MDNA

At first, MDNA does not seem to come full circle: there are clearly different strands in this album, I will keep the best (and biggest) for last. 1- The 'dancey' songs, like 'Girl Gone Wild', 'Turn up the Radio', these are not anything very new, catchy, no doubt, but one expects more from the Queen of Pop. 2- The 'mashup' songs. @Give me all your Luvin'' is a famous example: this is, in my humble opinion, Madonna's worst song ever. Really hard to understand why it was chosen as the first single. 'I don't give a F*' is another, much more successful example, which I believe tells us where Madonna is trying to go: it's a continuously changing song, which has a 1980s rap to it, much more electro line throughoput and ends like a Gregorian Hymn. THis is the most 'evident' confaltion of genres on the album, but not the only one. The others are more subtle, and maybe Madoonna is telling us that she is trying (as she did with 'Ray of Light') to throw disparate genre, like rap and medieval music together, and create a kaleidoscopic effect. 3- Ballads, from a very 'classical' pop ballad, winner of teh Golden Globe 'Masterpiece', which is a very, very beautiful song, but it seems clear why this was not chosen as a single: the orchestration is, by Madonna's Standards, old, 'Live to Tell' time (1986). There are several songs that are either mid or slow-mid tempo, but the greatest masterpiece in the album is 'Falling Free'. Simply Madonna's best song ever. 4- A more subtle, very 'retro' sounding theme runs through most of the album: 'BDay Song' is an example, yet 'I'm a Sinner'is a much much more interesting one: it goes back to 'Beautiful Stranger', with much elegance and many flourishes, but it also samples 'Sympathy for the Devil' by the Stones: and what a suitable choice for am album which explores Madonna's deepest darkest sides and a journey towards the light, with a prayer bang in the middle. 5- FINALLy: the clearly experimental new sound, which stands out in the album, at times delicately, at times violently. All the best tracks tend in this direction: 'Gang Bang' is a masterpiece, with hearbeats and a sinister lullibying melody, as well as an explosion and very 'electro' arrangements. 'Falling Free' also strongly belongs to this group: I will just leave the song to speak for itself. It's just amazing. 'Love Spennt', the fourth single, which will open the series of experimental singles, is a beautiful song as well, it starts with Mandolins, and progresses through puns, heart-felt confessions to a sudden change. What seems clear is that most songs are actually two or more tracks together. Why all this? Well, we need to remeber that Madonna took a 4 year holiday... She is now narrating the whole of her carrer and only giving us a sample of where she is going. The choice of the first singles has been controversial: why choose the worst tracks, when there are clearly amazing songs on this album? I think the answer is two-fold: Madonna had to reingage with a very young audience, the 12, 13, 14 year olds, who may not yet buy the single, but are being led by the hand along Madonna's impressive career, from 'Everybody' in 1982 till now. If she had chosen an experimental single, yes, the older, richer generation, the ones who love (like me) 'Ray of Light' and the even cleverer ones who realise thaty 'American Life' is one of her best albums, but they understand longer discourses, they do not judge an artist of Madonna's standing by a single, not even an album, not even 3 to be honest. They WILL hear (and soon) the next string of singles ('Love Spent' the first, tehn likely 'Gang Bang', (Falling Free' and maybe 'I'm Addicted' or 'I'm a Sinner'. Yes, this will end up being like 'True Blue' a 6 or 7 singles album, and how many people fell in love with Madonna when they hear 'La Isla Bonita'? So cleverly kept as the very last single. The album still has the best 1st week this year worldwide as well as in the US, and has sold in 3 months as more than Rhianna's latest effort has done in 9, but Madonna is not competing with the current rising princesses: she knows she is one of the greatest Colossi (with The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson, and in most cases she has smased all their all-time records). Madonna does not have the current few years' hit artists, as William Orbit says, she is the greatest music artist alive. Madonna is talking directly to history, to posterity, she is leaving critics something that will make sense to them in 10 years time (when she might, just might retire, given her continuous impressive success. Does she care to beat her own record of number 1s in the US (152, more than twice the Beatles)? No. Does she care to beat her own all-time record collection of number ones with an album (39, 'Confessions' snatching it from the Beatles). No, and yet she collects 51 with this, and with NO promotion. Did she care to have the most viewd music event in the history of TV (SuperBowl), yes, and in fact she did it. Does she are to smash her own 1st AND 2nd position as the most successful tours ever in history by a music artist? Maybe, and in fact she will have the 1st, 2nd and 3rd by the end of this year. So why this album? Madonna quietly makes the acquaintance with the very new generation, who will get to love her soon (oddly enough, as soon as they have spending power!), and keeps the more refined music listeners waiting a bit. Not a TV appearence, nothing to promote the album, why? Not just because her number 1 position is guaranteed, but because promotiion WILL start AFTER the Tour. I have one criticism ( on top of her wosrt song ever): I think the album's ambition is far too big. It really covers the widest spectrum of influences, sounds, genres ever in music history, I can hear monks singing as well as Violent femmes in this album. But the 5 stars go for a few things: 1- The courage to experiment with such a breath of genres. 2- The music, orchestration and arrangements, they are really great. 3- Her best song ever, 'Falling Free', from someone with more hits than The Beatles AND Elvis put together, to give us this jewel right now is pure grace. 4- Her voice: Madonna's voice has been growing and growing. Voices should peak around 30-35 year of age, hers has been getting higher and higher, yet with more and more depth (her timbre is much richer now than it ever was), and stronger and stronger. On average this album is an octave hiher than her previous two. Madonna's voice currently has the widest range o(it's the 'biggest' sort of, though not necessarily the 'loudest') of any interanational artist 3.2 octaves measured in live performances (lowest not in 'Open Your Heart', Highest in Ray of Light), that compares favourably with Dear Whitney (who had, till she lost her voice a much louder voice, a stronger projection), more than twice as big as Adele's and with the longest breath (17.5 seconds, measured live at Live 8, half a second longer than Whitney Houston ever could). So, is this a 'round' album? Maybe not, maybe it's a sketch of things to come. Is Madonna the most impressive artist alive. NO DOUBT.

Most of the reviews out there completely and on here as usual, ignore the contents of this album instead, they stick to either trashing Madonna's age or indeed, her personal life. And to be honest the rest are just imature Lady GaGa fans hoping that they will somehow derail Madonna's career with pathetic, poor reviews?! LOL nice try kiddies! Glad to say that Madonna always was a canny woman, she knows that the critics are out to derail her no matter how good the music is, and you know the music is good when not one of the reviews trashes it! Instead they turn their attention to pithy personal attacks on her... "oh she shouldnt be wearing that", "oh she shouldnt be saying this". Madonna lost patience with the media decades ago and here on MDNA it shows! For this album is a great big middle finger to ALL out there who tell her she shouldnt!!! Shouldnt wear skimpy clothes, shouldnt date younger guys, shouldnt dance provocatively and simply shouldnt release music that puts half of her young pretenders to shame! Whilst nearly all of Madonna's contemporary's seem to be permanently stuck and recessed in Madonna's older years (Lady GaGa constantly mining Madonna's past anyone?), the iron lady of pop herself seems intent on pushing things forward, ok so she hasnt worked with anyone new on this album, but the people she has chosen to work with know their craft inside out and on MDNA is shows. This collection bubbles with beats, thumps with bass and has killer hooks flooding from every track. I am hard pressed to find a dud amongst this lot... more accessible than anything on Ray Of Light, more contemporary than the stuff on American Life and certainly more dancefloor friendly than anything on Confessions (bar Hung Up); MDNA shows Madonna at her riveting best! Stand out tracks have to be the opening single and its already banned video Girl Gone Wild, the electro clash jaunt Some Girls and the blindingly brilliant Love Spent. The whole collection shimmers like a neon glitterball, it is brilliant from start to finish and makes artist like GaGa seem 'reductive', it certainly shows how that young pretender takes herself far to seriously for her own good anyway! Or as Nikki Minage claims on the track "I dont give a...", "Theres only one Queen and thats Madonna... B*TCH!". Never a truer word said! Welcome back Madge!

As Madonna is nearing her mid 50's it's a rare breed that an artist her age is still recording original contemporary material when most of her peers are happy to tour on their old hits and release covers albums. That said her recent singles chat positions indicate that she is no longer appealing to the modern kids that buy singles these days, it's really surprising this hasn't happened sooner, can you name anyone her age still relevant and contemporary around at the moment? So MDNA comes along and there were initial cries of "Why hasn't Madonna got Red0ne to produce the album" ? Well remember Madonna has always been a trendsetter not follower, so having lady gaga's producer would've smacked of desperation, hence we get benny Benassi/Martin Solvieg and longtime producer Willam Orbit who makes a more than welcome return here. MDNA isn't likely to win Madge any new fans ( as mentioned previous,her recent chart positions would certainly indicate this) but it's a solid,if somewhat disjointed return to the dance arena she is most comfortable in. The album basically falls into 3 categorise - Club bangers (produced by Benny Benassi) Dance/pop songs (produced by Martin Solveig) and mid tempo ambient pop songs (produced by Wiliam Orbit) - After listening to this album quite a few times, the clubby tracks prod by Benassi come off the worst, not terrible, but forgettable and probably won't be that memorable to fans in the coming years. Martin Solveig though proves he's a deft hand with the kind of sound Stuart price employed on "COADF" a few years back and i hope Madonna teams up with him again on the next one. Most of all though it's her material with William Orbit here that most suits herat this stage of her career, whilst she doesn't embarrass herself with the club tracks like "Girls Gone Wild" and "Some Girls" (actually as good as anything GaGa had on her last album) at this stage of her career she should be moving away from this type of track and leave it to the kids. Orbit's work here is as good as his material form the "Ray Of Light" album and i really hope Madge does another full album with the man, if ever there was a perfect fit musically it's Orbit and Madonna. "Masterpiece" and the albums best song "Falling Free" show that Madonna is still a very good songwriter and Orbit's understated production add much depth to both. Girls gone wild - 7.5/10 Gang Bang - 6/10 I'm Addicted 6/10 Turn up the Radio 7.5/10 Some Girls 8/10 Superstar 8/10 Give me all your loving 7.5/10 I don't give a.. 6/10 I'm a sinner 8/10 Love spent 9/10 Masterpiece 9/10 Falling free 10/10 Bonus tracks Beautiful killer 9/10 I F.... Up 7.5/10 B-Day song 4/10 Best friend 5/10 Give me all your lovin remix 5/10 PLEASE BUY THE DELUXE EDITION! the 4 tracks here are a mixed bag but the first 2 tracks should've been on the main album. The brilliant "Beautiful Killer" should've been the first single, a really catchy pop dance anthem. "I F***** Up" is also another top William orbit produced song. "Best friend" is just average and less said about "B-Day song" the better!! A terrible pop ditty that is more suited to her "Like a virgin" era, a woman in her 50's should not be singing this type of song, this is the sort of song you can imaging Little Mix singing..awful. Not her best album but far from her worst. This shows that there's still life in the old girl yet! 4/5

I have listened to this album over and over since I bought it approximately one month ago. My initial thoughts were that there were too many dance tracks & not enough ballads. The first 10 tracks are all upbeat numbers and the last 2 tracks are ballads. I have now reconsidered my opinion based on the fact that the upbeat tracks are in the main very good, dance/pop songs. Some of the reviews I have read have been very scathing but I have come to love this album. There are no obvious duff tracks. Some people seem to be critical of the fact that there are tracks which feature other artists (Nicki Minaj & MIA). I think this is a good thing. Why shouldn't Madonna try to reach out to the younger generation as well as her established fanbase. Another criticism is that the lyrics are basic & not very meaningful. I don't care about the lyrics as long as I get to hear a good song. Too much emphasis is put on lyrics sometimes. Love Spent is a great pop song & Masterpiece is a brilliant ballad. Turn Up The Radio is an uncomplicated made for airplay track and I'm A Sinner is another highlight. I would be surprised if true Madonna fans can't see the merits of having this album in their collection in the long term.

After hearing the first single I was totally disapointed, it was too much of Glee and rather sounding like a hit from the 50's or 60's, without the rapping of Minage and Kia, anyway enough about that' the album is excellant and well worth buying, tracks like Turn Up The Radio could give her another number one hit, it has summer hit written all over, so Madge if your'e reading this get it out there..... lol, I'm Addicted is another sure fire hit, suprisingly Masterpiece is actually a very classy track, another stand out track is I'm A Sinner and could also hit the top of the charts, all in all this is an excellant album and has been worth the 4 year wait, other tracks worth listning to are Some Girls again summer sounding, Love Spent is very up lifting and again hit status.......... Go buy this album and enjoy it loud and louder it has something to like all the way from start to finnish' with the exception of Gimme All Your Luvin........ George (London)

This is an ok cd by Madonna but not her best. I only purchased it for the one song Masterpiece which is the best song on the album in my opinion, and also to complete my collection of Madonna cds. It isn't her best and some tracks sounded very samey. My sister has liked Madonna for yonks and when she borrowed it she wasn't impressed. It's ok and it was a fair price but to be honest you aint missing much by not owning it!!!!

Madonna's big comeback album went straight to number one in the UK, and rightly so, but quite soon after slipped away from the charts and was seemingly forgotten. This album is great. It's got variety in the music, and while it may not be Madonna's greatest ever album, it is far from second rate, and the poor sales performance just doesn't reflect the quality of the album at all. My only 'disappointment' is the use of the 'F' word. I'm not offended by it, but it disappoints me when my favourite artists feel the need to use it in their material. It's so not necessary. If you like any of Madonna's work over the last 10 years and don't yet have MDNA then you should get it! You won't be disappointed, and you might just be pleasantly surprized.

Madonna is back with a cracking album after the slight disappointment of Hard Candy. Make no mistake nothing prepares you for just how good MDNA is. I had heard previews of the tracks but on full high quality sound this album just blows you away. From infectious pop like 'Turn Up the Radio' (try listening to this without cranking the volume up to full), to beautiful ballads like 'Falling Free' this album just delivers in a way only Madonna can. She also firmly sets her sights on her ex with songs like 'Gang Bang' where it's no coincidence the title sounds like it could be from one of his films. This is some of her best and most personal work since the classic 'Ray of Light'. Easily her best album in years. Madonna continues to surprise and excite after 30 years in the business. Truly a living legend.

One of my favorites albums. Thank you Japan for made this version in only One CD (in Mexico are 2 cds, and I dislike this version)

Each time I hear that a new Madonna album is about to be released, I wonder if she can, once again, deliver a collection of quality material that is contemporary, but also universal in its appeal, and is stamped with the unmistakable sound of "Madonna music". Well, "MDNA" lives up to those qualifications and has the added virtue of being incredibly eclectic. In fact, the album's cover, displaying a sort of eccentric beauty, is a pretty accurate metaphor for the album's content. Fortunately, the tracks tend to fall into loose groupings, which makes a reviewer's job a little easier. The first track, "Girl Gone Wild", begins as the album "Like A Prayer" ends, with the Catholic Act of Contrition prayer. I would call this track mainstream electro-pop, and it bears a message of liberation from restraint, in spite of the prayer indicating repentance. (I guess she is asking forgiveness in advance for future sins.) "Gang Bang" is electro-pop with a dark, vengeful edge, and a dark, menacing vocal to match. I've never heard Madonna sing that way before, and I like it! In "I'm Addicted" the arrangement of the electro-pop elements is part of the dramatic build-up as Madonna sings "...feels like a drug and I can't get enough and it fits like a glove.." and reaches the climactic line, "I'm addicted to your love". The next track brings us into sunny retro pop territory. "Turn Up The Radio" is the kind of joyful up-tempo track that Madonna has always done so well, like "Holiday", "Dress You Up", "Cherish", and "Vogue". "Give Me All Your Luvin" was designed to be a single. I didn't like it too much at first because I considered it just a "cheerleader theme" commercial for her Superbowl appearance, but now I think it stands on its own as a pretty good pop song. I like the remix on the bonus disc better than the original. "Some Girls" is very odd, hard to classify. Many of the lyrics are chanted as if by cheerleaders which in my world links it to the previous track. Next up is a group of excellent tracks characterized by strong, driving beats. "I Don't Give A" has a sort of "talking" vocal in the verses and an interesting backup choir, particularly at the end of the song. It also features a rap by Nicki Minaj. "I'm A Sinner" has some strange religious references ("St. Sebastian, don't you cry/Let those poisoned arrows fly."), and at the end Madonna sings in a very high-pitched voice, not in her usual range, another nice vocal surprise. "Love Spent" is a very melodious plea for love, with lots of hard, insistent drumming. Then, in contrast, there is a pair of ballads. "Masterpiece" is a very pretty mid-tempo ballad with bittersweet romantic lyrics, backed by strings and acoustic guitar. "Falling Free" is definitely one of Madonna's most experimental tracks. It is a delicate ballad with introspective lyrics. The light, meandering melody and the instrumental sounds make me think of the ballads of medieval troubadors. The tracks on the bonus disc vary widely. "Beautiful Killer" is truly killer, like catchy early 80's pop. I wish it would get radio play. "B-Day Song" is silliness just for fun, but it really is happy and funny, and for some reason it makes me think of the recurring SNL sketch where 4 cast members would stand together and one of them would sing "I don't care what your momma says, Christmas time is near". "Best Friend" has a sound that reminds me of a very prevalent early 2000's pop/hip-hop sound. Not my favorite type of music but as an oddity on this album it comes across as interesting. I haven't yet mentioned "Superstar" and "I F****d Up", because they are my least favorites. "Superstar" is OK as light pop music but the lyrics are pretty trite. "I F****d Up" was maybe a good idea that was given a bad execution. Musically it is just dull. So, this is an album on which I actually like 15 of the 17 tracks. I would say that is a pretty good score. In 28 years of being a fan of Madonna, I have rarely listened to one of her albums without feeling happy afterwards, and that's saying something.

There is much more here than meets the eye in this popular studio release. It sounds all too good and her voice sounds just a sgood when she was younger..recent reviewers have said her dancing on tour is outstanding..concerts..the live show..but the studio compared to the live sound..which do you prefer on cd..the studio with its mixes screening out..perfecting here and there with all the technical wizardry..those of us who matured under madonna's wings..and where will she carry us..was there ever a singer who tried to transform our culture with those ideas and if you want to see those old ideas check out her "immaculate" album..all those hits from the "papa dont preach" days and we never talk about lyrics and titles of songs and themes..usually sound and voice and the arousal a females voice causes..do we ever actually listen to the words even in Peter Townsends or any musician(I mention him since he recently penned an auto)music-lyrics..sounds-dance..=song..and that what we have a songer as these songs suggest..gone wild/addicted/give me all/some girls/sinner/masterpiece/falling free....the earlier madonna trying to find her own unique mDNA..as here..among all the technology and ways we must fit in what makes the I apart..transforming herself and not following the rules but finding herself..from the parties and addicted phase..and seeing the faults the sinner..and the hanging religious figures from youth.."hanging' as the song says..what a downer..as a youngster one of my favourite singers there's the song..the music..the dance..all those gaudy youthful excressences seen in videos..she's a much better performer now than in her youth..looking for something "falling free"..words words words..images..music we experience it as one..here in the music...thats my experience of her..and the CD is great one of her best..and there's so much there..in my young days more of an image for girls but we all seem to enjoy her..I did..and we must all find our own dna which only we have and try our best to see MDNA..I love words..listen and youll enjoy the cd much better especially if you know the old repackaged as she is here...RECOMMENDED

Non si nega mai l'assoluzione ad una icona della musica pop, le provocazioni, i passi falsi, gli scandali fanno tutti parte di quel circo mediatico che ne alimenta la fama. Solo una cosa però non è concessa loro, dar l'impressione che il tempo scorra inesorabile. Un paio d'anni di lontananza dalle scene equivale ormai a un'era biblica e ben quattro ne sono trascorsi dall'ultimo album d'inediti di Madonna, il non troppo apprezzato "Hard Candy"; anni che hanno visto un'agguerrita orda di popstar consolidare il loro status di dominatrici delle classifiche a sue spese. Il suo nome però non ha mai realmente allentato la presa, non tanto per via della recente raccolta celebrativa ma perché diventato sempre più un'ingombrante pietra di paragone che, puntuale, viene scagliata contro ogni giovane collega che si accinge a seguirne le orme. Si esagera se si dice che 'MDNA' è il disco più importante della fase 'recente' dell'ormai trentennale carriera di Madonna? Forse si, si esagera, ma solo un poco. Perché è vero che ogni disco della cantante è un 'o la va o la spacca', un continuo tentativo di spostare più in alto l'asticella del pop. Ma è ancora più vero che da quando uscì 'Hard candy', nel 2008, sono cambiate tante cose: ha un nuovo contratto discografico, il regno della musica è sempre più frammentato per essere dominato da una sola regina, e le pretendenti al trono sono sempre di più. Come ha reagito Madonna? Producendo un disco bello, molto conservatore. Anzi, magnificamente conservatore. E' un album che alza il livello della competizione. E' un album di canzoni-canzoni, genere in cui Madonna è imbattibile, con qualunque suono scelga di vestire le sue melodie. E' un disco estramemente curato. Madonna non sembra più interessata a giocare d'anticipo ma è diretta come non mai. Seppure questo album non desti quelle sorprese alle quali ci aveva abituati Madonna anni fa, resta comunque quel lavoro che certe dive provocatrici del momento non riusciranno nemmeno ad avvicinare. Il talento di Madonna nel generare hit da classifica è irragiungibile ed ogni suo lavoro è sempre imperdibile. Gang Bang è da brivido... aggiornamento recensione 9 aprile: per blueroyal: io da buon italiano che vive in Italia non ho bisogno di leggere le recensioni di riviste americane, che è notorio, non amano Madonna. Parlano i numeri...i sold out dei suoi live, le persone che amano Madonna e che la seguono. I milioni di dischi venduti. I critici non hanno mai influenzato un mio acquisto. Lady Gaga? Beh si esiste anche lei ma non posso paragonarla a Madonna. Lady Gaga, sociale o non sociale, non sarà mai come Madonna. Parliamone tra trent'anni...Lady Gaga innovativa? In cosa, perdonami? Per presentarsi su di un palco vestita di carne cruda e grondante di sangue? Oppure quando in un suo video ingoia un crocifisso? Già...bell'innovazione. Peccato che la strada della "blasfemia" o presunta tale sia stata già utilizzata nel lontano 1989...Lady gaga ha ricevuto il beneplacito da sir Elton John? Bene,,,ma da quando un'artista ormai sul viale del tramonto può decretare il successo di un'artista? Mi volevi più diretto? Bene ecco cosa penso in minima parte di Lady Gaga. Quando la signora sarà in grado di colpirmi positivamente beh allora se ne parlerà. Per ora Madonna docet...e dopo il lei il vuoto colmato da cloni. GaGa compresa. Detto questo confermo che MDNA è un ottimo disco. Non è il seguito di ROL o COADF. E' un disco a sé, che contiene ottime cose...I'm addicted e Gang Bang su tutte. Brava Madonna...e per gli altri due commenti da una stelletta neanche mi pronuncio. Little monsters...MDNA è un disco estramemente curato e riconoscibile, ma anche prevedibile: il suo miglior pregio è anche il suo difetto più evidente. E stato realizzato con la consueta schiera di collaboratori {Benny Benassi, Solveig, Orbit, Klas Ahlund, Free School e poi ancora Mika (co-autore di Gang bang ), Nickj Minai, MIA}. Ma, al solito, una delle grandezze di Madonna sta nel sapere amalgamare presenze, suoni e suggestioni diverse in un unica opera omogenea, e anche questa volta il trucco riesce, eccome. In definitiva, MDNA è come il suo titolo: la quintessenza di Madonna, attualizzata ad oggi. Né più, né meno: nessuna vera sorpresa, ma grandi melodie e un sound elettronico e danzereccio. Un sound perfetto per trasformare gli stadi in enormi discoteche. Non condivido, comunque, questa scelta del suo entourage di non promuovere l'album in nessun modo. Madonna è al lavoro per preparare il tour di supporto all'album che partirà a breve. E quì i numeri dei biglietti venduti e dei sold out parlano da soli...Madonna è al centro di un attacco mediatico senza precedenti. Immotivato secondo il mio parere ma da vera regina Lei continua sulla sua strada.

O Cd veio impecável, mais uma obra prima da rainha do pop !!