http://latimesblogs....aline-rush.html
Los Angeles Times

First listen: Madonna's new 'MDNA' is an adrenaline rush
March 8, 2012

Madonna's new album, "MDNA," which comes out March 26, is her first record in four years and her first since leaving her longtime home with Warner Bros. Records.

The singer arrives untethered to offer the first of a three-release deal via LiveNation/Interscope -- and her newfound freedom isn't limited to her professional life. Since her last album, "Hard Candy" in 2008, she and husband Guy Ritchie have divorced, and the combination of events seems to have pushed her to let loose both physically and lyrically.

This isn't a review of the album -- that will come closer to the release date. But as someone who's been privy to an early copy of the record, here's a little teaser.

On first listen, "MDNA" draws from the range of the singer's styles -- some hard dance tracks, some introspective ballads -- while adding new producers into her world. These include, most notably, Frenchman Martin Solveig and the Italian producer Benny Benassi, best known Stateside for his work on Chris Brown's "Beautiful People." William Orbit, who has been one of Madonna's key point men since "Ray of Light," is a continued presence and helps pace the album's waning moments with softer textures, including the luxurious "Love Spent."

Madonna's collaborations with Solveig, of which there are six on the 16-song deluxe version, are, overall, the kind of hard house productions (made with her underappreciated producer, Mirwais Ahmadzai) that helped make her 2000 album, "Music," such a vibrant injection. One of the best bonus cuts on "MDNA," "Beautiful Killer," is supported by a '70s-era disco string section. (Solveig will be performing as one of the dance-tent headliners at Coachella in April.)

And "I Don't Give A," produced by Madonna and Solveig, is a Daft Punk-style banger in which she addresses divorce: "I tried to be a good girl, tried to be your wife/Diminished myself, and swallowed my life/I tried to become all that you expect of me/And if it was a failure, I don't give a ..." There's a dose of dubstep -- replete with deep bass-drop -- on the track, right before Nicki Minaj jumps in to reinforce Madonna's argument: "When I let a dude go that's his loss/I was cutting those checks I was his boss," she sings, before declaring, 'I'm not a businesswoman, I'm a business, woman."

The final of the bonus tracks is by far the most personal; called "Best Friend," it's a love letter to a former beau, and listening to it you can't help but draw the conclusion that its intended recipient is Ritchie. For someone who's so often "a business, woman," "Best Friend" is one of the most personal and moving songs of her career.

Madonna punches out younger rivals, not least Lady Gaga, with her new album, argues Will Hodgkinson

A lot rides on Madonna’s new album. Her acting career never took off. W.E., her biopic of Wallis Simpson with the clunky parallels to Madonna’s own life, is a misguided exercise in narcissism. But on MDNA Madonna successfully returns to what she does best: hi-energy disco, as thrilling as it is unhealthy. Central to a 360-degree deal worth a reputed £40 million, the album, which features a host of producers and cameos from Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., sends out a clear message: there can only be one queen of pop.

Girl Gone Wild
Produced by Euro dance sensation Marco Benassi, this features a big thumping beat, an ultra-low electro bass, and Madonna’s voice, speeded up and put through a vocoder, carrying a pop song so cheesy it could have fallen off the last Britney Spears album. That’s not a dignified place for a 53-year-old woman to be, but this is one of those creations in which a series of unpleasant ingredients make a tasty meal. With lines like “I don’t want to be like them, I just want to have some fun,” it’s liberating in its meaninglessness.

Gang Bang
An ultra-modern musical setting gives the opportunity for Madonna to don a murderous sexpot persona. Over police sirens and an air of urban malevolence, Madonna lists, in a deadly calm voice, the horrors she will impart on a rival. These include not only shooting him/her in the head, but also going to Hell so she can shoot them all over again. Studying the Kabbalah doesn’t seem to have brought inner peace.

I’m Addicted
Here’s a return to the Madonna of old with a light piece of disco. Giorgio Morodor-style keyboard squiggles come and go, while a rave piano arrives half way through. Madonna sings about love feeling “like a drug, and I can’t get enough”. The Demolition Crew add club-friendly sounds.

Turn up the Radio
This is another dancefloor smash that will go down well at G.A.Y. “There’s a glow of light, calling you to go outside,” she sings, reviving the spirit of classics such as Ray of Light and Like a Prayer. Uplifting, escapist pop.

Give Me All Your Luvin’
As performed at the Super Bowl, with guest vocalists Nicki Minaj and M.I.A acknowledging their debt to the queen by spelling out her name in cheerleader shouts. It’s a great song until M.I.A ends her spot by saying “I don’t give a shit.” She sounds like she had second thoughts halfway through, so it comes out as “I don’t give a shirt.”

Some Girls
Not a Rolling Stones cover but another club tune, this one with odd electronic squiggles from producer William Orbit. She sings about “crying in a limousine”, presumably to reassure us that the rich and famous have problems too.

Superstar
The album’s first electric guitar before Madonna pays her lover a series of compliments. “You’re like Brando on the silver screen,” she says, which any man would like — more than “You’re like Caesar, stepping on to the throne.”

I Don’t Give A
The missing word of the title might well be “fig”, since this is the song in which Madonna comes to terms with the end of her marriage to Guy Ritchie and resulting loss of position in the British upper classes. “I tried to be a good girl, I tried to be the perfect wife,” she claims, before pretty much admitting this is a lie by saying in a robotic voice, “And if I was a failure, I don’t give a … [fig]”

I’m a Sinner
The best song on the album finds Madonna rejecting her Catholic upbringing and claiming that she’s happy to be a sinner. Once the cross goes in, however, it never comes out, and Madonna admits as much: “St Sebastian don’t you cry, let those poison arrows fly.”

Love Spent
This unremarkable disco filler is intended to pad out the album before the glorious climax. The music is boring but the words are intriguing: “You played with my heart, till death do us part, that’s what you said.” Is this an arm outstretched to Guy Ritchie?

Masterpiece
Madonna seems to be reflecting on the sadness of life’s impermanence here, as she sings about nothing being indestructible while admitting that she fell in love with someone’s work, or their masterpiece, rather than the person within. Rather schmaltzy, but with stirring strings, not unpleasant.

Falling Free
MDNA ends with a song of heartbreak that is tinged with cautious optimism. With her best, most natural vocal delivery on the album, Madonna sounds genuinely emotional — rare for her — as she describes a break-up and the bittersweet feeling of freedom its aftermath brings. A classical setting brings all the drama you want from Madonna: she may be strong, but she cries real tears. “We’re both free, free to go,” she sings, dabbing at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief.

NEW SONG: "Gang Bang"

the edgy,controversial Madonna is BACK!!

SoulAlive said:

NEW SONG: "Gang Bang"

the edgy,controversial Madonna is BACK!!

asg said:

go2theMax said:

nooooooooooooooooooo! U're kiddin right? with all the promotion it didn't make it 2 the first spot?

I bet everyone here is disappointed . Now I'm worried But keep watching and let us know how things go ok...

The thing is if the singles dont do well the album will have a lower debut and if it opens below 200k it will have a hard time going gold

OMG! heaven forbid, right? U should pre-order a second copy right now! (Don't tell me that u haven't pre-ordered at all... )

lastdecember said:

asg said:

The thing is if the singles dont do well the album will have a lower debut and if it opens below 200k it will have a hard time going gold

But steadily her sales have just dropped, the times are different, especially here in the USA, she isnt turning 40 she is in her 50's now, MUSIC her last huge seller at 3million in the USA was ages ago, and times change, music sales are way way down, and again she is much older now, i dont think the quality has anything to do with it, cause she had crap that sold and great stuff that tanked like any other artist. So over the last few albums in the usa she has gone from Multiplatnum (MUSIC) platnum with (AMerican Life and Confessions) and then Gold with (HArd Candy) which again was 4 years ago, huge time change, her loyals are there, but i think thinking this record will go gold might be wishing for something that isnt going to happen in the states at least, eventually i think it will but it will take it months and months not a week or two

Some of her recent albums have crossed 600k+ but they opened with close to 300k. So her sales r packed into the first week more then others. Now if this drops to 200k and u get lesser total sales not only that her albums take alot of money to promote and to make with all those different producers and song writers its all a costly affair. Therefore it needs to sell more then prince album to be profitable to the label

asg said:

lastdecember said:

But steadily her sales have just dropped, the times are different, especially here in the USA, she isnt turning 40 she is in her 50's now, MUSIC her last huge seller at 3million in the USA was ages ago, and times change, music sales are way way down, and again she is much older now, i dont think the quality has anything to do with it, cause she had crap that sold and great stuff that tanked like any other artist. So over the last few albums in the usa she has gone from Multiplatnum (MUSIC) platnum with (AMerican Life and Confessions) and then Gold with (HArd Candy) which again was 4 years ago, huge time change, her loyals are there, but i think thinking this record will go gold might be wishing for something that isnt going to happen in the states at least, eventually i think it will but it will take it months and months not a week or two

Some of her recent albums have crossed 600k+ but they opened with close to 300k. So her sales r packed into the first week more then others. Now if this drops to 200k and u get lesser total sales not only that her albums take alot of money to promote and to make with all those different producers and song writers its all a costly affair. Therefore it needs to sell more then prince album to be profitable to the label

The tour is what is going to be profitable, much more than the album.

Old Friends 4 Sale started a Madonna MDNA sticky--we are supposed to post on that from now on, just to let you know.

purplethunder3121 said:

SoulAlive said:

the edgy,controversial Madonna is BACK!!

Ah shit! Love the way this sounds. Go Madge!!

Madonna - Girl Gone Wild (Teaser)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uebtC5LdoYA

[Edited 3/8/12 23:10pm]

teaser: "Girl Gone Wild" video---video will premiere next week

LiLi1992 said:

Madonna - Girl Gone Wild (Teaser)

http://www.examiner....ght-on-steroids

MDNA is like Ray Of Light on steroids!

Edward Daily San Diego Music Examiner

San Diego's Z90.3 will be premiering tracks from Madonna's upcoming spectacular album MDNA starting on Friday, March 23. But you don't have to wait—yesterday, we drove all the way to Los Angeles for a listening party. Needless to say, nearly getting in two accidents and driving in back-to-back rush hour traffic was worth it.

We won't be able to post our full and detailed review until sometime closer to the release date. However, we can reveal our first impressions after listening to the album just once.

• MDNA can best be described as Ray of Light on steroids. You can also throw in some Confessions on a Dance Floor.
• The first two singles don't do this album justice. "Give Me All Your Luvin" still sticks out like a sore thumb on the album. "Girls Gone Wild" is a great dance track, but doesn't display Madonna's full capabilities.
• Our favorite track on the album is "Love Spent," an amazing electro-ballad that is beautifully sung and produced. We were told that an acoustic version of the song is set to be released.
• Our second favorite song is "Gang Bang," which is wild, scary, and sexy all in the same breath.
• Guy Richie is still on Madonna's mind. "Best Friend" and "Falling Free" will put a smile on his face.
• Sorry, Little Monsters—we love Lady Gaga, but this album makes everything she has ever done seem reductive.

Bitch out of order
Bat out of hell
Fish out of water
I'm scared, can't you tell?

Bang bang,shoot you dead

Looking forward to the Deluxe Edition of MDNA! Countdown! 1-2-3...

the 7 tracks that we have heard so far....

[Edited 3/9/12 4:54am]

SoulAlive said:

Bitch out of order
Bat out of hell
Fish out of water
I'm scared, can't you tell?

Bang bang,shoot you dead

LOL, my favorite part

and I LOVE the Girl Gone Wild video teaser, she looks HOT!

I like Gang Bang and Masterpiece.

Girl gone wild - catchy music, but very silly lyrics.

I am addicted is good.

Love spent, Turn up the radio are average.

GMAYL is really bad and weak 1st single.

here's how I would rank all the songs....

1)Gang Bang

7)GMAYL

***although I like "GMAYL",it never felt like a "first single" to me.It worked well for the SuperBowl,though and the SB performace was excellent.They should have treated it as a buzz single for that event only.

***They should release "Turn Up The Radio" as a single in late May,just as the tour kicks off.It sounds like a perfect single for the summer.

GGW airplay starts to fall

MADONNA - Girl Gone Wild: 0.077 (- 0.002)

xLiberiangirl said:

SoulAlive said:

Bitch out of order
Bat out of hell
Fish out of water
I'm scared, can't you tell?

Bang bang,shoot you dead

LOL, my favorite part

and I LOVE the Girl Gone Wild video teaser, she looks HOT!

I just wish it was in color!

purplethunder3121 said:

Looking forward to the Deluxe Edition of MDNA! Countdown! 1-2-3...

Did you pre-order the iTunes Deluxe Edition? It contains an exclusive track that's not available elsewhere: acoustic version of "Love Spent"

SoulAlive said:

here's how I would rank all the songs....

1)Gang Bang

2)I'm Addicted

3)Girl Gone Wild

4)Masterpiece

5)Turn Up The Radio

6)Love Spent

7)GMAYL

***although I like "GMAYL",it never felt like a "first single" to me.It worked well for the SuperBowl,though and the SB performace was excellent.They should have treated it as a buzz single for that event only.

***They should release "Turn Up The Radio" as a single in late May,just as the tour kicks off.It sounds like a perfect single for the summer.

asg said:

GGW airplay starts to fall

MADONNA - Girl Gone Wild: 0.077 (- 0.002)

LiLi1992 said:

SoulAlive said:

here's how I would rank all the songs....

1)Gang Bang

2)I'm Addicted

3)Girl Gone Wild

4)Masterpiece

5)Turn Up The Radio

6)Love Spent

7)GMAYL

***although I like "GMAYL",it never felt like a "first single" to me.It worked well for the SuperBowl,though and the SB performace was excellent.They should have treated it as a buzz single for that event only.

***They should release "Turn Up The Radio" as a single in late May,just as the tour kicks off.It sounds like a perfect single for the summer.

Almost agree.
1) Gang Bang
2) Masterpiece
3) I'm Addicted
4) Girl Gone Wild
5) Turn Up The Radio
6) Love Spent
7) GMAYL

3 good songs, then a medium, then 3 weak songs.

I do not think that the "Turn Up The Radio" will have great success as a single. It sounds very out of date and even the surprisingly not showy.
As GMAYL, then it should have been releasing single Only for North America. The song failed in Australia, Britain, and has not been very successful in Europe.

Wow,you really like "Masterpiece",don't you? You have it high on your list.

I could watch those two guys eat that apple for hours

Anyway for me so far:

1. Gang Bang (So excited to hear the full version, gonna be epic)

2. GMAYL (I genuinely REALLY like this song, lot of fun)

3. Masterpiece (LOVE IT)

4. I'm Addicted (Sounds like I will be)

5. GGW (Flimsy lyrics, but overall alot of fun, love the opening)

6. Turn Up The Radio (I find the vocals on the preview to be a bit grating)

7. Love Spent (Starting to warm up to it)

[Edited 3/9/12 7:10am]

SoulAlive said:

LiLi1992 said:

Almost agree.
1) Gang Bang
2) Masterpiece
3) I'm Addicted
4) Girl Gone Wild
5) Turn Up The Radio
6) Love Spent
7) GMAYL

3 good songs, then a medium, then 3 weak songs.

I do not think that the "Turn Up The Radio" will have great success as a single. It sounds very out of date and even the surprisingly not showy.
As GMAYL, then it should have been releasing single Only for North America. The song failed in Australia, Britain, and has not been very successful in Europe.

Wow,you really like "Masterpiece",don't you? You have it high on your list.

Until yesterday, I was sure that it is the only really good song on the album.

Yes, I like it from the very first listen.
Even Madge's voice sounds really good. A beautiful ballad.

the album will suck, so far the songs are dreadful, can't see why you guys are so excited

I fear I'm gonna include Madonna onmmy list of "Veteran artists: great tours, buyt forget about a new kick-ass album"