First of all, Gaga
never said that the whole album would be an EDM-fest like Aura or whatever. She always explained it would have techno elements but that it would include a variety of very different genres while always incorporating electronic elements. Even Zedd said in mid-2013, near to the announcement, that 'we didn't try to make a techno album, but we didn't try not to make a techno album.' I distinctly rememember everyone melting down over it and because everyone was so sure we'd be getting some next level, experimental, 12 minute songs featuring the sounds of the rainforest in 360 degrees with sampling of Mozart, everyone ignored the actual evidence in front of them - that it would be a pop album drawing influences from a variety of genres but mainly electronic dance music, without it being straight out EDM drops.
Second of all, much of The Fame and The Fame Monster does sound dated, as does ARTPOP. Does this mean they are bad albums? No. In fact, the least dated album is Born This Way, in my opinion, and that doesn't make it the best and nor does it make it the best produced of all her albums. Her best produced album is ARTPOP and that is not up for debate. The productions are slick, clean and beautiful to listen to (aside from Swine and MJH which are meant to be uncomfortable and fuzzy, respectively, to convey their subject matter appropriately). At the time however, while I still believe to this day Born This Way is the freshest out of all her albums, The Fame Monster was the bravest production and had the biggest impact on the pop music landscape. ARTPOP even sounded dated the day it leaked (not that it was Gaga's fault, pop music is at it's ficklest stage and if the album had been released even 3-6 months earlier it would have done better because EDM would have still been doing okay to well.
Personally I think ARTPOP is her best but I can see it's faults - yes it doesn't sound greatly cohesive nor does it flow the best out of all her albums. Having said that, I truly believe as a collection of songs ARTPOP is the best out of all her albums, and shows her as an artist and a person in the most varied and wide way of all her albums.
That's all I'll say for now since I've gone on long enough. Long live ARTPOP.
I agree with all of this. I've been listening to a lot of Gaga's discography lately, and Born This Way sounds the freshest out of all her albums. Although, all of them, imo, are holding up relatively well. 
