Was Chromatica what you were expecting?

[yes and 4,884]

I wasn't expecting a super innovative and experimental album as most of members here. She was working with Tame Impala and Bloodpop for Joanne and we got a country-rock album , so it's a bit silly to expect something after this. Of course, it was obvious that the album would be much more electronic, but after the success of ASIB, I thought a half of the album would contain piano ballads and mid-tempo songs, and I was surprised when it didn't happen. It was also surprising that the album is deep house influenced, no one could expect it 

[Guest]

Given my initial disappointment listening to the album, I'm gonna say no. It wasn't what I was expecting. I really, really didn't like it. If I recorded my reaction to it, I probably would have gotten dragged way more than AJay, if I had her audience. But it grew on me immensely. I even imported the hard cover deluxe edition from England.

[DoremonLove 8,147]

Am i d only one who thinks it was better thn i expected. Its such an amazing album i was shook honestly gaga did THAT. 

[agentprovocate 193]

im disappointed! the album has no fire and i miss the fire and energy from gaga!

 

it feels like gaga did the album just for satisfying her fans. nothing more or less. There is no promo or something.

The songs are all forgettable . Thank you next !!!

 

[thatfoxyfeeling 13,017]

It’s not as experimental as I thought it would be but it’s definitely that dance/pop album I’ve been wanting from Gaga since ARTPOP. I think it’s helped boost her popularity on streaming platforms and that’s what Gaga and her team wanted from this album more than anything. I hope her next album really is a moment though because Chromatica has already been overshadowed by Folklore and other projects. 

[NewUsername 11,405]

Yes, more or less. I expected the whole sine concept, planet concept and tribe concept to be referenced and explained more though. I guess that was planned and/or is still coming?

When they talked about the house influences, I was a bit 'scared' it was going to sound too much house. Luckily, for my taste, it's still very dance pop and Gaga.

[The Fame Monster 4,268]

I think I didn’t have any expectations because I wanted to be open-minded to whatever it was going to be. First when I listened to it, I was surprised by its sound and I was a bit confused... But I kept listening to it every day. And little by little I was liking it more. By now, I really love it!!! And it’s definitely in my TOP-3 favorite Gaga albums. 

[ARTGOD 3,266]

No.

I expected something experimental and forward-thinking at first, though after Stupid Love and Rain On Me I readjusted my expectations. Even then, Chromatica was way blander than I thought it was gonna be.

I was pleasantly surprised that the main influence was 90’s House though, instead of 70s Disco or 80s Synth Pop like everyone else is doing, so it gets points for that.

The problem is that the production is for the most part just really generic and uncharacteristically bland for Gaga.

I also didn’t expect the heavy early 2010’s production style which I think really brings the album down. That sound is old enough to sound dated and passé but not old enough to be nostalgic.

There are some shining moments though. Alice, Enigma and Babylon sound House-y enough to be really enjoyable. And Replay is the type of forward thinking, experimental yet nostalgic type of song I was hoping for.

The songwriting is decent enough for the album to be a fun listen, but the production has so many more misses than hits, and it really brings the album down. The album usually goes for sounds and genres that are way too dated and doesn’t do anything new with them, or aims for nostalgia but often misses what made those genres appealing in the first place.

[Ziggy 11,845]

8 hours ago, Doot said:

I just think the album is awesome, but never quite reaches the heights that I was expecting. And that's my fault for listening to the demos, I guess, but hearing the HLs version of Babylon, I was expecting more stuff like that and 911. 

I enjoy the final product, definitely, but I do think the more risks should have been taken. I really really wish it was more in style with the playlist she posted. 

Idk if I'd say it's because you listened to the demos and more that the album really didn't go anywhere. It started high and dramatic with Alice and kind of stayed there the entire time. That's the catch 22 you get yourself into with a super cohesive album like this is that you run the risk of losing the emotional journey, the ups and downs. Now, I think the straightforward productions don't do anything to make that better, but they absolutely are not the *only* thing. I think Gaga albums tend to function better as a whole when they have variance. ARTPOP and BTW are good examples of that. You can kind of break up those albums into suites (even better than Chromatica imo) and each of those suites have their own moods of sorts that are similar to the others but still distinctive in their own right.

[HorusRa2 5,005]

I would say that it mostly met my expectations. I really liked it. 

I will say that from the demos that we have, I would have liked the album to sound more like the traditional house that was in the Rain on Me and Free Woman demos but I understand why they changed direction. 

 

It gives me hope that when Gaga is Kylie Minogue's age that we will get an album that is a true love letter to house music of the 90s. 

[ShayCristoforo 10,607]

Yes, but I thought some of the instrumentals would be more electric. For example, Fun Tonight and 1000 Doves sound half baked and a bit generic for Gaga. 

[mr wayne 534]

Nope. I honestly thought this was going to be a PC Music album 

[steven 5,961]

I was expecting something bigger and with better choruses. I’m still satisfied with the album but I think she needs to work with other producers than Bloodpop and stay away from commercial beats. 

[Infinity Wave 7,635]

I love how this is an opinion thread, @SHALLOW expressed their opinion in the best, most polite and non hostile possible way, then eveyrbody started quoting him because they can't accept their opinion, they answered and got dragged.

I don't even agree with them 100%, but this in straight up ridicolous

[Infinity Wave 7,635]

On thread, I was expecting something way bolder than what we got.

Chromatica is so good for me, but at times it doesn't even sound like a Gaga album if you compare it to the bold and affermative sounds of ARTPOP or BTW... 

She really gave up her midas touch to let BloodPop handle the album if you ask me, and what we got are 12 songs most of which have half a chorus and than a partly dated house dance break.

From Gaga, I honeslty xpect more. Like, com'on, Enigma, Replay, FW had SO much potential given that they're so great songs already as they are. Imagine them with a proper Gaga instrumental.