July 6th, 2008

Album to look for: "The Fame"

Genre(s): Pop, Dance, Electronica

City of Origin: New York

Record Label: Konvict Muzik

Myspace Page: Click Here

The 70s were a very experimental time in the world. Between the aftermath of the drawn out conflict in Vietnam and the struggling economy is the United States, many people -- the youth in particular, began to explore drug use, sexuality, and new music.

It was in the "Me Decade" genres like the U.K.-based glam rock and the "get-up-and-boogie" antics of disco flourished in the mainstream. The outlandish stage costumes, hairstyles, make up, and quirky thematics as seen from the infamous performances from legendary artists like David Bowie and Queen provided endless inspiration many years later to a young New York native named Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, who thankfully made her stage name simply Lady GaGa (who derives her name from a Queen song called "Radio Gaga").

After dropping out of New York University, the shock artist got a buzz going for herself in the underground club scene before inking a deal with Interscope as a song writer. GaGa, 22, has already penned songs for The Pussycat Dolls (to be featured on the second album, "Doll Domination" due for release this fall) and the New Kids On The Block reunion LP (... that's about a decade too late, but oh well..).

However, the sequin-donning songstress caught the attention of multi-platinum R&B artist Akon who quickly snatched her up as an artist for his own label, Konvict Muzik (also home of Brick & Lace). Lady GaGa is releasing her debut album, "The Fame," at the end of the summer and she's not only primed to bring "sexy back" (sorry Justin), she's also trying to resurrect the sugary-sweet sounds of pop music from the watery grave hip-hop buried it in earlier this decade.

The self-proclaimed "retrosexual" can be heard and seen on the airwaves with her lead single "Just Dance" featuring fellow newcomer and Konvict Muzik inmate, Colby O'Donis. The track is the audio equivalent of an epileptic seizure featuring fast-paced NES-esque synths and paralyzing bass that GaGa effortlessly floats over with her infectious lyrical content ("Wish I could shut my playboy mouth, how'd I turn my shirt inside out?").

Drawing more inspiration from recent artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson, GaGa is destined to turn the same ol' Top 40 countdown on it's ear. "I almost want to trick people into hanging with something that is really cool with a pop song. It's almost like the spoonful of sugar and I'm the medicine," she says.

To hear more of her work off of "The Fame," including the equally catchy "Beautiful Dirty Rich," visit her official Myspace account by clicking right here.