Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor
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Music Reviews of Confessions on a Dance Floor
Music Review: Get hooked !
Rating: 5 Stars
I have listened to this album for 10 days before I was ready to post my review. Each day I've been wondering which is my favourite song. I've seen every promotional performance for this album at Madonnalicious.com. I can tell you something, "M" has never stopped maturing both in musical and physicall ways. She's today as great as she was in 1989. It was 1984, back when I was a child, when I bought a 12" vynil LP by a new artist called Madonna. I tought she was a black singer when I first heard "Borderline " and inmediately fell in love with her, as many of us did. Those days you can hear "Lucky Star" in every US radio station every 30 minutes. A star was born ! She has given us lots of joy over the years. The 80's are perfect and we all agree about that fact. The 90s reviews have varied a lot. I enjoyed American Life, but dislike the Erotica period, the Sex book and the raunchy image....No need for that (in my own subjective and conservative opinion ). I tought: "The Queen of Pop is making every effort to cave her own grave ". There was no need for that, specially after so many consecutive anthems such as Like a Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherrish, Keep it Together and Vogue. I must had seen it coming after hearing "Justify my Love" from the Inmaculate Collection and buying the MTV banned video. I enjoyed because they were very hipped, but I must confess that they didn't move me as her previous material. I bough 1992's "Erotica" along with all the Maxi Singles taken from that album, but I hated "Deeper and Deeper", both the song and the video. She looked awful in that video . In fact, she looks 10 times better in the "Hung Up" video 13 years later. The "Rain" video and song saved the Erotica album and redimmed her to my eyes... Gorgeous as we loved to see her. I enjoyed "Bedtime Stories" the album as any avid fan, but where is the glitter of our star. I wanted to get into the groove, I wanted to dance for inspiration. Where is my Madonna? "Take a Bow" was such a big hit and a great song, but it was a ballad and I can't dance to it! "Bedtime Stories" is one of the best "M" videos I've seen, but sadly it failed at the charts. It was not pop, but a Bjork song ( I loved it anyway....but I can't dance). Then they came "Something to Remember", the "Evita" period ( best vocals ever) , "Ray of Light" ( great, but not my favourite ), "Music" ( too much of a great song and video), but the rest of the album failed to impressed me. I liked "American Life" beacuse of its lyrics and I loved the autobanned video, but I can't dance. I couldn't believe how she lost the chance to shoot a sublime & glamorous video for the "Hollywood" song and I will never forgive "M" for not having shoot a video for "Nothing Fails", the best song from that album. The "Reinvention Tour" was magical. Back to our review: Confessions on a dance Floor is magical. Hung Up is not my favourite song, but it is OK. However, the rest of the album is wonderful. Every time I hear it, I liked it more and more. "Get Together" is a great song. Have you seen "M" performing it in the promo shows. She dances in circles and the crowd gets crazy...Just like the good old days ! "Sorry" is a catchy song and the multilingual opening is great. I was missing that sexy voice that rapped along the "Vogue" beats. "I love New York" is Ok, but neither my favourite. "Future Lovers" is a wonderful song and reminds of Donna Summer's I Feel Love. "Let it will be" is also great. "Forbidden Love" is amazing and I love the way it blends with the most danceable song of the album "JUMP". Other of my favourites are "How High" and "Like it or Not", a great way to end this album. This album can easily produce 5 or 6 commercial singles. My favourites 'today' are "Get Together", " Jump ". I might think differently tomorrow. It's just that most of the songs are so great....So easy to sing along with...and so groovy, but deep at the same time ( as deep as pop is allowed to be ). Pump up the volume and enjoy Madonna's Tour de Force... Best of all: I can dance for inspiration !Music Review: kylie minogue's older sister
Rating: 5 Stars
Before I begin, these is a link to Kylie in the album. Two lines are "Do you believe in LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?" and "BETTER THE DEVIL that YOU KNOW", which are the names of two Kylie songs. Coincidence?
Honestly, I haven't enjoyed a Madonna album this much since Bedtime Stories. Yes, Ray of Light is a high point, but for some reason it didn't really get my adrenaline going the first time I heard it.
Those who have slagged Confessions are A: Jocks or Neocons who hate disco, B: Purists who think all lyrics must rise to the level of John Lennon or Joni Mitchell, or C: Haters who can't accept that it's not the eighties anymore.
Those who pinned the "bad lyrics" button on the album hold up I Love New York as a prime example. If you regarded the lyrics alone, you would be missing out on one of the most bit#%ing, brutal songs out there. Trust me, what looks like awful lyrics on paper PERFECTLY match the vibe of the song. Listen before you judge.
Basically, this album is every gay man's nightlife soundtrack. If you have never been on the dancefloor of a gay discotheque, then perhaps you couldn't handle this album.
The first half of the album is bloody brilliant. Hung Up benefits from a killer ABBA hook. The true test comes with Get Together, an upbeat number that sets the standard high for the rest of the album. Again, the lyrics don't really matter; this kind of music is about creating a vibe, and giving you a high.
Sorry puts me off a little, with Madonna repenting in different languages. It all seems a little forced. Still, the beat is excellent. Future Lovers is Madonna's best collaboration with Mirwais, who produced her Music album. This song throbs with intensity, as Madonna sings "give me evidence of its brilliance" over and over.
I Love New York, as I said, is a killer. This will be an anthem on Fire Island, for sure. I love the line about "little p@ssies who scream." Madonna's attitude here is FIERCE. Also, as a Texan, I did laugh at that "golf" line. Kinda reminds me of the Tom Delay types I see around here who think that golf wear can be worn on formal occasions. Don't forget the toothpick in the mouth!
Let It Will Live is a bit preachy, but again the soundscape is incredible. At this point, the album settles into a slightly more relaxed groove. Forbidden Love unfortunately breaks the rule for an artist not naming two songs the same in their catalogue. It's good, but not really one of my favorites.
Jump sets the bar high again. I'm sure the twinks out there will be all over this one. It's a spectacular song, easily one of Madonna's best. I dare you to get the chorus out of your head.
How High is another song that is a little heavy-handed, but again it doesn't SOUND bad. Isaac is fine by me- certainly, other dance artists have integrated "world beat" into their music.
The last two songs, coincidentally, are my least favorites. Push sounds like an unreleased song from the Bedtime Stories recording sessions, souped up and tacked onto Confessions. It sounds rather out of place. I asked myself, "Who let Missy Elliot in the room?" And Like It or Not is TOO preachy. Madonna does give us healthy doses of her "older and wiser" mentality throughout, but here it overpowers you. This is the song where her vocals are pushed the most to the forefront, which doesn't help. There is an interesting, slinky beat which sounds cold and wet to me.
Confessions pretty much blows a lot of other diva's albums out of the water. Artists like Deborah Cox and Toni Braxton have released remix albums. Madonna trumps them by having a "homegrown" dance album, instead of remixes, and not succumbing to the "my-man-done-me-wrong" lyrics, which divas like Whitney, Deborah, and Toni always seem to turn to. Madonna's efforts are vastly superior.
Please, disregard the haters out there, buy this album.
Music Review: A Good Album Itself, But Not For Every Eardrum.
Rating: 3 Stars
As the great Madonna obsessed fan that I am, I will be easily tempted to say this is the greatest album of the last 2 years. However, realistically speaking, I must say that this album is more than anything commercial, and personally it feels as if Madonna has taken several steps back and I miss the lyrical depts she had began with Ray of Light, and topped them with American Life (which to me is a great quality album). Any hardcore Madonna fan will tell you this album is the best ever, but if you're new to her music and all you know are her catchy 80's beats, or her mellowness from American Life, then this album is not really for you. Only a very true fan will be able to fully love this album in its whole. Some songs are awesome and potential hits such as 'Hung Up', 'How High', and 'Push', which could be enjoyed by almost everybody. Other good ones such as 'Jump', 'Sorry', and 'Like it Or Not,' and "Get Together," might end up as singles but in my opinion, will have a mixed acceptance. Here is my review about each single song. This is only my personal opionion trying my best to not let my obsession from Madonna affect my critique:
1. Hung Up (9/10) - The greatest way to open the album. Its introductory sound of a ticking clock catches you attention right away. This song just flows and is truly a dance hit.
2. Get Together (8/10) - A really smooth song that just makes you feel like dancing sensually in the dance floor. Great song to either relax or dance (very contrasting combination...but this song is very magnetic).
3. Sorry (6/10) - Not my favorite. I probably will not dance it at the club, but I'll have a nice time nodding my head to its beat, (only for a few times though).
4. Future Lovers (2/10) - I dont really like this song. It sounds too superficial and the beat kind of gets to my nerves. This song I truly dont like. I dont like the fact that its beat sounds like something any DJ could make. To me, this is not a totally Madonna quality song.
5. New York (5/10) - This song arises mixed opinions in my head. The lyrics can seems a bit stupid at times, as well as repetitive and dumb. However, you will eventually find yourself singing it in your head. Trust me. Its dumb but catchy.
6. Let It Will Be (6/10) - Not bad at all, but not that great either. This to me is just another song in the album. A classic disco beat.
7. Forbidden Love (6/10) - Same review as above.
8. Jump (8/10) - YES!!! This is where the album gets good to me again. A smooth flowing song with such a sensual dancing beat. The chorus is catchy too.
9. How High (9/10) - Great song. This song truly makes you wanna dance. It has so much attitude in its lyrics and beat. This is just not another dancing song. Listen to the lyrics. The chorus is great, although I suddently realized that 'How High's chorus has almost the same beat as the song the chick from Kill Bill (Elle) whistles when she is gonna attempt to kill Uma Thurman. Listen to it and you'll know what I'm talking about. Im surprised nobody has noticed this!!
10. Isaac (8/10) - The reason why I rated this song high is due to its uniqueness. The whole foreign language this makes it catchy itself. Good dancing beat. I love it when Madonna experiments with something so risky as this.
11. Push (10/10) - This is my favorite of all this album. Not only do I love the lyrics, but I'm also fascinated by the beats this song brings to my ears. So interesting and so danceable.
12. Like it or Not (8/10) - Really good song. Perfect way to close this album with Madonna stating once again that she is the way she is whether you 'Like it or Not.' Not as catchy as "Push," but offers a glimpse to see how Madge's personality still remains so unique and has taken her where she is.
*In now way do I think this album is bad quality. However, I must confess I was expecting much more from The Queen of Pop.
Music Review: STYLUSMAGAZINE.COM'S ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Rating: 5 Stars
That's what it boils down to, really: it's about damned time she decided to burn the world's discos out again. American Life wasn't just a commercial failure, it out-and-out sucked, was Madonna's worst full-length in-well, ever. She'd gotten too self-important, was doing what we thought she'd never do, seemingly believing her own press. The fun was missing, replaced by what-wack rapping, rhyming "lattes" and "pilates"? There was a slight stench of inevitability to it, like we knew it couldn't last forever but we couldn't help hoping against hope anyway.
Just like that, though, she's back, and not just back, but reminding us that we can still dance, for inspiration. Thank God, by whom (in this case) I mean Stuart Price, a/k/a the Thin White Duke, a/k/a Les Rhythmes Digitales, a/k/a our savior of our lady Madonna in the year 2005. Apparently, Mrs. Ritchie's recently been reminded of how much she loves dance music, reportedly thanks to the remixes she commissions with each single release. Word is that she thus wanted her new album to be one giant throb, no let up, no ballads, just pure uncut dance music. As it was before, so shall it be again.
Confessions on a Dance Floor is Madonna's most purely beat-driven album since her self-titled 1983 debut. (Erotica may have been a down-and-dirty club record, but it still included the likes of "Rain.") Price fills the Reggie Lucas role here, and like Lucas did so long ago, he helps Madonna make pop that pops like yeast bubbles in fresh bread dough, spiced with peppermint extract. "Physical Attraction" and "Burning Up" were perfectly of their moment and transcended it too, sleazy pop records designed for sweaty up-all-night dancing. "Sorry" and "Hung Up" may not be as sleazy (or sleazy at all) but have the same basic modus operandi, and do it just as well as her now-over-20-years-old singles did.
There hasn't been another Madonna album that references so much music by other people. The bassline of "Future Lovers" (the album's weakest track, due largely I think to the hand of old-and-in-the-way co-producer Mirwais-and did I mention that Madonna co-produced the entire album?) is clearly cribbed from "I Feel Love," while in an odd juxtaposition, the next track, "I Love New York" (good music, facile lyrics) takes its bassline from the Joy Division catalog. Of course, there's the brilliant ABBA sample leading the brilliant-or-something-close-to-it "Hung Up" (from "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!") as well, and nearly the whole of "Jump" sounds to these ears like a Pet Shop Boys homage. It's always been clear that Madonna's a music lover, but it's nice to see evidence that she's a fan, too, hearing her quote and crib and steal-like great art does.
Apart from the aforementioned Mirwais contribution, the only other tracks not produced with Price are a pair done with Swedish popmasters Bloodshy & Avant (they did Britney's "Toxic," need I go on?). Plucky closer "Like It Or Not" is good (its garden of Eden references are delightful), but it's "How High" that's the knockout, an electropop throb like an intense migraine-only, y'know, a good one-sweetened with symphonic stabs. It's followed by the Hasidic throwdown "Isaac," akin to "Don't Tell Me" if that hit hadn't been so wimpy-wimpy-wimpy, and had taken Jewish mysticism (um, I think) as its subject.
Lyrics have never really been Madonna's strong point, and her Confessions are [sic] no different. But with this album like no album of hers in quite some time, the point here is the groove; this album finds one, locks in, and works it relentlessly, like Madonna herself did Willem Dafoe in Body of Evidence. Easily her finest effort since Ray of Light, I guess this means that English country living's doing her a world of good. This is one Dance Floor whose pull is irresistible.
STYLUSMAGAZINE.COM'S ALBUM OF THE WEEK: NOVEMBER 21 - NOVEMBER 27, 2005
Reviewed by: Thomas Inskeep
Reviewed on: 2005-11-21
Music Review: Hang it up Madonna!
Rating: 2 Stars
Let's be honest here. Madonna has NEVER been considered a brilliant vocalist. But the thing is no one really cared. Her crazy antics, original look and carefree spirit had us all overlooking her blatant lack of vocal talent. She made her mark in the 80's with a unique look and pop-tart sweet confections such as "Like A Virgin" and "Material Girl". Once the "Virgin" shtick wore off, it was time to move on to the next phase, "Dita" the dominatrix. She promised she would teach us all a sexual thing or two via "Erotica". A coffee table book meant to shock us barely made a ripple in the ocean. Next, it was time to grow up and become a SERIOUS "artist". Evita was her chance and although marginal success followed, her next several movie roles proved Madge couldn't sing OR act (Swept Away anyone?).
The mid to late 90's found our material girl/mom stretching out to new horizons and the phenomenal "Ray Of Light" was, is, and always will be the jewel in Madonna's musical crown. Having now secured a legitimate "voice" in the musical community thanks to a handful of Grammy's, our favorite quick change artist used her next two CD's as a platform to speak her mind. "Music" had marginal success (by Madonna standards), and I wont even bring up "American Life".
Now, after realizing no one wanted to hear what she really thougth, Brit-Madge decided to go back to where she once came and resurrect the pop-confection machine from which she now lives the uber posh (and British) lifestyle she and her family enjoy. Problem is, Madonna isn't 24 anymore. The carefree and daring antics that made us all love/hate her are gone. She has grown up and her view on the world is not the same as it was in 1985. Back then, men were toys, toys were disposable, money was her idol, and God was both her greatest love and enemy. She pushed our buttons and we jumped...to the record store to gobble up all we could.
But now, Madonna is 47 years old. She has two children, both of whom are not allowed to watch TV, listen to radio, or read anything in print that may show them what their mom did to get them that big house in the British countryside. Her days are now spent reading stories to her kids (most of which she penned I assume), hanging out in pubs with her husband and studying the Kabballah. She doesn't live the pop life anymore. She no longer has to struggle to survive. She hasn't eaten a meal from a garbage can in many, many years. These experiences are the backbone for creativity. TRUE creativity from which most musical genius is born. Instead, she jets around the world to glamorous affairs dressed head to toe in the designer du jour. Faithfully reproducing what we consider to be a "Star". But when the camera bulbs stop flashing and the crowds cheer dims, she is mom, wife, and most importantly, BUSINESS WOMAN.
Which brings me to my final point and review of this train wreck of a CD. Madonna is who/where she is because she knows business. She knows how to package herself and sell it. She WAS the Material Girl. She was DITA, the dominatrix. She WAS Eva Peron in Evita. but unfortunately, she isn't the pop princess she once was and this album proves it. The Material girl would DIE before uttering the word "Dork". The "Virgin" would scoff at sampling someone else's music to use for her own (ABBA) and "Eva" would have given her country before allowing her music to be used as a RING TONE!
It seems to me that Madonna is pumping a dry well. Her creativity (or lack thereof) on this album proves that. Silly lyrics, inane choruses and a general blandness plague this entire set. Her maturity and life experience actually work against her. This is supposed to be a "Dance" record. Carefree, spirited, and hip was the goal, forced, dumbed-down, and outright silly was the result. Which is tragic to both listen to, and to watch as my life long idol continues towards a sad end to a once fun, outrageous, and ground breaking career crafted by the most successful business woman of our time.