Thursday, 25 July 2013

Madonna- MDNA Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- MDNA

Artist- Madonna

With a career that has spanned four decades, Madonna has in that time produced a vast number of hits, created albums that have become worldwide best sellers, and has had three tours that are among the highest grossing worldwide tours of all time. It is safe to say that Madonna is one of, if not the greatest female recording artist of all time, and has maintained a star persona that means she has always been the cream of the music crop not simply just by

Track 1- Girl Gone Wild

With the opening track Girl Gone Wild Madonna signals that she is keeping firm with her signature sound as she employs a dance floor, electro pop sound that is similar to previous work such as ‘Sorry’ and ‘Hung Up’, and is arguably a sound that caused a resurgence of Madonna as an artist. The song has a simple just have fun energy that Madonna has done very well for years, and because of this the track comes across as a bit lacklustre. Opening with a word spoken prayer to God, Madonna immediately seems to want to signal to her audience of why she has been popular, in that she distorts the idea of religion and sexual promiscuity. This is shown within the lyrical content where she claims to be a girl fuelled by desire, whereby she becomes this girl gone wild, particularly through the music. The chorus is simple and with the “hey-ay-ay” hook the song is quite catchy, but when you’ve had the bad girl routine on previous records, the statement this song is trying to make falls kind of flat. Vocally Madonna is also a bit hit and miss, as although there is a sense of vibrancy to her vocal, the track is also heavily auto tuned, and so you very much get the sense that this is more of a song that anyone could have sang rather than being a signature Madonna tune. However, whilst the vocals and lyrics are something to either love or hate, the production of the track is very good, with the electro pop rhythms giving a pulsating tone to the track that becomes propulsive in the chorus and makes for an enjoyable carefree tune. Some people might argue that the songs sound is similar to previous musical offerings from Madonna and so isn’t good, but when she is one of the queens of the dance floor, and when this kind of sound is still popular in today’s music scene, you can just forget the familiarity and simply enjoy the music.

3.5/5

Track 2- Gang Bang

Madonna takes sings into a bit of a darker tone not just lyrically but also sonically with this track that was according to the singer in part inspired by Quentin Tarantino. The song revels lyrically in the idea of the scorned woman as Madonna plays the role of a woman getting together with her friends to seek bloody vengeance on the a lover. The song is strong in the intensity of the lyrics that give very potent cinematic tone to the track, and although there is this lack of a really solid catchy hook, there is a catchiness through the power of Madonna’s aggression. The themes are slightly reminiscent of some of her previous work but things still go that bit more full throttle, and so this is lyrically some exciting new music. Keeping this song on a dark, simmering energy also works great in terms of keeping the vocals on a simple level where the auto tune doesn’t have to be so heavy and so there is less of a risk of the singer coming across as annoying. However, whilst the vocals and lyrics are strong, the production could be better: the dark dance beats keep things ticking along nicely, but the dubstep breakdown is weird and comes across a bit unneccasary, and as a whole the sound is missing that powerful quality that would elevate the music, possibly a simple lack of force of beats in the chorus.

3/5 

Track 3- I’m Addicted

The singer flips back to a happier tone that is still intense but shows that she is in a kind of state of euphoria, and is also very much a leader of things when it comes to the dance floor. This is because the electronic house vibe of the song feels very suited to a loud club setting, and she just exudes a cool vibrancy within the track. Lyrically the song is all about Madonna telling this guy how he is awesome, with his love being compared to a drug. On paper the song’s lyrics feel very clichéd, and indeed they are, but the stuttering delivery of the lyrics makes things more unique and interesting, whilst there is also a little bit of fun to be had in the tongue and cheek nature of the lyrics. Vocally the singer sounds strong here, with the vocals being kept on a simple level that doesn’t push the singer too much, and the distortion of the vocals is here used to good effect. The production of the track is definitely the best element of the song, with the squelching synths and electro house quality just haing a quite infectious energy, with the 90’s house chorus being very catchy. The song is also great in the way that the track feels both modern and indebted to music of the past, and with the last sections featuring a great reference to the album title that is equally very catchy, this is a strong dance offering showing the singer isn’t necessarily out of the dance floor game just yet.

4/5

Track 4- Turn Up the Radio

The third single from the record, Turn Up the Radio features a little bit of a lighter and different sound than the other tracks, and was seen by some reviewers as being a better lead single choice. For me I feel that this song shows off the vitality of the singer best, as the vocal performances as a cute and youthful tone that is reminiscent of when Madonna was breaking out with ‘Holiday’, and so if nothing else vocally this is great as it has a nice nostalgic quality and shows she can still make her music infectious. The production here comes courtesy of Martin Solveig, and the song has a light sound that starts with simple keyboard instrumentation before morphing into this great electronic dance pop tune that is quite 80’s influenced. Solveig’s production is different and cool and has a tone that would make this quite a good summery tune. However, the problem with this song is that the lyrics just feel uninspiring and clichéd, as Madonna asks the listener to stop and just forget about the rest of the world for a bit, using music as our escape. It’s a statement that just doesn’t come across strong enough, particularly when placed in today’s pop music market that feels heavily live for the moment influenced. As well as this, the hook of the song just comes across s annoying and over repetitive, and so whilst this could have been really great, the lyrical content drags the song down in brilliance.

3/5

Track 5- Give Me All Your Luvin (featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.)

MDNA’s lead single and the song that further cemented Madonna in music history by becoming her 38th top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100. Give Me All Your Luvin is a predominantly dance pop tune that incorporates a number of other genres, and finds the singing teaming up with two very current hip-hop/ rap stars Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. The song lyrically focuses on the idea of us showing Madonna love for her musical creativity, with the raps just kind of being nonsense but still sounding cool. The use of the cheerleading chanting within the track makes things more catchy, and the vocal performance of the track is nice, with Madonna employing a higher pitch in the chorus that adds a flourish of a euphoric feeling to the song. The sound features a nice blend of 80’s inspired synths with hand clapping beats and marching band drums that is a bit silly but ultimately just a fun sound. The dubstep breakdown is okay but feels like Madonna is trying to hard to be difficult. Whilst this is not a song that will go down as Madonna’s best, it is a nice fun track that acts as a sort of sweet homage to her fans.

3.5/5

Track 6- Some Girls

Madonna brings us a female empowerment tune in the form of Some Girls, which finds the singer lyrically expressing how she is different to other woman, and speaks of a range of different actions girls take. The song has a stomping synth pop sound with a mid tempo groove that features a cool blend of a heavy electro bass line with stabbing synths. The problem with this song is that whilst the production is strong and has forceful but appealing quality, the lyrical content does not command your attention. As well as this, Madonna’s vocals are heavily distorted within the track, and so she just comes across as robotic and lacks the personality that this song commands in order for her not to just come across as a bit egotistical.

2.5/5

Track 7- Superstar

Known for featuring her daughter on backing vocals, Superstar is an up tempo dance pop track that finds the singer simply telling this person that to her there are like a superstar, citing many historical figures within her declaration of this persons greatness. The song features a nice hook and is just light and fun, perhaps a little lyrically bland in places, but otherwise just quite simple dance pop done at a good level. The vocals here are less processed and feature some nice use of layering of vocals that gives the track this nice ambience. The production of the track is light and radio friendly, with a shimmering tone brought out through the guitar loop and electro pop beats, although the dubstep influence within the bridge once again just feels a bit too weird and like Madonna is trying too hard to be current.

3.5/5

Track 8- I Don’t Give A (featuring Nicki Minaj)

Nicki Minaj jumps on board with Madonna once again for this feisty pop number that also has a bit of a hip hop vibe to it. The song lyrically provides us within an insight into a day in the life of Madonna, with a few jibes to her ex-husband Guy Ritchie. The chorus simply focuses on the life motto that Madonna seems to have of not caring about what other people think of her. The rap vocal style of the verses is a little clumsy but the chorus is catchy in its carefree simplicity, whilst the singer brings a light vocal performance that brings life to the carefree ideology of the track. The sound of the song features a cool mix of guitar, drums and synth that gives the song a powerful, feisty edge that is at the same time quite simple, and makes you feel as if what she is singing is true. Minaj brings us more a rap that feels related to the song, but doesn’t necessarily add much to the track. The song also features a grand outro complete with a choir, escalating strings and cymbals, and it is this end that is just weird and something you will either love or just find annoying.

3.5/5 

Track 9- I’m a Sinner

Harkening back to her Catholic upbringing, I’m A Sinner is a pop and techno inspired tune. The lyrics find Madonna telling Jesus and the saints that she wants to be ‘saved’, but likes being a sinner and doesn’t want to be saved just yet. The lyrical content is simple and a little mischievous, being ideal for those who wish to rebel against their parents. Madonna brings us one of the best vocal performances on the record with this song, with the chorus featuring nice high pitched moments and certain sections of the vocal having a sensual quality that is appealing. The bridge is perhaps a little controversial in her references to prayer and a number of saints, but it works with the ideology of the track. Production wise William Orbit does a fine job, infusing simple techno rhythms with a cool drum loop and 60’s keyboard. The track feels both nostalgic and thoroughly modern, and ends on a nice minute of instrumentation that allows for a chilled moment of reflection.

3.5/5

Track 10- Love Spent

Love Spent definitely as a euphoric quality to the sound and changes things up a bit with the whole energy of the record, finding the singer in a more sweet state of mind. The lyrical content of the track finds the singer telling this guy to spend his love on her like he acts with his money, and just let go of the doubts and fears he might have. The track is great in terms of the production, featuring an interesting mix of euphoric synths, heavy bass drum and folk like guitar strumming and strings, giving the song more of a dynamic tone. However, the problem with this song is similar to love girls in that the vocals just feel to distorted and here come across as a bit whiny, not conveying the true emotion of the song.

3/5

Track 11- Masterpiece

Recorded by Madonna for her film W.E. (which she was director of), Masterpiece is a mid tempo pop ballad that features basic recording and vocals. The song is strongly related to the narrative of the film. The film focused on Wallis Simpson and how she fell in love with someone she should not, the King of England. Here Madonna plays this girl who feels pain after falling in love with a work of art. The lyrical quality of the track is poetic and vulnerable, with an honesty and simplicity that feels like a masterpiece in its own way and has a kind of haunting tone. The light synth beats and use of strings just gives the track a simple sound in the production that really acts as a great base to elevate the songs lyrical content. However, the only issue with this track is the vocal performance. Many critics praised Madonna’s vocal performance, but whilst I feel that the vocal performance is nice, it is still for me a little too processed, and would have worked better if it was more stripped back.

3.5/5

Track 12- Falling Free

Ending the record on more of a sombre and dramatic note, Falling Free is a dramatic down tempo ballad that lyrically finds the singer speaking of being intertwined in someone’s heart and having this feeling of falling free. The lyrics are once again great like the last track in terms of their almost poetic quality, and also are nice in the way that you can take things as being equally negative and positive. The vocal performance is once again a little too processed but for me is stronger than the last track, and has a lovely sense of fragility in the final minute. Madonna and Orbit do an amazing job in the production, keeping the electronic notes minimal and instead focusing on this grand and impactful, string led sound that also features some great use of piano. A strong song to finish the record with and a song that shows us the Madonna that inspired a generation and who could make some really great music.

4/5

Final Review

To use a clichéd phrase, it is time to face the music: Madonna has been around for a while, and her music isn’t going to have the youthful flair that some of her earlier hits made her famous for. This album isn’t ground breaking but is fun and shows that she can still create some strong dance pop music. The vocals are sometimes too processed and the lyrics aren’t catchy, but every time the production is very astute and powerful, with many songs having a vibrancy that isn’t new but is still infectious. People may still want Madonna to be this awesome artist who continues to be ground breaking, and if they listen to this record they will be disappointed. But if people just want some fun musical offerings and simply new material from the singer, then Madonna has produced a good album that still has her above some of the artists that are popular today.

7/10

Best Track- Falling Free

Worst Track- Some Girls

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