Instead, she’s made one of her most sonically challenging and uniform albums yet: a mix of Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Prince and her Fame Monster -era self, rolled into the year’s strongest pop release yet.

Mayhem technically concludes with its juggernaut hit “Die With A Smile,” but its true farewell comes in the piano ballad “Blade of Grass.” Inspired by a conversation with her now fiancé about proposals, the track imagines how wrapping a blade of grass around her finger would be enough.

Speaking of “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga may have pulled off the ultimate “Saturday Night Live” magic trick during her two musical numbers in this week’s episode: dancing furiously and singing live. That combination is not for every “SNL” musical guest,