The Monster Ball Tour At Madison Square Garden (Streamline/Interscope)

There is a moment early in this concert video DVD where Lady Gaga chokes up over the thought of being on stage and still feeling like a freak. It’s easy to be cynical about the whole exercise but it does come across as a sincere expression if that counts for anything.

A Lady Gaga show is a spectacle – elaborate dance routines, eye-catching costume changes, visceral sex appeal, colourful lights and yes, throbbing, infectious music. There’s no denying Lady Gaga’s obvious debt to Madonna but she manages to dominate the entire stage with her presence and personality that the audience will never think of influences and inspirations and be enraptured by the power of Gaga.

All the hits are delivered with glitz, aplomb and utter professionalism – The Fame, Telephone, You and I, Alejandro, Poker Face, Paparazzi and the like. That all said, it’s almost impossible not to watch the Monster Ball show and not think of Alice Cooper! I kid you not…