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| Artwork from the new Lady Gaga release, ARTPOP |
Despite injuring her right hip and cancelling the rest of her Born This Way tour, 2013 has been an auspicious year for Lady Gaga. Not only has it allowed her to work on her tour documentary, prepare for her dramatic film debut in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills (due in September) and start recording her duet album with Tony Bennett. Gaga finished off ARTPOP, her hotly anticipated third album. On Friday July 12, she gave a release date for the album and its app (November 11, 2013), and its’ first single (August 19). She also sent out one of its first promotional images (above) complete with her ARTPOP forearm tattoo.
On a critical tip, I found her second album, Born This Way, to be a tepid follow-up to such a potent debut as The Fame. That sophomore effort was too Madonna-like and lacked the melodic punch and invention of its predecessor. ARTPOP though, already sounds like a different beast (or should I say “monster” in celebration of her fans). Gaga has already performed one of its more dramatic tracks, "Princess Die", in concert, and electronic music-maker/producer Zedd – one of ARTPOP’s principle collaborators – has stated his amazement at the wealth (a rumored 50 songs recorded) and breadth of her new material.
Though the new single’s name has yet to have been announced, the album’s app ( developed by her Haus of Gaga's technology division, TechHAUS) is being wrapped in with the album’s release and is scheduled to include everything from videos, bonus music, games, and fashion tips.
Also announced is a party in New York City that will feature ARTPOP-themed performance collaborations with photographer duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, avant-garde theater director Robert Wilson, performance artist Marina Abramović, and Pop artist Jeff Koons.
Photo ©Lady Gaga
Posted on Friday, July 12, 2013
