For me, singles are the way to go. I don’t even bother with albums anymore. Too many songs are mediocre. I understand that an album allows you to experience an artist in a much stronger, deeper way–you can feel the mood of the album, read into the lyrics of non-singles, etc.–but it’s only worth it if you know you love the artist. 

A few months ago, I was given 2 CDs by a nice radio DJ for planning an event with his station. The albums were: Lady Gaga’s The Fame and The Fray’s The Fray. I was extremely disappointed in The Fray. I skipped through the tracks trying to find a song I could hold onto. Nothing stuck. The entire album, with the exception of You Found Me, was just boring. I wouldn’t even say it was average. I’m anxious to know what their next single will be because it won’t come from that album if it’s going to have a chance. 

So after The Fray let me down, I put in Lady Gaga. All I can really say is wow! You can really tell the difference between an OK and a great album. Every track has the potential to become a single. If you like Lady Gaga at all, I suggest you buy the entire album because I was completely blown away. She put so much effort into every song (not just the ones she planned on releasing), and there is such a strong cohesion. Money, fame, boys and partying is pretty much the gist of the album; but don’t think there isn’t depth. Her edgy lyrics push the boundaries of what’s acceptable for a popular female artist to sing about. And her message is carried out with powerful beats and strong, catchy-but-not-phony tunes. 

Now after I’ve praised every song on her album, I do have a slight issue with her choice in singles. Just Dance and Poker Face were the two best songs on the album, but the third is debatable. When I first got the album, I tried to guess what the next release would be. And honestly, LoveGame wasn’t even a consideration. The song just doesn’t quite make it for me. The verses are good, but the chorus is missing something. The beat should be a little more complex, a little deeper. And the “let’s play a lovegame, play a lovegame, do you want love, are you in the game,” is so repetitive and so monotone that it doesn’t hold up the verses like I think it needs to. Maybe the bold, flat chorus is an effect the producers of the song wanted, but if that’s the case, I don’t think it can really succeed as a pop single. It’s true, Lady Gaga doesn’t produce traditional pop singles, but it’s hard to play a song like LoveGame 25 times a day on the radio. It’s a daring and creative song, but not pop radio-worthy. It may make it to #1, but if so I think Lady Gaga’s just riding on the coattails of her previous 2 amazing songs. 

My choice of single off her album would be the single released in the UK – Paparazzi. It’s a song that isn’t a readymade clubmix and one where her vocals really have the chance to shine. 

In my opinion, here is the album broken down by caliber: 

1 – Just Dance, Poker Face, Paparazzi, Starstruck (1st, possibly 2nd caliber)

2 – [Money Honey, Beautiful Dirty Rich] – great songs, but not good singles

2 – Paper Gangster, Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say), Boys Boys Boys

3 – Brown Eyes, I Like it Rough, Summerboy (very Gwen Stefani), LoveGame