Album Review: Joanne- Lady Gaga

Artiste: Lady Gaga
Album: Joanne
Label: Streamline/ Interscope
Price: Rs 299
Rating 3.5/5
Dance/ Pop: Lady Gaga's fifth studio album, Joanne, is the singer's most personal one till date. Named after her late aunt who died 12 years before Gaga was born, it's dark and philosophical, yet irreverent when it has to be. The singer has produced it with Mark Ronson and collaborated with seasoned artistes like Beck, Father John Misty and Florence Welch among others.It starts off with 'Diamond Heart', which is a typical Gaga song. It has a lazy vibe but lacks the necessary punch. Thankfully, there's more that the album has to offer. The next track, 'A-Yo', is the catchiest number in the playlist, thanks to its funky and upbeat rhythm that prompts you to get up and dance. This is followed by 'Joanne', a mature ballad about love, longing and loss. It's simple, yet deep and articulates all these emotions with a subtle beauty. 'John Wayne' is Gaga coming back with a bad-ass, booze-soaked rant about the disappearance/ taming of the fabled hard-living man (someone who lives vicariously). Its only failing is that the music doesn't have enough grunge to support the emotions and is rounded off in the way expensive studio albums are meant to be. Gaga collaborates with Beck to etch out a Latin-themed ballad, On 'Dancin' in Circles'. You wait patiently for it to hit hard but alas, nothing great or refreshing comes out of it. Perfect illusion, released as a single, is another track that doesn't offer much in terms of the music but its lyrics are relatable. In the second half of the album, three numbers stand out. The first being 'Sinner's Prayer'. It's a strongly written country track with a dark vibe to it. With lyrics like, 'I can carry you, but not your ghosts. Wish I had the faith, but I don't know, oh,' it delivers the goods. Another track, 'Come to Mama' takes a social stand, where Gaga takes a look at a world in turmoil. A token heads up to women's rights is the Prince-inspired song, 'Hey Girl'. Majorly inspired by country and funk, this one is more about the lyrics and less about killing it on the dance floor. Overall, Lady Gaga traverses into newer territories with this album and shows her mettle as a singer. No wonder, she topped the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the first time this week.
Listen to songs by Lady Gaga on gaana.com