This album is long overdue... After the release of "Music" (2000) and "American Life" (2003), many of Madonna's fans had begun to worry about the future of her career. "Confessions On A Dance Floor" has most definitley changed a lot of minds as well as introducing many new fans to the empire.
COADF sees Madonna teaming up with Stuart Price (Les Rythmes Digitales, Zoot Woman) who has been involved in the remixes of many well-known acts, including: Britney Spears, Goldfrapp, Gwen Stefani and Missy Elliott. Stuart was also keyboardist and musical director of Madonna's "Reinvention" tour. The majority of the album (10 out of the 12 tracks) was recorded at Stuart's home studio in West Kilburn, London. The studio is apparently so small that Madonna could touch Stuart from her vocal recording booth. The outcome, though, is amazing... The album is filled with ambient synths, haunting strings and brilliantly mixed vocals. Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant produced "How High" and "Like It Or Not" with Madonna. Madonna also turned, once again, to Mirwais Ahmadzaï (who produced the albums "Music" and "American Life" with Madonna) to co-write and produce "Future Lovers" as well as co-writing "Let It Will Be".
The album sleeve is another piece of art. Photographed
by Steven Klein, Madonna, dressed in a sexy pink leotard and glittery stilettos, poses on the dance floor of a dark and empty disco surrounded by the twinkling lights of the disco ball.
All twelve tracks on COADF have been blended to form a non-stop dance-album which is packed with power and brilliantly penned songs.
Tracklisting:
1) Hung Up This song was the perfect choice to start off the album. A ticking clock leads onto a sample of ABBA's "Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)" which fits in well with the message behind the song. "Hung Up" has also made Madonna the first artist to have a simultaneous number one hit across Europe in every music format: single, album, download single and mobile phone ringtone.
2) Get Together This track has a hint of trance in it as well as a good chorus which makes it a really strong track. The ambient keyboards and tight beat make it a great track to dance to.
3) Sorry Scheduled to be the second single off COADF, "Sorry" is definitely one of the album's stronger tracks. The bassline echoes that of "Can You Feel It" by the Jackson 5 and really adds the disco feel to the track. The punching kick-drum and fast tempo also add to the disco feel behind the song.
4) Future Lovers "Give me evidence of its brilliance" is what Madonna repeats in a contra-beat to the synth-filled loop of this electronic-inspired song. The loop the synthesiser repeats is similar to that of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", though it isn't a sample of the song as many people assume.
5) I Love New York Following the criticism Madonna received after "American Life", I'm sure this song was purposely written to simmer the tempers of her original American fans. At first the song may seem a bit boring, but after a few listens, it really grows on you (especially the power beat in the chorus). There is a line in the song ("Paris and London, baby, you can keep") which comes as quite a surprise considering that 10 of the 12 tracks were recorded in London...
6) Let It Will Be This song sees Madonna collaborating with both Stuart Price and Mirwais Ahmadzaï and their influence is definitely heard especially in the chorus which has a really tight disco beat backing it.
7) Forbidden Love Another one of the stronger songs on the album. The strong has a really good blend of ambient and trance-like synths which both merge in the choruses to create a greate climax to the song. The futuristic vocals also make the song a great listen.
8) Jump Starting off with the trance-like synth-loop of "Forbidden Love", this song is definitely going to be another big hit for Madonna. Co-written by Joe Henry (Madonna's brother-in-law), who also penned "Don't Tell Me" for her, "Jump" has been scheduled as the third single to be released off COADF. It has an amazing chorus and a really good build-up to it. One of her best...
9) How High This song has a beat and vocal-style which is reminiscent to that of Kylie Minogue. It is a really good track, though, and the production, as always, is awesome.
10) Isaac One of the best tracks of the album. This song features a bit of a Yemenite Jewish song sung by Yitzhak Sinwani called: Im Nin 'Alu. According to Madonna, Yitzhak is chanting: "If all of the doors of all of the generous peoples' homes are closed to you, the gates of heaven will always be open."
11) Push This song has a really tribal beat to it and the lyrics of the chorus are similar to that of "Every Breath You Take" by The Police. Quite different to the rest of the songs on the album, but a great song too.
12) Like It Or Not A great song to end the album with. The song has is laced with an acoustic guitar and has a nice mellow feel to it but still makes you tap your feet. As Madonna sings: "'This is who I am, you can like it or not. You can love me or leave me 'cause I'm never going to stop."
In December, a Limited Edition Continuous Mix CD will be released which will include a bonus track called "Fighting Spirit", a picture booklet from the photo shoot with Steven Klein, a journal which will also include some entried by Madonna, a one year free subscription to Madonna's ICON fanclub as well as a unique slipcover. Once again, the album will be mixed into "one" track as if to simulate a DJ session.
COADF is definitely one of the best albums Madonna has ever released and it most certainly deserves its place at the top of the charts. I am also quite sure that this album will be nominated for a Grammy award when the next nominations are released.
This album definitely comes highly recommended and is bound to become another Madonna classic. Confessions On A Dancefloor has opened many new doors for the Queen of Pop and I am quite sure she will be around for many more years to come...
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Great to listen to before you go out or just have on in the background. Disadvantages: Lyrics ('I like New York...Other places make me feel like a dork)
Advantages: Its Madonna back to her Dance Floor Best Disadvantages: The fact they all mix into each other is good for getting ready to go out, but not when on shuffle!
Advantages: Great to listen to before you go out or just have on in the background. Disadvantages: Lyrics ('I like New York...Other places make me feel like a dork)
Nov 28th, 2005
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