It's unfair to just say "The music has dropped in quality"

[DMTT 160]

you're really condescending. It's basically saying the same thing. That people who like her old work and say it's better than her new are idiots and should leave. No, we're not gonna leave, and you can't dictate that. Punk ass kid get off my lawn

Right? I was creying at his comment that you can't compare albums--like wtf? :toofunny:

[Antidote 95]

In my opinion the music has dropped in quality tbh.

We have been waiting for a long time and the result didn't live up to my expectations.

The lyrics are not as good as I expected, especially with songs like Fashion! or Donatella, but in general.

The sound of the songs is too mainstream for me, with Gaga talking about the fury and rage on ARTPOP I was hoping for something more new or experimental mixed with a great chorus.

 

But I have to say that of course it always depends on what you want from music. If you want a fun dance pop album, ARTPOP is a good album, it's not a flop at all....but it's also far from what Gaga is actually capable of. The longevity is also missing for me, after one month listening to ARTPOP I didn't listen to it anymore all the time, I just listen to it every few weeks

[aquaprincess 23]

Some fans liked ARTPOP some fans didn't. I happen to be one in the former. Oh well. :shrug:

[alposnacks 1]

TF, TFM and BTW had consistently great songwriting. ARTPOP doesn't. I still like the album but after BTW I was expecting something grander.

[Sabertooth 2]

Lyrically it has dropped in quality. She managed to dumb down her lyrics to a new low. 

[PopBitch 1,218]

I disagree, but well-put. I wouldn't (and didn't) call the album experimental. But daring and bold for one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, with all eyes and ears on her? I'd say so. I don't see tracks like "Aura", "Venus", "Fashion!", "Dope", "Mary Jane Holland", "Swine", and several others as 'trying to make hits'. It sounds like Gaga at her most liberated, taking off her own shackles and being allowed to play around. Not as catchy as her previous work? Perhaps I'll grant you that. But infinitely more intoxicating and seductive than just about anything she's done pre-BTW. The conviction her craft, the production, and her vocals were as on-point as ever in AP, but I know you feel differently.

Fashion is a generic bore.

[Born To Slay 10,996]

In my opinion the music has dropped in quality tbh.

We have been waiting for a long time and the result didn't live up to my expectations.

The lyrics are not as good as I expected, especially with songs like Fashion! or Donatella, but in general.

The sound of the songs is too mainstream for me, with Gaga talking about the fury and rage on ARTPOP I was hoping for something more new or experimental mixed with a great chorus.

 

But I have to say that of course it always depends on what you want from music. If you want a fun dance pop album, ARTPOP is a good album, it's not a flop at all....but it's also far from what Gaga is actually capable of. The longevity is also missing for me, after one month listening to ARTPOP I didn't listen to it anymore all the time, I just listen to it every few weeks

Honestly I think Fashion has awesome lyrics, the chorus is genius

This is my opinion and its kind of a rant but I do feel her music has changed. I feel the emotional quality and intimacy of her music has been changing/decreasing. Her songs used to be very accessible, emotional and relate-able now they're becoming more abstract and conceptual. I honestly don't know if I like it or not. The reason I started liking her was her relate-ability and the emotions on display in her music; Paparazzi, Bad Romance, Dance in the Dark, Speechless, Monster, etc. I really felt a lot listening to her songs. It's really different now though, she doesn't sing so much personal confessional type songs. They're becoming all very conceptual; songs like Born This Way, Government Hooker, Heavy Metal Lover, Highway Unicorn, Americano, Venus, ARTPOP, MANiCURE, Applause, etc. 

 

When over half the album is conceptual songs it just feels too much for me. Her music doesn't give me the feels as much as it used too. It feels less intimate, less of her feelings in it and more her thoughts and abstract ideas, I wish there was more of that emotional quality. But it could be that's more who she is, a lot of the songs on the second half of The Fame were very conceptual.

But what about songs like Dope, Gypsy, Sexxx Dreams? They're very relatable. And I think Venus was relatable as well.

[Duke 437]

No it isn't. It's opinion.

[AbuHassan1992 766]

Honestly I think Fashion has awesome lyrics, the chorus is genius

But what about songs like Dope, Gypsy, Sexxx Dreams? They're very relatable. And I think Venus was relatable as well.

how is the chorus genius?

[tokyodisko 0]

There's only so many times that one artist could fetch from the Springsteen-Whitney well. Prince, Sade, ABBA, and Joan Jett (amongst others) are perfectly worthy places to draw from. And no matter how "safe" or "bold" her albums are, hopefully we can agree that Gaga's music goes placed that no other pop star of her ilk would even think about going, let alone attempt.

And to your second point, I have learned to take what Gaga says in stride when she is promoting her own work. Her own audience has trouble describing the work, I can't imagine what it's like for her lol. And I'm of the opinion that nearly every song is a hit, just not quite in the way that she means.

I agree, but I think she draws from different artists for every album. It's not like Whitney and Springsteen were prevalent in TFM. 

I think it would have worked better if she drew out those sounds and inspirations to be a full length album or an EP in themselves. 

She definitely pushes the limits, but I think Gaga's boundaries were nuanced and blurred by also trying to fit into a very safe sound. Like they were too afraid to push them further for ARTPOP, and like I've said, go big or go home. 

 

I definitely have too. lol I was skeptical, but even at Swinefest the songs sounded better, so I got hyped again and then the album...eh. I mean, I still love it, but it's my least favorite aside from a couple tracks. Even when I went out tonight to a pub, I heard someone say they like her, but that ARTPOP was boring when YaI was slaying even the older people at the straight bar.  

 

I'm sure she'll recover. I do think Gaga and Troy were both trying to make a safer pop album this time, but they had different visions that really conflicted. I think she tried to bring in influence that was not typically pop, but was too constrained by pop at the same time. I'm excited to hear what is next though! I'm not a fan of the Sire lyrics we have yet, but I also didn't like Venus when I first saw them, so maybe it'll change my mind. 

[Antidote 95]

Honestly I think Fashion has awesome lyrics, the chorus is genius

 

I just expected more. Can't explain it, it's not really my thing, somehow I'm also sick of hearing songs about fashion and clothes

But yeah it totally depends on what someone is expects from a song. A lot of people love the album and also Fashion!, it's just not my favourite style. I think Gaga is way better with dark pop songs, that's what she can do best and what I was hoping for

[MonsterRocket 55]

I'll always say it: ARTPOP could have been very big. The concept she firstly presented before the release of the album and Applause was great. But when it came out i just saw a mess. I didn't feel all that conceptual thing and revolution she had talked about. That's one of the main reasons why ARTPOP is not as good as the previous; it was a mess conceptually when it was in fact supossed to be a conceptual album... I never had that feeling with TFM. Everything just seemed to make sense and fluent naturally.

[djBuffoon 12,118]

Fashion is a generic bore.

If you say so. :D

[djBuffoon 12,118]

I agree, but I think she draws from different artists for every album. It's not like Whitney and Springsteen were prevalent in TFM.

I think it would have worked better if she drew out those sounds and inspirations to be a full length album or an EP in themselves.

She definitely pushes the limits, but I think Gaga's boundaries were nuanced and blurred by also trying to fit into a very safe sound. Like they were too afraid to push them further for ARTPOP, and like I've said, go big or go home.

I definitely have too. lol I was skeptical, but even at Swinefest the songs sounded better, so I got hyped again and then the album...eh. I mean, I still love it, but it's my least favorite aside from a couple tracks. Even when I went out tonight to a pub, I heard someone say they like her, but that ARTPOP was boring when YaI was slaying even the older people at the straight bar.

I'm sure she'll recover. I do think Gaga and Troy were both trying to make a safer pop album this time, but they had different visions that really conflicted. I think she tried to bring in influence that was not typically pop, but was too constrained by pop at the same time. I'm excited to hear what is next though! I'm not a fan of the Sire lyrics we have yet, but I also didn't like Venus when I first saw them, so maybe it'll change my mind.

We'll never know what happened between Gaga and Troy. For all we know, she could have fought tooth and nail to have ARTPOP sound exactly like this. To my knowledge, she hasn't indicated otherwise once. So instead of trying to assume what she wanted, what he wanted, where she compromised, etc, I find it more useful to discuss the album that we have.

As for the people at pub, I really don't know what to do with that. Would hardly be the first time that someone has criticized the album without really hearing it. I personally know many people who genuinely love it and know all of the lyrics by heart. I also know some other people who have shít on it, but when I discussed it further with them, it became clear that (surprise) they didn't know the album at all. Who knows.

[Cody Draco 2,531]

The music didn't drop in quality, Gaga went in a different direction and I don't think it can be compared to anything she has released in the past. I don't think musically it can be compared to any other album ever created tbh. Maybe it doesn't contain her darkest lyrics or darkest songs, but I think it is an admirable attempt by Gaga and an artistic step forward. I mean Donatella isn't my favorite song on the album, but sonically that song is amazingly produced and executed. It may not be your favorite album, but I want to ask everyone to look at each song individually and even if you don't like it... at least respect it and maybe you'll find something you like about it. At least make an attempt to accept this album... it's been beat up on enough.