On November 26, Lady Gaga announced to fans in Poland that her next album would be “the greatest album of the decade.” A bit of a stretch? Probably, but Born This Way, released May 23, hardly fails to deliver.
The album kicks off with the powerful “Marry the Night,” a pulsing number about Gaga’s failure to assimilate into the Los Angeles lifestyle. It’s a darker kind of fun, with a synth line in the final bridge that’s reminiscent of Gaga’s album, The Fame.
As the album progresses, we come across three of Gaga’s four pre-released singles: “Born This Way,” “Judas,” and “Hair.” “Born This Way” is exactly as you remember it: not the best, but far from poor, with a very danceable Madonna feel. “Judas,” however, brings a much more memorable beat to the table. It’s equal parts pulsing and catchy, with a driving instrumental track that’s just as satisfying on its own. “Hair” is much more of a free-feeling song, so energizing that it almost makes you wish it wasn’t just about hair.
A few other highlights include “Government Hooker” and “Scheiße”: simpler and more grungy than most of the album, which lends them a certain amount of intrigue. “I don’t speak German/ But I can if you like,” says Gaga in “Scheiße” –– and so she does, speaking to the tune of the bridge from “Judas.” Assuming you’re not fluent in German, it gives you a moment to refocus on the music, which thumps in a way that’s almost haunting.
“Bloody Mary” proves to be one of the catchiest and most well-crafted songs on the album, with an electronic Gregorian chant of “Gaga!” that adds just enough strangeness to brand the song unique. It’s not nearly as up-tempo as most songs on the album, but it is the one that sticks in your mind long after the rest. Following “Bloody Mary” is a song with what’s easily the most Gaga-sounding title: “Highway Unicorn (Road to Love),” which is fun until the novelty of a song about unicorns begins to wear off.
The album does fall into a bit of a slump near the end, around the songs “Heavy Metal Lover” and “Electric Chapel.” However, Born This Way manages to finish on a very strong note with what could arguably be the two best songs in the album. “Yoü and I” is a much slower, more emotional song than the rest –– half heart-warming, half heart-wrenching. The song builds in intensity and heart as it goes along, and features guitar by Queen’s Brian May. “The Edge of Glory” is the perfect ending note, a pulsing feel-good tune that will leave you singing long after the album is finished.
Is Born This Way the best album of the decade? We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s definitely one of the best this year. There’s enough variety to keep it interesting, but enough of a theme to keep it together. Even if Gaga hasn’t produced the album of the decade, she’s certainly produced something that will leave you eager to see what else she has in store.