I didn't know if I should post in the sticky thread that is probably 'all praise Madonna' so I started a new thread. Just didn't want to rain on their parade.

I don't like this cd. After all of the hype and praise, I expected maybe too much. The lyrics are horid and It's not a FAST dance cd at all, kinda dull techno. I like just three songs, kinda. I am so diappointed. It's already up on ebay.

flame on if you must.

jthad1129 said:

I agree, Usher sucks.

jthad1129 said:

I think the response is going to be, as one of the poor tracks on the album states "Like It Or Not". I like it. It has issues, yes. I don't think anyone is saying this is her best, but probably not her worst. Yeah, it could have been faster ("Impressive Instant" is the type of stuff we should be hearing...). I think it could have been better written and the songs should sound more like pop songs. What happened to the great songwriter Madonna? "Like A Prayer", "Vogue", "Lucky Star". The last great song she wrote was "Nothing Fails".

well, at the end of the day its only a record. no biggie if you don't like it. personally, i think its a fantastic record! i've never thought much of madge's lyrics...she's never been the poet many make her out to be. she's a pop star and she makes pop music.

i can say i think this record is her best since ray of light...maybe since erotica. i really love it (and i've had a few weeks for it to settle in, so its not just the excitement of a new cd).

jthad1129 said:

What a surprise. Madonna hasn't ever done anything worth listening to.

VinnyM27 said:

good song, but you're reaching on that one, most of that is from a nursery rhyme. I haven't heard the album, maybe I never will, altough I've heard all of her prior albums, as long as the lyrics fit the music then it doesn't have to be dylan. I don't know if she wrote hung up, but that's a good song, blondie swipes are not.

lilgish said:

Well not great lyrics but the fact that it was a full song. Catchy chorus, great verses. Most of her songs on AL and COAD fell unfinished. The lyrics don't seem to match the music as well as they used....especially looking back. They feel very uneven.

She did write "Hung Up" and it's good but it also feels as if there is something missing. Especially the beginging starting with the chorus almost doesn't match.

SassyBritches said:

Well you never liked "Bedtime Stories". Different strokes....

That's how I felt on first listen. I was in a bad mood all night cuz I was expecting greatness. I drove all the way to Detroit to get it early. I held off hearing it on MP3 cuz I didn't want to spoil the impact. I've been listening to her old stuff constantly to hype me up. It's not like I wasn't in the right mindframe for new Madonna. But then I listened to it. It's okay. And I'm slowly warming to it. But it's not what I expect from Madonna. I can say without hesitation that it's the least distinctive, most generic Madonna album since before "Like a Prayer". Nearly all the beats are "Boom Chick Boom Chick" and the production is borderline "Dance Mix USA". There's nothing that screams MADONNA about this album. It could easily be Kylie singing over all the tracks. They could be Britney remixes. When I listen to Madonna I expect insanely catchy melodies, great songwriting and that something extra that separates her from the pack. I don't get ANY of that from this album. Many of the songs barely even seem like songs and some don't jump out from the mix. I imagine it's great for clubbing or driving or working out or cleaning the house. But I don't expect it to have legs a month from now. I could totally change my mind by tomorrow, but for now, I'm less than impressed. And this doesn't happen to me with Madonna.

this madonna record is absolute proof-if it hasn't existed before now-that no two minds think alike. i'm amazed at people not being into this record. not because its madonna and she can do no wrong (shit, we've all heard her rap!). but its a pop record through and through. quite possibly the best pop album i've heard in years. really.

for me it doesn't matter if it could be a kylie record or a britney record. they are all pop stars so i kind of expect that sort of thing. in fact, the reason i love madonna's first record so much is because it reminds me of something prince would have done in his early career.

i don't know, i guess originality is not something i expect from madonna. after all, she's stolen almost every idea she's ever made famous (vogueing, anyone?)! i want dance music from madonna. i want fun. i want to itch for the dance floor and forget that i have finals and bills and work and any kind of troubles whatsoever. this album does all of that for me.

but, like i said, no two minds think alike.

SassyBritches said:

It's not so much the originality. But when I listen to Madonna for the first time, I instantly have the songs swirling in my head. I couldn't be arsed to remember a single one after hearing it. No, she's not the greatest lyricist and many say she can't sing. But that's never mattered to me either. But she is a great songwriter and has a great ear for producers/collaborators. And I feel like the "songs" are sorely lacking here. That's why I feel like it's good for every kind of setting but just sitting down and listening. It seems more like something you put on while doing something else. It seems bizarre to me that this of all albums is the one that's bringing old Madonna fans back into the fold. It's not that special!

And for the record, I ADORE the first Madonna album.

im gonna keep this thread up..because i think jthad makes a valid point about not wanting to rain on anyone's parade..


but no sticky.

GangstaFam said:

i absolutely hear where you're coming from. i guess its just odd to me that this cd is the epitome of pop music and its made by the woman who has epitomized pop music for 20+ years yet some of those who love her are not happy with it.

as far as lyrics...c'mon..."everybody, come on dance and sing, everybody get up and do your thing (repeat 3x)." or what about the corny cheesy lyrics to borderline or lucky star. or how about the fact that holiday basically repeats the same two verses over and over. the simple lyric style is how madonna started, lol. i don't know...i'm really trying to understand how anyone could not like this record. i admit, though, i'm biased because i absolutely adore this new collection!

good pop music lyrics are simple and catchy and appeal to everyone. they shouldn't be complex otherwise they stop sounding pop. pop is writen for the lowest common demonator. good pop appeals to everyone. that's why it is probably the hardest to write, because you have to think if people will like it or not.

Madonna is pop. Pop is Madonna. She only writes pop songs, always has. they are simple yet transcend to everyone. if you expect deep philosphoical thought in her lyrics you've got the wrong person. she aims for the teen and gay market. the reason good pop is good is because everyone can relate to it. i want my pop that way. i don't want have to think about what it means. it's to take me away. away from my problems... lord knows i have enough.

My only problem with the album are the tired lyrics about fame and celebrity culture ("How High","Let It Will Be").Why does she keep going down this road? Yes Madonna,we all understand that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be.It's time to let it go."Let It Will Be" is a good song,but I wish the lyrics didn't center around fame.

I've listened to this cd for several times and to be honest its boring, not cause its "pop" but cause its for the first time Madonna is being safe. Its basic pop stuff, something that britney or xtina or hell ashlee could have had produced.

Its nothing great, and if people think this is her masterpiece, im sorry this isnt
Like A Prayer Or Ray Of Light at least they had something to say . Confessions is just popular pop, which from what i understand doenst get much play. And Unless the DJ's mix the shit out of this the teen and gay market arent going to think this is a tour de force
.

with Madonna you do expect more.

hmm maybe she will show her boob sometime soon.

SassyBritches said:

I know we all have our own opinions and tastes,but it's hard to imagine longtime Madonna fans having a problem with this CD.This CD is everything that Madonna is about.It even references many of her past hits.I think it sounds more like Madonna than her last three albums.

ehuffnsd said:

That's not what I'm saying at all.

DavidEye said:

I don't. I think this sounds the least Madonna of just about anything she's come up with. And I think that's my problem with it. It's not very distinct.

GangstaFam said:

I think this CD sounds like classic Madonna.It contains elements of just about everything she has done in the past...there's the steamy spoken-word track "Future Lovers",which is reminiscent of "Justify Of Love" and "Erotica"....there is the bouncy dance track "Jump" which many critics are comparing to "Into The Groove"....there's the silly,funny Madonna on "I Love New York"....there is the exotic "Isaac",which borrows elements from past hits like "Frozen" and "Secret"...there is the obligatory 'take-me-as-I-am' song "Like It Or Not",which she has done several times in the past ("Survival","Human Nature")....there are even a few New Wave,retro-80s tracks ("Sorry") that wouldn't have sounded out of place on her 'Like A Virgin' album.

With this album,I don't think she was interested in re-inventing herself.It seems more like she simply wanted to celebrate her past,while still managing to take the music forward.The USA Today review sums up my feelings completely.


..
[Edited 11/16/05 1:50am]

DavidEye said:

Glad you're not disappointed.

I'm disappointed. I thought it was be more of a Disco revival but she's gone for the Ibiza club anthem route. I don't think she's taken anything forward because it's what all the European DJs were doing well over 5 years ago. There are few standout tracks on the album, and as for some reviewers saying it's one of her best, it's not even in my Top 5 Madonna albums and never will be. In fact, as an album it's not half as good as anything she did before 1994.

It's very pleasant though. There's not anything absolutely horrible on it, but I can't help comparing it to the real Disco revivial album, Kylie's 'Light Years', which did it all so much better.
[Edited 11/16/05 1:59am]

GangstaFam said:

what songs do you like on this CD?

Ranking from best to worst IMO:

1. How High
2. Forbidden Love
3. Sorry
4. Jump
5. Hung Up
6. Let It Will Be
7. Like It Or Not
8. Get Together
9. Future Lovers
10. Isaac
11. I Love New York
12. Push

All subject to change of course. Weird how I like How High best, because I'm sort of sick of the recurring theme in her songs of the whole "I'm never going to stop, like it or lump it" attitude.
[Edited 11/16/05 2:10am]

DavidEye said:

Well, I've only listened to it 3 times so far.

"Hung Up" has really grown on me. Definitely a highlight.

"Get Together" is my instant favorite.

"Sorry" was so-so on my first listen, but I'm liking it more and more each time.

"Future Lovers" I loved on first listen but kinda irks me now. Not sure why. Doesn't feel like a fully formed song.

"I Love New York" is ridiculous to be sure, but it sounds like New Order. For that it gets bonus points.

"Let It Will Be" is okay.

"Forbidden Love" is okay.

"Jump" I was lukewarm on, but now I think it's among the best. It's gotta be a single.

"How High". Eh. Sounds like Kylie.

"Isaac" drives me up the fucking wall. The makings of a great song are there, but I cannot deal with the chanting. At least not how it's used in this song.

"Push" I was expecting to love. The verses kinda bug me. I think that I wish it was in a major key. I like the r+b feel though. Wish she'd go more in that direction.

"Like It Or Not" is very nice. Closes the album in a similar fashion to "Gone" and "Easy Ride", both of which I love.

Like I said, I do like the album. More each time. But it's still not grabbing me like a Madonna album should. Something about the music and production is just kinda generic. I may grow to love it though. I dropped "Erotica" the first couple weeks it was out cuz I was so into Prince's "Symbol" and thought it was shit compared to that. Now, it's practically my favorite Madonna album. So who knows?

Ellie said:

Wow! I think "How High" is the weakest song.

jthad1129 said:

what are the three songs that you like?

DavidEye said:

"Forbidden Love" sounds like "The Music's No Good Without You" by Cher.

Heheheh.

I like it way better than her previous two albums cuz I wasn't expecting greatness.

But still, I do not play it lots...