ARTPOP
by Lady Gaga
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3397 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,691 out of 3397
  2. Mixed: 222 out of 3397
  3. Negative: 484 out of 3397
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  1. Nein
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    ARTPOP - The magical creation. I love Gaga. This album truly brings out EVERYTHING. From Aura to Applause, I loved every single track. You should really listen to it. 10/10 for Gaga!
  2. huntermcmillian
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    I really enjoyed this album. There are a lot of tracks that stand out to me- my favorites being Venus, Mary Jane Holland, and Gypsy. What makes this album special is that the artist truly put herself into this project and it doesn't feel like it came from anyone's mind but Gagas. You have to respect an artist who keeps the creative control.
  3. RickyPorto
    Nov 15, 2013
    10
    Perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect.
  4. Raikiri123
    Nov 11, 2013
    8
    I've always had a love-hate relationship with Lady Gaga. She is a brilliant artist, not in a musical sense, but in the field of fame. To me, she excels in the art of celebrity for she knows how to generate adoration as much as she does spite. It is quite effortless to hate her, yet no so to ignore her completely. Unlike the 90 percent in the mainstream music industry today, Lady GagaI've always had a love-hate relationship with Lady Gaga. She is a brilliant artist, not in a musical sense, but in the field of fame. To me, she excels in the art of celebrity for she knows how to generate adoration as much as she does spite. It is quite effortless to hate her, yet no so to ignore her completely. Unlike the 90 percent in the mainstream music industry today, Lady Gaga proves that she still cares and she still tries. Unlike them, she actually holds the potential to change pop music forever. She's interesting, offensive, lovable, annoying, smart, stupid, pretentious, relatable, genuine and fake, all at the same time. The woman herself can be called PopArt, the carrier of Warholian legacy: loud crass and in your face but still catches our attention and turns our heads. This album, the so called "reverse Warholian experience" ArtPop is pretty much the same embodiment of herself: meaningless and beautiful. A true guilty pleasure.

    The thing is, Lady Gaga failed to deliver Artpop to me the way she intended to. She claimed that this work of hers will bring art and pop together. No it does not, and I am pretty sure nothing she does ever will. Gaga is pretty clueless about this art of hers. Is it the colorful banal kitsch-turned-art movement of Warhol or Koons, the latter with whom she is working with? Then why is it that she incorporates Venus and Botticelli all on her album cover, Applause video and numerous appearances? She furthermore embarassed herself, and me, when she mistook the "Birth of Venus" and the "Venus de Milo" during an interview. It is true, she is desperate to cling into this art movement of hers and failed on every note. To be honest, this is the only thing that hindered her album from great heights: Her stupid art pretension leading people to expect non-existent thing from her. The album's name is her death bell. Had this work been simply called "Venus" it would pretty much spells her next The Fame's success.

    That aside, the album itself is a fascinating musical journey. The fact that she mainly employs EDM on 70 percent of the tracklist does not hinder its enjoyability at all. Gaga's strongest point has always been dance pop and powerballad and she really knows how to bring them out here. Furthermore, her delving into other genres is not so right, as proven in the disastrous "Jewels n Drugs", the only true disposable track with no redeeming feature from Gaga. Sexxx Dreams, G.U.Y and MANiCURE: the sex crazed trinity yet ironically have the best shot for an international hit. Each of those three embraces a different prospect of lust, more than just what many people simply like to generalize as sex. Whereas G.U.Y has a submissive, begging, hailing tone to it, MANiCURE, with its strong vocal delivery and rock influence, commands, not asks, for love.
    Sexx Dreams, on the other hand, has the singer torn between fantasy and truth, as she previously stated herself, with its surreal 80s disco feel thanks to the mid-tempo thumping bass and her mouthing the lines. Another trinity of Artpop I would like to call out is the "i am not sure about this" trinity, including Aura, Swine and Venus. Here I just want to bring back my feelings towards Gaga, how I love her and hate her just as I love and hate these songs. There are moments in these three songs that can almost bring forth an, sorry for the tacky term, eargasm. Mainly, the choruses of Aura, Venus and the Swine's hook. Yet there are moments that can make you cringe and face palm. The horrible laughing of Aura, the annoying 10 second long rising beat before the drop in Swine that sounds like a malfunctioning printer, and the disjointed pre chorus pre pre chorus of Venus. Clearly these are very experimental and that's commendable but they fail short as a whole package. They are still on my jam list, my little guilty pleasures.

    The other half of Gaga's third full LP shows a little more diversity from her usual electro pop, with Fashion chanelling Madonna's Fashion (in a good way) but still fails to leave any lasting impression, another song from Artpop that fails to stay in my head is Donatella, with Gaga trying for a celebrity caricature sarcastic piece, a smart self parody move, yet her delivery is awkward and annoying, not to mention the fact that the lyrics are on par with Rebecca Black's Friday. With those bads out of the way, tthere leaves the vocal show" trinity. Clearly that would include Dope, Do what you want and Gypsy. Dope, a brutally honest and painful confession, delivered in all rawness of her voice, is one of the few songs that brings back her Fame Monster vibe: the struggle with fame and its deadly consequences: drugs. Gypsy is another story of my life, Marry the night kinda song that flawlessly unfolds both on accoustic and dancepop.

    In conclusion, Artpop is far from prefect. But that is why it is so remarkable. It is the self portrait of a polarizing figure who both builds up and destroys herself in front of everyone.    … Expand
  5. MrMagpie91
    Nov 12, 2013
    4
    Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of art here. It sounds all over the place and doesn't have a coherent sound. The songs are mostly bland and downright boring with some cringeworthy lyrics. However, there are a few catchy tunes here, for example the opening Aura, Sexxx Dreams, the pulsing Artpop and Mary Jane Holland. Still, a few songs won't save an entire album. Overall, it's a veryUnfortunately, there isn't a lot of art here. It sounds all over the place and doesn't have a coherent sound. The songs are mostly bland and downright boring with some cringeworthy lyrics. However, there are a few catchy tunes here, for example the opening Aura, Sexxx Dreams, the pulsing Artpop and Mary Jane Holland. Still, a few songs won't save an entire album. Overall, it's a very disappointing album from an otherwise talented woman.… Expand
  6. GahGah
    Nov 11, 2013
    10
    Basically best pop album this year, I mean really compared to other pop records this is out of the world. Yes TFM is still better but compared to PRISM for example this one is far superior
  7. RainDreamer
    Nov 13, 2013
    0
    Simply put this album is a mess, i couldn't find the "art" of it ,its just a pretentious title for an album with just normal music ,i would've given a 1 if the title was different
  8. ricardo_b29
    Nov 16, 2013
    9
    Billboard's Rating (8.4) is the one that most describes the album. All the songs are great, but there are some that falls short: some that you first like and, after listening more times, it gets worse.

    At first, the album may sound too noisy, I admit, but you should give it some time. Listen to it for a while. You'll see that it isn't bad, and you'll like the songs. Myself, I didn't    Billboard's Rating (8.4) is the one that most describes the album. All the songs are great, but there are some that falls short: some that you first like and, after listening more times, it gets worse.

    At first, the album may sound too noisy, I admit, but you should give it some time. Listen to it for a while. You'll see that it isn't bad, and you'll like the songs. Myself, I didn't like Aura at first glance. But I listened to it more and more and I started to like it. Now, it's one of my favorites songs on the album.

    See, what I'm trying to say is: you shouldn't listen to the album just one time and say that it is lame. You need to give it some time, listen to it, and THEN judge it. Everytime I did this, I caught myself listening to the thing I said I would never listen to.

    Now, some are saying that the album has no meaning. What? Did you search for that meaning? EVERYTHING that Gaga does (and I'm saying EVERYTHING), has a meaning. It may take some time for you to see, but you will. Just give it some time.

    Some of my favorite songs (not in order): Donatella, Aura, Gypsy, DOPE, G.U.Y, Do What You Want and Jewels N' Drugs.

    Ps.: sorry if this sound a little bit confused, I really tried to explain.    … Expand
  9. AdsonL
    Jul 19, 2014
    9
    Gaga never sounds the same and that's awesome! Track by track is a true experience. Experimental songs and she's not afraid of do whatever she believes.
  10. justsayingtruth
    Jan 29, 2016
    10
    This album is so underrated, is literally a masterpiece; all the songs have a meaning and this help us to know Gaga in her most authentic. Just listen it and you will love it!
  11. IGa
    Jan 30, 2016
    4
    Is here wrongly, full of promises he could not keep, "ARTPOP" sounds like an attempt not very successful innovation, which ended up being more confusing beats and lyrics without much sense. The Pop Art vein was completely left aside here, and ended up making him a pop music album undefined.
  12. chad0wick8
    Nov 11, 2013
    10
    This is what Lady Gaga is all about. ARTPOP is the perfect balance of ART and POP and she's better than ever! There are NO bad songs. ARTPOP is Gaga's best offering yet! Perfection!

    MUST DOWNLOAD: G.U.Y., Sexxx Dreams, MANiCURE, Do What U Want, ARTPOP, Donatella, Gypsy
  13. JaydenSpears
    Nov 13, 2013
    0
    I gave it a 1 because sometimes my foot tapped in spite of itself. Otherwise I've heard it all before. A monkey in silk is a monkey no less. She and her little monsters can dress her sound up as much as they want but at the end of the day it's just the same (if not worse) than the stuff Katy and Miley and Britney are doing. And thats the most disappointing part.
  14. Barney8
    Nov 14, 2013
    0
    Expected innovation, got a lame club record from another decade. Lyrics are beyond cringelicious, really bad. She should go into a different area of the arts, she's not a good fit for music. DWUW would be a great record with different lyrics and singers, fails as is.
  15. Ashley1998
    Dec 11, 2013
    10
    Definitely the most exciting and greatest pop albums of 2013. Pretty brilliant work, with some fantastic ideas, full of wild creativity and unique lyrics, and most of the songs are superb. Best songs include: Aura, Venus, G.U.Y, Manicure, Do What U Want, Artpop, Swine, Fashion!, Mary Jane Holland, Gypsy and Applause. One word Amazing.
  16. Gorlandi
    Nov 11, 2013
    6
    While the album is a non stop barrage of sound, the songs themselves are pretty redundant. Three tracks in a row that all sound very similar and all deal with sex. There has been no progression from her previous work if anything she has stayed still. Any of the songs on this album could easily fit in on "Born this way" or "Fame Monster". The only really new tracks are the rap anthem JewelsWhile the album is a non stop barrage of sound, the songs themselves are pretty redundant. Three tracks in a row that all sound very similar and all deal with sex. There has been no progression from her previous work if anything she has stayed still. Any of the songs on this album could easily fit in on "Born this way" or "Fame Monster". The only really new tracks are the rap anthem Jewels and Drugs and the R Kelly track Do what u want. Overall the album is a solid pop album but a disappointing follow up to this particular artists body of work.… Expand
  17. Iwontell
    Nov 11, 2013
    10
    Despite all the haters, despite BTW not doing very well on the charts, despite all this stupid competition ppl created around charts, with ARTPOP Lady Gaga proves that talent and hard work overcome anything. It's not a perfect álbum, but the flaws are minimal compared to the incredible hooks and compelling beats. I'd actually give it an 8.5, but just to balance out comments made out ofDespite all the haters, despite BTW not doing very well on the charts, despite all this stupid competition ppl created around charts, with ARTPOP Lady Gaga proves that talent and hard work overcome anything. It's not a perfect álbum, but the flaws are minimal compared to the incredible hooks and compelling beats. I'd actually give it an 8.5, but just to balance out comments made out of pure hatred and prejudice, I'm giving it a 10.… Expand
  18. donatello666
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    Venus AMAZING... DWUW AMAZING... applause AMAZING.... ARTPOP (SONG) AMAZING. I cant believe the hate towards this album. it is such an amazon work ...
  19. Arycelle
    Nov 11, 2013
    0
    A 90 min electropop song, this album is worthless I can't even stand it, all the songs sound exactly the same outside from Gypsy wich is the only decent stuff there, if this is really Lady Gaga best work then it sucks HARD.
  20. EthanPamyu
    Nov 11, 2013
    10
    This is an amazing album, with a little something for everyone. Its a mix of commercial and experimental, and she also really shows off her vocal talent on tracks like "Gypsy" and "DOPE". She explores different genres and sounds, like on Jewels & Drugs. Its just a fun album from front to back and incredibly enjoyable.
  21. SuperMusic
    Nov 11, 2013
    0
    Gone are the days when Gaga was named the final heir to the throne of Queen of Pop Today, the press and the critics take their statements with suspicion which exaggerates its music and its importance in the art world, while Twitter and Facebook begs his Little Monsters to buy multiple copies of their albums and singles.I have not fallen into that game, for me she is overrated.His talent isGone are the days when Gaga was named the final heir to the throne of Queen of Pop Today, the press and the critics take their statements with suspicion which exaggerates its music and its importance in the art world, while Twitter and Facebook begs his Little Monsters to buy multiple copies of their albums and singles.I have not fallen into that game, for me she is overrated.His talent is of course debatable.… Expand
  22. HAXTRAX
    Nov 13, 2013
    0
    Waste, spoil, filth, manure, impurity, excrement, dirt, summarizes what gaga did in this work. No where to hold this grotesque Album. Gaga wanted to cover the entire mainstream of the time and got lost along the way.
  23. oldskoolHipHop
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    Bloody amazing album, Not sure what the bad ratings are She shows distinct diversity and versatility throughout the album, someone who doesn't pay attention to pop music, gaga pulled me in and didn't let me go tilll the end of the album! Mary Jane Holland Has the traditional Netherlands sounding, GUY, donatella, gypsy sexxx dreams, dope, aura are some of the perfect and effortlesslyBloody amazing album, Not sure what the bad ratings are She shows distinct diversity and versatility throughout the album, someone who doesn't pay attention to pop music, gaga pulled me in and didn't let me go tilll the end of the album! Mary Jane Holland Has the traditional Netherlands sounding, GUY, donatella, gypsy sexxx dreams, dope, aura are some of the perfect and effortlessly flawless tracks of there. Gaga didn't resort to make generic easy pop music as some other artists to get high sales. She stayed true to herself and delivered a MASTERPIECE.… Expand
  24. JrAgujaIsAGleek
    Nov 11, 2013
    7
    While half of the tracks of this album will only entertain her fans, Little Monsters. ARTPOP lives up to its title as POP, which today is a mixture of pop and electronic music, is mixed with ART, which is according what kind of ART Lady Gaga is looking for. This album is clearly a tribute to pop music from Gaga, without being compared with her musical rival, Madonna.

    Highlights: Venus,    While half of the tracks of this album will only entertain her fans, Little Monsters. ARTPOP lives up to its title as POP, which today is a mixture of pop and electronic music, is mixed with ART, which is according what kind of ART Lady Gaga is looking for. This album is clearly a tribute to pop music from Gaga, without being compared with her musical rival, Madonna.

    Highlights: Venus, Manicure, Do What U Want, Artpop, Donatella, Dope and Gypsy
    Potential Singles After the Album's Release: Venus, Jewels N' Drugs, Donatella, Mary Jane Holland and Gypsy.
    Personal Favorites: Aura, Venus, Manicure, Do What U Want, Artpop, Gypsy and Applause.    … Expand
  25. RafaelKdias
    Nov 11, 2013
    0
    This album contains no music contains noise, for speakers that will revoluncionar pop, this is truly ridiculous, an album completely despicable and without any support. I would take a minor note but I can not!
  26. Carlos1
    Nov 11, 2013
    0
    I'm so disappointed. This album is disjointed with atrocious lyrics and the same style and production of her previous records, most notably the Born This Way album. The songs sound messy and unfinished, her "operatic" style vocals are cringeworthy and it's just too much of nothing. I'm not sure what has happened to Gaga but whatever it is, I hope she takes a step back and stops takingI'm so disappointed. This album is disjointed with atrocious lyrics and the same style and production of her previous records, most notably the Born This Way album. The songs sound messy and unfinished, her "operatic" style vocals are cringeworthy and it's just too much of nothing. I'm not sure what has happened to Gaga but whatever it is, I hope she takes a step back and stops taking herself so seriously that it clouds her artistic judgement with embarrassing songs like Venus and Swine. North a big fan of Applause and that turned out to be the best song on the album and that is really quite shocking when she mentioned this would be the album "of the Millenium." That, it is not. Maybe not even the album of the week. Can't even get through the whole thing...… Expand
  27. myopinioncounts
    Nov 12, 2013
    1
    Artpop is as scatty as Lady Gagas wardrobe yet far less interesting it simply fails to resonate.

    Highlight for me is the Gaga penned Venus (i love Zombie Zombie)

    There are many contenders for the lowlight- but ill go for Donatella one of the worst concepts for a song ive ever heard.
  28. DanndyGarbage
    Nov 12, 2013
    0
    More like ARTPOOP. Pretentious, misleading, poorly completed piece of ear pain.I heard it more than 3 times and every time sounded worse than the previous. Her low sales are actually a sign of her failed career that has yet to take the last piece of fame she holds.
  29. MetalCreed
    Nov 13, 2013
    0
    I followed Gaga's career, I have all their albums and remixes. But I have to be honest with this their new album, repeats past formulas and she copy styles of other artists, Giorgio Moroder, Madonna, Skrillex, and more. Do not bring anything new, Gaga should make a spiritual retreat, off drugs and make an honest work to herself and to her fans.
  30. Myumes
    Nov 11, 2013
    0
    Terribly poorly produced, embarrassing lyrics, it sounds a mess from start to finish and it even manages be pretentious to the max. There is no art in Artpop. It is a forgettable experience that has the depth of a saucer. It sounds like a last minute rushed effort from a woman unable to deliver an acceptable pop experience. It could be very well the end of her career.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2013
10
#10 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Q Magazine
    Jan 7, 2014
    60
    The melodies here are fine, they do a job, but nothing backs up Gag's Warholian rhetoric or scales the barmy heights of Bad Romance. [Jan 2014, p.116]
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Nov 26, 2013
    60
    While it’s stronger than the messy ‘Born This Way’, Artpop feels little more culture-quaking than a good collection of fun, silly, well-crafted pop songs.
    Read full review
  3. Fact Magazine (UK)
    Nov 22, 2013
    50
    This is two albums in a row now that were basically a bit boring, and she needs to sort it out soonish please.
    Read full review
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