'Born This Way'

When I started listening to Lady Gaga’s new album, Born This Way, I didn’t have the highest of hopes, as I was slightly disappointed by her last release in that many songs were derived from a similar formula. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the latest album, due out at the end of the month.

The opening two tracks on the record were the usual Gaga style, ready made for clubs and bars with sweaty bodies pulsating to the unrelenting, overly amped low end. The thid track, "Government Hooker", threw me a welcome curveball, and instantly changed my mind.

With an Aphex Twin style instrumental, and a moderate alteration to the usual melodic formula Gaga commonly utilizes, this gem popped out at me as an exploration of her potential range as an artist.

The next track, "Judas", unfortunately took me out of the album slightly, as it sounded suspiciously similar to her past releases, namely "Bad Romance". This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but especially after it’s lead in, I was somewhat disappointed.

What follows is a few more dance-floor ready tracks, until possibly unintentional Nine Inch Nails nod, "Bloody Mary", when the feel is finally changed, again showcasing her ability and range.

Other then the second to closing track,"U&I", which is an epic anthem outside the norm for Gaga thus far, the rest of the tracks are pretty standard and expected tracks. Even though they are all fun and catchy, serving their intended purpose, sonically they all exist within the same aesthetic realm. "Highway Unicorn" for example, seems to be recycling a few ideas from "Pokerface".

On the whole, this album was relatively memorable, and certainly danceable; it is 100% ready for the club scene. As a musician however, there were a few risks left to be desired, as the album does not seem to take any chances artistically. Don’t misunderstand though, it’s still a good record, and anyone who likes Lady Gaga will certainly love it.