Album Review: Madonna - MDNA

Madonna's 12th studio album MDNA offers some familiar futuristic EDM sound with a touch of Madge. This could sound like her previous work Hard Candy, when all artists at the time were aching to be Timbalandised. As Madge is known to cope with trends very well and can transform into what is relevant, she manages to score an album with today's sound - electronic dance music. Working with producers like Benny Benassi, Martin Solveig, Ray of Light collaborator William Orbit, among the few, Madonna proves yet again why she has the staying power in the business. However, for fans as myself, I feel the album does not deliver a seemingly come-back attempt from a 4-year hiatus, and also that hope for a Ray Of Light ish smash album also dissipated. 

The concept of MDNA, in reference to MDMA drug, or an abbreviated version of Madonna, or Madonna DNA rocked my brain for a couple of months. Those months I have anticipated that she will deliver an in-your-face album to all of the princesses threatening her of her Queen of Pop throne. But to no avail, I feel that she wasn't able to do so. Perhaps with album sales, she did prove her loyal following. But as a loyal follower myself, I feel she has again succumb to the pressures of the post-GaGa pop world. I was hoping she would be setting new trends and not trying to prove why she is the queen. Although some good tracks were produced, there are no tracks sounding they could pass the test of time. But it might be too early to judge so let's see.

On a lighter note, I want to highlight some of the tracks that are worthy listens: Gang Bang sounds like a sequel to Revolver and its video could only be aptly directed by Quentin Tarantino; other tracks like I'm Addicted (where she repeatedly sings MDNA then it turns out to be MDMA in the end), Turn Up The Radio, I Don't Give A comply to today's standard of what an EDM-inspired track should be. Another track that sounds like her previous hits: Beautiful Stranger for I'm A Sinner; and Ray of Light for Beautiful Killer. Do check out the deluxe edition, as it has some great add ups.

Track list

01. Girl Gone Wild
02. Gang Bang
03. I'm Addicted
04. Turn Up The Radio
05. Give Me All Your Luvin'
06. Some Girls
07. Superstar
08. I Don't Give A
09. I'm A Sinner
10. Love Spent
11. Masterpiece
12. Faaling Free

Deluxe:

01. Beautiful Killer
02. I Fucked Up
03. B-day Song
04. Best Friend
05. Give Me All Your Luvin' (Party Rock Remix)
06. Love Spent (Acoustic) (iTunes pre-order only)

Let me know what you think--

Madonna is on MDNA

Upon hearing rumours on Twitter about Madonna's up and coming album, I felt this blood rush in me. I felt even more pumping (of blood) in my veins when I found out that she will be calling her new album MDNA. Sounds familiar eh? Need I explain further?

I am buying the whole concept -- with this pre-released album cover of having a blurry vision of Madonna, MDNA being Madonna DNA and the reference to the euphoric drug MDMA (popularly known as ecstasy/XTC) -- I'm already getting palpitations of excitement!

Guest artists that the Queen of Pop is rumoured to be working with are the sassy Nicki Minaj and rebellious M.I.A. -- this ought to be interesting as Madonna is now more open to collaboration and sharing her diva space. Contributing producers are Martin Solveig, Benny Benassi and executive producer of the successful Ray of Light, William orbit amongst others.

This is gonna be an exciting year as the Queen of Pop reclaims her throne from the Princesses.

Thoughts please--

Official Video: Madonna - Celebration

With the release of Madonna's new single off her latest 'collection of hits' album, comes a new video for Celebration. Already in the middle of her Sticky & Sweet Tour in Europe, team Madge decided to film an MV for the single. 

The video highlights: The thigh-high Christian Loboutin boots; Lourdes looking like her mum and his yumminess Jesus Luz (he is way hotter in this video as the club DJ from the last time I saw him) An alternate version of the video featured fans from Spain.

Madonna's skin on the vid looks great. Great for someone who is 51. Great job goes to whoever/whatever is keeping her skin to be like such. I also noticed Madonna never removed her sunglasses. It can be assumed she just had some eye bags surgery that make up and lighting cannot cover or she's just high with the Benassi Mix of Celebration -- you decide.

Your thoughts folks?

Album Review: Madonna - Celebration (CD+DVD Audio/Video Collection)

In Celebration Madonna's milestones, achievements, music iconography and career longevity, she releases a her latest, most extensive collection of released singles and hits, accompanied by a DVD containing 95% of all the videos she has released. Madonna's video back catalog is indeed impressive and only proves that Madonna is a unique artists who launched a revolution in pop music and culture sometime 25+ years ago. The album art says a lot about Madonna with one bottom line - she's a rare gem in the music industry and what she has done and achieved will always be used as benchmark for the next generation of performers. She is a true living legend and I'm so glad to have lived in a Madonna era.

The title track is the carrier single of the compilation which pays homage to Madonna impressive dance-oriented hits such as Vogue, Deeper and Deeper to the latter ones like Hung Up. She made a wise choice in doing a collab with Paul Oakenfold for this track. Though the video version used the Benassi mix for a more club-themed feel. Personally I like both versions but I like the Benassi mix better because of it electro rich sound. The Benassi mix sounds very Euro-electro no wonder the song is a much bigger hit in other parts of the world compared to US. 

Track list (Deluxe Edition)

Disc 1:

01. Hung Up
02. Music
03. Vogue
04. 4 Minutes
05. Holiday
06. Everybody
07. Like A Virgin
08. Into the Groove
09. Like A Prayer
10. Ray Of Light
11. Sorry
12. Express Yourself
13. Open Your Heart
14. Borderline
15. Secret
16. Erotica
17. Justify My love
18 Revolver

Disc 2:

01. Dress You Up
02. Material Girl
03. La Isla Bonita
04. Papa Don't Preach
05. Lucky Star
06. Burning Up
07. Crazy For You
08. Who's That Girl
09. Frozen
10. Miles Away
11. Take A Bow
12. Live To Tell
13. Beautiful Stranger
14. Hollywood
15. Die Another Day
16. Don't Tell Me
17. Cherish
18. Celebration
19. So Cool

This video compilation is her most extensive to date. Although it may look like this 2-DVD disc collection has all Madonna video's released including the MTV-banned videos Erotica and Justify My love, it does not contain all Madonna videos made and released. Nonetheless, I am happy with this collection. Imagine all her rarely seen videos like True Blue, Bedtime Story and the latter videos from Music to Hard Candy era. Notice that this is her third official video compilation. If you check on the first two - Immaculate Collection: The Videos and Madonna 93:99 Video Collection, there are videos there not included on Celebration: The Video Collection. MVs like Bad Girl, Crazy For You, Fever, Nothing Really Matters, You'll See, etc. Madonna's label was wise enough not to include all videos in order for one to secure all three video collections -- just like me.

Track list

Disc 1:

01. Burning Up
02. Lucky Star
03. Borderline
04. Like A Virgin
05. Material Girl
06. Crazy For yOu
07. Into The Groove
08. Live To Tell
09. Papa Don't Preach
10. True Blue
11. Open Your Heart
12. La Isla Bonita
13. Who's That Girl
14. Like A Prayer
15. Express Yourself
16. Cherish
17. Vogue
18. Justify My Love
19. Erotica
20. Deeper and Deeper
21. Rain
22. I'll Remember

Disc 2:

01. Secret
02. Take A Bow
03. Bedtime Story
04. Human Nature
05. I Want You
06. You'll See
07. Frozen
08. Ray Of Light
09. The Power of Goodbye
10. Beautiful Stranger
11. American Pie
12. Music
13. Don't Tell Me
14. What It Feels Like For A Girl
15. Die Another Day
16. Hollywood
17. Love Profusion
18. Hung Up
19. Sorry
20. Get Together
21. Jump
22. 4 Minutes
23. Give It 2 Me
24. Miles Away
25. Celebration


Your thoughts?

Sneak Peek: Lady Gaga - Alejandro

From one vixen to a vamp... Now Lady GaGa is set to premiere her new single Alejandro. The said single is the 3rd off her 2nd global hit album The Fame Monster. After several arguments with her record label on which single to be released (choices between Gaga's Alejandro and her record label's Dance in the Dark), finally it is deemed Alejandro is the 3rd single having it being sent to the radio sometime in April and yes, the music video that's coming up. There has been some speculation on why there was a push back on the video release. It may or may not be true but let's leave that on business strategy side of the industry.

Looking at the sneak preview, all I see is Madonna. It may also add up about GaGa being part Italian and of course her 'fuck you' attitude that oftentimes she reminds us of Madonna. On the video she depicts Madonna Express Yourself/Vogue meets Janet's Rhythm Nation 1418 era. So is she going back into time now? Too early to judge. But knowing GaGa she does give acknowledgments and credit for inspiration whenever they are due. And she's always admitted her adoration of Madonna and how she has launched a music revolution sometime 25 years ago.

Video is set to premiere on 07 June 2010. Which is a day before Xtina's Bionic album release. Hmmmm... Fishy fishy... but then again, it may only just be me. =)