Lady Gaga released her seventh studio album “MAYHEM,” on Friday, March 7. Gaga describes the project as “a whirlwind of ‘90s alternative, electro-grunge, Prince and Bowie melodies, guitar and attitude, funky bass lines, French electronic dance, analog synths and utter chaos,” according to an interview with ELLE. Living up to its namesake, “MAYHEM” delivers a fun but emotional pop album and leaves listeners fulfilled with its 14 songs.
Although “Die With A Smile” was the first song of the album to be released, on Aug. 16 2024, it was only later revealed to be a part of “MAYHEM.” If listeners were to go into this album expecting the rest of it to sound like “Die with a Smile,” especially after its success on the charts, they would be disappointed. Even in comparison to other softer, more emotional songs in the album, “Die with a Smile’s” fantastical style does not fit in, and instead feels out of place with the rest of the album’s more grounded sound, as if it was added as an afterthought. The two official singles of the album, “Disease” and “Abracadabra,” were powerful starts to Gaga’s new record and work better within the context of the album.
From the very beginning, the production of “MAYHEM” stands out. The electro-pop genre itself is captivating, but this record still feels unique because of the contrast between strong, high-energy instrumentals and Gaga’s smooth vocals. The instruments set a fun and emotional mood and tone, drawing the listeners into the songs. In particular, the drums and guitar emphasize passion, whereas the piano enhances Gaga’s vulnerable side. In the intro of “Vanish Into You,” the piano plays as Gaga sings “Saw your face and mine / In a picture by our bedside,” describing her admiration of her lover. As the song transitions to the verses, it uses other instruments to drive forward passion and even obsession, when she sings about disappearing into the person she loves with the lyrics “Once in a blue moon, I forget you / And once in your life, you’ll be mine.” The beats make many of the songs feel as though Gaga is singing from the middle of a dance floor or a party. This quality adds to “MAYHEM’’s allure, hypnotizing the audience in ways they may not be aware of.
Gaga’s voice is as enchanting as the production. In some songs, such as “Killah” and “Shadow of a Man,” she sings with a more powerful forte and her voice becomes deeper, delivering the “Prince and David Bowie” feel Gaga referred to when introducing her album to ELLE. Even so, this shift in tone doesn’t sound forced. “Blade of Grass,” on the other hand, highlights her versatility when singing softer, more vulnerable vocals. She talks about getting engaged, illustrating her own interpretation of love, stretching out her vocals and using a raspier tone to sing, “Cause even though the church burned down I’ll be your queen without a crown / I’ve been so lonely in this field fighting a battle with no shield / Come on and wrap that blade of grass / And we’ll make it last.” She uses her voice as an instrument, and the shifts in tone emphasize certain lyrics or sentiments.
From the very beginning, the lyricism in the album is both dramatic and riveting, not purposeless or repetitive. Even the “party songs” are metaphorical and introspective. For example, in “Perfect Celebrity,” she talks about her unique experience with fame and the music industry. Gaga sings, “I’ve become a notorious being / Find my clone, she’s asleep on the ceilin’ / Now, can’t get me down / You love to hate me / I’m the perfect celebrity.” If someone were to ignore the lyrics, the production of the song would not suggest that it was about something so personal to Gaga, but despite this, the dramatic feel and intense drums further emphasize her commentary about fame’s destructive side. This quality is effective, allowing casual listeners as well as more critical ones to enjoy Gaga’s music.
As its name suggests, “MAYHEM” is a bit chaotic but not half-hearted. Gaga doesn’t restrict herself to one sound, allowing for the album to have variety while still maintaining cohesion. Starting off with electro and alt-pop tracks and progressing into softer songs, each song flows and the album’s structure works. Gaga’s tone, lyrics and instrumentals all come together to create a sense of satisfaction.
The dance-pop genre works marvelously in “MAYHEM” and is balanced extremely well with more vulnerable songs. What makes “MAYHEM” interesting is the depth and clarity we see in the songs through Gaga’s eyes. The experiences she sings about are universal in a broader sense because of the sentiment they carry, but the way she approaches them shows how she has changed as a person and musician. Gaga is more clear about her own life, seemingly more sure about her emotions. Ultimately, this record was fun. Each aspect of “MAYHEM” is individually compelling, but together it creates a record that is simply enjoyable to listen to. It’s the type of music you’d play in your bedroom and scream out the lyrics to.
Rating: 4.5/5
