, but the verse did it for me.
Similar to the l last track, I like it a lot. But it probably won’t make any top lists for me. Not a bad song, but nothing really stood out to me.
Killah (featuring Gesaffelstien)
I don’t think I need to repeat myself, but I’ve never heard of the featured artist. Always a treat, however, discovering new artists through a feature. That sometimes converts me into a fan of the featured artist. I guess I’ll have to listen and see.
Omg, I love how this track starts. It’s so funky, that synth is absolutely killer. Automatic head bopper. Her vocals are so sassy, I love it. The vibe of this track is so fucking good and I’m only a minute in. Lady Gaga, you are killing it.
I think this track is gonna shoot to number one for me, easily. I can’t stop bopping my head to it, it’s just that good. Of course, the bridge is great, too. Because of course it is. That synth in the bridge is to die for.
No notes, just pure pop perfection. Again, just funk and sass. I love it.
Zombieboy
The beginning of this track reminds me of Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stafani.
Okay Lady Gaga, you got me hooked and I’m only 13 seconds into the track. I’m already bopping my head and we’re not even in the first verse yet. I’m sensing we might have an album of the year, but we’re only in March. But it’s definitely a contender thus far.
Her backing vocals—both in the pre-/chorus—are so good. So lush and smooth. I love how she’s using backing vocals as emphasis in the verses and as harmonies in the pre-chorus.
My only critique on this track, really, is that I wish that guitar solo spanned more than about eight bars. She should’ve let it breathe. It would’ve made for a killer bridge. I felt like I got blue balled there.
I think this track is a contender for the top three on this album for me. It’s just so fucking catchy.
Oh and that fucking outro? Yeah, definitely a top two for me.
LoveDrug
Very interesting start to the track. I’m only about three seconds in but I had to triple check if my player didn’t cut off the first half second or so of the song. It didn’t.
Another certified head bopper. I was joking about it on the last song, but I genuinely do think this might be album of the year. I’m only 23 seconds in, too.
The vocal effect on the backing vocals is cool. There’s actually two layers to it. Her regular backing vocal, but another one that sits underneath that’s probably using a vocoder effect or something similar.
It’s either a reverse clap or a clap with a reverb slapped on it, but I love its use. It’s every other snare starting in the second verse.
I love the electric guitar in the final chorus of the song. It’s the same problem as last time, can we get a proper solo? I’m really wanting it now.
I have a feeling I’m going to have a really hard time picking my top tracks for this album. It’s starting to get really difficult.
How Bad Do U Want Me
The vocal chops in that final line at around 20 seconds are cool. She took the me? and played with it. I like it. Scratch that, I love it. Very cool. Cool execution from the engineers on that one.
I think I may have heard a sample or a snippet of this song on social media or something. All I know is I’ve heard it before, somewhere.
I don’t quite have the same connection to it like the last few tracks. But I’m still vibing to it, just in parts. It’s not a dance-pop single, but it lets me really appreciate the production choices. I love that they chose to not fill in the pockets. It gives the track some space to breathe.
That quick bridge though? I need more of her "deep voice."
Don’t Call Tonight
Dude. Whoever’s producing Gaga on this album needs a raise. Because almost every single intro to a song has been an absolute banger. How is it that I’m only nine seconds in and I’m already bopping my head? She’s only managed to get exactly one line out? That’s insane and that’s putting it lightly.
That beat is... interesting. I kind of love the persistent clap, even if the rest of the beat disappears in certain portions of the song. The pulsing synth in the second verse that appears to only be used once is very cool, too. I love those one-off ear candies.
Yes! A vocoder-infused bridge. I didn’t know I was missing it before, but her bridges so far have been fairly instrumentation heavy. I’m here for a more lyrically-forward bridge. Also, when she sings, Don’t call tonight, tomorrow you’ll desert me? So good. I can really hear the emotion coming out in this bridge. (Full transparency: I’ve listened to this bridge at least half a dozen times. I rewound and listened to it that many times, yes.)
I think the bridge sealed the deal for me, this is a top three song.
Shadow Of A Man
I love how this track starts, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who’s made it this far. The mid range effect sets up the mood/vibe for the song quite well. The effects added to the vocals are great here, too.
I love how the line ’Cause I won’t be used for my love and left out to cry, which comes right before the first chorus strips all effects such as reverb and echo away. Sounds like an unedited, dry vocal take to my ears. Again, I feel like a broken record, but it just gives you a glimpse into how passionate she is when she sings.
That thick bass line is awesome. It kind of fades into the background in the chorus in favor of a synth bass. I do wish it dug slightly deeper, though. I feel like it could have a little bit more impact with a slightly sub-bassier bass.
The bridge is a lovely callback to the intro of the song, just with an additional vocal layer on top. I love that the bridge starts with that mid range audio effect, but progressively adds in more of the treble regions, while still leaving out the bass until it drops for the final chorus.
Ugh. I’m going to have to rank the tracks and this is going to be really hard. Something something, we need a full guitar solo. So far, this outro is the closest to that.
The Beast
Starting this track off not only with a vocal but a call to action. I’m intrigued. Yes, Lady Gaga, Turn on the music.
Okay. This might be my number one favorite on this track and I’m only 22 seconds in, fuck. This groove and her vocal pacing are so infectious. This song might not be for everyone, but I feel this one so deeply.
I’m so in love with and am here for the melodramatic ballad. I can’t stop bopping my head to it. The high pass filtered hi-hats, the snare drum with a shit ton of reverb, and the fucking muted electric guitar are so good.
Yeah, this track fucking slaps. I will not be answering any questions and don’t at me. This is my favorite track by a long shot.
Blade Of Grass
Not gonna lie, this will be very hard to top. But as they say, the show must go on. Sounds like we’re gonna get a ballad here, I’m excited to see how Lady Gaga’s ballads stack up.
I’m not crying, you are. I love the combination of an acoustic guitar and piano in the first verse and chorus. The guitar is buried a bit deep there, so you might miss it. But it’s most certainly there. The muted kick drum introduced in the second verse is a nice touch, too.
I’ve been saying it from the start but this track really elevates her vocals. So raw, honest, and emotional. Absolutely no notes.
Again, I’m not crying, you are. The final chorus is 👨🏼🍳’s 😘. Everything is cranked up to 11 just to give an already great track a sense of epic-ness to close out the song.
For a second there, it did sound like we might get a transition into the next track. Sadly, it fizzled out.
Die With A Smile (featuring Bruno Mars)
For once, I actually do know the featured artist. But super interesting the track starts with Bruno Mars instead of Ms. Gaga.
Oh yeah, I’ve definitely heard snippets of this track in the past week. No disrespect to Bruno, I love his music. But I’m kind of waiting for Lady Gaga’s vocals to kick in.
Probably a hot take, but it’s my fucking blog so I can say whatever I want. This is easily my least favorite track on the album. I’m glad it’s the last song. I love them both separately, but I don’t think this collaboration did it for me.
From the get go, I wasn’t a huge fan of the reverb added to Bruno Mars’ vocals. It’s very distracting and is centered right down the middle. My best guess is they wanted to use that reverb as a substitution for a backing vocal?
I said what I said. It’s a shame this is how the album ends.
Conclusion
Despite closing the album on a bit of a bummer, I think the overall album was nothing short of fantastic. The other 13 were all truly exceptional. Hell, I think I might add the version of the album without Die With A Smile to my library.
I’m pleasantly surprised how much I really fell head over heels for this album. MAYHEM was it, for me. I’m glad it’s the first Lady Gaga album I’ve heard from top to bottom. I’m at a loss for words about how good it is.
All the tracks are in my library, and I currently have seven of them hearted/favorited. 13 for 13 is one hell of a run. Pop never went anywhere, but the genre is much stronger than it was ever before.
Congrats, Lady Gaga, on the new album. MAYHEM is an album you should absolutely stream and it’s easily going to be one of my top contenders for album of the year.
NOTE: This album reaction and review was completed after listening to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem on Tidal (24-bit, 44.1 kHz) with an active Tidal subscription via the Roon desktop application.