After several ups and downs in the late-2010s and early-2020s, Lady Gaga has made a triumphant return to pop music – and it’s just what the culture ordered. Going back to her club kid roots with bold sounds and danceable beats, Gaga really is bringing us Mayhem. Let's break it down track-by-track!

1. "Disease"

Gaga is here to remind us that she is a powerhouse vocalist. "Disease" was released as the lead single from Mayhem in October, and it is giving us flashbacks to all of her greatest hits. Set to an intense dance beat, Gaga comes out the gate belting and doesn’t let it drop. There’s a raspy, growling tone to her voice that captures the listener and excites them for the rest of the album.

Favorite Lyrics: "Poison on the inside / I could be your antidote tonight..."

2. "Abracadabra"

If you were watching this year’s Grammys, you’ll always remember where you were when this song hit the scene. She released the music video as a commercial during the awards show, and by the end of the night, we all had the choreography down. It’s a great homage to her showmanship and theatrical roots. The song itself is an electro-pop sensation with house music influence, heard in the pulsing beat and synth riffs.

Favorite Lyrics: "With a haunting dance, now you’re both in a trance / It’s time to cast your spell on the night..."

3. "Garden of Eden"

This electro- and synth-pop blend has a much more melodic sound. In the way that it transitions from melodic singing on the verses to hard, electric choruses, this song reminds us a lot of "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna. The vocalists complementing Gaga on the bridge really put this song over the top.

Favorite Lyrics: "Take you to the Garden of Eden / Poison apple, take a bite..."

4. "Perfect Celebrity"

In this drum-heavy electro-pop song, Gaga reflects on her status as a celebrity. She lashes out at the voyeuristic tendencies of audiences but ultimately owns the situation she’s in and realizes that she won’t change it. The raw vocals are back, and they convey a real frustration but also a feeling of power. The theme of celebrity lifestyle isn’t new for superstars, but Gaga’s take on it is exciting and empowering.

Favorite Lyrics: "Tap on my vein, suck my diamond blood / Choke on the fame and hope it gets you high..."

5. "Vanish Into You"

The most vocally impressive song so far, "Vanish Into You" is a glam-rock song with heavy disco influence. The sound makes us picture the Nevermore Ball from Netflix's "Wednesday" series, and it couldn’t make more sense that Gaga is appearing in Season 2!

Favorite Lyrics: "It was cold in the summertime / We were just happy to be alive..."

6. "Killah" (feat. Gesaffelstein)

This electric funk song has an intense groove with just a touch of disco. With the dirtiest lyrics so far, the juxtaposition is slightly absurd. Still, it’s a very bouncy and danceable song.

Favorite Lyrics: "I’m lightin’ up my final cigarette / I’ll burn a hole right through your eyes..."

7. "Zombieboy"

This song is a tribute to the late Rick Genest, who earned the nickname "Zombie Boy" because of his full body tattoos. Genest collaborated with Gaga on the “Born This Way” music video, and the lyrics for this song (“Put your paws all over me, you zombie boy”) are an obvious homage to the earlier now-iconic song. Besides being a heartfelt tribute, the song evokes early-'80s Blondie with some Gwen Stefani references. It feels like the middle of a long night out.

Favorite Lyrics: "Oh I can’t see straight and my hands are tied / I could be your type from your zombie bite..."

8. "LoveDrug"

This electro-pop song is a pretty surface-level look at using romantic relationships as a distraction from other problems. It’s not the most memorable start to the album’s B-sides but it’s another good dance song. At this point, we're not sure Gaga is capable of making a song you can’t dance to.

Favorite Lyrics: "Thought we’d last a lifetime, when I’m mumblin’ alone / I taste the last words that you spoke to me like wine..."

9. "How Bad Do U Want Me"

A classic pop song, “How Bad Do U Want Me” has been criticized for sounding like a Taylor Swift track. While we agree the song could be put right in the middle of The Tortured Poets Department and we would be none the wiser, I think it’s a good choice to slow down and lighten up amongst the heavy electro-pop we’ve been hearing. It’s by no means a bad song, and it ties back thematically to both “LoveDrug” and “Perfect Celebrity”.

Favorite Lyrics: "She’s on your mind, like, all the time / But I got a tattoo for us last week..."

10. "Don’t Call Tonight"

This synth-pop track reflects on a bad breakup, telling someone not to call because, no matter what they say, it’ll hurt. It’s an interesting followup to “LoveDrug”, which framed a relationship as an escape from emotional issues, because it examines the fallout of those romantic relationships becoming issues themselves. It’s a fast beat, and the bridge has a robotic tone that is both great to listen to and reflective of the emotional shutdown Gaga is describing.

Favorite Lyrics: "The sun is risin’, but we’re out of light / We twist the knife too many times to say goodbye..."

11. "Shadow of a Man"

This ethereal and cinematic song takes a look at gender roles through the lens of Gaga’s career. The synth-pop is still here, but it’s softer before building in intensity as Gaga gets more comfortable with her position. “What it always felt like to be the only girl in the room a lot of the time . . . standing in the shadow of a man, because there were so many around me that I learned how to dance in that shadow,” Gaga explained in an interview. The song has sparked some conversation, and the message along with the gorgeous sound makes it a standout of the album.

Favorite Lyrics: "I’m about to be there, I’m about to be there / Watch me, I swear / I’ll dance in the shadow of a man..."

12. "The Beast"

Gaga has mentioned vampires and zombies, so now we’re at werewolves. “The Beast” is a song about loving a monster because of what makes them a monster, not despite it. With a groovy drum beat, this song really calls to us supernatural romance readers.

Favorite Lyrics: "You’re heart’s racin’, you’re growlin’ and we both know why..."

13. "Blade of Grass"

As the only real ballad on the album, this song starts with just Gaga and a piano. At the chorus, she introduces drums and guitar, and the whole combination grows in intensity as a reflection of the passion Gaga feels for her partner. She uses a blade of grass as imagery for an engagement ring, and the song is inspired by a moment Gaga shared with her fiancé Michael Polansky. “Michael asked me how I would want him to propose to me one day,” Gaga said in the same interview. “We were in our backyard and I said, ‘Just take a blade of grass and wrap it around my finger.’”

Favorite Lyrics: "‘Cause even though the church burned down / I’ll be your queen without a crown..."

14. "Die With a Smile" (with Bruno Mars)

If you were previously familiar with any song on this record, it was probably this one. The track won a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and was nominated for Song of the Year. Soft-rock and pop-soul sounds cushion a heartfelt love story that works as a beautiful closer to the rocky but ultimately fulfilling stories of love that have been told so far.

Favorite Lyrics: "If the party was over / And our time on Earth was through / I’d wanna hold you just for a while / And die with a smile..."