Performed by a vocalist who had recently abandoned the U.S. for the U.K., "American Life" is an album co-produced by a French techno mastermind, recorded during a time of strife in America, and released just after the country completed a war. Given that context and given that the vocalist is arguably the biggest star in the world, the title can't help but carry some import, carry the weight of social commentary. And it follows through on that promise, sometimes explicitly and sometimes implicitly, but either way, "American Life" winds up as the first Madonna record with ambitions as serious as a textbook. It plays as somberly as either "Like a Prayer" or "Ray of Light", just as it delves into an insular darkness as deep as "Erotica" while retaining the club savviness of the brilliant, multi-colored "Music". This is an odd mixture, particularly when it's infused with a searching, dissatisfied undercurrent and a musical sensibility that is at once desperate and adventurous, pitched halfway between singer/songwriterisms and a skimming of current club culture. It's pulled tight between these two extremes, particularly because the intimate guitar-based songs (and there are a lot of them, almost all beginning with just her and a guitar) are all personal meditations, with the dance songs usually functioning as vehicles for social commentary. Even if the sparer ballads are introspective, they're treated as soundscapes by producer Mirwais, giving them an unsettling eerie quality that is mirrored by the general hollowness of the club songs. There's a lot that's interesting about "American Life" -- the half-hearted stabs at politics fall aside, and there are things bubbling in the production that are quite infectious, while the stretch from "Nobody Knows Me" to "X-Static Process" in the middle of the record can be quite moving. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

I've been playing this album all week. Was just dancing to "Nobody Knows" me this morning.

American Life is one of her best... and a very personal album in my eyes. i know people knock mother and father but it rocked live... as did NKM... who else could just strut their stuff alone on stage and rock it like she did.

the songs she did live just brought a whole new vibe to the album... i apprecated it more after seeing RIT.

i wanna hear the dance version of X-staic Process

ehuffnsd said:

U people really really must dig DEEP in the weights of Madonna's soul to have that album as one of your favorites.

ehuffnsd said:

Best concert/show EVER!!!!

Madonna fans like anything she does.... Swept Away..... their most forgiving of the holy trinity. MJ and P fans are critical as hell, but I guess they have higher standards.

lilgish said:

That's why they're fans.

Nobody Knows Me
written by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzai
-----
I've had so many lives
Since I was a child
And I realize
How many times I've died

I'm not that kind of guy
Sometimes I feel shy
I think I can fly
Closer to the sky

No one's telling you how to live your life
But it's a setup until you're fed up

This world is not so kind
People trap your mind
It's so hard to find
Someone to admire

I, I sleep much better at night
I feel closer to the light
Now I'm gonna try
To improve my life

No one's telling you how to live your life
But it's a setup until you're fed up
It's no good when you're misunderstood
But why should I care what the world thinks of me
Won't let a stranger give me a social disease

Nobody, nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Like you know me

Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Like you know me

No one's telling me how to live my life
But it's a setup, and I'm just fed up
It's no good when you're misunderstood
But why should I care what the world thinks of me
Won't let a stranger give me a social disease

I don't want no lies
I don't watch TV
I don't waste my time
Won't read a magazine

I don't want no lies
I don't watch TV
I don't waste my time
Won't read a magazine

I, I sleep much better at night
I feel closer to the light
Now I'm gonna try
To improve my life

Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Like you know me

*Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Like, like you know me
Like you know me
Like you know me
Like you know me
Like you know me

*(Its no fun but the damage is done
Don't want your social disease
Don't want your social disease)

**Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Like you know me

Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Nobody knows me
Don't want your social disease

**(I don't want no lies
I don't watch TV
I don't waste my time
Won't read a magazine
I don't want no lies
I don't watch TV
Won't read a magazine)

paisleypark4 said:

i like it cause it's so different from anything she's ever done... who would have expected a mostly accoustic Madonna album?

How does the original American Life review from All Music constitute a "revisit" and reappraisal?

I honestly connect to American Life better than Ray of Light

lilgish said:

Same with MJ fans. They even defend his antics when he goes to court over child molestation.

If you people have nothing to say about the album, why the hell do you post?
[Edited 3/6/05 4:24am]

i must admit the re-invention tour was shear class

i loved it when she performed "nobody knows me" and was even jammin' to american life,(only during the concert though, never again).

I have full length Vogue, Nobody Knows Me and Die another Day RIT footage for anyone that wants it.
Just orgnote me

mancabdriver said:

I know, you'd never catch me dancing to AL (the song) but on tour she breathed new life into all her songs.
The remixes of AL are all great sans Missy Elliots mix

ehuffnsd said:

Aaaarrrrgggh - Fuck off Madge!

jayaredee said:

Despite critical or unfavorable reviews, Madonna fans will usually appreciate her work. (and I've been around die-hards for over 20 years)



Like I really thought Blood on the Dancefloor and Invincible were great My MJ and R&B/pop music fandom is refound primarily due to the state of rock music.

The majority of long time MJ fans are tittering on their fandom or have left mike all together. Check the post in these threads. His die-hard base is mostly under 21. I call them “History Babies” and many of them are from the UK.



I thought American Life was an above average record, better than Music, worse than Ray of Light.


My original statemnet

still stands.
[Edited 3/6/05 10:40am]

One of her best as previously mentioned. She went real techo with this one more than the ballyhooed Ray Of Light imo. This is a club release. It is like a mix between Like A Prayer and her debut.Thoughtful disco.

Nothing Fails is now on eof my top 3 Madonna songs

.
[Edited 3/6/05 10:42am]

lilgish said:

madonna, like every other pop star in existence, has fans that love everything she does, fans that are never satisfied with anything she does, and all of those in between. please don't try to spin it like prince fans - especially many of those who frequent this site - don't lap up everything that man does and claim it a masterpiece.

Other than Nothing Fails, this album was really poor in my s...

SassyBritches said:

I think P fans are realistic when it comes to his movies and everyone recognizes that For You is rather weak compared to his competitors at the time. The people who say they like Graffiti Bridge are just fooling around, right?

lilgish said:

um, in a word: no. look, there are prince fans who actually like jughead. let's not even get into those who love newpowersoul. some fans even called rave un2 the joy fantastic a return to form and a comeback. uh uh. some prince fans are just as blind as some madonna fans.

I just never got into this album and I really had a hard time getting into everything after "Bedtime Stories", probably my favorite Madonna album and the one that came out when I first got totally into Madonna. I really like "Ray Of Light", but it's kind of prissy and cold. I think I like "Music" most of the last three, although at the time I didn't think it was anything special despite a few good songs but it's grown on me. I'm still not sure on "American Life". I really like half the songs (including the much hated title track, "Nothing Fails", "Mother And Father" and "X-Static Process") and hate or at the vert least am bored with ohters ("Hollywood", "I'm So Stupid", etc.). Also, it was meant to be a personal album but I was feeling her a lot more on "Music", even though some of the songs were fun pop (the title track, obiviously) but something like "I Deserve It" is beatiful and moving.

horrible album...horrible tour...

This album is one of my favorites too. The RIT definately made me appreciate it more. I don't see how people can love albums like Like A Virgin but call AL crap.

Great Album, Great tour. It's in my Top 3 Madonna discs, with Ray of Light and Like a Prayer.

madartista said:

we will never have babies...

sosgemini said:

amen 2 that, u evil Madonna hater!!!!

VinnyM27 said:

variety1317 said:

I'm always amazed when I discuss Madonna with somebody,and they say "Well,I like her old stuff".Wtf? It's as if they prefer her mindless 80s pop hits over the more serious,creative stuff that she does now.The same people who say 'American Life' is crap are the same folks who insist that 'Like A Virgin' is a masterpiece