* Mr Brew has graced us with another post today. This week he is giving his views on the new Lady Gaga album. In case you have no access to anything media related, her album has hit the shelves and onine downloads. Just ask Amazon how that worked out for them. Enough of my rantings, on to Mr Brew. Oh yes, if you like what you see, let us know. Post a comment or shoot me an message @oldskoolstyle on Twitter.
Last year Gaga stated in an interview: “I promise to give you the greatest album of the decade”….
Did she? If you’re a die-hard fan you may think so but then she could do a remake of Biz Markie’s Just a Friend and her Little Monster’s would call it revolutionary. Taking into consideration she’s barely 25 years old and unlike many of her peers, actually writes (or co-writes) and can play some instruments, she deserves credit as an artist and musician.
After listening to the album, it’s clear she was influenced by music from the 80’s and 90’s. I know every artist is or was influenced by someone but some of Gaga’s melodies seem so blatant I shook my head. Her first single, the title track “Born This Way” made the news for its resemblance to Madonna’s “Express Yourself”. The others aren’t as obvious or as direct but hopefully as she grows and develops the comparisons will lessen. But as I’ll point out on a few tracks, it appears to be more homage than a pure attempt to copy.
The first track “Marry the Night” sounds like a disco remixed version of a Bonnie Tyler song. Still sounds good and its thumping beat will have some heads bobbing in the car. On the piano rock ballad “You and I” she enlisted famed Def Leppard/Shania Twain producer Mutt Lange and this song delivers the goods with a drum beat from Queen’s “We Will Rock You" with Brian May doing the guitar work. Some will think of Bruce Springsteen when they hear “Edge of the Night”. They should since Clarence Clemens is in it for the sax solo.
“Born This Way", “Hair”, and “Bad Kids” continue themes her Little Monsters will drink up: self expression, self empowerment and that being a misfit in society is ok. It seems as if she wants to be the Pied Piper of those disenfranchised with the image of Britney Spears. Gaga really has issues with religion. There are religious references all over the place most prominently on tracks “Judas”, “Bloody Mary”,lady gaga and “Electric Chapel”. It makes one wonder if some of these were written for controversy’s sake or true self reflection.
Musically she can seem all over the place sometimes. On “Hair” she goes between rock and techno. Many songs appear to be stitched together. She sings in German and Spanish on a few tracks and although at times uneven she tries to bring something new to the table and there are moments when it shines. Her singing is definitely stronger this time. When she wants to hit a note she nails it. No tone or off-key issues here.
Although not revolutionary, “Born This Way” has it’s shining moments with some definite hits on it.
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