But The Fame and The Fame Monster have always been dated.

And Born This Way was even more dated, just in a different, more unique way. ARTPOP was the first time she worked with current producers and released an album full of current sounds. I don't believe anyone who tries that ******** about how ARTPOP isn't as innovative as her earlier work, because they're just wrong. The people who say that only say it because ARTPOP isn't as successful. No one, and I literally mean no one, would be saying that about ARTPOP had it slayed.
I don't think her music is the issue, I think everything else is. The music doesn't matter when the image doesn't connect.