By Grace Beauregard and Isabelle Kelly
Lady Gaga has one of the most recognizable voices in the music industry. She has released five solo studio albums over her decade-long career; each album has its own distinct sound and Gaga has proved time after time that experimental pop can receive a positive response from today’s music consumers.
Because we are self-proclaimed Lady Gaga connoisseurs, we wanted to curate a list that ranks all of Lady Gaga’s projects.
The Fame (2008)
9/10 Bolts
Gaga’s debut album The Fame was something the world of music was simply not ready for. Doesn’t the cover give that away? Released in 2008, her album included some of her top hits today: “Poker Face”, “Just Dance”, and “Paparazzi,” just to name a few. Thanks to her dance–style pop sound and catchy lyrics, this iconic period of Gaga’s career will not be forgotten. Her songs represent her eccentric style shamelessly and I recommend anyone looking for something to dance to listen to this album asap. Some other hit songs from the album include “Summerboy”, “Starstruck”, and “Disco Heaven.”
Born This Way (2011)
8.5/10 Bolts
Highly regarded as one of the defining pop albums of the decade, Lady Gaga did not disappoint with Born This Way. Gaga avoided the sophomore slump by creating an album that was arguably stronger than her debut. With influences from techno, opera, and rock and roll, Gaga tells stories of freedom, love, and self-discovery through her lyrics. Some of the album highlights include “Edge of Glory,” “Hair,” “You and I,” and the titular track, “Born This Way.”
Artpop (2013)
5/10 Bolts
While this album is often considered Gaga’s most experimental, it does not have the same effectiveness as her other recordings. Artpop was initially meant to be a visual album rather than a studio album, and frankly, should have followed through with the original plan. Synth and EDM drove this project, which could have worked in theory, but ultimately created a sense of distraction throughout the album. However, we do have to give props to Lady Gaga to attempt to create a new wave of pop—perhaps the world was not ready for the sound of Artpop. And let us not forget the iconic anthem, “Applause,” which was a big hit for listeners everywhere. Other than that—in our humble opinions—this album just was not her best moment.
Joanne (2016)
8/10 Bolts
Although considered another experimental era for Gaga, Joanne was a success. This album had an almost country–style feel to it, not only because of the hat but because Gaga’s songs had a bittersweet sound of nostalgia that differs from her usual upbeat techno-pop style. As a tribute to Gaga’s late aunt, Joanne had some melancholic beats throughout, although it includes some feel-good bangers as well. The popular song from the album “Million Reasons” simply does not do it justice and I recommend you listen to Joanne all the way through. I was not let down by any of it and it is quite possibly one of my favorite Gaga albums despite it not being what she is known for.
Chromatica (2020)
7/10 Bolts
Though it did not chart as well as some of her previous albums, Chromatica should be considered the renaissance of Lady Gaga. The album revisits the synth and dance-pop influences from Born This Way and Artpop, respectively, while simultaneously introducing a new era of Gaga that is both fresh and refined. Chromatica manages to tackle heavy topics reflecting Gaga’s past while still creating upbeat songs that helped her audience escape the woes of an isolated 2020. Make sure to check out “Alice,” “Rain on Me (featuring Ariana Grande),” and “Replay.”