Apple Music Rank: 89
Album: The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Lady Gaga
Year: 2009
Genre: Pop
Was I familiar with Lady Gaga? Yes
Had I heard The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) before? Yes, many times.
Thoughts on The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition): Let me get my beef out of the way first: The countdown is careful to list The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) as #89 on the countdown. The Fame was Lady Gaga’s first album in 2008. It’s loaded with songs that went on to be huge hits. “Just Dance“, “Paparazzi“, and “Poker Face” were all songs that everyone know whether you were a fan of Lady Gaga or not. In 2009 she released The Fame Monster. Eight tracks (and one remix) and more hits. “Bad Romance“, “Alejandro“, and “Telephone” among them. At some point the decision was made to repackage both of the albums together as the “deluxe edition” and boom…there’s your #89 album of all time. It’s two separate albums. If we can just take two completely separate albums and call them one, can I nominate the Thriller (Deluxe Edition) as the GOAT and just make the second half of it Off the Wall? Even better, I nominate “The Low End Theory” and “Midnight Marauders” as the greatest hip hop album of all time. I’m a fan of Lady Gaga. I dig her music. It seems like someone found a loophole.
OK, useless rant aside, I don’t care how you package it, there’s some great music here. I normally don’t care for pop/dance stuff at all, but Lady Gaga has an amazing voice and there are some legitimately cool beats on this collection (I still refuse to call it an album. It’s two different albums). Much like the aforementioned Prince, Lady Gaga was masterful at drawing attention to herself for reasons that had nothing to do with music. Also like Prince, once all eyes were on her the talent was obvious. If she wasn’t good she’d have fallen by the wayside long ago like a lot of other pop stars who didn’t have the chops to last. The Fame Monster isn’t just a strong opening two albums from Lady Gaga, it’s the birth of an icon.
Favorite track: If I can only pick from The Fame Monster, I rock with “Alejandro” even though it reminds me of an inferior Ace of Base song. If I can choose from the entire “Deluxe Edition” (and apparently I can) give me “Love Game” from the first album. That beat is a banger and I love the huge synth.
Will I listen to The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) again? For sure. Even 15 years later this album is inescapable…not that I want to escape it.
Would I buy it on vinyl? No. Not the kind of stuff I listen to on the turntable. I’m pretty sure one of my kids has it, though.
To access more expert analysis of the Apple 100 Best Albums list click here.
mookiefantana 