Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Great stuff. Here are my adapted notes from top to bottom (chronologically);
- Love that the 'Here we go!' is intact in A-YO
- The speaking parts throughout the album were a great idea, they keep that playing-live-with-the-band spirit alive on the record
- With clearer audio, I'm really starting to get A-YO a little more. Thought it was a fun song about smoking but was super wrong, it ties right in with the peace, love, happiness and unity theme present throughout. More on that later as I take more thoughtful listens.
- Instrumentation and arrangements throughout the album are great. Her best ever.
- Vulnerability in vocal delivery on 'Joanne' was clever, she's never gone down that route before.
- John Wayne spoken intro was a fun choice (but already mentioned this earlier)
- The guitar (?) in John Wayne chorus is brilliant. But we knew that.
- The drums are done really well in this album. Marked difference from the four-on-the-floor digitally programmed ones we've heard from her before - I can easily say it's the best of her entire career.
- Some great pure-pop moments are there, like she promised (John Wayne bridge instrumental, Diamond Heart chorus). A good balance IMO.
- 'Circles' theme is so good, I'm glad she tapped into that. She's done masturbating twice now (before with So Happy I Could Die), and both are insightful and thankfully go above the "touch me touch me" pure sex lyric, which is great. Radio + GP will eat up the hidden [or not so hidden] meaning (a la Poker Face).
- Marked vocal improvement throughout the whole album. Great stuff.
- The intro is the new bridge. What I mean by that is that, in ARTPOP, it was clear that she could write and arrange the **** out of a pop bridge (think G.U.Y., DWUW, Fashion!) - all were great. This time around it's the intro's that shine - they're all inventive and work really well.
- The piano that came through in the second verse of Sinner's Prayer was just the right choice. Glad it's there.
- "I can carry you, but not your ghosts" stuck out as a great lyric. They all do - this is the most tattoo-able album if you know what I mean.
- Come To Mama was a shining moment. Wow wow wow. It's such a great theme, done with an appropriate drollness that we haven't seen from her before. A far cry from the overemotional and could-be-perceived-as-cringeworthy self love moments present in Born This Way. Also marks the first time she's done story-telling songwriting (I didn't catch it all but I heard her describe a guy during the third verse or bridge or something?). That's so 60s/70s, and we need that back. Thanks Gaga. Also the horn section on that track is HOT, love the saxophone and the backing vocals too.
- Angel Down lyrics are very insightful. It's 6 in the morning and I've only had a first listen, but the word masterpiece came to mind whilst listening (hyperbolic, I know).
- "I'm a believer. It's chaos, where are our leaders?" - talk about topical.
- Crackling at the end was so organic, and another right choice.
The entire album is brilliant, it has such charm (first time a Gaga album could be described that way). It's early days but I think it's a new peak in her discography. I'd be proud to carve the lyrics into my chest and the sweet melodies into my heart.
Kudos, Gaga and co. They have DONE that.
