Why Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' is My Favourite Album of 2011

In May 2011, Lady Gaga finally released her second album, "Born This Way." After the success of her debut effort, "The Fame," her fans were eager to get their hands on her much hyped new material. I was right there in the front of the queue to grab my copy, desperate to find out if it lived up to the insanely high expectations placed upon it. While I felt it fell a little short of what I was hoping for, it is still my favorite album of 2011 so far, and here's why.

Packed with positivity

Okay, maybe that isn't true of every single song. However, the whole album has an amazing feel good vibe to it. The not-so-subtle message in many songs is that it's okay to be who you are. It seems, in these days of musical snobbery, an artist's latest musical offering is only considered brilliant if the lyrics make you want to curl up in a ball and cry. While I understand as well as anyone that good music makes you feel, that feeling doesn't have to be misery. It is far better if the lasting effect is one that brightens your day. From the popular title track to "Fashion of His Love" (apparently written as a tribute to the late Alexander McQueen), one listen to this album will give you the impression that you can take on the world!

It's high energy

From the beginning to the end, "Born This Way" is crammed with fast paced beats that can't fail to make you want to get up and dance. There are very few songs which slow things down, and as someone who loves to get down to a good beat, I cannot get enough of this album. In fact, it is the perfect soundtrack to get me in the mood for a night on the town.

"You and I"

It's not really a good thing when one song can tip the balance between success and failure. Although that isn't quite the case with "Born This Way," without the track "You and I,"it would be far less brilliant. "You and I" reminds the listener of the depth of emotion Lady Gaga can put into her music. There is real passion and soul injected into every word and every note she sings. Without a doubt, it is the best song on the album.

It's unique

One of the biggest reasons I think "Born This Way" is the best album of 2011 is simply that it is so different. So many artists these days stick with a similar style, or similar themes. Even though this album doesn't show Mother Monster to her absolute best in terms of lyrics, it is a true testament to her talent that she can create music that gets people talking and thinking.

"Born This Way" will never gain the level of critical acclaim reached by people like John Lennon or Jeff Buckley, mainly because that was probably never the intention. However, if there was an award for energetic, happy, positive and fun, this album would win without question. If you like the kind of music that will make you move, make you think and make you smile -- this is the album you need.