Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album, Mayhem, was—according to the singer herself—influenced heavily by industrial dance music, suggesting it would mark a return to the sound of her peak-era albums The Fame Monster and Born This Way. The set’s lead single, “Disease,” delivered on that promise, with a mechanical thrum and squelchy bassline with enough heft to support Gaga’s characteristically bombastic performance.
Aside from that track and follow-up “Abracadabra,” however, Mayhem trades almost entirely in ’80s synth-pop, especially in its middle stretch, from “Zombieboy,” a tribute to Rick Genest (who appeared in the video for 2011’s “Born This Way”), to the groovy, Bowie-esque “Killah.” It’s a bait and switch that’s likely to leave many fans disappointed and some critics bewildered.
Songs like “Garden of Eden,” a grating electro track co-produced by French DJ Gesaffelstein, attempt to revive the messy party-girl shtick that launched Gaga’s career with The Fame. “You start to slur and then I’ll start to squeal/I’m fallin’ over in my nine-inch heels,” she sings with the shamelessness of someone half her age.
The catchy “Perfect Celebrity” tackles the dehumanization of pop stars—relevant subject matter that comes off as particularly trite for a woman who, however ironically, launched her career fetishizing the virtues of celebrity: “Choke on the fame and hope it gets you high/Sit in the front row, watch the princess die.” Sonically, it, too, lacks invention.
“How Bad Do U Want Me” fares much better, approaching something close to synth-pop splendor. Many of the songs on Mayhem address the inner conflict between Gaga’s professional and personal personas, and in this case her lover’s ostensible Madonna-whore complex. “The good girl in your dreams is mad you’re lovin’ me/I know you wish that she was me,” Gaga quips.
Another track that deals in matters of duality, “The Beast” finds Gaga channeling Taylor Dayne via a Michael Jackson-style pop-rock hybrid, yet it doesn’t feel very dangerous at all. Similarly, the plodding “Blade of Grass” aims for power-ballad heights but never quite takes off in the way that, say, the Bruno Mars duet “Die with a Smile” does. That Mayhem doesn’t live up to its title isn’t exactly a crime, but it commits an even worse pop sin: It’s kind of boring.
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Yall always hating on her.
creo que podría ser un fan de Madonna, a que viene al caso la mención si no hay nada de similitud a madonna
Her ‘ art ‘ is mediocre
Do better, Alexa… *Alexa, play MAYHEM*
Why not listen to the ORIGINALS !
Always the Cover ‘ artists ‘ for you, eh ?
Alexa Camp is a buffoon.
You a middle of the road fart. Who listens to rehashed music.
They always give Gaga bad reviews, I’m tired of the same thing. Gaga always does something better and more cutting-edge, and they always look for a ‘but.
How is rehashing what OTHERS INVENTED
” more cutting-edge ”
?
Do you live in a Barn
Nothing about this is dancefloor
Little Monsters No Frame Of References
What a surprise! Another proof of your bad taste. We wonder why there’s no opinion from Abracadabra, but oh well, here you are trying again. We expected nothing from you, and yet you still disappoint us.
More like you, and your faves, are mediocre
Lol… while it’s interesting to read the tripe of folks who simply don’t get Gaga or what she is trying to do… we always wonder: why not just review something else? It’s like someone who doesn’t do the slopes reviewing a new snowboard, or someone who takes the bus opining on a new motorcycle. “Boring…,” okie dokie; or perhaps you’re not on the frequency of how exciting this actually is…. This is the record that fans of Gaga’s “Big 3.5” dance pop albums have been begging for in their heart of hearts for a decade (…not that we don’t love her eclectic forays into other genres…). This is the love letter to The Fame, BTW, and ARTPOP fans we prayed for… and absolutely epic return to form, with sick arrangements, otherworldly hooks in the way only Gaga does it, and killer hard 4-on-the-floor bangers that entrance us monsters (and especially ARTPOP people). Mother is back, so big and so fire… it’s just glorious, an instant classic. Every one of these tracks is suitable for release in all appropriate venues, clubs, gyms, and parties. Have fun hearing these tunes for years and years! We won’t remember you… your review was boring, but the record is absolutely baller.
yasssss tell em!
It’s really not a love letter to anyone. I’m so disappointed in the album. Sad actually. Put any song against Mary Jane Holland, for example, and no contact. Zombies and werewolves wtf? What’s happening w this record??
It is literally rehash of what others did.
The Problem with your fanbase is that you Live Under Rocks.
You are all unmodern
The Fame was a l r e a d y a bland, and banal, rehash
Thank you for the honest review and not just sticking to trends which hype mid effort into “amazing”. This album isn’t good, there are 3 tracks that stand out, the rest are fillers.
yup.
Agreed. Sadly.
sorry, I don’t normally comment on these, but this is full on click-bait, anti-sex, anti music theory drab. “madonna-whore complex” ?? please… in Trump’s America?? use your platform for a more complex and nuanced analysis that has some meat on it’s bones vs. vapid brush strokes of nothingness…
Lady Gaga’s ‘ music ‘, never deserves more
Ridiculous „review“ from a biased katy perry fan with only 72 followers (!!!) on x, that can‘t qualify as a music journalist. That review cannot be taken seriously, it‘s just the opinion of a basic hater, nothing remotely professional.
de seguro lo dices por su buena crítica a 143 cuando todos sabemos lo que pasa realmente con ese álbum.
Lady Gaga is mediocre
🤡🤡🤡
LADY GAGA IS OVER
I could not agree more with this review. I fully respect her artistry and versatility, but the two leading singles and the album name and artwork seem like they should have been an EP completely detached from everything else we were presented on this album. I was so excited for the anticipated return of the dance-pop Gaga I so loved. So much so that I threw an LG7 release party, and after the first two tracks we know and love played, we just found it really boring and unexciting.
Same!
I was going through metacritic to read some of the reviews and the majority gave it flowing reviews and was sitting at 80/100. then I came across one single mixed review being this one. I wonder if they are just trying to be different or they have an agenda? or is this an irrelevant magazine?
More relevant than the others
They have a little more taste
This review is hilarious. You are such a hater Alexa Camp. You probably didn’t even listen to the album in whole and just skipped through it. It mixes so many genres and artists that have influence her through her entire life. You see this album from a very shallow perspective. Maybe give the album a re-listen and actually pay attention.
The album sucks man.
It mixes everything everyone else invented
BORING !
UNIMAGINATIVE !
REHASH !
I can’t take this “review” seriously with you ignoring the song Killah lol.
Ur right it sucks let’s talk abt it.
a katyrat leaving a review on an album that his fave will never reach the level of
Trying way way way too hard to recapture the past. (You cannot go home again.)
you are a joke get a real job alexa
girl clean your damn ears… or has it imploded from listening to woman’s world too much
“It’s a bait and switch that’s likely to leave many fans disappointed and some critics bewildered”
The only critic feeling that way is you so far, so…………..
this same writer praises Fadty’s Woman’s World btw. Imagine being a music ‘journalist’ with this taste
Do you just hate disco or something?
Does Lady Gaga have ANY Ideas ?
I cannot disagree with this review even as a passive little monster. The anticipation of this album became my life for half a year if not more. The hype, the snippets etc. were so exciting that the thought about the existence of MAYHEM would give me the ‘high’. With that being said, the journey towards the album’s release was WILD which inevitably grows expectations. MAYHEM proved one more time that Gaga has few talent for songwriting – the lyrics cannot escape their cliché background drowning in the waters of superficiality. I expected Gaga to become wiser with age both as a person and as an artist, however the album seemingly proves the contrary. Perhaps, it was her intention all along to remain on the surface and if the fans are happy with it, that’s fine, but I cannot applaud Gaga for something more than advancing in music production and vocal performance.
they literally just let anyone write a review and call themselves a critic now huh? reevaluate if this job is for you bc clearly you don’t understand art or music. don’t say something is boring just bc YOU don’t have the capacity or depth to understand it
LoL Like Lady Gaga Is Deep
Or Her Fans
As usual, someone has to make a critic that talks more about their personal expectations rather than the actual album.
Stupid review from a irrelevant one… 72 followers on X makes your head crazy? This album? boring?Are you just jealous? Totally out of your mind? go to therapy. Go write this kind of things only for yours 72 followers, only they agree…Alexa.
You Little Monsters are not musically versed
lol
“…she sings with the shamelessness of someone half her age.” You have Hillary Clinton as your profile picture, and you are a woman. With that, you post something ageist like this? Do better.
Alexa pls change your brain….
Okay.
Siri, play Mayhem.
Eres una puta fan de Flopty Floperry, rojo, rojo, rojo. ¿qué más se puede esperar de un fan de rojo 37?
I think Alexa Camp is a member of “Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous” Facebook group
3 out of 5 stars is crazy…
No, it is actually too good
so far this is the only the review that isn’t positive. it makes me wonder how one person can be so far from the general consensus. like did they really listen or do they have an agenda. after looking further, it seems this publication has a history of downplaying the artist. this writer in particular but also others from this group. so it looks like some agenda is at play. what a shame, because there was a section that asked me to donate. I always support smaller publications as they are struggling these days as journalist myself. I was going to donate until I saw the history of this publication. sorry, I’ll save my coins for an unbiased publications with no agenda.
Everyone has to kiss your faves A§§ ?
Well, honestly, I personally thought it was rather boring as well. Like, sure, there are a few songs that have some interesting and somewhat experimental bits, but all in all I was just left with the feeling of it being rather bland. So much that at some point I didn’t even notice the songs changing as they were playing in the background. Now, this comes from someone who used to love Gagas earlier albums and literally grew up with ther music. I guess many of her old fans do love the album still and I’am sure she will attract new ears as well, but I was rather disappointed!
no estas en la frecuencia, la energía de este álbum es increíble, sabes algo me pasó con Yes and? de Ariana Grande, dije que es esto, pero la segunda ves que la escuche, me deje llevar y me termino convenciendo, así pasa con toda la música, tenemos un sensor que no hace sentir miedo o que decimos y si no nos agrada que pasara.. pero es momentáneo ya después analizando y escuchando detenidamente puedes ser honesto y destacar el potencial, a mi zombieboy no me atrapó a la primera… pero ahora Amo pero KIHILA SI TUVO ESE FUEGO!! DESDE EL PRINCIPIO. ES ENVOLVENTE, SEXY, AGRESIVO, Y TIENE TODO LO BUENO DE TRABAJOS ANTERIORES Y GRANDES DE LA MUSICA COMO MJ, PRINCESS Y BOWIE.
🙄
This comment is full of prejudice. AND it is so crazy and irrational to give the score.
As a Gaga stan since 2008, I’m sad to say that this review is an accurate read. She peaked with Born This Way when she actually had something relevant to say. Now she says a lot of nothing and the lyrics on this album are basic at best. And now, the fact that she has her finance bro fiancé co-writing her music says it all. Of course the “super fans” will still say it’s brilliant (she could release an album of her own farts and they would still say it’s genius). This album is purely fan service for those who long for the days of The Fame but Mayhem missed the mark bc that’s not who she is anymore.
could not agree more! and the farts joke is so accurate like they listen and adore all the crappy demos that are out there which leads me to think most of them have an undeveloped ear for music whatsoever.
Alexa, you are not entitled to your wrong opinion.
Middle Of The Road Fan ( You ) Of Middle Of The Road Music, Having An Opinion
i just wanna say that the same “critic” who wrote this also called a song off of 143 “fresh”; so take this review with a trailer full of salt :D
Your a moron for this. Hope this helps.
You are a l l morons, being Fans of a Mediocre Cover ‘ Artist ‘
Alexa camp is a homophobic / racist bigot. I am not surprised by this review. They lack the taste and knowledge to truly *get it*
I never imagined that pop music would become so boring to have fans celebrating something as mediocre as this album. The most generic album she has ever released so far.
So what do you listen to? Katy Perry? Madonna? Tate whatever? Or someone unknown? Tell us. Your answer might explain your comment because honestly I don’t get it. Or maybe you are the basic one.
You seriously think one what’s to share THAT with LADY GAGA FANS ! ? LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, but, Eww !
Both hilarious and sad that fans cannot handle a less-than-stellar review of a pop album from their favorite diva and resort to attacking the reviewer.
Get a life and find something better to do with your time.
They are children. At 40.
Have you realized that you are the only ones hating on MAYHEM? Are a KP or Madonna stan? That would explain everything. You lack both taste and brain. Sorry for your loss.
Can you Little Monsters not accept that people have different tastes ? I find Lady Gaga COMPLETELY Derivative and also cannot stand to listen to her.
Will your fanbase EVER grow up ?
The fact that you were likely paid to write this “review” is as egregious as the con man currently sitting in The White House. You are a biased fraud, Alexa, and karma will catch you one of these days. In the meantime, stream MAYHEM.
Your Little Monsters are around 40, and acting like schoolyard Bullies ?
Someone urgently needs to reassess their ability to analyze music. Slant Magazine published its review just a few hours after the album’s release, without enough time to properly absorb and evaluate the material in depth. Looking at the ratings on Metacritic, it’s clear that Slant’s score is the only one that significantly deviates from the rest, which raises doubts about the credibility of their review. This only reinforces the perception that Slant writes rushed and shallow critiques. But what can we do? Those born to be “Slant” will never be “Pitchfork”.
Slant over Pitchfork ANY DAY ! LOL !
And the press usually gets the music way before the average person ?
Also what is with you fans NOT ALLOWING people to have DIFFERENT TASTES TO YOU ? That is sooo childish
We were clearly not listening to the same album, from just the title of this article affirming that Mayhem “Fails to Live Up to Its Title’s Promise” is a complete lie, you cannot say that Garden of Eden and Killah sounds the same, or Zombieboy, or Abracadabra, or any of the songs in the album. Each song is unique and has its own rhythm and even genre. But as usual, slant trying to be the different kid against the “popular opinion” just because they wanna “look cool”
One of the few online mags I read, they are just less mainstream. Not everyone is a follower.
Lady Gaga can make the album of the millennium and SLANT will always give it a low rating, shame on you, impartiality doesn’t exist at SLANT
Or maybe she was just Always mediocre ?
Deal with it
What’s wrong with this site and why do they hate Lady Gaga?
What hate ? Why do you Little Monsters not accept that they rate artists, and not everyone has the same Opinion, to you ?
She was never Original. Just like her fans.