30 in 2050 - Time To Act

 I'm getting this one out there early this morning, because I've been distracted the last few days and didn't release it when I originally intended. Recently I had the honor of getting an early (now 3 days late) look at the second single from the fearsome foursome outta Belgium; Time To Act. Their mission is to target today's global issues in their lyrics and spread the word as far and wide as possible to get people to understand that a change is necessary. While their first single dealt with racism and violence, this new track, released December 18th, discusses global warming, pollution and extinction.

Sonically, "30 in 2050" reminds me very much of USA For Africa's "We Are The World" with a Thunbergian update to the lyrics. Rather than serving as a call to aid, this is more like a cry for help. The lyrics imply that by 2050, whales, bears, fish, and possibly more will be extinct. I hate to think about how accurate this assumption may or may not be. The specific lines that made me think the most was "Your leaders let you down / But there's no hiding here / Blame is on you 'cause you failed to act" These lines got me the most because individually, one person might be better at recycling and reducing their carbon footprint than another, but collectively we as people tend to take the lazy way and just do what the leaders tell us. So often when things go wrong, we blame our leaders for having the bad ideas, but who were the people that followed along?

In the first verse of the song, there are a couple audio samples that demand attention. In the line where they mention the last whale dying, you hear the faint cry of a whale. Kinda chilling, kinda odd, I'll take it. The following line when they say she had too much plastic in her belly, you hear the pop of a soda can. So it looks something like this "The last whale died yesterday... *whale cry* So much plastic in her belly... *soda can*" Now I don't love having two audio samples like this coming line after line, but luckily that pattern stops here. My biggest issue with it is that the second sample isn't necessary, and it doesn't exactly land the way the group wanted it to. The line references plastic, yet the sample is that of an aluminum can. I see what they were trying to do, but it didn't work.

While I don't love each individual line of the song, I do sincerely appreciate the overall message that they are trying to convey here. The "We are 30 in 2050" theme is saying to the audience that we are creating a damaged and dying planet for our children, and they will be powerless to stop the decay and destruction that their parents are leaving behind. Therefore, it is up to us to make the changes necessary to leave a healthy world for our children and our children's children to grow up in.

Poor Mister Lee - Rufusking

 Here is a rare late-night post for you guys. Fresh on all streaming services come morning time is the new single by Dutch band Rufusking. I'm glad I could squeak out a review just in time for the big release.

Their newest single "Poor Mister Lee" opens using one of my favorite techniques in music. The intro comes together one instrument at a time; first the drum beat, which is then accompanied by the bass to set the rhythm. Then the dingy-twangy tone of the guitar resonates through your eardrums, taking me back to the days of The Kinks. Legitimately, as soon as the guitar joined the rest of the band, the tone immediately reminded me specifically of "All Day and All Of The Night," or, "You Really Got Me." Though unmentioned to me as one of their specific influences, I can't help but feel some Kinky flavors in their sound. 

There's something delightfully simple yet funky about the bass groove to this song, that has me bopping my head before the song even really begins. My biggest fear getting deeper into the song was that the singer's voice wouldn't match, and would lose me completely. I was, however, pleasantly surprised at how perfectly the sounds blend together. Sonically it's a beautiful marriage.

My biggest draw back, is perhaps the crescendos and treble build up during the chorus. It's mixed quite well, but something about it comes across as slightly abrasive. And just before it becomes too much, it drops back down to it being just the percussion and drums. It certainly keeps things interesting, though maybe a little jarring. I would have considered maybe turning the bass up and everything else down a little during these louder choruses, just to even it out a little more. Of course the draw back in doing so would be that you wouldn't appreciate the lone bass groove as much as you do when you get it, so it's likely safe to say this balance technique was done on purpose.

Truthfully I listened to this song a handful of times while writing this, not because I feel like I missed something, but simply because I liked the song that much. I'm hoping the band reads this and sends me the lyrics, so I can fully appreciate everything there is to this song. I'm aware of how quick of a read this review was, but I kept it short and sweet much like the song itself. It is certainly among my favorite singles I've listened to this year, and when Rufusking releases a full length album into the world, you bet I will be among the first eager listeners.

Synic Selects Vol. IX - Holiday Favorites

Well gang it's that time of year again, a time for trampling over innocent people so you can get the latest Apple product, or gaming console. You're so busy pushing, shoving, and yelling that you don't even notice Mariah Carey playing over the Target speakers for the 27th time that morning. But just in case you're one of the few sane people in the world, getting your holiday shopping done from the comfort and safety of your own living room sofa, I thought I'd take the liberty of crafting a nice seasonal playlist, containing some of my personal favorites that don't get completely used and abused every December. Some of them you definitely know, and if I really buckled down I could have made this playlist 3x as long, but I didn't want to litter it with all the usual suspects. (LA Guns has a few xmas songs out there, Rob Halford of Judas Priest has 2 whole christmas records out, bands like Skid Row, Twisted Sister, FireHouse, etc have all recorded Christmas songs, and believe it or not The Offspring came out with one just this month. Don't expect to see it on this list, however. It's hot trash.) Some of my favorite heavy hitters are still on there, because, well duh, I can't make a playlist and not have AC/DC, Lzzy Hale or "Weird Al' make a cameo appearance. Let's be real here.

Anyway, if you're in the mood for some festive fun, christmas carols, holiday hits... yuletide yodels? Sorry, I'm a sucker for alliteration... Then check out the list below. I think you might be a bit surprised by some of the things I've thrown on there.

Synic Selects Vol. IX - Holiday Favorites

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - The Pointer Sisters

2. Little Drummer Boy - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

3. I Saw Mommy Kissin' Santa Claus - John Cougar Mellencamp

4. Run Rudolph Run - Bryan Adams

5. Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Brian Setzer Orchestra

6. Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley

7. Lonesome Christmas - B.B. King

8. Go Power At Christmas Time - James Brown

9. Back Door Santa - Clarence Carter

10. Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - Jason Segel & Jack Black

11. I Saw Three Ships - Sting

12. Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

13. The Night Santa Went Crazy - "Weird Al" Yankovic

14. Mistress For Christmas - AC/DC

15. We Three Kings - Blondie

16. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt

17. We Need A Little Christmas - Angela Lansbury

18. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Dolly Parton & Jimmy Fallon

19. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives

20. Magic Of Christmas Day - Dee Snider & Lzzy Hale

21. Father Christmas - The Kinks

22. I Don't Want To Fight Tonight (Merry Christmas) - The Ramones

23. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano

24. Christmas In Hollis - Run DMC

25. Let It Snow - Vaughn Monroe

Well everyone, there it is. The last Synic Selects of 2020. Thank you all for tuning in, and I'm excited for you all to see what I have in the works for Vol. X out in January 2021.

The holiday season truly is my favorite time of the year, so wherever you are, and whatever you celebrate, may you have a happy holiday, and a healthy, prosperous, and more importantly musical and Synical new year.

High Vibrations - The John Michie Collective

 Believe it or not ladies and gents, but I have never touched a drug in my life. Okay, besides booze. Nobody's a saint. But tonight for the first time, my ears took acid. At least that's how it felt. For today I had the humbling honor of taking an early look at the debut record of The John Michie Collective. High Vibrations is set to release on February 12th of the new year, but this lucky son of a bitch got to dig into it a couple months early.

The album is quite the auditory tome - 14 tracks all recorded by the one man band John Michie himself. Not an easy feat to write and record so many unique tracks all by yourself. So kudos to you sir for the accomplishment. But then again in the year 2020 I suppose we're all a one man band are we not? John couldn't have met with his band even if he had one, else they'd have to seat 6' apart and quarantine for 2 weeks after recording a track.

The album opens with "The Mothership," a nearly 3 minute instrumental which leaves listeners feeling as though they had been mind-fucked by an alien. And I mean this in the best way. Admittedly it takes me a minute before I really get into it, but once I'm hooked, I'm hooked. I was surprised at how perfect of an album appetizer it was.

The tracks that follow make it clear to me that John Michie's primary instrument of choice is the guitar, for that is where you will hear the most variance and unique riffs. The percussion and other instruments are nice additions by all means, but their rhythms are kept very simple and rudimentary so as not to overshadow the guitar. He accurately calls himself a psychedelic songwriter, and the psychedelia comes almost entirely from his guitar. It's the slow break in the guitar where the backing instruments can really shine and mellow out your aural trip. The second half of the record is very instrumental, which I've never been into really, but it somehow works here.

Truthfully, I liked this album a whole hell of a lot more than I thought I would. That is not meant to sound like a dig at the John Michie Collective, but I have to make my distaste for psychedelic rock known. That said, Michie nails it. He has a truly enjoyable listening experience here, even for the sober audience. His vocals are a little drowned out by the instruments for my taste, but this was by design as he wanted to feature the guitar more than his voice. The effect his vocals are recorded with a very typical for the indie psych rock artist, but they work rather well in this case. If I could say one thing that I would change, it would be to ditch the staticky samples that begin each track. They take me out of the trip and I don't want to lose touch every 4 minutes. Once I'm in, I want to stay in. I'm sure these samples are used on purpose, perhaps to add to the overall message or experience, but it's lost on me. Full disclosure I found myself ignoring them each time.

All in all I have to congratulate The John Michie Collective for the impressive feat accomplished here. He wrote and recorded an entire full-length one man band solo album and got it ready for release, all in one of the worst years in human history. And what did I do? I sat on my ass and wrote about it.

High Vibrations - The John Michie Collective

2 - 13 - 2021

1. The Mothership

2. Beautiful Day

3. Wish You Were Dead

4. Nothing To Die For

5. Some Time On Monday

6. The Ballad Of John Wayne

7. Hung On You

8. Take You Home

9. Escape From San Francisco

10. Under The Stars

11. Written In The Sky

12. Penny Was Her Name

13. I'll Write Your Constellation

14. The Astral Projection

Favorite Track: I'll Write Your Constellation

Least Favorite Track: Penny Was Her Name

Rating: 8.0

Synic Selects Vol. VIII - Won Hit Oneders

 Hooolyy sheit it's been a while, huh? I've really dropped the ball lately. I mean, this post was due WEEKS ago, wasn't it? I guess I've just had a number of distractions piled up that kept me from doing this. But you guys didn't wait for almost a month just to get a fat stack of excuses, right? You guys came here tonight to get a hot new Synic Selects compilation from your favorite blogger that no one else has ever heard of. Well, wish granted. And because it's the season of giving, and also due to the fact that I missed last month, you guys can expect TWO Synic Selects editions this month! That's right, TWO! That's double the music, double the fun! So get excited! Or don't! I don't really care either way, I'm excited to be back, I hope you are too.

Anyway, in light of you guys almost forgetting about me, I thought I'd do a compilation of songs by artists who the world would've also forgotten about, if not for the song that makes this list. Full disclosure, I can't take full creative credit for the theme of this month's (November) edition. I gotta give some credit to the lovely Lady Synic, for this was technically her idea. Now away we go.

1. Autograph - Turn Up The Radio

The often overlooked group from the hair metal days. Those of you that were around in the 80s, these guys opened for your favorite band. And this was their hit. Described by Eddie Van Halen in 1984 as "the ultimate T-shirt band," as in, the perfect band to play on stage while the fans in the arena are our buying beer and merch for the headliner, Van Halen.

2. The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Is there any possible way to craft a one-hit-wonder playlist without adding this classic track? I mean, technically The Scottish cousins did have another modest hit with "I'm On My Way," but it was heavily overshadowed by 500 Miles.

3. Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

This is just a stupid fun synth-heavy track that you listen to when you wanna dance without thinking too hard. It is a fantastic reminder as to why the 80s were really the best decade for music. Admittedly, I almost put "Blinded Me With Science" By Thomas Dolby here instead. Or even "Weird Science" by Oingo Boingo. There's really a massive collection of synth heavy hits that could've taken this spot. Swap out any one, comment your favorite if you're so inclined.

4. Henry Lee Summer - I Wish I Had A Girl

I know what you're thinking... 'Who?!' Yes. Henry Lee Summer. He had one album, maybe two? Who knows. But honestly check out his self titled record. It's actually pretty good for someone with one hit. This song is among the lesser known tracks on there, and it's the only one that got him any attention.

5. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5

There's only one appropriate introduction for this classic jam. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mambo Number Five...

6. The Knack - My Sharona

Dude, seriously though, how great is this song? Their record Get The Knack is actually fantastic, in my opinion. Highly recommend. There's a handful of tracks on there that are worth listening to besides this one. "Frustrated" and "Good Girls Don't" come to mind. Also, without this song, we wouldn't have "My Bologna" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, so that's something to consider as well.

7. The Vapors - Turning Japanese

This song is probably in my top 3 favorite songs on this whole compilation. It's so great. I have no idea what the guy is trying to say, and I have no interest in ever finding out. I know all the words, and can belt it out any time. Just don't ask me to. I can't sing for shit. That's why I write about people that can.

8. The Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another

I don't know what there is to say about this one. Truth be told, I don't love it. But hell, it's fun. This is another slot where you could essentially take any synth heavy 80s track and drop it off here. Consider "Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3 as an alternative.

9. Chris De Burgh - Don't Pay The Ferryman

I believe that this guy might have another mini hit, but it's nowhere near as good as this one. It's a badass tune. The Greek Mythology tie-in really does it for me as well.

10. Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

This is another obvious one. This is one of the best of the best when it comes to one-hit wonders. Everyone knows the words to this one. Every girl wanted Rick Springfield, and every guy wanted to be Rick Springfield. and they all wanted Jessie's girl. Plus, how many songs can you think of, can use the word "moot" in a verse and not sound silly?

11. Captain Sensible - Wot

This is probably, no, definitely the dumbest track on this list. But I can't help but laugh and bop along with it. My dad loves it, I love it, it belongs on the list.

12. Macy Gray - I Try

Here's the unexpected one for you all to gasp at. But I can't put a dad track on here without also dropping a mom track. I grew up in the backseat of my mom's Buick singing this with her, so it more than surely is entitled to a spot on the list.

13. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

I love this song. As far as I'm concerned, it belongs on every playlist, on every radio station, in every movie soundtrack, whatever. It's catchy, it's fun, it's poignant, it's relevant, and for whatever reason, don't ask me why, it reminds me of my late grandfather. Love you, Pop. and I love you too, Eddy Grant.

So ladies and gentlemen, here it is. Pretend you're reading this a month ago, would you? Thanks. I hope you enjoyed it and find it was worth the wait. Or not. I know I enjoyed it.

Synic Selects Vol. VIII - Won Hit Oneders

1. Autograph - Turn Up The Radio

2. The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

3. Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

4. Henry Lee Summer - I Wish I Had A Girl

5. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5

6. The Knack - My Sharona

7. The Vapors - Turning Japanese

8. The Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another

9. Chris De Burgh - Don't Pay The Ferryman

10. Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

11. Captain Sensible - Wot

12. Macy Gray - I Try

13. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

Power Up - AC/DC

When I started this blog back in March, it never once entered my mind that I might have a new AC/DC record to review. To think I would still be in my first year of blogging when I got the opportunity to do a new AC/DC record... honestly it is like a dream come true.

Power Up came at a time when the world needed it most. The US is still being royally buttfucked by COVID-19, kids are being locked in cages, the list goes on. But the tides are changing, folks. The recent election offers a glimmer of hope, a hint of a better future. After the proverbial dumpster fire of 2020, it really is nice to be able to come home, take the mask off, and put the headphones on and unwind with a brand new offering from the thunder from down under: AC/DC.

It is no secret to my friends, family, and loyal readers that AC/DC is my all-time favorite band. And Power Up is a prime example as to why that is. Recorded entirely using recycled and previously unused riffs from throughout their career, the 12 tracks on Power Up feature the musical genius of late rhythm guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young. It was said by Angus himself that as Back In Black was a tribute to the late frontman Bon Scott, Power Up is likewise a tribute to his fallen brother Malcolm.

Using previously written riffs provided Power Up with a refreshing return-to-form sound for the band. If I were to blindly listen to all of AC/DC's studio material, without already knowing everything there is to know about their records, you could have told me that Power Up was released anytime between 1985 and 2020 and I would have believed you. Each track is like a sonic spotlight, with reminiscent riffs and that signature AC/DC sound that takes you right back and shines on a different year throughout their history. Also featured on the record, something that you don't often hear about when talking about AC/DC, is the backing vocals. Throughout all the line-up changes in their almost 50 year long career, one of the most consistent elements of their sound was their backing harmonies, and those harmonies are as strong on this album as they ever were. There is something so unique, so AC/DC about those backing vocals, like you could grab any random singer in the world and slap them into the studio with the band, but the harmony wouldn't change. There's something masterful in this, as the harsh mob-like chants of the band match and compliment the abrasive bluesy falsetto of Brian Johnson perfectly.

The leading single from the record, "Shot In The Dark," is arguably the best song the band has released in 20+ years. It has everything you would expect from a classic AC/DC headbanger. Driving rhythm section, simple-yet-memorable riff, catchy tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and a bluesy swing. This is a song whose riff could certainly have come from the 80s. The following track, "Through The Mists Of Time," slows things down a bit, in a style that reminds me of 2008's Black Ice, with songs like "Rocking All The Way," and "Rock And Roll Dream."

The next tracks, "Kick You When You're Down," "Witch's Spell," and "Demon Fire" are a triple threat of the classic blues-rock sound that I know and love from AC/DC. These songs remind me of the best of the 2000's Stiff Upper Lip era. Stiff Upper Lip is often regarded as the band's "worst" album, but that is a title I strongly disagree with. It is heavily misunderstood and criminally under appreciated. It is their bluesiest and jazziest record to date, and it will always hold a special place in my heart for that exact reason.

Many critics and music listeners have said over the years that AC/DC is overrated, as "all their songs sound exactly the same." But I tell these people to shove it, because isn't consistency what you would want from a band? If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? If you love one album, you'll love the next album, and the next, and the next. Well AC/DC just put out their 17th studio album, and this blogger loves each and every one of those 17 albums.

Truth be told, when I first heard that AC/DC were recording a new album, of course I was ecstatic, but I wasn't prepared to have my mind blown by it. I was expecting Rock Or Bust 2. But the more I read about the album, the more excited I got. Longtime bassist Cliff Williams was back. Longtime drummer Phil Rudd was back. They were using Malcolm Young's previously recorded rhythms and riffs from throughout the band's career. This was the dream album. After the nightmarish Rock Or Bust Tour, my expectations were low. But holy hell is this album better than anything I would have imagined. That said, I don't want you to go into this album expecting another Back In Black. But they didn't need to write another BIB. Their legacy was already written, their reputation as one of the all-time great rock bands (my opinion is irrelevant here, as this is a known fact) was already proven time and time again. What we needed from Power Up is a good time when the world needed it most, some new-old-stock AC/DC, some reminiscent rock and roll for all AC/DC fans new and old to enjoy, and that is exactly what we got. While many would argue that rock and roll music is dead, I would argue that for as long as Angus Young is still wearing shorts and a tie, rock and roll is alive and well.

Power Up - AC/DC

11 - 13 - 2020

1. Realize

2. Rejection

3. Shot In The Dark

4. Through The Mists Of Time

5. Kick You When You're Down

6. Witch's Spell

7. Demon Fire

8. Wild Reputation

9. No Man's Land

10. Systems Down

11. Money Shot

12. Code Red

Favorite Track: Kick You When You're Down

Least Favorite Track: Realize

Rating: 9.8/10

Chromatica - Lady Gaga

 Yeah, I know. The last artist you would ever expect me to ever talk about. Okay, maybe not the last, but certainly among the bottom of the list. But before getting into this, let me be clear about something: I respect Lady Gaga. She is truly a tremendous talent. I find it a shame that she wastes her talents on pop music, rather than directing her time toward a more metal outlet, but it is what it is, and it certainly has worked out for her so far.

Today's post is a special one for me, as it allows me to discuss an artist I normally never would, and it allows me to also bring in another guest writer, one of the biggest Gaga fans (or monsters, if you're down to clown) that I know: my sister. She'll make her grand Synic Spins debut in just a moment, after I give my 2 cents.

Chromatica opens with an electronic interlude, which some of my long-time readers may recall from my earlier post about In This Moment's newest album, I'm not a huge fan of interludes. They're wasted on me. Sorry. However, after that intro comes the first real track of the disc, "Alice." This track showcases the surprisingly deep and meaningful lyrics that I respect Lady Gaga so heavily for. From what I have heard about this record, many of the tracks are focused on Gaga's own battle with abuse and mental illness. "Alice" is the first track on the disc, and the first to make Gaga's message clear. Strong start, Germanotta.

"Stupid Love" was the big radio single, and my first exposure to the new record. Right off the bat, I was disappointed, and was turned off to the idea of sitting through the whole album. It was exactly what I expected from a radio hit today; mindless, dumb, repetitive, and danceable. Listening to it a second time with the rest of the songs around it, my feelings have not changed. Interludes aside, to me "Stupid Love" is the most bland and forgettable track on the LP.

Skipping ahead, listeners will find "911" and "Plastic Doll," two songs which act as a double-header, a one-two-punch if you will, that further illustrates the tone of the record. When I heard "Stupid Love," I was disappointed. I wanted the strength of writing that came from early Gaga, where was "Bad Romance?" Well, here it is. This is the shit I was looking for. 

After the peak of "911" and "Plastic Doll," we plummet into a hard valley of "Sour Candy," featuring a sonically confusing collaboration between Gaga and South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. This is certainly not a collaboration I ever would have wanted. Leaving aside the fact that I've never even HEARD of BLACKPINK, the sporadic changes in vocal tone and style which may have been designed to keep listeners interested, leaves me confused and desperate for the track to end.

Scratch what I said before. "911" and "Plastic Doll," while very strong tracks in their own right, are not the "Bad Romance" of Chromatica. That title, hands down, belongs to "Replay." Look up the lyrics, and consider Gaga's past of an abusive relationship and you will absolutely see what I mean. Holy hell.

Coming later is "Sine from Above," a beautifully immersive collaboration between Gaga and Sir Elton John. Here is a moving metaphor relating to the healing power of music. Without going too deep into it, just look at the spelling: SINE. like the curve. Like a sound wave. BRILLIANT. The track is deep and completely tragically relatable, and it has me reeled in right until the odd and seemingly out of place percussive breakdown at the end.

"1000 Doves," is a nice track to help wind down the album, sonically it is somewhat forgettable compared to the others, however Lady Gaga does not hold back on her lyrics. Seriously guys, I cannot stress enough how much I love her songwriting ability. The ending track of the disc is "Babylon," a song which, admittedly, I want to like, but I'm not sure its within me to actually enjoy it. The chorus sounds very reminiscent to 80's new wave, or brit-pop/punk. Wanna hear it for yourself? Listen to "Babylon," then follow it with Pet Shop Boys' "West End Girls," and Madonna's "Vogue."

And now, we hear from one of my favorite people in the world, for now let's call her Sister Synic.

---

During the height of quarantine-induced hysteria, Lady Gaga released her 6th Album, Chromatica. And for this long-time “little Monster”, it simply could not have come a better time. 

Throughout her career, Gaga has been very candid about her own experience with her mental and physical health; these experiences are always so deeply evident in the art she creates both musically and onscreen, as well as in her advocacy work. It is the way that Gaga continues to pour these experiences into her works that makes Chromatica a particularly important album, especially in the times that we currently find ourselves in globally.

Each of Lady Gaga’s albums are vastly different in style and content, however each are laden with clear meaning and significance to the writer, each song so uniquely her. Gaga’s unparalleled tenaciousness, passion and ability to pour herself into every track married with her undeniable versatility, allows us all to enter her world and go through life’s trials and tribulations with her; and Chromatica is no exception to that rule.

Stylistically, Chromatica can best be described as a melding of the heart and passion of “Born This Way” with the dance hall style of “Art Pop”. This melding provides a “return to her roots” feeling of clubby chart toppers, while still nourishing us listeners with tracks that hold clear meaning not only to Gaga, but can easily be related to by the listener. What makes this album particularly exciting for me as a listener is that throughout the work, there is a clear juxtaposition of fun, catchy beats with lyrics that are emotional, and impactful and raw. This duality is something that I feel is not often enough explored in music, especially in the realm of Pop. 

While in my opinion there is no “flop” on the album and every track can shine on its own, Chromatica was crafted in such a way where it is best appreciated when listened to in order seamlessly. The album contains three short instrumental pieces (Chromatica I,II and III) that serve as transitions into different portions of the track list, acting as a sort of musical “palate cleanser” if you will. As a listener, I feel a very distinct shift in tone and intent as we move through the album’s different sections. The first section following the introduction provided by Chromatica I provides us with the tracks Alice, Stupid Love, Rain on Me, Free Woman and Fun Tonight. Now while I cannot speak for Gaga or any other listener, this section of the album to me speaks very much about ending of relationships, and the search for meaningful connections. “Alice” starts the album off strong, an upbeat tempo paired with lyrics highlighting the on-going search for connection, and the desperation that comes along with it. Alice also introduces the ongoing line of mental health and its impact, effectively setting the stage for the rest of the album.  Following Alice, we are provided with the first two radio singles, Stupid Love and Rain On Me (feat. Ariana Grande). These tracks are, to put it simply, fun. Both are high tempo with a simple hook and catchy lyrics, essentially fitting the mold for a radio hit. While not the most “meaningful lyrically” per se, these two tracks are certainly not to be discounted.  Closing out this first third of the album are Free Woman and Fun tonight. Free Woman is an anthem of strength and self-confidence, whereas Fun Tonight is more somber in intent, but not execution. Fun tonight is one of my favorite tracks for this reason, and is my favorite track in this portion of the album. It has been rumored that Fun Tonight is about the ending of her most recent engagement, but for me the lyrics speak more to an overall loss of sense of self within the context of a relationship, and the moment you begin to realize that the situation you are in is not the one for you.

The second portion of the album consists of Chromatica II, 911, Plastic Doll, Sour Candy (with BLACKPINK), Enigma and Replay. In my opinion this is the portion of the album where the theme of mental health takes center stage and is overall my favorite portion of the album as a whole. 911 and Replay are two of the of the more personally impactful tracks for me. Both of these tracks have clear and significant mentions of where Gaga was mentally ill while working on this album, speaking about her own demons, while maintaining fast, house beats that can easily be found on any dance floor again speaking to the overall duality of the album. The push and pull of raw emotion versus party “bops”. While not as personally impactful to me, Plastic Doll continues to be a clear look into self-confidence and self image, while remaining just an overall catchy and just plain “singable” experience. Sour Candy and Enigma provide some respite from more tender subject matter, and re-invoke the sexy confidence that Lady Gaga is known for. 

The final leg of Chromatica closes with tracks that inspire a sense of hope and better times to come. Sine from Above (featuring Elton John), 1000 Doves and Babylon round the album out from the earlier, heavier tracks found in the first sections of the album. Sine from Above has some of the most impressive musical prowess on the album. Often tracks with high profile features can cause the artist to be out-shown, that simply does not happen here. Gaga and Elton John work on this piece as one, creating harmonies that are so natural and moving it as if they sing with one passion, one voice. 1000 Doves, while a beautiful song in its own right, is not my favorite. Vocally I don’t feel that it’s Gaga’s best work, but is not “bad” by any stretch of the imagination.  Babylon, the closing track is in my opinion, an odd fit. While the song itself is enjoyable and can easily be imagined blaring in any bar, it overall does not seem to fit the album of Chromatica as a whole. Babylon could easily have found a home on almost any of Gaga’s earlier albums, and would have made equal sense contextually. 

Overall, Chromatica is a triumphant return for Mother Monster, and is an album that I am thankful for on a personal level. Gaga has the ability to share her story through her music in such a way that makes the listener feel that their story is also being sung back to them. A gift that has been missing from popular music for far too long, in my opinion. 

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Chromatica - Lady Gaga

5 - 29 - 2020

1. Chromatica I

2. Alice

3. Stupid Love

4. Rain On Me

5. Free Woman

6. Fun Tonight

7. Chromatica II

8. 911

9. Plastic Doll

10. Sour Candy

11. Enigma

12. Replay

13. Chromatica III

14. Sine From Above

15. 1000 Doves

16. Babylon

Favorite Track: Replay

Least Favorite Track: Sour Candy

Rating: 7.8/10

Sister Synic's Favorite Track: Replay

Sister Synic's Least Favorite Track: 1000 Doves

Sister Synic's Rating: 9.5/10