Madonna Hard Candy review

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:18pm

OK so i know its not out until next week but the album has leaked and (i hand my head) i couldnt wait so downloaded it (still buying it of course on monday though)

This is a good album thats def a summer type of CD

Its obviously aimed at the american market (im in the UK) as the RnB style if the album is a lot more popular there, and after Confessions did not perform as well there (even though is was number 1 and was one of her biggest albums round the rest of th world) it was time for her to reclaim her crown in America.

Tracks
Candy Shop - Im not a fan of this one at all, the song is dull and a bit lifeless and very predictable, not a great start 2/5

4 Minutes - We all know this one, a great banging marching anthem which appears to be taken the world by storm (its just gone to number 1 here in the UK on downloads alone)

Give It To Me- Brilliant, up-tempo dance with a slight urban (and 70s) flavor, its kinda like old Madonna has met new Madonna, this is the 2nd single 5/5

Heartbeat - Brilliant, a very mellow dance song, reminds me a bit of 70s jacko from Off The Wall 5/5

Miles Away - A great mid tempo song where madge sings of her love for Guy but how they are always so far apart, a beautiful guitar rift with a great bat 5/5

Shes Not Me - Very 70s stroke urban mash up complete with whistles and bells, this has a brilliant 60s sounding bridge, the one problem with this song is it goes on way to long (over 7 mins) and could do with been cut down 4/5

Incredible - Hmm some people like this some people dont, its a great bat but the song doesn't go anywhere. 2/5

Dance 2night - Brilliant, a great urban/chill out dance song with JT on, the chorus is immediately catchy and makes you want to dance, they are however 2 versions of this floating around 4/5

The Beat Goes On- If you heard the leaked version for this its completely different with only the lyrics chorus sounding similar, a great club track with a strong hook, brilliant 5/5

Spanish lessons - Dreadful indulgent nonsense, what was she thinking, the song is best been skipped....fast 1/5

The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You - Outstanding, almost like a sequel to Cry Me A River, brilliant lyrics and melody with a soothing beat, album highlight 5/5

Voices - A very dark but beautiful ending to the album, JT asks who is the master who is the slave and then a great eastern flavor kicks in with Madonnas vocal sounding strong

Overall this is a very good album with a lot to praise with a couple of the songs ranking as some of her best in years, the strong songs out way the few missteps on the album.Its strength lies in the collaborations.Dont worry about it having the familiar Timberland sound, it doesn't, its like they have merged Madonnas, Pharrels, JT, Timberlands sound together and created something interesting
I would strongly recommend this album

4/5

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:39pm

Definitely better than her last 2 albums, in my opinion. Though She's Not Me and Incredible are embarrassingly bad. The "OOOHH"s during Incredible are probably amongst the worst ideas for backtracking she's ever had. EVER. Honestly, I can't imagine it being played anywhere unless as a joke. She's Not Me is almost as bad. The first thing that came to mind was, "Why did she write this?" As stupid as Spanish Lesson is, I found it at least more interesting than She's Not Me and more listenable than the second half of Incredible.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:40pm

rolling stone also gave it 4 out of 5 stars. EW gave it a great review as well. I've been listening to some of the songs and I love them. Better dance music than Confessions.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:43pm

see i dont get the hate towards Confessions

Maybe its just a cultural thing but Confessions around the world got some of the best reviews and biggest singles of it of her Career.

I think the UK pioneers dance music and always has thats why it was really well received here, dance music (real dance music) has never been big in the US, maybe that was the problem

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:50pm

I love Confessions.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:19pm

I think the UK pioneers dance music and always has thats why it was really well received here, dance music (real dance music) has never been big in the US, maybe that was the problem

I thought Germany took that crown in the 90s. What is the difference between "dance music" and "real dance music"? What are we dancing to in the US?

Maybe its just a cultural thing but Confessions around the world got some of the best reviews and biggest singles of it of her Career.

Really? Which singles? It's the first I'd heard of it. So were Madonna's early hits (Like a Virgin, Material Girl, Borderline, Holiday, Vogue, etc) not big singles in the UK because they weren't "real dance music"? Did you stand still to those songs?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:43pm

Mister Matt Hung Up is now Madonnas Biggest Selling Single of All time, Sorry is not far behind, sorry also won the Ivor Novello award which none of her other songs have won that etc etc etc

Also Germany was the pioneer of Trance music

Dance music is stuff like Garage, House, Electronica, Hard House, etc etc etc

[Patronus]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:49pm

I can't wait to hear it. I'm really not good with the downloading of leaked albums thing. It freaks me out.

I'll be buying it first thing next Tuesday though.
Updated On: 4/21/08 at 05:49 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:03pm

That's weird. When I lived in Germany, they claimed to be the pioneers of Techno, which then spawned the various forms of "dance music". I never did understand why "dance music" is simply not called "club music" which would be more accurate. I mean, we called music we danced to "dance music" before "real dance music" existed. How ironic.

I do think it is interesting that Hung Up has sold more copies of any song she ever recorded. I was trying to find more info about that, but I couldn't find anything other than its ranking for that year.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:12pm

Its not hard to find that Hung Up was her biggest single

and your break down of Dance music is what i was talking about LMAO

Dance music is not just "club music" there are many forms of Dance Music and many different artist who specialize on each one, to refer to all Dance Music as Club music is a bit insulting to those who specialize in each one.Also i love House music and Garage but cant stand Trance because they are different forms

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:28pm

But if there are many different forms of "dance music" and it is insulting to group them together, then why are they grouped together and called "dance music"? You can call it "dance music" but not "club music"? One is insulting and not the other? And what is the difference between "dance music" and "real dance music"? What the hell are you talking about? Is there also an "actual dance music" and "not dance music" or "similar to dance music" genres I need to avoid offending as well?

Its not hard to find that Hung Up was her biggest single

I only found conflicting information, but most do reference Hung Up as one of her biggest-selling singles (including ringtone sales).

Updated On: 4/21/08 at 06:28 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:33pm

Could it be that "dance" music such as songasndanceman is referring to never took hold over here b/c Americans have more discerning taste?

We like actual music in our dance music. Not just a series of sound effects in an endless loop.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:34pm

are u out for an argument because if so i cant be bothered

[tazber]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:45pm

Not at all, just stating my opinion regarding this post:


"dance music (real dance music) has never been big in the US, maybe that was the problem"

"real dance music"? Please

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:47pm

I was just trying to understand what you meant about "dance music", "real dance music" and the UK/US popularity of Madonna, whose music has been around before the term had to be redefined, so I don't know what sort of music she made when and for whom it was popular and which country was superior for either inventing her or reinventing her or inventing some form of music she already created or whatever. It's all very muddled and confusing.

Updated On: 4/21/08 at 06:47 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:48pm

i wasnt talking to u tazbar

and if thats what you think any kind of dance music is your sorely mistaken

[DG]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:56pm

All I know is that, somewhere in heaven, Sylvester is laughing his ass off.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 9:28am

and if thats what you think any kind of dance music is your sorely mistaken

I didn't say what I thought it was. Still don't know what you're talking about.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 9:51am

I thought she was starring in a tour of "...Whorehouse." Dang!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 3:40pm

Pitchfork gave it a mixed-negative review. Oh, well. I'll buy it anyway.
Hard Candy Review

[Wildcard]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 4:30pm

I love Give It 2 Me! Sure, it reminds me of Gwen Stefani but I love her too.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 4:50pm

its a great album.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 5:07pm

Really, Jerbs?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 5:20pm

um yeah. ?

LOL

A certain British friend of many of us (who is very hard to please) loves it if that's a better endorsement.

[jakebloke]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 9:05am

After a first listen, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I really like a few songs, but most were just kinda ok. I'm very happy to have new music for the gym. I'm sure they will grow on me and I'll end up really liking the whole thing, but for now, I feel Confessions has a better collection of songs.