About a year before she released The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga showed the world her debut album. The Fame is packed with so many catchy pop hooks, you won't know what to do with them. Every song, from the ballad (Brown Eyes) to the radio hits (Poker Face) has a clear melody that you won't soon forget. The concept for this album is very different than her sophomore effort. The Fame is about fame. It may sound like a shallow idea, but some songs dig deeper into the life of someone with fame and fortune.
The opening song is Lady Gaga's debut single, "Just Dance". The song really sets the feeling for most of the album. It's about having fun, and partying. The first four songs on The Fame are coincidentally the four #1 hits that the album had. With this song order, you may think that the other ten songs are filler. This thought is completely wrong. Although the front half contains the singles, the album keeps the listeners attention throughout its entirety.
The main element that brought Lady Gaga to her stardom is her ability to be unique. The production and vocals on the songs are extremely unique to todays mainstream pop. From her unique pronunciation on songs like "Starstruck" and "Brown Eyes" to the faint yells and synth warping on "Paparazzi", it's there. She definitely has her own style, and signature producer (RedOne).
As for inspirations from other artists, there are some clear candidates. Gaga claims that she looks up to several glam rock musicians, such as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie. This influence is certainly noticeable. Several of the songs are very theatrical. I can also hear some similarities to '80's pop music (Madonna... maybe even Cyndi Lauper).
Overall, the album is a solid piece of pop. There are several songs, besides the singles, that could have been chart-toppers (The Fame, Boys Boys Boys), if not for the release of The Fame Monster. I suggest you put this CD in your stereo, push play, and have fun. That's really what The Fame is about.
"Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow" - Lady Gaga
