You expected 'dark pop', but Gaga had bigger plans

[Nyctophilus 221]

So… about Mayhem. I’ve seen a lot of fans complaining that this album isn’t what they expected. That it’s not 'dark pop', that it’s not hard-hitting enough, that it doesn’t feel like what Gaga 'promised'. And honestly? I don’t get it. If there’s one thing we should all know by now, it’s that Gaga never does the obvious. She reinvents. She surprises. She refuses to be boxed in. And that’s exactly what she’s done with Mayhem.

Instead of chasing some Born This Way 2.0 fantasy, she gave us an album that feels like stepping into an '80s horror movie, not just thematically, but sonically too. It’s got that eerie, cinematic tension, it’s funky, it’s theatrical, it’s camp, but never in a way that sacrifices quality. I think the production is lush, the instrumentation is insanely well-crafted, and the inspirations, from Michael Jackson, Bowie, Chic, Prince, are woven in so seamlessly that it feels both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.

Shadow of a Man is an electrifying rush. It's loud, theatrical, and relentlessly dynamic. The explosive chorus hits like a surge of adrenaline, making it one of the most infectious and danceable tracks on the album. The Beast feels like it belongs in a psychological thriller, while Vanish into You and LoveDrug are so sleek and hypnotic they might be some of her most effortlessly cool songs in years. And then there’s Garden of Eden which is pure dance-pop ecstasy.

What makes Mayhem so special to me is that it’s camp in all the right ways. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it never feels cheap or thrown together. Every song feels intentional, every sound is polished to perfection, and yet it all has this raw, pulsing energy that makes it so addictive to listen to.

If you’re struggling with this album because it’s not what you expected, I’d genuinely encourage you to take a step back and try to experience it for what it is, rather than what you thought it would be. And when you stop thinking about what it could have been and just let yourself sink into the world it creates, you might find it’s a much more thrilling ride than you first thought.

[Mr Ricky 9,031]

Mayhem becoming my fav album after BTW. I said it. 

The production is everything what I wanted. Having EVERYTHING in one album, none of the songs sound bland. It just feels pure and I can feel that she was ENJOYING creating this album. 

[LilyLark 10,060]

Just now, Mr Ricky said:

Mayhem becoming my fav album after BTW. I said it. 

The production is everything what I wanted. Having EVERYTHING in one album, none of the songs sound bland. It just feels pure and I can feel that she was ENJOYING creating this album. 

Taste. I feel the same way. BTW, and the Mayhem are my two favorite Gaga albums.  So many standouts ...Shadow of a Man and Vanish into You might be top 3 Gaga songs for me.

I'm honestly kind of surprised by some of the reactions from "some" (not all) lms, too. Gaga said multiple times Michael Jackson, Prince, and Bowie were influences, along with Nine Inch Nails and the Cure....so I don't really get why some fans are so shocked.

It's also interesting that the GP and critics are mostly eating it up, too, while fans are way more polarized.

[LilyLark 10,060]

12 minutes ago, Nyctophilus said:

So… about Mayhem. I’ve seen a lot of fans complaining that this album isn’t what they expected. That it’s

If you’re struggling with this album because it’s not what you expected, I’d genuinely encourage you to take a step back and try to experience it for what it is, rather than what you thought it would be. And when you stop thinking about what it could have been and just let yourself sink into the world it creates, you might find it’s a much more thrilling ride than you first thought.

Saw a tweet (with a ton of RTs and likes) by a guy with 200k followers who said he loved the album, and that even How Bad Do You Want Me is good if you listen to it without thinking of a bunch of twinks saying it's reheated Taylor Swift nachos. Most of the people agreed, although some did say How Bad Do You Want Me is reheated Swift nachos, but still delicious lol.

[ElectricChapelR 2,118]

The more I listen to this masterpiece the more I feel grateful, nostalgic, in love with her and her passion for music. 

I understand why some people may be underwhelmed at a first listen but you really need time to digest it. It's so complex and chaotic.

❤️

[Nyctophilus 221]

12 minutes ago, LilyLark said:

It's also interesting that the GP and critics are mostly eating it up, too, while fans are way more polarized.

Honestly, that doesn’t surprise me at all. The general public and critics went into Mayhem with an open mind, while fans had very specific expectations. That’s exactly why this divide is happening. When you’re anticipating a certain sound and get something different, even if it's objectively good, it’s harder to process. But when you go in with no preconceived notions, you’re more likely to just enjoy it for what it is.

[spicemuncher 1,698]

I don't think anyone "expected" dark pop. She started that, going as far back as the Paris snippets she teased - fully knowing that it is the sound everyone would eat up from her and had been waiting since forever.

When Abracadabra came out, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive and I think they took the GP's words as "a return to dark pop" and ran with it to promote the album, because it generated a LOT of buzz.

Also, while I understand her rationale for the album title, it suggests a lot more extremes in terms of sound for the casual fan who isn't following every interview like we do. I think the way it was communicated - from the title to the press lingo to the aesthetic - did her a disservice when it came to setting expectations.

Do not come for me as I sit here waiting for the pre-orders of every variant to arrive. I have and will always support her, but yes, all the bait and switch reviews are completely justified and it's her own doing.

Anyway, stream Shadow Of A Man!

Edited March 8 by spicemuncher

[Kelly Atlantic 223]

Listen BTW and TFM will always be the best albums but Mayhem is right after

[Night Vision 3,068]

Well there is "dark pop" on Mayhem, but I'm not sure why so many monsters always expect her albums to follow just one sound throughout the whole album. Literally all of her albums have versatility on them in terms of genre, even at the peak of her dark pop days she would also give us a glam-rock inspired ballad on the same album.

Her most sonically cohesive album is Chromatica probably, but even that draws inspiration from different sub-genres of dance/house music. 

[Nyctophilus 221]

37 minutes ago, spicemuncher said:

I don't think anyone "expected" dark pop. She started that, going as far back as the Paris snippets she teased - fully knowing that it is the sound everyone would eat up from her and had been waiting since forever.

When Abracadabra came out, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive and I think they took the GP's words as "a return to dark pop" and ran with it to promote the album, because it generated a LOT of buzz.

Also, while I understand her rationale for the album title, it suggests a lot more extremes in terms of sound for the casual fan who isn't following every interview like we do. I think the way it was communicated - from the title to the press lingo to the aesthetic - did her a disservice when it came to setting expectations.

Do not come for me as I sit here waiting for the pre-orders of every variant to arrive. I have and will always support her, but yes, all the bait and switch reviews are completely justified and it's her own doing.

Anyway, stream Shadow Of A Man!

I get what you mean, but I don’t think it was a bait and switch as much as fans running with an idea that was never fully promised. The album is full of witches, werewolves, zombies, death, and apocalyptic themes... The title and visuals suggest chaos, and the album delivers that, it’s just more glam horror than brooding dark pop. Expectations were built around a specific sound, but the mayhem was always there.

[A Fried Egg 8,313]

On my first listen, I made myself comfortable and listened to the album in a dark room blindfolded. I let her take me wherever she wanted and it was an amazing ride. 

[Cavadour 2,219]

28 minutes ago, Night Vision said:

why so many monsters always expect her albums to follow just one sound throughout the whole album. Literally all of her albums have versatility on them in terms of genre

Exactely ! Wishful thinking. A common bias...

[elijahfan 25,705]

1 hour ago, Nyctophilus said:

Honestly, that doesn’t surprise me at all. The general public and critics went into Mayhem with an open mind, while fans had very specific expectations. That’s exactly why this divide is happening. When you’re anticipating a certain sound and get something different, even if it's objectively good, it’s harder to process. But when you go in with no preconceived notions, you’re more likely to just enjoy it for what it is.

Totally. Then again, let's not forget who first set those expectations... Fans aren't totally crazy for thinking that would be a BTW 2.0.

[Reez 515]

2 hours ago, Nyctophilus said:

So… about Mayhem. I’ve seen a lot of fans complaining that this album isn’t what they expected. That it’s not 'dark pop', that it’s not hard-hitting enough, that it doesn’t feel like what Gaga 'promised'. And honestly? I don’t get it. If there’s one thing we should all know by now, it’s that Gaga never does the obvious. She reinvents. She surprises. She refuses to be boxed in. And that’s exactly what she’s done with Mayhem.

Instead of chasing some Born This Way 2.0 fantasy, she gave us an album that feels like stepping into an '80s horror movie, not just thematically, but sonically too. It’s got that eerie, cinematic tension, it’s funky, it’s theatrical, it’s camp, but never in a way that sacrifices quality. I think the production is lush, the instrumentation is insanely well-crafted, and the inspirations, from Michael Jackson, Bowie, Chic, Prince, are woven in so seamlessly that it feels both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.

Shadow of a Man is an electrifying rush. It's loud, theatrical, and relentlessly dynamic. The explosive chorus hits like a surge of adrenaline, making it one of the most infectious and danceable tracks on the album. The Beast feels like it belongs in a psychological thriller, while Vanish into You and LoveDrug are so sleek and hypnotic they might be some of her most effortlessly cool songs in years. And then there’s Garden of Eden which is pure dance-pop ecstasy.

What makes Mayhem so special to me is that it’s camp in all the right ways. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it never feels cheap or thrown together. Every song feels intentional, every sound is polished to perfection, and yet it all has this raw, pulsing energy that makes it so addictive to listen to.

If you’re struggling with this album because it’s not what you expected, I’d genuinely encourage you to take a step back and try to experience it for what it is, rather than what you thought it would be. And when you stop thinking about what it could have been and just let yourself sink into the world it creates, you might find it’s a much more thrilling ride than you first thought.

Everything you said!

[Anderson123 37,565]

1 hour ago, LeafBug said:

 blindfolded.