Erin Heywood is 21-year-old, third year Journalism student at the University of Sheffield. Her interests include music, TV, sport, film and books. She hopes to one day get a job in magazines or newspapers writing features about artists performing, or events happening, close to her home city of Manchester.

Not in my lifetime have I seen or heard more hype about a single person’s album. Everyone who knows anything about pop music has been discussing the release of Lady Gaga’s newest album, wondering whether or not it would have as huge an impact on the charts as ‘The Fame’ did. And, as a self-confessed little monster, I’ll admit I’ve been counting down the days until Born This Way was to make its journey to my letterbox and onto my stereo. Thankfully that day arrived earlier this week.

Having already been listening to (and loving) title track ‘Born This Way’ and newest release ‘Judas’ for weeks, and recently being engrossed by her performance of ‘Edge of Glory’ on Radio 1’s Big Weekend, I was pretty confident the rest of the album would get my bum wiggling like all the classic Gaga songs we know and love.

I can honestly say I don’t know whether I was disappointed or not. The album opens with ‘Marry the Night’; stinking of 90s pop, I instantly loved it.  My joy continued through early tracks ‘Government Hooker’, a gothic political slaying of what goes on behind closed doors (think breaching super injunction through the art of Gaga); and ‘Americano’, with its blatant Hispanic riff, it paraded Ms Germanotta’s true origins through my speakers. My paws were flexing.

But the paws dropped as I got through ‘Hair’ and on to tracks such as ‘Bloody Mary’, ‘Bad Kids’ and ‘Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)’. I think her message must have been lost in translation. The songs are jumpy, there’s no iconic sound, no identity that she’s apparently so proud of. They mould into one. My heart sank and I wondered what had happened to my beloved Gaga.

But! Worry not. It picks back up again around the last third of the album. Gone is what seems to be a barefaced need to defend her identity, and back are her trademark graphic lyrics about sex and love in tracks such as ‘Electric Chapel’ and ‘You & I’. I had fallen in love again.

The album ends with the soulful ‘Edge of Glory’, and I can’t think of a better way to close. Not only does she showcase her amazing voice, but she demonstrates her undeniable ability to turn a simple tune into something outstanding, once she places her stamp on it.

If you unconditionally love Lady Gaga, you need this album. Buy it now. If you’re someone who likes to make the most of every penny they spend on a piece of music, I advise you to listen to the whole thing once then download your individual favourite tracks. But what is hit and miss to some, is still brilliant to me.

Gaga’s shown once again that she is the Queen of pop, and I have no doubt that the tracks from this album will seize power in the charts once more.

Erin is a big fan of Gaga’s latest offering but what did you think of her review? Let us know by tweeting @wannabehacks or commenting below…