Official Review ARTPOP Track-by-Track thread.

[GHGUY 230]

Well, alright then:

1. Aura 7

+ Nice beatbreaks

+ DANCE.SEX.ARTPOP

- The changed verses

- The long intro

2. Venus 7.5

+ The pre-chorus

+ Genious aphrodisiac part (Aphrodisy-act sleazy)

- The bridge

- Unpolished production

3. G.U.Y 9.5

+ The intro

+ The beat

+ Catchy chorus

+ It sounds a bit dirty

- NONE

4. Sexxx Dreams 8.5

+ Catchy

+ Chill beat

- Listened to the SF version too much

5. Jewels ‘N Drugs 7

+ The hook

+ Beat under the Too $hort part

- Doesn’t really fit on ARTPOP

- Coughing in the beginning

6. MANiCURE 8.5

+ The French accent

+ Tooo catchy

+ The instrumental ending

- I overplayed it…

7. Do What U Want 9

+ Sing along radio song

+ Chill vibe

+ Beat in the beginning

- NONE

8. ARTPOP 7

+ Hypnotizing

+ “We could, we couldâ€

- I’m missing something..

- Doesn’t sounds very Gaga-ish

9. Swine 7.5

+ The fact I’m going to hear this while going out

+ “Swiiiiiiiine†at the last beatdrop

- I think the pre-drop sounds a bit empty

10. Donatella 10

+ My fav

+ When the beat kicks in

+ The beatdrop

+ The fierce “DONATELLA!â€

- The “gay friendsâ€part (Ok, I will just ignore it)

11. Fashion! 9.5

+ The beautiful piano intro

+ The chill “Get Lucky-sounding†beat

+ Her vocals

- NONE

12. Mary Jane Holland 10

+ The “cause I love love†part

+ The (I think) Queen-inspired bridge

+ Lovely dark production

- NONE

13. Dope 8

+ The fact this will grow on me

+ A moment of rest while playing the album

- Doesn’t really fit on ARTPOP

14. Gypsy 10

+ Very emotional power ballad – dance song (don’t know how to describe it as in genre actually)

+ Catchy as phuck

+ The fast part at the end

- NONE

15. Applause 8

+ “This is ARTPOPâ€

+ Touhouuuch part always gets me

- Same beat during the whole song

I actually agree with this except I gave Aura a 9

[MonSwiftAnton 3,686]

1. Aura 9/10

Sick beats and a perfect start for this album. I love that the song isn't very traditional (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus)

 

2. Venus 7/10

Very simple song. I'm actually happy this isn't the 2nd single. A job well done, but not mindblowing.

 

3. G.U.Y 5/10

I think something is wrong with me. I may be the only one who doesn't LOOOOVE this song. Loving the intro though.

 

4. Sexxx Dreams 10/10

Flawless

 

5. Jewels & Drugs 6/10

The vocals are amazing.

 

6. MANiCURE 8/10

I miss the heeaaaal me part in every chorus. It was more catchy at SwineFest

 

7. DWUW 10/10

One of my favorite song. It's perfect in every way.

 

8. ARTPOP 9,5/10

Very good, almost to good.

 

9. Swine 4/10

Probably the song that I like the least

 

10. Donatella 10/10

Amazing. This is going to be my getting ready tune.

 

11. Fashion! 10/10

Am I the only one who think this song is the ****??? It feels like this song would have fit The Fame. Amazing.

 

12. MJH 9/10

It's okay because I'm rich as piss. Enough said.

 

13. DOPE 7/10

This is definitly the grower on this album. In time it'll probably be a 10.

 

14. Gypsy 10/10

My favorite song after listening to the album for the first time. It has this happy/sad feeling that TEOG had.

 

15. Applause 10/10

Perfect as the last song. It was also perfect as the first single. Slayplause.

[Legend 0]

I actually agree with this except I gave Aura a 9

Cool!

[MonSwiftAnton 3,686]

Fashion!

 

1231239879879837987617398276543435345346536284362543/10

Thank YOU!

[wiltedbliss 915]

Omfg some of you are so ****ing rude

It's HIS opinion.

[PaperIz 7,308]

1. Aura 9/10

I love this song so much. It's so powerful and big, I wish the rest of the album were this booming. Perfect opener to the album. I do wish it had been changed more from the demo.

 

2. Venus 9/10

Should have been the 2nd single. It's fun and weird and is big like Aura. It's a classic Gaga song, and I'm so impressed that she produced it herself. Some of the lyrics are a little silly, though.

 

3. GUY 7/10

Underwhelming. This is a song that could have been bigger. It's fun and catchy, but it's not as hard hitting as I hoped it would have been.

 

4. Sexxx Dreams 7/10

This song suffers from the same thing as GUY. It's not hard hitting enough. The live version is much better imo. I love it, but it could have been better. 

 

5. Jewels & Drugs 7/10

I love this one oddly enough. I wanted Hip-Hop Gaga to return and she has with a vengeance. I do go back and forth with this song, but the final is probably the only Swinefest song that is better on the album. It's still a little ehhh though.

 

6. MANiCURE 7/10

Again it's just not hard hitting enough. I love her vocals, but I don't like how "heal me" is missing. Live version was better. The bridge is amazing though. Glad they kept it. 

 

7. Do What U Want 10/10

Fabulous song. It's catchy and pretty and I love the production. She outdid herself on this one.

 

8. ARTPOP

Okay so this and J&D are better on the album. Well except the hee-hees aren't as loud. It's so wonderful, but again I do wish it was more hard hitting. IE more beat and synths.

 

9. Swine 7/10

Just not as good as the live. Not as hard hitting. I can't get over how watered down the album sounds in spots like this. I love it, but again the live is better. This version doesn't have as much character.

 

10. Donatella 10/10

Catchy as hell. I love it. It's what I wanted from the album, catchy and hard hitting EDM. Some of the lyrics, I could go without but it is wonderful.

 

11. Fashion! 8/10

The weirdest song on the album. I actually like it. It's fun and sort of 70s sounding. I enjoy the piano parts. It is a bit disappointing though. it doesn't really fit the album. I wish Will could have proved himself or I wish that Gaga let him produce a song that didn't sound so...out of place. 

 

12. Mary Jane Holland 8/10

The production is hard hitting, but almost too loud. It's fun and catchy. It serves it's purpose. The rich as piss line turns me off, but the song really is good.

 

13. Dope 8/10

I don't see why Gaga couldn't have just done this as a piano ballad. The production ruins it imo. I mean i like it, but it should have been left alone. Also I'm torn between this and IWBWU. They both are great, I'm not sure which one I like best.

 

14. Gypsy 10/10

My favorite song off the album. it's everything I wanted from ARTPOP. It's emotional, catchy, beautiful, and it sounds big. Should be a single imo. 

 

15. Applause 10/10

I love this song. Not much else to say

 

Overall I enjoy the album but it's not the hard hitting euphoric EDM speaker busting rave I expected. Main complaints, the vocal editing making her sound monotone, the lackluster production. 

[Little Kermit 58]

Aura - 7

A very nice opening track. Moving on from the magical atmosphere Born This Way provided into ARTPOP. Loving the new verses, the instrumental in HQ is just s-x, and even though the chorus is flawless as a melody, it feels a little empty because there's no deep vocals in it. Just the light ones. Disliked the random noises during the chorus and the metronome at the start. The breakdown doesn't appeal to me as much (I do not like the effect used for the vocals), but it is a great song.

 

Venus - 6

Somehow, this is the only song that I do not seem to be able to connect to. I am well aware Gaga produced it, and the instrumental is heaven. I do not like the first verse, I do not like the transition between the verse and the pre-chorus, I do not like the...second pre-chorus? part at all, and the chorus doesn't have the energy I expected it to have when I heard the live performance for Venus.

 

G.U.Y. - 8.5

At first, I disliked G.u.Y. but after a couple of listens I found it to be really amazing. Apart from the intro and the bridge voices, it's a very well done track. The verses are heaven, the pre-chorus is pure s-x and the chorus is...you get the idea. Amazing track but somehow I feel it lacks something.

 

Sexxx Dreams - 7.5

I decided I do not like the way it feels so...fast. The edited vocals have grown on me, but I'd preffer the Shakira ones anyday. Does not feel as s-xy anymore, and DJWS made it sound as if it were recorded from something. The chorus seemed to save the song but the added vocals feel out of place (until I get used to them I guess).

 

Jewels N Drugs - 6

I'm a big fan of this side of Gaga. I love the combination, the lyrics, the melodies, but it's just not that surprising anymore. Only listening to it when I leave the playlist on repeat. Nothing more to say.

 

MANiCURE - 10

Such a big surprise. I love everything about it. Every single thing! The new vocals are just the way I wanted them to be, the instrumental is just as good, the chorus isn't changed and the post chorus ROCKS. It is short, not too short, but every little perfect thing is in the pack. One of the best!

 

Do What U Want (With My Body) - 7.5

I dislike the intro instrumental. In fact, I loathe it. Other than that, I find the track to be very well done. At times, the choruses may seem noisy but it's nothing like "overproduced". An okay track for me.

 

ARTPOP - 8.5

Was my favourite at the Swinefest, it's through my favourites now. I love what she did for it. The beeping synths and the arpeggio aren't my kind of thing, but it's just fantastic how well everything goes together. Other than that, it has a very high replay value! Wonderful!

 

Swine - 5

lol

 

Donatella - 10

THIS is what I needed! THIS is everything I wanted from ARTPOP. This is the best track on the album, in my opinion. The verses are SO catchy, the chorus is DESTRUCTIVE and the post chorus is just so gaga I cannot comprehend the perfection. I love it, I love it and I'll say it again: I love it. My favourite track right now. On repeat all the time! Gooosh!

 

Fashion! - 8

It's so chill and wonderful. It's an amazing track. I don't think of it when I hear the word ARTPOP, but it looks to me as that song nobody likes but then go mad about it a month after release. Great track!

 

Mary Jane Holland - 10

Another one of my favourites. Fantastic lyrics and melodies. The verses, the chorus, the bridge.. everything fits in and the beginning and the ending? The matches? **** yeah!

 

Dope - 10

Do I need to say anything else?

 

Gypsy - 8.5

I find it mediocre, but it's actually really good. Makes me remember my travelling days with the second verse's instrumental.

 

That was it. I suck at this ****. 

[hell0samuel 59]

1. Aura - 9/10.

Okay, this song is the perfect opener for the album, that intro. those footstomps or whatever they are, are perfect. I'll admit I do prefer the demo vocals but these vocals are good too! the fake sounds really work for me and the songs b---hy attidude is perfect. The production is great and everything works. Knocked off some points for the vocals.

2. Venus -  8/10.

A great first solo production from Gaga. I'll say it took me a few listening to feel the verses but that chorus is iconic, the song is feel good and a good bopper. The bridge is good imo, but I think the production should have been sassier at this point, when we got the lyrics I imagined it like a catwalk with all the planets strutting

3. G.U.Y - 9/10.

Great song. Great production. Great everything. Not too sure about that intro. For the year we've known about this song, I didn't think it would be that s-xual, it's very very very very s-xual! The lyrics are great, fun and tongue in cheek. A nice female empowerment song that isnt in your face feminism. (thats my opinion anyways)

4. Sexxx Dreams - 8/10.

Let's just start by saying DAT GUITAR. It's flawless, idk who produced this, but they did a good job. Some of the vocals I'm not TOO sure about, but they are s-xual. Good job.

5. Jewels & Drugs - 7/10.

I loved this song at swinefest. But the studio is missing something. It's gonna be that song that slays live. The production is TOO CLEAN. her vocals are TOO CLEAN. where's the grunge and dirty 'munahyyy'. and that DJWS breakdown, where you at?! it's missing bass, dirty, beats. But I do love this song, just missing stuff IMO

6. MANiCURE - 9/10.

To those who hate it, remember when you loved it at swinefest. I must admit I did prefer the 'heall meeee...' part where it was before but I still love this version. it's great and it shocked me with those lyrics, I was singing along then I was like wtf is going on. It's a jam song tho 

7. Do What U Want - 10/10.

Vocals tick. Production tick. R Kelly tick. Fab job. really fits with the album and it's just a song to get your groove too. 

8. ARTPOP - 8/10.

I loved this song at swinefest, wasn't too sure when we got the snippet a few weeks ago, but it's growing on me. Not too fond of the fake sounding vocals, it's such a dreamy and relaxing song that they should have been more natural IMO and I miss the Hee Heee's I know they are there but they should have been louder imo. Love the lyrics though and the production is great!!!

9. Swine - 8.5/10.

Again this song at swinefest kicked booty. but now, as the OP said, it's missing dirty production, it's far too clean. I like some of the vocals that she's done though, the whiny ones. I love rawness of the lyrics though

10. Donatella - 9.8/10.

I love this song, this is definitely the Scheibe of the album, by that I dont mean it's production, I mean it by fan fave. She gonna be murdered when it's not a single, bc it should be imo. It's great, just not so sure on the sirens, they're good but still not sure.

 

11. Fashion! (10/10)

 

This song for me is life. IDK why everyone hates, oh yeah bc its Will.I.Am. It's such a groovy song, and dancy. Gonna slay live. DAT NOTE as well, if she hits that live. omg. 

 

12. MJH (8/10)

 

I like it, but I'm not crazy mad over it. The lyrics are good, but I'm just not sure yet. I like it. Good song!

 

13. Dope (8.5/10)

 

Hmm. It's good, I love the emotion in the lyrics and openess to her feelings and her issues. But I do miss IWBWU. I also think the production and lyrics dont match at times. Hmm. Not sure, but I like it

 

14. Gypsy (10/10)

 

Everything about this song is great. Such a good song. The only thing I would say, is I wish the intro was ever so slightly slower and built, rather than rushing into the next line (when its just piano and vocals) 

 

Such a closer to the show, just imagine Gaga in a stadium running around singing this and finishing the main show with that 'hey!' 

 

15. Applause (10/10)

 

The Encore song. Perfect single 1 choice, Great production, great vocals 

 

 

I prefer the 2nd half of the album for some reason, but I love the album. 9.5/10 on the whole. Just not sure on the autotuning at times.

[aquaprincess 23]

I agree with a lot with what you said except for Fashion. It's not a standout track, but it's not terrible.

im trying not to listen to the album much until release day. i dont want to get tired of it! i love it tho! and i agree with most of the OP.

 

someone gave g.u.y. a  5/10 tho  

[Bambino 24,051]

Now that I have listened to the album a few times, I think I can post my first review of the songs and the album as a whole.

 

1. Aura
- The new vocals are definitely growing on me. Even though I still think the demo vocals are stronger and better.
- The chorus slays.
- The final version as a whole is kinda more potential than the demo. I enjoy it better, for some reason.
- Dance. Sex. Art. Pop.
-The instrumental slays.

9/10

2. Venus
- I kinda wish the intro was a bit different.
- I still don't like the bridge of the pre-chorus.
- The chorus slays.
-"LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVE" part is probably the most epic thing ever.
- Considering the fact that this is Gaga's first production, well I think she did a very good job. After all, maybe this is how she imagined Venus would sound like. This is her vision.

7.5/10

3. G.U.Y
- What kind of an epic intro.
- The pre-chorus is almost as epic as the intro. Me gusta!
- The verses and her vocals are excellent.

8/10

4. Sexxx Dreams
- It's not very much different from the iTunes live version. I didn't really feel a lot of difference.
- I wish she didn't add the "you were in my dreams" part to the chorus. It would've been so much better without it imo.
- The bridge has yet to grow on me.

7.5/10

5. J&D
- I'm not really a fan of this song's genre but this track is very good tbh.
- I love the chorus and the rappers' parts.
- Sometimes it sounds similar to something, but sometimes it seems similar to nothing.

7/10

6. MANiCURE
- One of my very faves on the album.
- The verses are super cool.
- The chorus slays.
- The "can you feel it?" part adds a lot to the song.
- I kinda wish she kept the "heal me.." part after the choruses.

9/10

7. DWUW
- The instrumental is everything.
- Gaga's vocals in every part of this song is amazing. Even the "yeah" at the beginning of the song.
- I like R. Kelly's part a lot. The man has great vocals.
- Despite all that, it had to grow on me but now it's one of my faves.

9/10

8. ARTPOP
- I'm still not so sure about how to feel about the way she sings the verses. But that's maybe because of the iTunes festival live version.
- The chorus is amazing.
- She should've kept the "hehe" part at the end of the song as well as made them louder in the second verse.
- I also feel like she could've screamed harder in the bridge.

8.5/10

9. Swine
- Probably my current least fave on the album.
- Her vocals on this song slay tho.
- The instrumental sounds like a remix. It's kinda noisy.

6.5/10

10. Donatella.
- Okay, I called it a filler and I take it back. It's a very good song.
- The way she says "Donatella" in the chorus is everything.
- I still think this song sounds a TF-ish track.

7.5/10

11. Fashion!
- I also called this track a filler and I take it back. It's not as bad as I thought it was.
- The intro is totally amazing. What follows next is kinda shocking because the intro doesn't give you the feeling that this song is a whole dance pop track. I love the intro so much.
- Her vocals are wonderful.
- The instrumental is very good.
- I love the "!" in the title tbh.

7/10

12. MHJ
- One of my very faves on the album as well.
- The bridge is legendary.
- The verses are very catchy.
- I loooove the instrumental.

9/10

13. Dope
- All you need for a great for a great Gaga ballad is her her vocals and a piano.
- It's a very emotional song. She sings it a deep powerful way.
- I don't get the hate towards this song. It's amazing.

8.5/10

14. Gypsy
- I loooooove it. Me gusta how it totally moves from from the soft beat to the dance beat.
- I imagine it being used on a Disney animated movie. Why not?
- "IAMIAMIAMIAMIAMIAMIAM A GYPSY" completes the song.
- The outro is so cool.

9/10

15. Applause
- The vocals slay.
- The chorus slays.
- A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E.
- Her vocals on the bridge.
- The instrumental is legendary.
- A-R-T-P-O-P.

9.5/10

Honestly, somethings might change later. My faves might become my not-so-faves. Other songs might grow on me and so on. Overall, ARTPOP is a great journey from the very start to the very last second of it. It's a very good album. Thanks Gaga for this amazing album. I can't really relate the album's theme to all the songs but still, I enjoyed it. It was absolutely worth all the waiting.

[FRANK1991 3,318]

Didn't read because Fashion! 2/10

I can't at people hating this song! it's not a stand out track in ARTPOP but it's still a great song

and Gypsy should be a 10/10

I agree with pretty much evrything else

[Bad 32]

Aura - 9/10

I was hoping it would be more different from the demo but it's still a great song with an epic chorus. Good opener to the album.

Venus - 10/10

My second favorite off the album after Gypsy. I absolutely love the chorus. The song is vintage Gaga in the sense that it's weird, loud, yet very catchy. Gaga did a good job producing it.

 

G.U.Y - 10/10

The intro and bridge were the best parts of the song, and the production is probably my favorite on the album. Single-worthy imo.

Sexxx Dreams - 10/10

I LOVE the new lyrics. Way better than the Swinefest version, which was a little flat imo. The new lyrics in the chorus give it more life. I wouldn't mind if this were a single at some point but it's pretty risky.

Jewels N' Drugs - 7/10

Decent but I feel like it doesn't fit on the album. After listening to the whole album this song was the most forgettable. This is the only song that I preferred the Swinefest version over the studio since it has the breakdown. The cough at the beginning

MANiCURE - 10/10

In my opinion this is the most improved song from Swinefest. MANiCURE was my least favorite at Swinefest but the album version is in my top 5 favorites off the album. The new chorus is so much catchier than the Swinefest version. 

 

Do What U Want - 10/10

Love the production and Gaga + R. Kelly's vocals. This song showcases how versatile Gaga's voice is. Good choice for the 2nd single. Clever lyrics too.

 

ARTPOP - 9.5/10

Very hypnotizing song. The main reason I didn't give it a 10 is because I feel like it lacks a climax.

Swine - 8.5/10

I love the production, especially during the drops. However, I feel like it's a little "empty" for how emotional this song is for Gaga.

Donatella - 9.5/10

I love how stupid the lyrics are The beat is amazing and the chorus is very Icona Pop. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because it's really hard to understand what she's saying during the chorus

Fashion! - 7.5/10

I had very low expectations for this song so I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be decent. Feels kind of filler-ish but it provides a good transition from Donatella into MJH.

Mary Jane Holland - 9.5/10

Clever lyrics The bridge was the highlight for me. The chorus is quite catchy too and I love her vocal style here.I didn't give it a 10 because the production is a little overpowering.

Dope - 8/10

The vocal style took me a few listens to get used to but I really like this song. The lyrics are much better than IWBWY. It provides a nice transition from MJH to Gypsy.

Gypsy - 10/10

The highlight of the album by far. This needs to be the third single.

Applause - 10/10

Still as catchy as it was when it was released. I feel like Gypsy is the closer to the album and Applause is the encore.

 

 

My Top 5 tracks:

1. Gypsy

2. Venus

3. G.U.Y.

4. Sexxx Dreams

5. MANiCURE

 

 

Overall, ARTPOP is my favorite Gaga album. It flows really well and every track is solid.

[MonsterMarty 96]

Loving all these reviews. I gotta run, but please keep posting so I have something to read when I log on later! 

 

 

I'll allow the reappropriation of the King of Pop's fans in that gif... this time.  :haha:

[Catalystluna56 2]

1. Aura 7.5/10

Chorus and drop to the bridge are great but the beginning verse I really dislike. Even if the effect is supposed to be from a telephone or something, I just don't like it. Bad way to open such a fresh and crisp album.

 

2. Venus 8/10

I still think it has a bad production scheme, but I was surprised how much I danced to it when listening all the way through. It has an ability to really get you moving.

 

3. GUY 8/10

I've only listened to it once, but it was messy and the choruses never got any bigger. The end chorus was the same as the first one; there was no movement in the song.

 

4. Sexxx Dreams 8.5/10

Even though everyone thinks Swinefest is better, I actually like this version. The choruses are amazing to dance to! A great way to really get into the heart of the album. Possible single?

 

5. Jewels & Drugs 7.5/10

I was surprised at how much I liked JD. Its not a favorite, but it was a nice palette cleanser after all the catchy songs.

 

6. MANiCURE 9/10

People are seriously underestimating this baby. I was dancing the entire time while listening to this one. Definitely a fav. right now! There isn't any part in the song where you aren't singing along or dancing!

 

7. Do What U Want 8.5/10

Great great song. I'm not into RandB but I still love this baby.

 

8. ARTPOP 8/10

Amazing production and lyrics. Vocals are good too. The only reason it has a relatively low score is because you can't really dance to it. Still so good though.

 

9. Swine 6.5/10

Probably my least favorite on the album atm. The autotuned part of the chorus kills me. I'm also not a fan of the verses.

 

10. Donatella 9/10

Loving this song. Probably a fav on the album. Only thing, I mean only, that I don't like are the lyrics. Seem kinda cliché, but still sooo good.

 

11. Fashion! 7.5/10

The song is good but it shouldn't be on the album. Donatella covered Gaga's love of fashion; she doesn't need two fashion songs back to back. This isn't a filler, because it is a good song, just kinda repetitive and unnecessary.

 

12. Mary Jane Holland 9/10

One of my favs. Everything about it is great. Madeon is an amazing producer.

 

13. Dope 7.5/10

I don't like Gags vocals as much in this. She sounds like she's slurring sometimes. Good lyrics though.

 

14. Gypsy 9.5/10

Love this song. Probably my favorite right now. It hits all the points: good lyrics, good verses, catchy chorus. The "imimim" part kind of caught me off guard, but I still liked it.

 

15. Applause 8.5/10

Good way to end the album. It's awesomely catchy, but not a number 1 fav because of the generic lyrics.

 

 

Top 5:

1. Gypsy

2. MANiCURE

3. Donatella

4. MJH

5. Sexxx Dreams

 

This album <3

[msquare91 1]

OK, kids, I wrote a BIG OL’ REVIEW-O-RAMA. Because today is homework day and procrastination is usually the solution to most problems. I’m at odds with a lot of the people on the forum since I’m not a huge fan of the new stuff, although of course there are still highlights and songs that I love. I hope that my review is reasonably objective and doesn’t rub anybody the wrong way. Remember, we all have different tastes.

 

1) Aura – 9/10

If I were reviewing the demo version, it would be 10/10. Unfortunately, I find the new verse to be shuddder-inducing, so I knocked the score down. But I’m going to review the song as if the new verses weren’t added. For me, hands down the best song on ARTPOP, and it already has more listens on my itunes than almost all the songs on Born this Way (which is high praise, because BTW is my favorite album EVER). This song is where Gaga’s experimental songwriting streak completely, utterly succeeded. So edgy, so cool, so cohesive, so Gaga! And a chorus that is borderline orgasmic.

 

2) Venus – 6/10

There are parts to Venus that I really enjoy, but overall, I find that it sounds dated, disjointed, and a dash too campy. Whereas some songs on BTW sounded like they were written in the 80s and produced in the current day, this song sounds like it was written today and produced back in the 80s. I find the chorus enjoyable but underwhelming, and the huge jump from the verse to the pre-chorus (the part at “I can’t help the way I’m feeling...â€) sounds like I accidentally clicked the “next†button on my ipod without realizing it. But on the plus side, I giggle with joy every time I hear “ACT SLEAZY!â€

 

3) G.U.Y. – 8/10

ARTPOP does Love Game. Great. I’m a sucker for Zedd’s growling basslines, and the feminist implications of the lyrics are a treat to a--lyze and think aboutâ€â€a rarity in the pop music world. The chorus lacks a little oomph for me. But still one of the highlights of the album for me.

 

4) Sexxx Dreams – 4/10

Oh, this song. I didn’t like it when I heard it at Swinefest and I don’t like it now. It just doesn’t do anything for me. The verses sound too much like Madonna’s “Erotica†and the Prince-esque chorus also feels like she just lifted a melody off of one of his songs rather than writing one of her own. I find the lyrics to be incredibly tacky, and not in a fun, guilty pleasure sort of way, like Pokerface, but rather in a cringe-inducing way. This song sounds like she’s trying hard to be s-xy, and there couldn’t be a bigger turn off than that.

 

5) Jewels n Drugs – 1/10

An abomination.

 

6) MANiCURE – 5/10

I get “L-U-V, Madonna!†vibes from the cheerleading shouts in the background of this song, which feels like remembering a bad trip. The concept and the lyrics of this song make close to 0 sense. But the 50s bass and grinding verses are a treatâ€â€I just wish they led to a chorus that did them justice.

 

7) Do What U Want – 10/10

This is the Gaga I know and love, thrown into the coffin of Michael Jackson, and rebirthed on the third day into the future of pop music. God D*MN! The production! The chorus! The collaboration! It’s timeless. It feels old and new at the same time. The lyrics are s-xy on the surface for the cud-chewing masses and yet subversive underneath for the people who still know how to use their brains. These are the type of lyrics that made Gaga famous in The Fame days, and I’ve been waiting forever to hear something like it again. Bravo, bravo.

 

8) ARTPOP – 8/10

The atmosphere is great. I love the way she layers her lower and higher registers at the same time. What a cool effect. The tacky lyrics in the bridge make me shudder, but she pulls it off so convincingly that after a few listens, I’ve found myself singing about the bling, too.

 

9) Swine – 9/10

THIS is the type of song I was imagining for ARTPOP when Gaga said it would sound like a rave. I do wish that there were a few more lyrics and a few less dance breakdowns here, but overall, I love the sass and the vengeance in this song. And the drops! Gotta love them drops.

 

10) Donatella – 7/10

I want to love this song, but I just can’t seem to. Zedd’s bass, once again, is fantastic. The verses are smooth and pull me through the song. But there’s just too much going on in the chorus for me. I can’t hear half the words. But still, the song makes me feel like I’m a drag queen on the runway, and that is ALWAYS a good thing.

 

11) Fashion! – 8/10

Further proof that I have complete opposite tastes from the rest of the forum. I’ve found myself singing this song all day! It does have sort of a filler vibe to it, but gosh darn it, this song is so sassy and smooth and sounds like it could’ve been written by Rupaul. And for that, I love it.

 

12) Mary Jane Holland – 8/10

Does anyone else get Nirvana vibes from this song? I love Rockga, and this is about as close as we get to her on this album.

 

13) Dope – 6/10

If she would’ve kept this as I Wanna Be With You, I would’ve rated it 2/10. I hate that song, and I don’t care if everyone here disagrees with me. It’s maudlin, maudlin, maudlin. Just awful. But she somehow took the skeleton of that awful song and resurrected it into something that’s actually listenable. And the mixture of the vulnerability of the new lyrics/her voice and the gospel-esque electronic backing is darn cool.

 

14) Gypsy – 4/10

And this is where everyone jumps down my throat. I like the verses. I like the chorus. There’s a cool mix of Elton John and a club banger song. I’m with it. And then, all of a sudden, Gaga seems to convulse in a seizure and can only stutter “I I I I I†over and over again, and I’m tempted to throw my computer across the room. It sounds god awful. Equally reprehensible is the rap of countries at the end. The production also sounds like somebody let RedOne have too much time at the soundboard.

 

15) Applause – 7/10

It’s a cool song. It’s unique. But listening to it, I can’t help but get the feeling that Gaga could do better. And I think that really sums up not only this song, but also the album for me. This album was written by one of the most amazing and talented people on earth today. It’d be impossible for it to completely flop. But the message I’m getting from this album is exactly what the title is sayingâ€â€look, it’s art! Look how different it is! Look how experimental it is! Yet all of that is to the detriment of the craft and quality. And so I find the album to be as pretentious as the title. I have no idea why Gaga feels the need to try to prove to the world that she’s a legitimate artist. As if everybody is doubting her. It seems everybody knows how great she is except for her. The sound of growing pains in this album is almost audible. It’s like all of the stress of her fame is catching up to her all at once now that she’s finally slowing down a bit, taking a breather, and having time to think. I hope she continues to grow as a person and as an artist and that the next album will bring us the amazing person we all know her to be, except this time she’ll be telling us rather than the other way around. But still, I’m at least happy we got an album that took a risk, even if it didn’t always pay off, rather than getting the generic stuff that everyone else on the radio is putting out. At the end of the day, it’s still Gaga!

 

OVERALL/AVERAGE OF ALL SCORES: 6.5/10