Lady Gaga burst onto the pop scene in 2008 with her song “Just Dance” and her album “The Fame,” which also included “LoveGame,” “Paparazzi,” and “Poker Face.” From there, she was off to the races as one of the most enigmatic and popular singers of her generation. After continuing to play in the pop sandbox with “Born This Way” and “Artpop,” Gaga ventured on to other genres and even media entirely. She released an Americana rock album in “Joanne,” a house album in “Chromatica,” she starred in films like “A Star is Born” and “Joker: Folie a Deux,” and she collaborated extensively with the late Tony Bennett on two albums and a tour.
Now, though, Gaga is firmly back in the mainstream pop world with her latest album, “Mayhem.” The synth-heavy offering comes from a more mature and experienced version of Gaga than “The Fame,” and the pop superstar isn’t afraid to wear her inspirations on her sleeve. The song “Shadow of a Man” features a bassline that would feel right at home on an ‘80s Michael Jackson album, “Killah” includes vocals reminiscent of a David Bowie song, and the internet immediately identified “How Bad Do U Want Me” as a song that recalls Taylor Swift both in lyrics and production. Then, of course, there are songs like “Abracadabra” and “Perfect Celebrity,” which feel like Gaga putting fresh touches on sounds that she’s experimented with before in her own career.
Instead of feeling scattered, though, all of these influences and pop variations feel of a piece on “Mayhem.” Gaga has been all around the music world and returned to the genre that launched her with a more playful approach than ever before. It gives “Mayhem” plenty of layers to appreciate over the course of multiple listens, and of course, it’ll serve you very well on a long car ride or at a pregame before a night out.
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