Madonna, take a bow. The reviews are in for your spankin’ new disc, Confessions on a Dancefloor, and they’re pretty darn positive. Yet while most (but not all) critics PopWatch perused this morning had nice things to say about the thumping beats and spacey beeps concocted by you and co-producer Stuart Price, it was uncanny how many of them blasted your lyrics for the song ”I Love New York.” I guess maybe you should’ve picked something besides ”dork” to rhyme with the world’s greatest city. (Hmmm…what about "spork"?) Anyhow, here’s a random sampling from eight reviewers around the country:
”Every song is tailor-made for getting your groove on, with surprisingly few clunkers.”
–Tim Pratt, Detroit Free Press
”In dance music, words exist to be repeated, twisted, obscured and resurrected. How they sound in the moment is far more important than what they mean, and Madonna knows that better than anyone. Confessions on a Dance Floor is 56 minutes of energetic moments. It will leave you feeling silly for all the right reasons.”
–Josh Tyrangiel, Time
”Featuring some sharp electronica production and more than a few moments of pose-striking irresistibility, it’s also worthy of praise as Madonna’s best album at least since 1998’s Ray of Light — and possibly since 1989’s Like a Prayer… [Still,] most of the misfires come from the lyrics…the Madonna-for-poet-laureate campaign begins here and now, reader.”
–J. Freedom du Lac, The Washington Post
"Her voice, vastly improved since that ’80s squeak, sounds pretty and unfettered (even when computerized) as it rides over tense waves of blip-whoosh-thrum technoise and blissful snap-crackle beats. There’s no excuse, however, for clichés, nursery-rhyme simplicity and tired topics, such as the price of fame in ‘How High.’ Surely Madonna is capable of wittier couplets than ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your names will never hurt.’"
– Edna Gundersen, USA Today
”Of course, since we’re talking about Madonna, the feat of making terrific dance records wasn’t enough. She also has to teach us something. Thankfully, her windy bromides don’t kick in until halfway through.”
–Jim Farber, New York Daily News
”We have indeed heard it all before: the helium warble disco; the dark, twisted-fantasy bedroom grooves; the laughably bad stabs at musical theater; the failed attempts to go techno; the electronically tweaked folk schmaltz… Madonna has provided a decent disco soundtrack, with the best songs ready to slip in easily right after ‘Believe’ by Cher and just before that sure-fire crowd-pleaser, ‘YMCA’ by the Village People.”
–Jim Derogatis, Chicago Sun-Times
”[The CD] works well, at least most of the time. The songs are stylish and sexy, with hauntingly erotic choruses, repeated phrases and gently thumping pulses. Several of the tracks, such as the sweeping trio of ‘Get Together,’ ‘Sorry’ and ‘Future Lovers,’ are gorgeously textured with an ambient, spacey backbeat that’s reminiscent of Brian Eno and U2’s collaborative work, Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1.”
–Malcolm Mayhew, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
”Her lyrics are hit and miss, but Madonna gets into the groove and proves she can still pack a dance floor.”
–Thor Christensen, The Dallas Morning News
Okay, PopWatchers, tell us what you think about Confessions on a Dancefloor. Ready? Go!
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Madonna’s crafted an album of pure bliss, that will rank right up there with her “Like A Prayer” and “Ray Of Light” albums.
Madonna’s new album is fantastic! Pure fun and energy from start to finish. Fave tracks right off, “Hung Up”, “Get Together” “Push” “Sorry” and “How High” Nice job Madonna!
It’s very slick, very cool and full of engery but I don’t hear the “fun.” Granted, the single’s pretty catchy but the innocent with no message fun of her early work continues to be the missing element.
On the whole I like the album, but I agree that there’s a few clunkers in there… for example, “I Love New York” and the first three songs after “Hung Up.” But “Let It Will Be” and “Issac” make up for it, as does the finale, “Like It Or Not.” It wasn’t what I expected, yet that’s turned out to (mostly) be a good thing.
The production of the album is fantastic — but yes, some of the lyrics are laughable. I also tire of songs about being famous. (Yes, Madge, we get it: It’s not a cake walk! Ok!) But still, as an only casual Madonna fan, I have to say that this is my favorite album of her’s ever … I think I like it even better than Ray of Light.
This album is fantastic..pure adrenaline and fun… I love Sorry, Hung Up, Forbidden Love, Jump, and goes on and on!!! I Love it… Madonna, you did it again!
Everyone loves Madge:
EW’s Popwatch rounds up what the critics are saying about Madonna’s new album … and it’s mostly positive. Note: “I don’t like cities, but I like New York/Other places make me feel like a dork” are indeed terrible lyrics, but the beats make up fo…
madonna’s new album is smart and exactly what her long time fans have wanted for oh soooo long. It’s a beautiful piece of work worthy of everyone to enjoy. congratulations madonna
Best album in years. Lyrically it’s a little like middle school English class (“I Love New York”). She still can’t let go of some of the themes from American Life (“How High”), but overall ever song is great. Except for “Issac” which is a bore and once again pounds us over the head with her religion.
I can NOT wait to pick this up! I’ve been listening to it on line (VH1.com), and am loving it!! And the cover art? Brilliant.
Ammazing production! Love how the songs connect to each other (its non-stop to those who doesn’t know). “Sorry” the rumoured second single will be a classic Madonna song for sure. This album is definitely in line with “Like a Prayer” and “Ray of Light”. Congratulations M! You did it again!
JUMP is one of my favorite Madonna songs now. The rest are amazing as well.
Have been listening online at AOL, really love it – especially Jump, an instant classic.
Everyone loves Madge
EW’s Popwatch rounds up what the critics are saying about Madonna’s new album … and it’s mostly positive. Note: “I don’t like cities, but I like New York/Other places make me feel like a dork” are indeed terrible lyrics, but the beats more than …
I’ve been listening this album since it leaked 2 wks ago and i just cannot stop playing it. As a Madonna fan i am amazed at how she can still surprise me with a fantastic new album. It is my fav Madonna album now, second to ROL.
Sorry is such a great song, destined to become a Madonna Classic.
Grab it!!!
BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR – come on people, admit it. THis thing is great!!!! Kinda surprised myself at how much I like ISAAC (was sure it’d be a clunker but its great). And I LOVE NY is rockin’!!!!!!
absolutely great dance music madge has come and she has proven why she is the undisputed queen of music whitney and mariah eat your half diva hearts out she will always be no 1
i’ve guiltily always been a sucker for Madonna’s “religious” songs (ohhh shanti….) and i do enjoy isaac. any/every song on this album is like peanut butter, they get stuck in your head and refuse to exit! i am liking it more and more as i listen- but oh the lyrics! they have always been pedestrian, but god they are painful! not only can i guess what rhyming lyric will come next, i actually burst out laughing a few times.
I agree this is a wicked dance album, and Future Lovers might be the sexiest song since … hmmm, well, in a reeeally long time. But when it comes to lyrics like, “I don’t like cities, but I like New York/ Other places make me feel like a dork” you can’t help being pulled outta the groove and laughing out loud! I’ll even go so far as to call that track the only misfire on the album. Most of her ‘poetry’ would make a self-indulged teenager nod in full understanding, but Madge should realize she’s also speaking to the adults who grew up with her career. All in all one of her best, if you can forgive the lyrics.
I bought the album today and after listening to it a few times, I’m in awe of the versatility of this woman. I grew up dancing to “Into the Groove” and “Holiday” and feel as though I’ve come full circle with my favorite single off the album, “Hung up.” Go Madonna! You’re simply amazing, even with your diva-like attitude.
it’s her best album since LIKE A PRAYER. damn, it took that long for her to do a great album.
I love this entirely but mostly because it’s Valarie Cherish resurrected! I swear, if HBO had kept The Comeback, this would have been a great plot line for the season opener.
GRAMMY WINNER 2005
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Confessions on a dance floor”
RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Hung Up”
BEST DANCE SONG
“Hung up”
BEST POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
“Hung up”, Madonna
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Stuart Price, Madonna
… and the “Best pop vocal performance, female” award, presented and given by … ¡¡¡ Mariah Carey !!!
100% great. And using ABBA’s sample in the lead single, very smart move: the best song on the entire CD, I can not stop listening since I bought it. And I agree, even better than “Ray of Light”.
This is terrible, it will please her core base of fans though; gay men.
She makes K-Fed’s lyrics seem like genius, time to hang it up.
Album of the year for me… I love “Let It Will Be” and “Jump”!!
I can’t help but laugh every time I see the clip of her video where she’s doing the strange hip-dancing. She looks like what my friend does when she’s goofing around.
This is crap. I listen to it once and could not put myself through the torture a gain. AWFUL lyrics….dated sound! Time for Madonna to retire to her English garden.