I have attempted to dodge writing a review for Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP since it leaked in early November. To describe my crazed affection for Lady Gaga proves difficult, partially because I cannot formulate the words to describe my fandom, but also because the opportunity hadn’t presented itself until now. Finally, after months of anticipation, scribbling the rumored album title ARTPOP on every notebook, searching Tumblr for the most obscure shreds of information on upcoming projects and generally hanging onto every word Lady Gaga says, ARTPOP arrived.

ARTPOP delves into the marriage of art culture and pop music. She describes the album as a ‘reverse Warholian expedition,’ bringing high art into a pop cultural context. Gaga proved herself as an avant-garde spokesperson and a vehicle for art- especially evident in the cover art- a massive sculpture of Gaga built and photographed by pop-artist Jeff Koons (Gaga’s much misunderstood or misheard “one second I’m a koons then suddenly the koons is me,” lyrics from “Applause”, which further packs the punch) consorted with hot pink lettering and a collage of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus as the backdrop.

Gaga herolds an intense 15 tracks which range from piano-driven ballads to Euro-inspired club records, yet zoning in on the latter. Tracks like “Venus”, “Swine” and “Donatella” (of Versace) conjure blazing synthesizer accompanied bass drops felt in one’s fingertips – sonics that are meant to be played under strobe lights and fog machines. Additionally in ARTPOP, Lady Gaga ventures back to her hip-hop roots, which were explored in collaborations with Wale and Kid Cudi, Gaga’s second single “Do What U Want,” an R&B infused pop song, contains a collaboration with R. Kelly and producer DJ White Shadow. The album does harbor a couple sentimental tracks, particularly Gaga’s third single, “Dope”, which delves into the artist’s battle with drugs and alcohol- proclaiming “I need you more than dope” to her little monsters.

In addition to the album, Gaga and her technology team, TechHaus, created an accompanying app of the same name. The interactive application assigns ‘auras’ to the community of users- an orb of glowing light that will evolve as the user uses the app. The app allows fans to make art, GIFs and music of their own, and also offers a platform for little monsters to discuss art, music and pop culture with one another via LittleMonsters.com.

All this said, Lady Gaga has done it again- she’s slayed me. ARTPOP proves to be another creation driven by and focused on art, technology and culture. While it holds the spirit of her previous albums, the album lacks the pretense that was prevalent in Born This Way, ARTPOP lacks the maturity and charades. ARTPOP, thematically, is a smattering of ideas- from the galaxy to addiction- and yet still gears for a multitude of occasions, from art galleries to pop clubs.