Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

After a huge success with 2008's The Fame which featured singles such as Poker Face and Just Dance her album gets the reissue treatment and instead of being released with bsides and tracks that were left in the cutting room we get 8 brand new tracks as well as the original album.

Opening up with recent single Bad Romance this track has almost spoken word verses and one of her trademark huge choruses which she is known for. Musically it is a slow but very heavy dance track, the drumbeats are huge and the riffs are more akin to a hardcore track than a synthpop track. Monster, Dancer in the Dark and my personal favourite Telephone (which features guest vocals from Beyonce) are all heavy dance tracks. Dancer in the Dark has a distinct 80s electropop feel.

Whilst Speechless, Teeth and So Happy I Could Die all stray away from the dance formula. Album closer Teeth has cabaret style vocals and is the most "different" sounding track. Speechless is a ballad but has guitar licks giving it a classic rock feel.

Although it is just 8 tracks all of them are very good and have more of a dance vibe than the album but at the same time they all have different influences straying them away from generic pop music.

8 out of 10 out now as a double cd, double cd with bonus tracks, limited edtion boxset and download