Madonna, Ray of Light

Ray Of Light is a Madonna essential, a great classic (like "Like A Prayer", "Music" and "American Life"), so don't hesitate to buy it!

Madonna came back after her damage control album Bedtime Stories with once again a new look and personality. This time she was spiritual, with more vocal training and a more adult sound. The album starts off with Drowned World/Substitute for love, which is one of the album's best moments. The song really sounds like you are underwater, with top notch production that creates this whole world, and Madonna's voice lays over the production beautifully. Hearing the first song, you could almost expect the album to be completely genius. Swim follows, with similar underwater sounds but not seeming as convincing or as beautiful. Still, it is not a bad song, but one that won't become a favorite. Then there is the well-known Ray of Light. With it's infectious energy, interesting lyrics, and fun beat, this renews your faith in the album. Candy Perfume Girl follows, which is an interesting song, but it almost sounds anticlimactic, without any high point in the song. Then there is Skin, which, despite the production being not unlike the rest of Ray of Light, feels as if it belongs on a previous Madonna album. This is partially due to the uninteresting lyrics "Put your hands on my skin". "Erotica" anyone? After that though the album picks up. Nothing Really Matters is an exciting song that is part beautiful sway and part danceable fun. Sky Fits Heaven isn't a bad song, if it sounds a little too clearly a filler. Then Shanti Ashtangi comes along, with swaying strange words in a different language, beautiful production, and Madonna's voice that all come together to make a brilliant piece of art. Frozen is the next song, a quite beautiful song in both music and lyrics, although a tad long at six minutes. The power of goodbye meanwhile has amazing lyrics and an interesting sound. To Have and Not to Hold sounds a bit off on the album with its almost Spanish sound, but it is an overall good song. Little Star is a bit hard to get into but it is quite beautiful, and the last song, Mer Girl, was a little disappointing. With no real melody or focus, it was boring to listen to, even though the lyrics were amazing. Put to an actually melodic song, it could have been one of the best songs. Overall, there are a few filler songs on the album, but most were enjoyable and it was worth it to get this album.

Madonna, Ray of Light - A revelation, Ray of Light comes to us from one of the most overexsposed talents in the music business but it's not the same old drill. Ambient, lush, beauty for the sake of confession. It doesn't reveal anything that we don't know already. What it does is put it in the proper venue. Alternative and Madonna? Who would have thought. A definite risk, and a definite one that works. She had waited all her life to make this album. It's her moment...