I could play the doctor, I can cure your disease

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts

14/03/25 : MAYHEM - Lady Gaga

You never quite know what you're going to get with Gaga - there's going to be skill involved, but the results could still be quite unlistenable. And there's only one way to find out...

Well, it's definitely not unlistenable - I didn't mind this at all. In some ways it's quite Gaga, but it also harks back to olden times - yes, the 80s and 90s! And even the 70s at times - scary. I was impressed by this because it reminded me of Taylor Dayne, mostly because I've not thought about her in many, many years. Madonna, Bonnie Tyler and Blondie also popped into my head at times, but "How Bad Do You Want Me" deserves a special mention because I thought it sounded like Taylor Swift covering a Yazoo track, which is something I want to hear now. At times she slows it down for some ballads, which don't work as well for me and I thought her Bruno Marrs collaboration "Die With A Smile" was a cheesy Streisand style duet which I did not like (so obviously it recently won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance). But overall, I thought this was a decent and interesting album - the best thing I've heard from her in ages.

We're at #1 in the charts with a new entry this week and the rest of the top five are Sabrina, Jennie (a new entry), Tate McRae and Sam Fender. And we've got quite the selection of new entries to check out this week

Jennie (#3)
A name I recognised as yet another Blackpink member - this is probably the most Blackpinkesque solo offering we've met so far. It also often brought Little Mix to mind - I actually didn't mind it at all. She had quite the selection of guest artists as well with Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, Dua Lipa and Kali Uchis all popping up.

Spiritbox (#17)
A name I don't recognise and, from the name, I felt like it was going to be something nicely ambient and chill. And, well, I was very wrong - it's shouty metalcore. Not for me thank you - next!

Jethro Tull (#25)
Lordy - their first album charted in '68 and this is their 36th! And I don't think I've ever listened to a whole album of theirs - and that's still the case. It's not horrible and there's obviously plenty of skill involved, but it's all a bit earnest and far too flute-y for my taste.

Wildhearts (#31)
I know they're not my sort of thing because I've met them before but I will accept it's skilful and more palatable than Spiritbox - it's like a heavier version of Queen.

Hotwax (#38)
Another name I don't recognise and in theory this is more up my street with indie guitars and female vocalists - but it just didn't quite click for me.

Divorce (#46)
Never heard of them either - and it's certainly different being kinda indie-country. I was reminded of Arcade Fire and The Decemberists, but with more of a UK feel to it - I actually quite liked it.

Jason Isbell (#58)
I like a bit of Jason and there's nothing here to convince me otherwise - it's got some Iovely guitars and clever vocals which suggested he'd been through a break-up recently (and Wikipedia confirms this). I particularly liked "Gravelweed" - it went on my country playlist (yes, I've got a country playlist).

G-Dragon (#93)
And, to finish up, another lot I never heard of - it's some weird K-pop rapping. Not horrible, but definitely weird.

And this week's peculiar re-entry is Kraftwerk's Autobahn (#85) - this first charted in '75, so I guess a 50th anniversary version has been released. And I was quite surprised I've never met it - it feels like a shoo-in for Rolling Stone's list (but they went for Trans Europe Express instead).

Last week I said that Architects would drop out of the chart entirely and I was on the right lines, but they just about squeaked in there at #86. It's hard to know quite how people are going to respond to Gaga because I don't really know who listens to her these days - let's randomly guess #36! (although I feel it deserves better than that). And this week's Taylor stats are one in the top forty (just!) and six in the entire chart.

Wikipedia has a massive amount for a new album (413 milliPeppers) but there's surprisingly little in there. She's recorded the thing and the critics agree it's her best thing in ages - and they all kindly neglected to mention Joker : Folie a Deux.

"Customers also listened to" Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo - I've absolutely no idea why four members of Blackpink would pop up there. I really quite liked this though - I might even listen to it again, and it you like a bit of 80s electro-pop then I thoroughly recommend it. Jennie was in a similar vein, but Divorce and Jason Isbell were my favourite new entries - and if you think you'll like Jethro Tull, then I'm pretty certain you will.

07/03/25 - Too shouty for me
21/03/25 - Mystifyingly popular

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