MAYHEM: The Official Discussion Thread (Act II) It’s MAYHEM in here 👹

[robotvoiceinalice 1,584]

2 minutes ago, nath4gaga2 said:

Full review by me if anyone cares:

Disease - 9/10

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Released at the perfect time for me, love the synth instrumental. Pretty well polished sound, different to anything on the radio. Kind of sad it didn't hit with the general public but sometimes you never know which left field songs will take off. The starting synth reminds me so much of Alice, the opening to Chromatica! Love the vocal take and the stacked vocals in octaves. Just overall really interesting and catchy. Standout moments are the drop away lead into the chorus making the chorus hit like a truck, and the moan into the final post-chorus.

Abracadabra - 10/10

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Wasn't sure how I felt about the chanting sections when I first listened to it, but I like the way the song builds and the 90s house influences. There are some really interesting bubbly synth sounds in this one. I feel like it's one of her hookiest songs to date, and definitely getting TFM/BTW vibes with a current spin. I adore the descending arpeggios in the verse, makes it hard to sing if you don't know what you're doing but super fun. I'm surprised this hasn't smashed more - possibly because DWAS is still dominating charts globally. The sidechaining in the bridge is next level - and this style reminds me a bit of Nemo's The Code

Garden of Eden - 10/10

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I can see why this is used for F1 - gives that sort of industrial vibes in the verse and post-chorus. Super catchy, and really enjoy her vocal take and where it sits in the mix. It is definitely giving Brat in places like I said when we first heard the snippets. I think this could actually do really well with the GP, different enough in parts to be fresh on the radio but not totally off the wall. The stacked vocals with the DJ hit the lights line brings a bit of a nice twist to this sort of song. Love love love the way the vocals soar before the final post-chorus. I think the outro is reminiscent of some of the interludes we used to get from gaga on tour (TMB-esque) and probably what a lot of the fans were hoping the whole album would sound like.

Perfect Celebrity - 9.5/10

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The chords she uses here with the piano is so similar to Disease - gives quite an uneasy feeling which I'm not sure how to feel about. I can see what she meant with it being full of rage in the vocals, and I'm so glad we're finally getting some full on rock vocals (when is your Plastic Hearts gaga??!). Quite enjoy the muffled beat that is giving heartbeat on the second verse, and the references to Princess Die of course. The lead in to the final chorus warrants this score alone where she goes up on "perfect celebrity". Stunning, reminds me of watching Kerrang in the early 2000s with some of vocals. 

Can't Stop the High - 8/10

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Listening to a fairly LQ version. I can sort of see why it wasn't in the standard version, it's similar to Perfect Celebrity, however, I think it introduces the more funky direction we go in for the rest of the album so it definitely would have worked. From what I can tell the instrumental reminds me a bit of some parts of GoE, but this is such a gaga track - TM mixed with BTW and Enigma. Some really interesting vocalisations which stand out towards the end. I like it but not one of my favourites.

Vanish into you - 10/10

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Sooooo synthwave which I'm obsessed with, very 80s, so so catchy. I can't understand why some people don't like it. It's giving closing credits song for an 80s sad summer film where someone dies but had a lot of good montageable smiling moments. Some of the guitar motifs are giving me Chic which I think helped in making this one of the songs that got stuck in my head from listening just once. The lead in to the final chorus is soooooo TF gaga that would go round the radio stations and sing future love etc. Quintessentially early glam pop gaga imo, but without sounding outdated.

Killah - 4/10

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This song I'm afraid is just too repetitive for me (it feels like it lasts 6 minutes when it's only 3:30), and I generally dislike the chord progression (where there is one). Very Bowie but that is to its detriment as I'm not a fan of this sort of music. I appreciate that she's doing something different, but it's just not for me. The dance break, however, slaps and prevented it from being a lower rating than a 4, I wish the whole song had that vibe so much. I sort of dread this song coming on whenever I'm going through the album, it will be a definite skip for me I'm afraid.

Zombieboy - 8/10

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OK Hollaback girl mixed with Disco Heaven. Super funky base line which is classic for the sort of era it's pulling from. The lyric "this kitten over here (meow)" is amazing and I will not be taking any questions. I don't really like the chorus too much, it's solid just not really the best, the post-chorus is much more interesting for me. I wish the guitar solo lasted for much longer in the bridge. Very solid song, just not one of my all time favourites - outro is giving BTW so hard which I love to see the call-back. I think if I sit with this song more it will go up in my rankings but it's just solid for me.

LoveDrug - 9/10

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Again with the synthwave feeling, and the drums have a really nice crispness whilst still feeling retro. The vocal delivery in the chorus is mixed so well, and sort of lets the guitar shine quite nicely alongside. The last chorus into the outro hits so nicely, makes me feel like I'm in an abandoned mall from the 80s with all the neon lights still on.

How Bad Do U Want Me - 6/10

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Bonus points for the Yazoo sample. Her vocal delivery of the title line of the song is so Taylor Swift and the structure of the melody is too much like Taylor for me to enjoy it more than a 6/10. The chorus however, is giving Brooklyn Nights which is nice. One of the lines sounds like "the fat girl inside of me" which I know it's not but I don't think it would go down well. It's giving The Cure and not in a good way at times. A little on the repetitive side for me. Not sure it's skip-worthy, but would get boring fast for me, I quite enjoy the last few lines though.

Don't Call Tonight - 10/10

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How is this so low for some people? Love how the chorus is so catchy, it's actually one of the songs that really stuck in my head after one listen. If I had to nitpick, the start of the second verse is a little on the boring side for me. Vocal delivery on the chorus hits really nicely, for some reason gives me Sia vibes (in a good way). I enjoy the funky guitar and nice baseline on this, along with a really great vocoder moment, and a low range chant and ending with a Marry the Night vocal finish. An absolute summer vibe of a song, really really enjoy it.

Kill for Love - 10/10

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OK Miss Gaga why isn't this on the album?? I think I know why, in that it's too close to SoaM but I don't care this is stunning. Very very MJ's Thriller, maybe she didn't want to draw those comparisons? There are moments that are giving Lizzo just because of the high "know you're gonna BE mine". Feels spiritually ARTPOP/Thriller/BTW. So so catchy and I am hoping and praying this is going to go on streaming services. You don't understand I'm completely obsessed. Her vocals are stunning, and I actually think this would do so well on the radio if it was a single in the summer, and I'm actually starting to get mad it's not on the standard version with each listen.

Shadow Of A Man - 10/10

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Another MJ tribute song, with a lovely groovy baseline. The rhythm of the vocal is a hook in itself, and how that interacts with the rhythm section of the instrumental just makes this song sing. This is a surefire hit. Love how the live instruments interact with the synths, you don't hear it done in this 80s reminiscent way very often in my opinion. This song is one that I would look forward to every time playing the album. An absolute highlight of the latter end of the album.

The Beast - 9/10

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A Phil Collins sample here? I kind of wish we had a moment where it hits more like In the Air Tonight. It's giving early 2000s ballad at times, maybe a bit Eurovision. That dirty synth comes in nicely and brings it up a notch. The "hoo" on the second pre-chorus is SO Whitney and I'm sort of sad she does it just once. The guitar solo section is great, and I wish it was higher in the mix - it gives a bit of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds Musical album which is no bad thing. A good song, with impressive vocals again!

Blade Of Grass - 9/10

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It's giving James Bond vs Joanne. Her vocal is a slightly more polished version of Dope, and which means I much prefer it to Dope. The one song on the album where I really noticed the lyrics, and how they really fit with the melody line. I love the bridge so much and her vocals are mixed so much better than in previous songs which means her sound is much less grating. Every time I listen I'm not sure how I feel about the key change, but it settles after a couple of bars and I'm sold - still I wish there was a bit more preparation for it, as it comes across as a bit abrupt. A really really solid ballad from Gaga, and they can be very hit/miss for me with her. The ballads I tend to prefer are some of the 90s ones a la Celine Dion etc.

Die With A Smile - 10/10

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I will never understand why people don't like this song. The melody moves so beautifully, with the subdued instrumental which gives it a hazy evening sunset feel. The mix is so different to the rest of the album which does indicate it was a late addition, but as a song it does really fit into the end of album. Both Gaga and Bruno's vocals glide around in this song so smoothly and is one of the reasons it's been on constant repeat for me since it was released last year. I'm a die hard Die With a Smile fan, and I'm so glad she's getting her flowers for it. A perfect closer.

In summary, the album takes us on quite a journey. My thoughts are that it does seem to be fairly cohesive even though it was touted as complete mayhem. I can understand why some fans may be disappointed that the whole album doesn't resemble Disease/Abracadabra, but as a piece of work I really enjoy it. I think too many of you think back to her roots meant TFM/BTW when I hate to break it to you but her roots were Red and Blue and The Fame glam pop. Contrary to a lot of fans, I really enjoyed Chromatica and Joanne, and this album sits so nicely in her discography. With some time I'll be able to see where it fits better, The Fame is probably my least favourite gaga main album (there are a few duds on there which I skip) and I think it beats that and possibly Chromatica, will be able to see if it grows even more in time. Album Rating 88/100

this is so me

[AnnTakamaki 6,871]

even 2 bonus tracks sound good 

[velliqjv 32]

does anyone have a picture of the violet/purple vinyl yet? curious to see

[Mus 7,883]

I just love how some songs have a little outro, like she does on tours

[Jessica Germ 2,129]

18 minutes ago, Ivy said:

I just noticed ominous ending sounds in Blade Of Grass 

Gotta keep an eye out for selenur

[NoPaperGangsta 223]

This is too good. I have literally nothing to say, I won't even rank the songs, they are all so good. I can feel how much she worked on this and everything about it is perfect. I just can't get over how good GOD of Eden is and how Zombieboy and Summerboy are literally twins. That tells a lot because Summerboy is my fav Ga song ever 

Edited March 7 by NoPaperGangsta

[ModernEcstasy 9,002]

Does anyone know when and where I can watch SNL tomorrow?

[Ivy 12,512]

5 minutes ago, Jessica Germ said:

Gotta keep an eye out for selenur

I died laughing just now 

[Mirrion Rizzons 10,938]

10 minutes ago, Creyk said:

Besides Disease & Abracadabra, literally what is dark in the album? Nothing. Like just think about zombie boy, the song title lends itself to being super dark sinister and serious and then she turned into some cheerful disco jam, specially with those upbeat verses. Like what is that?

True but at the same time, I think us fans forget that despite chromatica being sonically very upbeat and house, it’s her darkest album to date with lyrics and subject matter, yet no one calls it a dark album, 

So by your logic, what constitutes dark? Religious statements? Gothic lyrics? What constitutes dark production? Many call blackout by Brit dark pop, which garden of Eden pays homage to - so I guess that’s dark? 
 

Id also argue perfect celebrity is pretty ‘dark’ - not a musical expert but the verses sound like they’re in a minor key 

[Kermit the frog 1,921]

I feel like this is the album I was hoping for her to make after ARTPOP - all her influences distilled through her own magical songwriting and a powerful voice. Truly a masterpiece of an album, I'm listening for the fourth time now and tearing up.

[Gabi001 2,388]

It makes me so sad to read all the negativity on gay instagram towards this album. I could understand the hate Joanne got, but not this masterpiece 

[Decodekid 28,210]

I just wanted to say that I've been having a familiar feeling like I've known you my whole life

[Ashley 9,392]

3 hours ago, PinkJelly said:

Garden of Eden is fun but some of the lyrics sound so basic on Mayhem  I was really hyped to listen to this album and I actually feel pretty sad that my music taste has changed that much I’m struggling to enjoy anything bar Disease, Abra, Perfect Celebrity 

I agree about the lyrics, also a lot of the songs sound kinda same-y subject wise.

[Charmz 4,156]

Does anyone remember Babylon early version? Zombie boy gives me that vibe 

[Chesescake 3,998]

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Edited March 11 by Chesescake