So is MAYHEM her magnum opus?

[MOT 2,809]

Magnum opus ? I dunno, but early impression (after one listen) is that it's great, not a grower, it's right there. I'm looking forward to getting to know each track and basically just playing it into the ground. There are echoes of so many songs and influences from the past, coming at me from all angles, it'll take a while to work it all out.

One thing strikes me immediately. DWAS fits in sonically imo, and I didn't expect that, because it's quite a leap from Disease. And if it does fit, how come ? I would suggest that it's down to Andrew Watt's influence, and I would further suggest that the monster hit DWAS, when heard after all the rest, actually sounds a little weak.

[PinkJelly 1,736]

Definitey not, first 4 or 5 tracks could’ve made a nice EP, leave the rest 

[melon 3,572]

It could be, I need to hear the bonus tracks and any deluxe version she puts out (please!!!!!) 

Vanish, Blade and How Bad are not bad songs but they’re not great. I wish Vanish was more like the bridge… it feels like the biggest let down knowing the quality of Disease, Debra and this being the third single…

BTW has lower lows but was so definitive and means so much, but I can see Mayhem being up there with it for me in time

[HermesG 1,404]

[mdance4life 767]

I think its so focused and so intentional. Among her best works yet. I’m going to bet half of my life’s savings whenever that happens that the nay-sayers are all mid - 20s for sure and literally have no experience or reference as to how amazing this is 

[anziety 777]

unfortunately it’s not, too many okay-ish songs but the good ones were great! 

[robotvoiceinalice 1,261]

hmm no.  does it encapsulate who Gaga is interms of even before fame? yes. does it do it well? no.  ofc gaga is way more than a pop star and this proves it with her borrowing from so many different genres that she's done in the past, with well written lyrics, and songs that tell the story of how gaga came to be and her experiences within the music industry. 

but if it was truly her magnum opus then every single song would hit. and the problem is that it doesn't do it justice. i mean the general view among fans is very mixed, some enjoying it all some hating it some enjoying half of it.

a magnum opus album has to do all the above but connect with the majority of the fans much like how The Fame catapulted her to centre stage and how The Fame Monster cemented her stay, and how Born This Way showed shes in it for the long haul and is much more than a musician, and how ARTPOP showed her conceptual creativeness, and how Joanne was... Joanne, and how Chromatica reclaimed the dancefloor she left and made us all dance and showed she still has it creatively and conceptually. Mayhem? im left puzzled

[robotvoiceinalice 1,261]

the question is, if we knew someone who was living under a rock and had no idea about Gaga and wanted to get into her - is mayhem the album you would direct them to? if not then its not her magnus opus

[LadyLuca 2,521]

I think Mayhem is not as good as Born this Way or ARTPOP but its still really good.

Somewhere in the upper middle if i had to rank it with her previous albums

[elegidadedios 880]

10 hours ago, ThisGuyTony said:

this could be her magnum opus.  

It is indeed

[Juniper 889]

1 hour ago, robotvoiceinalice said:

the question is, if we knew someone who was living under a rock and had no idea about Gaga and wanted to get into her - is mayhem the album you would direct them to? if not then its not her magnus opus

I would honestly direct them to TFM. I get chills just thinking about playing it from start to finish the first time. Oh, to have virgin ears again. 

[RBL 493]

It’s way to early to say. Let it breath. But I do think it could be. 

[Celloo Deng 54,122]

Atm it might be joint top with TFM for me 

[PSYCHOSHTICK 2,684]

The way I see it:

Spoiler

1. BORN THIS WAY

9 bangers: MARRY THE NIGHT, BORN THIS WAY, GOVERNMENT HOOKER, JUDAS, SCHEISSE, BLOODY MARY, HEAVY METAL LOVER, YOU AND I, THE EDGE OF GLORY

No skips

 

2. CHROMATICA

7 bangers: ALICE, FREE WOMAN, 911, SOUR CANDY, ENIGMA, REPLAY, BABYLON

Skips: Fun Tonight (sometimes), Plastic Doll (sometimes), Sine From Above, 1000 Doves

(Didn't expect this one to end so high, since it has so many skips for me)

 

3. THE FAME MONSTER

5 bangers: BAD ROMANCE, ALEJANDRO, MONSTER, DANCE IN THE DARK, TELEPHONE

No skips

 

4. MAYHEM

5 bangers: DISEASE, ABRACADABRA, ZOMBIEBOY, SHADOW OF A MAN, DIE WITH A SMILE

Skip: How Bad Do U Want Me

 

5. THE FAME 

4 bangers: JUST DANCE, POKER FACE, LOVEGAME, PAPARAZZI

Skip: Retro, Dance, Freak, Flo Rida's verse on Starstruck

 

5. ARTPOP

3/4 bangers: AURA, ARTPOP, MANICURE, GYPSY (but I personally have some bad memories to it, so I don't play it)

Skip: Fashion! (Yes, I like Jewels 'N Drugs better)

 

6. JOANNE

2/3 bangers: PERFECT ILLUSION, MILLION REASONS, JOHN WAYNE (maybe, don't play it that often)

Skip: Grigio Girls

 

However, ChatGPT told me it might be more fair to rank it this way:

Born This Way (100% bangers, 0 skips)

The Fame Monster (100% bangers, 0 skips)

Mayhem (83% bangers, 1 skip)

Chromatica (70% bangers, 4 skips)

The Fame (66% bangers, 1 skip)

ARTPOP (50% bangers, 1 skip)

Joanne (33% bangers, 1 skip)

[Kermit the frog 1,920]

This is her best album after Born This Way. Definitely her most mature work.