Lady Gaga is the one on everyone's lips, even when she isn't releasing music. She is the biggest name in music at the moment, and has been for the past few years. With her ever-changing style and her myriad of attention-getting outfits, it always seems like Gaga has to top each artistic endeavor she has ever done in the past. With her fourth studio album ARTPOP (I consider The Fame Monster an LP not an EP), Gaga is bringing a multi-faceted approach to her album release. "When pop sucks the tits of art," as Gaga puts it, she is marrying her love of art with music in an attempt to get the general public thinking about all the talented art that is out there. I truly respect her for this, and I think she has been doing a fantastic job so far. With every song, music video and live performance, Gaga has done something different and installed art into the project. Just look at the album cover: it's a sculpture of Gaga created by Jeff Koons (his signature gazing ball covers the naughty bits of Gaga) sitting in front of an amalgamation of classic pieces of art. ARTPOP is her most grandiose endeavor yet, and with a few exceptions, the album is fantastic. The Fame Monster will always be my favorite Gaga album and nothing will ever top it, but ARTPOP is officially my second favorite. Each song is unique and has a concept behind it. Sometimes Gaga's vision gets lost and DJ White Shadow's production is a bit repetitive and overpowering at times, but overall the album is a collection of art sounds like it was made to be performed live (most of the tracks actually sound better live than they do on the album). ARTPOP is a movement, and Gaga is not going to let us forget it.

1. Aura - 6/10

Starting off the album is the song that leaked over the summer, and was the first official thing we heard from the ARTPOP era. The song became an instant favorite of mine and had me amped. Since then, Gaga has cleaned it up and I'm honestly not a fan of it. It sounds too streamlined now, and it lost the chaotic frenzy that made it memorable. Gaga's vocals almost sound barren during the chorus. In a rare instance, the demo is better than the final product.

2. Venus - 8/10

'Venus' is the first song Gaga has ever produced entirely by herself, which shows, but it's such a stellar jam that I can forgive its faults. This could honestly be the theme song for the new Sailor Moon anime and I'd be totally fine with it. The song is an experimental electro-pop track that suffers from weak verses but makes up for it with a killer chorus and the now iconic line "Don't you know my ass is famous!" It's Gaga on acid, and I'm down with it.

3. G.U.Y. - 10/10

What else can I say but "flawless?" This song will be a single one day because why wouldn't it be? This is one of the strongest tracks on the album, combining Gaga's signature ability to write catchy choruses and the incredible electro beat that makes you want to listen to nothing else for the rest of your life. It's a euphoric explosion of energy as Gaga proclaims that she wants to be on top for once because she's confidant in herself. Basically, it's an anthem for all the power bottoms out there.

4. Sexxx Dreams - 10/10

When Gaga performed this at the iTunes Festival it was the instant standout for me. The song was sexy and sultry with a catchy chorus. I didn't know it was possible, but the studio version blew me away. The beat consumes my body and makes me think very dirty thoughts. And Gaga's spoken word performance during the bridge is awesome. I really want this to be a single, even though I doubt it will, but at least give me a video.
5. Jewels n' Drugs (feat. T.I., Too $hort and Twista) - 5/10

I respect Gaga for delving into the hip-hop world because she wanted to explore the genre, but this is a hot mess. First, the live performance was 100x better. The studio version is very blah. Nothing happens, and DJ White Shadow's beat is reductive and quite annoying here. T.I.'s verse is the best, but Gaga's voice does not meld well. It fails on so many levels and brings down an overall great album. I gotta give her props, though.

6. MANiCURE - 8/10

'MANiCURE' is almost perfect, but not quite. This was another instant standout at the iTunes Festival, but Gaga made some major changes to the song that I'm not happy about. The chorus got a lot less interesting, and the rockier vibe to the song is completely gone until the one saving grace, the electric guitar, comes riffing in during the bridge. It could have been an iconic anthemic track, but whatever Gaga did to it post-iTunes Festival was not the right idea.

7. Do What U Want (feat. R. Kelly) - 10/10

The R. Kelly collaboration that was so successful it became the second single instead of 'Venus' is one of my favorites on the album. This is where Gaga shows that she can delve into other genres and she can do it well. This R&B jam is a one of a kind, and has you chanting along at the top of your lungs. R. Kelly is quite a nice addition, and I am so excited to see the music video. Who doesn't love a good diss track to all the critics and haters?

8. Artpop - 7/10

I wasn't a fan of the title track at the iTunes Festival, and I'm still not. It's largely unchanged, and it's still just as boring. I must admit that the chorus gets stuck in my head from time to time, but it's the track that I always forget about. It doesn't stand out and doesn't do anything for me musically. Title track are usually never very good, and this fits the pattern.
9. Swine - 8/10

I've found myself in a pickle with 'Swine'. At the iTunes Festival it was incredible and a standout moment, but some of the magic got lost in translation on the studio cut. Without the live instrumentation DJ White Shadow's production is front and center, and sounds very generic. The continually rising beat is very annoying, and the song gets weaker and weaker with each listen. I love Gaga's vocals and her presentation of the song, but the production is lacking.

10. Donatella - 10/10

'Donatella' is my absolute favorite track on ARTPOP. It was one of the first songs I listened to when the album originally leaked, and with each listen I get more and more addicted. I mean, the opening lines of the song are incredibly addictive and fun. Who doesn't love a good in your face "I'm a beautiful bitch" track? It's totally an anthem for all the gays out there, and it delivers. I must admit that I've strutted down the street while listening to it. It also stands out because the beat isn't generic like the rest of the album. It's a fun track.

11. Fashion! - 7/10

I never thought that in my life I would see Lady Gaga collaborate with will.i.am and David Guetta. And I wish I had never heard it. It's honestly not that bad of a track, but it's forgettable. If you were to ask me to sing the chorus, I wouldn't be able to. It's a nice listen and it's different from DJ White Shadow's dominance on the record so it stands out, but in her collective body of work it's forgettable.

12. Mary Jane Holland - 10/10

When the preview of the song was originally released I freaked out, and for good reason. The song is this massive track that reminds me of the more dark and thematic songs on Born This Way. It has an operatic/musical theater vibe to it; think rock opera à la Jekyll & Hyde. Madeon produced the song and it's incredible. I wish he had more of an influence on the album because he's extremely talented. Gaga's vocals are probably my favorite aspect. They are on point, and so powerful.
13.  Dope - 8/10

'Dope' is the only piano ballad on the album, and it's good. Gaga took 'I Just Wanna Be With You' from the iTunes Festival performance and incorporated it into a song a fan wrote for her called 'Dope'. It puts two powerful emotions together to create a great song. The only problem I have with it are Gaga's vocals. I feel like she's trying to do too much, and it comes off as weird and jarring. Other than that it's a beautiful song.

14. Gypsy - 10/10

To be blunt, Gaga would be an idiot if she doesn't release 'Gypsy' as the third single. Never has Gaga released this good of a song since 'Bad Romance'. In my opinion this is the second best song of her career. It starts off like a ballad, but then Madeon's production comes in and turns into this insane jam that is euphoric and blows my mind. Not only is the production perfection, but it's got such a great message. This could be a pinnacle in her career if she plays her cards right.

15. Applause - 9/10

Finishing the album is the lead single, a fitting end to the album. 'Applause' is an instant hit, and even though it doesn't necessarily fit with the sonic element of the rest of the album, it's one hell of an addictive song and I still get goosebumps every time the opening notes start playing. It's a love letter to all her fans, and a perfect way to seal this album.

Tracks to Check Out: 'G.U.Y.', 'Sexxx Dreams', 'Donatella', 'Mary Jane Holland', 'Gypsy'

Overall Rating: 8.5