Joanne Finds Lady Gaga Back in Her Sweet Spot

Returning to her singer-songwriter roots, Mother Monster bounces from folk to country to pop with enormous success on her latest effort.

Lady Gaga

Joanne (Interscope Records)

Where her previous release — 2013’s misunderstood ARTPOP — showcased glitz, glamor and disco-inspired anthems, Joanne heads in an entirely different direction: think Joni Mitchell, Loretta Lynn and Judy Collins. On the album’s most tender moments, “Million Reasons” and “Angel Down,” Gaga strips away the electronics, heavy production and flashy beats in favor of emotion-laden melodies with lyrics that focus on pain and loss. For fans of the Gaga of yesteryear, there is the roaring lead single, “Perfect Illusion,” and the equally rhythmic “A-Yo.” But Joanne undoubtedly reaches its peak with “Hey Girl” — an uplifting and inspirational collaboration with Florence Welch (without her Machine) in which Gaga optimistically sings:“We can make it easy if we lift each other.” For Gaga’s 2017 tour dates as they’re announced, visit ladygaga.com.