Album Review: Lady Gaga – Mayhem

With her albums The Fame Monster and Art Pop Lady Gaga became one of the biggest stars of the 2000s, with her tracks Bad Romance, Poker Face and Born This Way entering the pop canon. However after her divisive electronic album Chromatica and country inspired Joanne, Gaga took a break from music pivoting to act in the Oscar nominated A Star Is Born. She has remained focused on acting releasing only companion albums for her projects until he announcement of Mayhem her first studio album in five years.  Mayhem marks her return to music and her electropop-pop roots as she leans back into a darker style.

This return can be seen clearly in the album’s singles. Abracadabra is quintessentially Gaga, a fast-paced electropop number. The pulsing backing and the lyrics “abra ca dabra gaga ooh nana” draw an immediate comparison to Gaga’s hit Bad Romance. Despite this the song manages to stand on its own with its lyrics about the “magic of the dark moonlight” giving it a witchy feel. Disease stands out for its dark lyrics comparing love to “sickness”  and a body horror-inspired music video. Its bold vibe calls back to the shocking stunts of Gaga’s early career such as that famous meat dress and her blood-drenched Paparazzi performance. However the most ubiquitous song on the album is the final track, Die With a Smile featuring Bruno Mars. At its release, the track shot up to number 1 on Spotify, quickly becoming one of the most streamed songs in the history of the app. And it’s easy to see why, the track is fun and catchy but still heartfelt with a ballad-style chorus that tugs at your heartstrings. Mars and Gaga’s voices complement each other brilliantly, and while the song is not quite at home on an album that is otherwise a lot darker in tone, it works to provide a lift at the end.

There is a large range of different styles throughout the tracks in the album, perhaps a nod to the title Mayhem. The 80s-inspired synth in How Bad Do U Want Me has drawn comparisons to Taylor Swift’s 1989,it’s a pop song that strays from Gaga’s usual remit with a light playful chorus. Zombie Boys‘ hip-hop intro has similarities to Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl, with a darker twist as Gaga sings about falling for a zombie. There are also a couple of slower ballad-style songs, Blade of Grass is contemplative with gravelly vocals and a stipped-back production, the softer more rhythmic tone standing out amongst the fast-paced tracks. At times the wildly varying styles feel a little reductive as if Gaga is uncertain about the overall arc of the album. The slower tracks certainly seem a little out of place but the lyricism and production keeps the tracks interesting and intriguing and leads to some of the albums most memorable tracks.

Despite the range of styles, Mayhem has a much more “Gaga” sound than the preceding album Chromatica and Joanne. It provides a return to the electropop that made her famous and it’s in these tracks that Gaga’s style shines. Garden of Eden is a dance club-inspired track which is wildly danceable with a fast-paced pulsing post-chorus as she repeats “I’ll t-t-t-t-t take you to the garden of Eden”. Perfect Celebrity is a catchy track about the pitfalls of fame. She sings “you love to hate me” as she references Princess Diana, (“sit in the front row, watch the Princess Die”) and compares herself to Hollywood tragedies. It’s overblown and a little camp, a perfect blend of honesty and self-projection, that has defined the best of Gaga’s lyricism.

Mayhem has been called by many a return to form for Lady Gaga. The different genres on the album create a king of joyful chaos that perfectly suits Gaga’s style. The horror-inspired lyrics that thread across the album are reminiscent of her darker style, while occasional bursts of bright cheerful pop keep it fun and club ready. It’s a perfect return to music for Gaga showing she’s still one of the best pop artists.

Eleanor Carr