CrozzaUK said:

I think what sounds like madonna are the obvious, her voice and it seems like samples from her previous albums.

Incredible sounds like a commercial for
Kraft Macaroni & cheese or some salad dressing




[Edited 4/22/08 6:46am]

a few more observations and comments.....

***At first,I didn't really like the breakdown part in "Give It To Me"....you know,the "get stupid" part.But now I love it It catches listeners by surprise,and I like the way the song carries on from that point ("you're only here to win....").

***In a recent radio interview,Madonna said that Kanye West didn't even write his rhymes down on paper...he simply practiced it a few times,stepped to the mike,and delivered his rap from memory.

***On one of the Madonna forums that I visit,they're having a long thread titled "Hard Candy vs.Confessions" I knew folks would start comparing.

I love the change in structure on the pharell tracks.
'Incredible's second half is great..It's what what i look
forward 2 in the song..the 1st half could have been shortened.

Overall it sounds like her most spirited & fun effort in years.
& I was so dreading the concept, where on paper it looked like
'Madonna goes urban'. It's so fucking POP.

I just heard Miles Away and I got to say, that song is the best Madonna song in quite a while. It's kinda funky especially at the end with the quitars and stuff. Add to the fact that it's very easy to sing along too. She would be stupid not to release this song cause it's got SMASH HIT written all over it. Plus, I heard Candy Shop again and I'm digging this track. It's a good simple dance song that works. I'm searching for more songs but so far so good. I might really like this CD after all.
[Edited 4/22/08 8:55am]

"Candy Shop" and barf-worthy cover aside, this album is surprisingly good. It's not very deep, and will probably get old quickly, but it makes a fun first impression. She seems very down to earth on it, and there are few cringe-worthy moments. I already like it as much as Confessions, which took awhile to grow on me.

That said, "Candy Shop" is by far the worst song on the album, and I can't believe it's the lead track. Still sounds like a demo by a first-time songwriter.

OMG! IT'S TRULY OUR WENDY PLAYING THE FUNKY GUITAR! CHECK THE BOOKLET!

Just one more week 2 go!! I can't wait!!

Miserablism said:

interesting the lyrics of the song and the fact that wendy is playing guitar and referenced
is this about someone or something?

horatio said:

She sits on songs sometimes for years before finding a way for it work. The Devil Wouldn't Reconginze you was from 03 Hollywood had been floating for 10 years before it was released so it could be possible that She's Not Me may be from 85... but i think it's more directed at those people who claim any person is the "new Madonna" and Wendy just happened to fit the song.


There were reports of Wendy flying to London last year and everyone assumed it was to perform at the 02 shows for Prince but it never happened maybe it was to record with Madonna instead.
[Edited 4/22/08 12:34pm]

I have taken a few passes at the album and here are my thoughts...

It's a very mixed bag even for Madonna. There deosn't seem to be any theme musicwise. It's sounds as uneven as Music did, though it also sounds like the companion piece to Confessions. For me that record was warmer, more etherial and dreamy. Where as this one isn't that deep either lyrically or musically, the music stands out and wants to be noticed.

Like 4 Minutes this album is going to have to grow on me. IMO the beats are way too prominent and upfront. The songs take a backseat to the beats, which is my main issue with this album. I have to say that aside, this is EXCACTLY the type of album I was expecting. Especially after seeing what happened to Duran Duran's Red Carpet Massacre, Hard Candy got the same treatment in terms of sound. Even in the song Miles Away I can hear Nite Runner. SOme of the songs are so marred buy the production that it makes them difficult to listen to...like Incredible. I'm almost having trouble with many of the "sideways segues" in the songs like that mid part in She's not Me or Give it to me. I think these happen in too many of the songs.

Hard Candy is a Decent Madonna Record. I think there are certainly some gems I like a lot.

4 Minutes - Good Song, but not sure why it was released as the first single. There are better choices. I do like the beginning of the track which makes the realk intro easier on the ears.

Give it to me - Circus Disco. Reminds me of Deeper and Deeper. Just a fun song with an infectious groove.

Miles away - Wonderful Song. Take a while to get used to the beats but this is another stellar track.

She's not me - Aside from that mid part another great song. Kinda long but I like that part.

The Beat Goes on - And On and On and On - Like SHe's not me, a bit long, but that is it's strength. No bad mid parts to contend with. Also got that 80's thing going on. Bus Stop anyone?

The Devil Wouldn't even Recognize you - Classic Madonna

Voices - Almost stands out as the best on the album. No annoying drum track either. I like this one a lot! Great closing song.

"Give It To Me" is not only the best track on the album, it's the best thing Pharrell's ever done.

Although, anyone noticed how you can sing Kylie's "Slow" over it perfectly?

Ay, caramba, I'm weak. I think I'm loving every song on this album. It's really stinking fun.
[Edited 4/22/08 14:52pm]

Miserablism said:

Dayumn they kept that quiet. This is too much. I cant take it in. why in the fuck didnt they go all out to get Prince on this record too? This track, Beat Goes On, Dance 2 Night are crying out for his input. Oh it could have been like one big happy 1980's reunion.

Pharrell has obviously studied P's career to the point of plagiarism at times, and M has always given big love to P in interviews - is this some kind of personal homage from the two of them? Very cool if that is indeed the intention.

Just something about this record and prince seems to connect for me. Is the engineer of the track, Andrew Coleman, any relation to Lisa? A quick google serach put him and Wendy on Gwens LAMB album together.

MendesCity said:

The cover is indeed barf worthy. In fact all the art work looks hideous.....and once again no lyrics. Is it any coincidence the last time we got printed lyrics was the last time she wrote any good ones (Ray Of Light)?

Candy Shop however has grown on me. Someone mentioned it reminds them of Prince's Black Sweat, and while not quite as funky, i can see where they're coming from. Still a mediocore song, and not an album opener - but lyrically i can see why its the first.

i've heard 8 songs or so and, surprisingly, i have to say i love most of this record.

she's not me, the beat goes on, give it 2 me, incredible, candy shop, heartbeat...all really good songs. give it 2 me and she's not me are just irresistible!

4 minutes is better mixed in with the album but i'm still not wild about that track and devil is not a good song at all. it sounds like her version of cry me a river. other than that, i like what i've heard!

the old battle axe pulled it off!

sassybritches said:

Yay Wendy!

There was a recent 'Candy' interview, were M was asked who she admired in
music 2day..she said 'Prince'

Seems Wendy & Madonna (and KD) go back further than She's Not Me.

CrozzaUK said:

Amazingly - Madonna looks the fattest in this photo.

CrozzaUK said:

Madonna's Goth phase....lasted a day apparently!

VinnyM27 said:

If that - a half an evening im guessing. Im sure KD Lang had her stripped and showered down within moments of this pic being taken - i think it coincided with her lesbian phase.

CrozzaUK said:

actually she went home with Vanilla Ice That night.

Martinelli said:

Wow...Warren was right....she doesn't want to live off camera!

I don't care if you are the biggest homophobe on the planet....Being with Vanilla Ice is a lot creepier than being with KD Lang!


And I had to look again...Wendy is looking awfully sexy in that photo!

VinnyM27 said:

Oh my god, that picture is confusing. In good, sexually boggling ways.

PricelessHo said:

hmmm still cant hear it?

Candy Shop - I dont' know what's wrong with me, but I think this song has grown on me. I still don't like it, but I guess in the context of the album, it's *okay*. It probably couldn't work as anything but an album opener. It's not a very good one, but it works in no other context.

4 Minutes - This is another one that I still don't like very much, but it works in the context of the album, and kicks the album proper off. After hearing that almost none of the lyrics on this album have any depth or meaning beyond strings of cliches and non-sequitirs, this is actually okay. The track is pretty good, admittedly. And like this album's opener, this song could work really in no other context than as the lead single. Take the one shot at the big hit with something so pandering and meaningless and get it out of the way before the better tracks are released to give the project legs.

Give It 2 Me - Why is Madonna suddenly using Princebonics? Anyway... this one is decent. It's not second single material, but I guess it's slightly less vapid than 4 Minutes. Would probably be served best as a club-only track later on in the life of the album, but I suppose it'll do as a second single, considering the options.

Heartbeat - Okay, this is more like it. I'm not gaga over this track, but it's definitely one of the stronger cuts with the most personality and a lot going for it.

Miles Away - Another good track, though I'm not gaga over this one either. They lyrics hit a little close to home. Or they do as of a year or two ago. The beats/production are a bit too crunchy, though. Sounds unfinished. And I don't agree with the people who say that Orbit should have produced this one. It would have just ended up sounding like Amazing or American Pie or whatever, but even more lightweight and we've already heard that from him several times.

She's Not Me - I generally like this track a lot, but it goes on and on for no reason. Nothing interesting happens in the second half that didn't happen in the first. And that bridge/break thing where everything goes muffled is straight out of Stuart Price's limited bag of tricks. We heard that on enough tracks the last album.

Incredible - You know? There's a real gem of a song in here. And the production is surprisingly upbeat and poppy. But it's just trying to be way too many things in the span of one (overlong) song. The lyrics hit me pretty hard, but fortunately they've got a lighter touch than I was expecting.

The Beat Goes On - I'm shocked that I like this, because I hated just about EVERYTHING about the demo. The choice to turn it into a disco-y number and clip some of the wordiness in the chorus has vastly improved it. It's probably just a little bit long and will be much better if there's a single edit.

Dance 2night - More Princebonics Anywho..... Yeah. I really, really like this one. It's understated and laid-back and has a serious groove you can sink your teeth into. This is the "Push" of the album for me. The one that you can just settle into a nice groove to.

Spanish Lesson - Oh my God, I actually kind of like this! It's so stupid. But it's fun.

The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You - I have a feeling that this was a great song that was sacrificed for a mediocre re-tread of a track.

Voices - It has potential. If I give it time and thought, this is probably one of the stronger, more interesting tracks. Right now it doesn't do all that much for me. Maybe that even the more "serious" tracks are pretty frivolous. Or maybe that on such a frivolous album, you really grab ahold of anything you think maybe you can sink your teeth into. I dunno.


So, all in all, it's not horrible. Not as bad as I was expecting based on the early tracks that leaked. In fact, it's pretty okay. It's definitely fun. It's a light, breezy, mindless dance pop record, and it'll be perfect for the summer. I kind of felt the same about Confessions... I liked it okay, but didn't think that much of it. But somehow it turned into one of my most-played Madonna albums of recent years based on the fact that it has a cohesiveness that fits a certain mood. I have a feeling the same will apply to this album. (Though there is nothing deeply pleasing as Hung Up, Get Together, Sorry, or Jump here.)

But there really isn't anything to this album. Or these songs. The more interesting thing about it is the observations that are sort of crystalizing around it for me.

Something has happened to Madonna's music, aside from the fact that she's now put out two all-dance albums in a row. Something has happened to her as a lyricist. She's just not trying. She used to write lyrics that even if I didn't usually connect to them beyond the pop aspect of them, they were at least pretty good. And universal. She seems to be mistaking "cliched" for "universal" lately. And there are just too many "yeahs" and "come ons" and "heys" and filler phrases like that anymore.

It's also clear that she needs to be collaborating with real songwriters again. Melody carried through beat (as on this album) just doesn't cut it for catchy, classic pop songs. And the memorable melodies from the last album were all nicked from other songs and samples.

Finally, her voice..... I don't know what's happened. Well, yes, I do. Since the Evita vocal training, she has slowly just become bland in her vocal stylings. No, she was never a great singer. But she was one of my absolute favorites because she really knew how to get an emotion across in her delivery. Open Your Heart? Express Yourself? Rescue Me? She was really digging deep. Full-body singing, I like to call it. No, she wasn't singing correctly. So what? She made me feel something when she sang though. Or at least I felt like SHE was feeling it when she sang. Something happened after Evita. She sounded great on that. And especially when that training was applied to the Ray Of Light album. But ever since then, it seems that the farther she gets away from it, the less feeling there is in her voice. You don't get that assault on your senses that she used to deliver in a 4 minute ballad or dance tune. It's obvious after Confessions, and especially Hard Candy, that she just doesn't put that much effort into singing anymore. And they say that it should be somewhat effortless, or at least not too physically taxing, when it's done right. But you know... she doesn't have one of those voices. All of the appeal of Madonna's singing has been in how she sells it to you. And I don't mean just in the video and other promotion. I mean in the way she sells it to you with her singing of it. I just feel like that's lacking now. It's a really glaring problem on this album especially. It's all just kind of light "singing-voice" vocal delivery, instead of the gutteral, snarky, breathy, ballsy belting that she used to do.

I really miss that Madonna.

I agree,and I'm glad she delayed the album until now.It's the perfect "summer album"....breezy,light and danceable.

Hard Candy CD artwork

^
When did Madonna turn into Peaches?

CrozzaUK said:

Okay, this picture is seriously blowing my mind. 3 of the shit hottest talents on the planet right there.