http://leftcoaststory.com/madonna-american-life-still-lives-ten-years-after-bombing/

This sums up how I feel about the album.

for many this album was WAY TOO dark/cynical and underproduced, and I agree

that said, there are def some underrated/forgotten gems: Nobody Knows Me, X-Static Process and Easy Ride

the title-track has interesting and harsh lyrics about the show buzinezz but the rap pretty much ruins it...

Hollywood is average and I hate songs about Hollywood anyway

I'm So Stupid must be her most depressing song ever, midlife crisis an all

Love Profussion is ok, but repetitive, sounds like a decent Music outtake at best

Nothing Fails, a LAME attempt at a 00's version of Like a Prayer

Intervention, for some reason this song does nothing for me, I always skip it, specially considering that the next song is the gem X-Static Process...

Die Another Day has no business here

Mother & Father, lyrics too personal for my taste, an another weird and unnecessary rap, but it's a good/moving song...

and for some reason, this album feels a lot older than just 10 years ...maybe because she took a whole different road with Confessions/Hard Candy

[Edited 4/22/13 9:26am]

I used to really like this album! and thought that it showed Madonna in an entire new way.

Nowadays i don't take this album seriously

I now see it more as whinny Sheryl Crow meets Alanis type lyrics and accoustics.

Nothing Fails is one i still kind of like... but as Joe said sounds like a 00's version of Like A Prayer.

Intervention is one i still sort of like as well but find the lyrics rather cheesy now.

It's cool she tried this new angle but in 2013 it comes off as silly and rather fake... especially since Madonna is talking about the industry and the issues within it yet she does half the thing's she speaks about!

And she does anything to keep relevant even make a song with Nicki fucking Minaj that sounds like a Taylor Swift anthem

Take many seats on those $300 dollar seats you own Madonna and stay there.

Loved it on first listen 10 years ago and still love it now. I never get tempted to skip any of the tracks. Though this album was the beginning of Madonna not getting any more radio play in the states.

Hudson said:

Die Another Day was her last radio hit in the USA even though Hung Up, 4 Minutes, and Gimme were played on Fuse and MTV Hits a bit.

I've always loved "American Life." It's tough, dark and kicks butt. I found it online recently and was surprised to receive it in a boxed set with a poster, stamps and the CD! Totally unexpected and I will cherish it forever! Must be some kind of a promo thing or sumpthin'. "Die Another Day," for ME reminds me of a more sinister-sounding "Papa Don't Preach." It's in the string arrangement. Sadly, this album for her was not met with much public acclaim.

If this album had been recorded by somebody like Jewel or Sheryl Crow,it probably would have been a much bigger success.This type of music is simply not what people expect from Madonna.It's too mellow,too dark,too reflective.There is only one real dance track here ("Nobody Knows Me") and even that song is dark and preachy.I personally like the album but I can see why it failed to excite much of Madonna's fanbase.

Hudson said:

Die Another Day was her last radio hit in the USA

get out of here

JoeTyler said:

Hudson said:

Die Another Day was her last radio hit in the USA

get out of here

American Life #37

Hung Up #7 because of downloads, never caught on to top 40 despite being sampled.

Sorry #58

4 Minutes #3 downloads, tv commercials and video play, not a radio hit would've have been much lower without Timberlake

Give It 2 Me #57

Gimme All Your Lovin #10 downloads plus superbowl and video play

SoulAlive said:

If this album had been recorded by somebody like Jewel or Sheryl Crow,it probably would have been a much bigger success.This type of music is simply not what people expect from Madonna.It's too mellow,too dark,too reflective.There is only one real dance track here ("Nobody Knows Me") and even that song is dark and preachy.I personally like the album but I can see why it failed to excite much of Madonna's fanbase.

Agreed. I enjoyed the album as a one off thing and a change of pace, but there was something very un-Madonna about it. I'm glad she did it, but I don't think I would want to have continued in that direction for the rest of her career.

Totally underrated album. One of my faves of hers.

[Edited 4/23/13 18:36pm]

Ace said:

Totally underrated album. One of my faves of hers.

agreed..her best album imo..

Three worthwhile tracks here. The only good thing to come from this release was the Reinvention Tour, which may have been her best next to Girlie Show.

Ace said:

Totally underrated album. One of my faves of hers.

And she did excellent with American Life and following releases in the future here We know good music when we hear it.

Like David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy (Low/Heroes/Ledger), Madonna also had an electronic trilogy of her own. And it's too bad that American Life was THE weakest link when it's compare to Ray Of Life & Music.

This album suffered from poor single choices.The title track simply wasn't catchy enough,"Hollywood" is fun the first few times you hear it,but the weak melody soon becomes boring and "Nothing Fails" was overrated by fans.The singles should have been...

"Nobody Knows Me"---this is the closest thing to a dance track

"Love Profusion"---

"Intervention"

I think these are the songs that had the most commercial appeal.