3 stars (out of 5)
On her third album, Lady Gaga, the New York fashionista/singer, continues to play the shy versus obvious game that brought her to attention for her 2008 debut, The Fame.
From the title track to the slightly obvious lyricism of Judas to the electro-funk of Electric Chapel and on, there's no shortage of big, brassy dance bangers amid the 17 songs (there's also half a dozen bonus tracks), yet Gaga, aka Stefani Germanotta, trips on her high heels when she attempts to get all sensitive, such as in Hair, when she comes across like a Gwyneth Paltrow cameo in Glee.
It's much better when she crosses the pop bombast of Cher with the otherworldly forays of Bowie.
Single download: Scheibe
For those who like: Madonna
- Shane Gilchrist
4 stars
Duff McKagan was the Guns N' Roses member most likely to play outside the box. Just listen to his bass lines on Sweet Child O' Mine.
Forming Loaded 10 years ago, McKagan gets his mates together every few years to bash out high-tempo punk-infused hard rockers.
If The Taking is any indication, he should take this project more seriously. Rougher-edged than Velvet Revolver, and not as bloated as Guns, Loaded belts out a mighty fine racket.
McKagan's voice is a Bowie-like whine slipping seamlessly into tortured-tonsil overdrive. This is one of those albums that ships free from expectation or pretension; it just rocks.
Single download: Easier Lying
For those who like: The Almighty, Motorhead, Social Distortion, The Sea Hags
- Mark Orton
