Review A CD Thread

[Lazario]

My OLD review of MDNA from back in April (I'll be re-reviewing it later):




MDNA: Deluxe Edition (2012)

Tracks

1. "Girl Gone Wild" -
Ug. Awful. And... was she aware this is clearly a repeat of "Get Together" with some really shitty lyrics? And a "Born This Way" rip-off intro... Wow. Pure awful. This must be some kind of parody. I can't believe Madonna herself could not be aware of what a carbon copy this is. And a bad one at that.

2. "Gang Bang" -
Good beat. Very interesting lyrics (you don't need me to analyze it for you, critics and folk all over the internet pounced on this thing the second it leaked on YouTube). I will say I think this side works for Madonna, even though she can't play truly intimidating or "badass" like... oh, let's go with Uma Thurman in Kill Bill since she's already thrown Tarantino's name into the press for this song. However, "Thief of Hearts" on Erotica is superior.

3. "I'm Addicted" -
I have 3 words for you: "What You Need" = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs-7bmKNl-M (Also, if I'm not mistaken, I hear a little "I Deserve It" in here as well.)

4. "Turn Up the Radio" -
Nice. Simple. All I can really think to say is that this should have been "Hollywood"s beat because, to me, that song's lyrics were a lot more interesting.

5. "Give Me All Your Luvin'" -
This track released as a single worried a lot of people. And there's a good reason for that: it's terrible. But... I'm going out on a limb and saying it's the kind of bad or grating pop song that becomes fun in an outlaw sort of way (the same goes for "Macarena" and Rednex's "Cotton Eye Joe" in my book). I've grown to be surprisingly fond of it and haven't been able to stop singing and humming it since I first heard it. ...WEEKS ago. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. are fantastic! And the latter's breakdown section in particular (and I'm talking about the music's halt-grinding, slow thumping) is THE BEST thing on the album.

6. "Some Girls" -
I mentioned this song in another thread...yesterday, I think. But at that time, I'd only leafed through the ridiculous YouTube uploads (most of which have been sped-up). I've got a legit mp3 copy now and... HOLY HELL! This is exactly what Madonna should have doing albums ago. I have no idea how it took her this far into the album to figure out how to do quality trashy, Ke$ha-esque club music but... this song does a pretty good job out-trashing even her, sonically. It's pretty dark, bitchy, and has the heavy-headed, dead-eyed beat to lay waste to the rest of the album's slim portions. This is a tough act to follow, I don't think another track will be able to beat or match it.

7. "Superstar" -
"Give Me"s cheerleader theme returns, with thicker boots on. But that dang sunny feel to it... I didn't like this when Rihanna just did it ("We All Want Love"), and Vitamin C, Len, and LFO already put the patent on this kind of thing over a decade ago. Yawn.

8. "I Don't Give A" -
I (must be one of the only people who) actually defended her rap on "American Life." Funnily, that song and accompanying (masterpiece) music video had significant political overtones and important message to it. This song has no real excuse except... that Ke$ha and Rihanna get to do it, why can't Madonna(?). Nicki almost saves it. It's just too bad this song does a piss-poor job of proving Madonna is the Queen.

9. "I'm a Sinner" -
Again, thematically, I feel this is another "in your face" to Lady Gaga. Madonna is really rarely this religious unless she's trying to push a new trend. What's she got to push now? Nothing. Just an awful video for "Girl Gone Wild" that directly rips off Gaga's "Born This Way," "Alejandro," and "Judas." Now, here's a song doing the same "I embrace the sin" and sinner routine Gaga devoted an entire smash hit album too. Coincidence? Not likely. Anyway, this track deserves credit for a beat pretty darn unique from the rest of the album. But an obvious repeat of "Beautiful Stranger." And... is there any real reason this was chosen to extend the 5-minute treatment to?

10. "Love Spent" -
Ah... now Madonna's choosing to open up. There's some real genuine, first-person emotion here. As well as seriously intelligent lyrics and damn fine music. Actually, that's aiming a bit high. After awhile the music turns chaotic (messy) but Madonna's message shines through. It's still one of the only good songs so far and will surely become an important note in Madonna's career. Kudos for that.

11. "Masterpiece" -
Silly, repetitious lyrics. But the music here is the closest thing the album's seen so far to being complex. "It seems to me" this is a bit of a combo repeat of Music's "Paradise (Not for Me)" and "Gone."

12. "Falling Free" -
Is this mature? Poetic? Touching? Not for my money. But the music truly is complex. I would compare it to Ray of Light's "Mer Girl" but the discrepancy is that that song has the better vocals and lyrics and this track has easily the better music.

Bonus Tracks / Bonus Disc

"Beautiful Killer" -
I rarely am the slightest bit enthusiastic about bonus tracks. For an artist like Madonna or Lady Gaga, they are tossed because they're not good enough to go on the main album. In the case of Britney's Fatale, they were collectively the best freaking material of the whole album. This track has the benefit of a consistency the album lacked. But it's really generic. Which is what I'm expecting from the rest of the bonus tracks. (Disco strings?)

"I Fucked Up" -
Madonna swears like everyone else. That's... pretty much it. Good to know. (Lame.)

"B-Day Song" -
You're so punky, Brewster. I can't tell what this is channeling but I'm picking up a little Santogold ("Lights Out"), Lady Gaga ("Summerboy"), The Go-Go's ("Our Lips Are Sealed"), "Hanky Panky" (not just because of the lyrics), and... a hint of Le Tigre. Either way, I'll take any of the formers to this latter.

"Best Friend" -
HMMM. Now, this one intrigues me. It's as minimalist as the last 2 bonuses but it really works for this one. And it doesn't remind me of anything she's already done. I guess it's more of that Madonna exposed thing that really makes me appreciate it. That or, I really like the music.


In Conclusion
Okay, time to pay this album a sincere compliment: technically, it's an immaculately produced dance album. And... it kicks Britney Spears' Femme Fatale's ASS. However, this is Madonna. And a Madonna album is nothing if it isn't criticized for its' artistic quality. Artistically, this thing is practically a black hole. Or a sucker vacuuming up other artists and songs- both hers' and others'. (Oh, and screw the "Party Rock Remix" of "Give Me All Your Luvin'," I'm not reviewing it.)


Overall Album Rating


Tracks Worth Purchasing (via-Digital Music Downloads):
"Give Me All Your Luvin'"
"Some Girls"
"Love Spent"

Tracks to Consider Purchasing
"Gang Bang"
"Best Friend"

[Lazario]

MDNA (2012)

Tracks

1. "Girl Gone Wild" -
Good cymbal percussion effect in the mix. Apart from that, I couldn't hate this song more if it had Ludicris as a guest rapper (I HATE him). Perhaps Madonna's worst song... ever. And some people REALLY hate her cover of "American Pie." Maybe most people, actually. I don't. Not with a song like this out there.

2. "Gang Bang" -
I've changed my mind on the beat. I don't think it's so great, actually. It's pretty much just bass. Lots of it. It's pretty much nothing without the lyrical... controversy? Not really. If you've heard "Thief of Hearts" (still vastly superior), you know about Madonna's violent side. I personally think Madonna could have gotten more creative with this one. Of course... there's still time for that music video to come out. Hopefully, that will be an event. If it comes. Instead, we get a lukewarm road-trip video for "Turn Up the Radio." Yawn.

3. "I'm Addicted" -
Now... this one I'm ready to admit I was wrong about. Of course, I don't really have anything new to say except that it's really quite good. (But "What You Need" is still better.)

4. "Turn Up the Radio" -
The best pure pop song Madonna has done since the 90's. It's the missing piece of Music, exactly what "Hollywood" should have been, and despite the same kind of Confessions on a Dancefloor babydolling of her voice- relentlessly repeatable. There's, of course, a lyrical theme of ignoring the world's problem and just enjoying music and driving fast into nowhere. That's about the last thing I think people should do but since a song like this has just been missing from Madonna's oeuvre for so long, I'll forgive it.

5. "Give Me All Your Luvin'" -
Said all I really have to say about this one. Reviewed it twice before this post. And I was right everytime. It's not really good. But it's catchy. This of course is Madonna's verses and chorus. The Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. breakdown (with Madonna in the middle) belongs to a far superior track. 2:01-2:40 is the best thing on the album.

6. "Some Girls" -
Along with "Nobody Knows Me" and "Candy Perfume Girl," this is Madonna's best pop culture roasting session. The lyrics have been interpreted as a whipping of bimbos who just turn guys head. There certainly are a lot of them around- brainless blow-up dolls famous for just having tits and wearing tight clothes, or practically none at all. Many defined by their hair and makeup. Many of whom get their own TV shows (I'm looking at you: The Girls Next Door). Either way, this is an example of Madonna taking the sort of aggressive club anthem of someone like Ke$ha and... taking it a step further. This is entirely stripped of pop sensabilites and, the nastiness is cranked up to 11. This is almost bordering on 90's industrial electronic-rock, it's so dark, angry, loud, heavy, and crushing. All the better for toasting some marshmallow-heads.

7. "Superstar" -
Still as bad as it was when I reviewed it the first time. The cheerleader clapping and guitar are okay but the lyrics and vocals are trash. And, just like when I reviewed it the first time, it's an inferior return to bad summers sun-n-fun songs previously penned by Vitamin C ("Smile"), Len ("Steal My Sunshine"), LFO ("Summer Girls"), and Rihanna ("We All Want Love"). I'm giving it a tiny star-raise though because "I Love New York" should be considered equally as bad. Put the two songs together and you might get something listenable between them.

8. "I Don't Give A" -
Nothing wrong with the beat. Not even that much wrong with Madonna or the lyrics. But, truly, this is bland. Nicki Minaj is great again. But, then again, she's a pro as a rapper. And... she was on Kanye West's "Monster." (A FAR, FAR superior track!) The whole breathy big-band brass thing is garbage. I believe she made the same mistake on "Voices." Twice, Madonna... ?

9. "I'm a Sinner" -
Good, funky expansion on "Beautiful Stranger." Excellent beat. Surprisingly, this was pretty close to rising up to become one of the standouts on the album. If it weren't for the "Mary" and "Jesus Christ" section is crap. What can I say- this isn't Church on a Dancefloor. Lady Gaga just did this all better. (Is anyone surprised?)

10. "Love Spent" -
Pretty much the only song I've run into on the album that finds a good way to express Madonna's pissed-off-ness about her divorce. The beat isn't great at first. The emotion is extremely pointed. I mean, it's like you're really in the room as she's talking to him. At least, the section that starts at 2:10. Can you imagine Madonna actually admitting vulernability with eyes full of tears? Well, this song is the closest you'll come to it. Giving it an added level of almost-"Inside of Me" depth.

11. "Masterpiece" -
Lyrics are still silly and repetitious. Is the music as good as I said it was before? I don't think so. Wrong song to give such an ultra-heavy bass bump to. I don't know what I was smoking before to have given this 3 stars.

12. "Falling Free" -
I also appear to have really underrated this one as well. Beautiful distorted piano at the beginning and tilted, whirling music throughout. Strong vocals. Lovely lyrics. This isn't just class. This is so good, it's the kind of song that should have been the album cap for... honestly? Every Madonna album after Ray of Light. It might not be able to touch "Mer Girl," but it surely wipes the floor with "Like It or Not," "Voices," and "Easy Ride." As for "Gone," well... it's superior if not worlds above. Friggin' KILLER guitar!


In Conclusion
Easily one of the biggest messes Madonna's ever had her name anywhere near, which is interesting given her reputation in acting. As an album, the first half is truly artistic and worth considering as a work of art. And, half of that is quite weak. The second half, as a second half, is filler. 2 really good songs make it hard to throw away and so, I won't. But the album completely loses footing beginning on track #7 and becomes wholly uninteresting. It's a serious failure. Perhaps Madonna's greatest.


Overall Album Rating


Tracks Worth Purchasing (via-Digital Music Downloads):
"Turn Up the Radio"
"Love Spent"

Tracks to Consider Purchasing
"Some Girls"
"Falling Free"

[Christopher_TCUIH]

Wow I don't even rate MDNA that low, but I still see it as her weakest album. With the club wave in music I thought this album was going to be a real dance album like Confessions was supposed to be.

My biggest complaint on the album is how embarrassingly childish the lyrics can get "you're Abe Lincoln cuz' you fight for what's right" It's like she barely learned how to rhyme see & bee but I'm sure she didn't write most of it.