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One single listening of this album is enough to fall in love with this new release from the pop diva Madonna. "Hard Candy" is a collection of twelve tracks consistent to all previous Madonna works since "Ray of Light", when she started adopting more of a pop-electronic-dance style hardly filled with slow ballads. Basically, there are no or very few connections to what she had done until "Bedtime Stories", the last album that followed a style she has begun with since her very first album in the 80s. This album is very well produced, arrangements are well done and songs are captivating, to say the least. Those who normally follow Timbaland will certainly recognize his presence by the sound effects and producing style found on most of the tracks. All songs from this album have a good beat, are enthusiastically played and very energizing from the rhythm standpoint. Lyrically speaking, "Miles Away" (probably about dealing with her relationship with Guy Ritchie when they are apart due to professional reasons), "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" and "Voices" are the most beautiful ones. "Give It 2 Me", "She's Not Me" (which talks about being replaced for someone else) and "Incredible" have a very provocative storyline on each. "Dance 2night" is also a beautiful song, both lyrically and musically. So far, this is the best 2008 release in pop music.Read full review
Imagine my horror when I ran out on day one and bought this album, listened to it a couple times and just didn't get it. I thought, oh no, am I getting too old to "get" Madonna? How could this be?!!! The album has a very urban, edgy feel upon first listen. I didn't know if I could relate to it. However, I gave it a chance and listened a few more times, then voila! I GOT IT! Now I can't say enough about this album. It is catchy, groovy, has unique rhythms and very danceable, exerciseable tracks. If you've loved most of Madonna's other albums, you will love this one, too. She continues to get better with age and amaze at every pass. I highly recommend "Hard Candy." My picks for best track are "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" and "Miles Away." "Heartbeat" is a great dance track.
Not Her Best But still A great Album. Her final album with Warner Brothers isn't Her best but still An excellent Urban Album. Candy Shop: The album opener's weirdly R&B-ish, with synth straight out of Snoop's "Sensual Seduction" (you know, that 70's sound?) and Madonna putting a lil Erykah Badu in her vocals. Huh. Not bad, though. Oh, but there are some doozy lyrics. "Come on into my store, I got candy galore" -- for reals? · 4 Minutes: If you haven't heard it already, you're not even reading this post. · Give It 2 Me: A combo of LCD Soundsystem-style cowbell and Killers synth drives this tune. Not bad. You can totally picture one of those dance-driven, party videos the girl's known for. Let's call this a radio song. · Heartbeat: OK, only a couple of songs in, and already the flat-sounding synth is starting to kill us. Just seems too thin and laid on top. Timbaland's pulled this kind of thing before, of course, but often with dudes whose vocals or rhymes are much richer or deeper to offset it. (Justin's a soprano for sure, but he hits some way more dramatic notes than Madonna can.) Gotta wonder if he tailored this enough to Madge's own vocal stylings? Generic tune. Update: Yikes, this track was produced by Pharrell. Thanks for pointing that out, readers. But the timbre of her voice still doesn't seem well-matched with this synth vibe. · Miles Away: This song starts off with one of Timba's signature beatbox-style openings, and the blips and layers of sound continue throughout. Can't Madonna bust out without all that production underneath her? How about a straight-up pop tune? · She's Not Me: OK, another radio song! A catchy, dance-y tune about getting jilted for another girl but staying sassy enough to be all like "go for it, you'll never be happy with that ish." (We're getting a little too "Will & Grace" with this.) · Incredible: OMG, leave Madonna alone! What's up with all the crazy production? That's more electronics than a Yaz record! You almost can't make out the fact that it's Madonna singing at all. I mean, we're exaggerating -- but not by much. The few piano notes underneath are a reminder of the simpler arrangement that could have been. Sigh. · The Beat Goes On: Pharrell guests on this one, and the personality in his vocals helps to mix it up a bit. That, and the fact that Pharrell's voice actually goes with the whole 70's R&B vibe. Seems like maybe the album concept was 70's R&B-meets-80's dance, but the mix somehow wasn't nearly bold enough. · Dance Tonight: JT takes this track to town. But why does Madge sound all vocoder-ed? Is that totally intentional? Her vocals are definitely duller on this album than usual. · Spanish Lesson: A return to "La Isla Bonita," and the awkward Spanish we've come to expect from Madonna. Awesome lyrics include "If you like my style / I can love you for a while." We think she's cleverer than that. · The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You: Oooh, finally, a ballad! Right on! This track makes it even clearer that there must have been some kind of disconnect between Timbaworld and Planet Madge -- I mean, why wasn't there more of this material? She may not be the greatest singer of her generation (um, understatement), but if you give her room to breathe, Madonna can put attitude to tape. And that's what's absent from most of these recordings. · Voices: The track opens with a Depeche Mode-style S&M-philosophical question: "Who is the master, and who is the slave?" Some Middle Eastern-y flourishesRead full review
Album good💪🏻 for work out too !!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Sticky and sweet is what you will find on this cd, delightful candies and raw sugar... you need more?? Just wonderful!
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