The generational talent known as Lady Gaga expanded her eclectic discography this Friday with her newest pop album, Mayhem. When “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars rocked the charts this summer, many questioned Gaga’s illustrious pop career in the face of her burgeoning acting career. In the haze of Joker 2: Folie a Deux (2024), fans were left missing their fierce dark pop Mother Monster and I think Lady Gaga knew her roots were calling to her. After meeting her new beau, she was inspired to write a crazy and diverse album named Mayhem.
The album starts strongly with the recognizable hits “Disease” and “Abracadabra.” Both of these songs have blessed fans and impressed critics alike with their return to synth dark pop ala Gaga in the early 2010s. However, Gaga envisioned more for this album than just nostalgic bait. Tonally, the next two songs “Garden of Eden” and “Perfect Celebrity” play off a similar style, but add a certain spiteful edge to her lyricism. ‘Perfect Celebrity” is making waves for its subject matter critiquing parasocial fans, but the next track is more reminiscent of a ballad. Thus begins Mayhem’s true journey into madness. The album rocks you back and forth from wild pop to sweet ballads and then all the way back to sexy synths. If you are looking for a genre-breaking but cohesive album, this is the album for you.
For me, the highlight of the album is the funky David Bowie sample in “Killah” featuring producing sensation, Gesaffelstein. Reportedly, this collaboration has been waiting in the wings for nearly ten years, but it was definitely worth the wait. The song starts clean and smooth but builds to a chaotic bridge that melts down seamlessly with Gaga’s bloodshattering scream mixed in. Directly after “Killah” is another favorite of mine, “Zombieboy.” This song feels directly packaged from Gaga’s acclaimed The Fame album but also carries a relevant freshness. The song is perfect for high energy dancing and catchy listening. Finally, the second to last song “Blade of Grass” also stands out for its moving message and beautiful sentiment. Gaga taps into her wailing vocals and sweet melodies reminiscent of her Joanne or A Star is Born eras. She dedicates the song to her new fiancee, affirming that this is the love that will last in her life.
After a chaotic journey, Lady Gaga proves herself as the most iconic, mysterious, and unpredictable pop star of the century. if you haven’t given Mayhem a try yet, I strongly recommend you do. I have an inkling that it will be played through most of this summer by radios, clubs, and fans alike!