Like A Prayer - Madonna > Reviews > Pray that her next album is this good

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	classic tracks such as Like A Prayer, Cherish etc .
Disadvantages:	Love Song with Prince is a bit disappointing

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was a little disappointed with Madonna's Music album - yes, it has a lot of great tracks, but there also a few songs I find myself skipping whenever I play the album. After collecting enough ipoints I was able to get Like A Prayer for free, and it's much more satisfying. For me, Like A Prayer is Madonna at her most confident, and there's a great mix of traditional upbeat Madonna songs as well as contemplative ballads and more experimental tracks. The lyrics are also more intelligent than on Music, and seem to reveal a lot more about Madonna herself. Here's the track listing:

1. Like A Prayer - one of my favourite Madonna singles of all time, this is a fantastic way to start the album. The gospel choir and powerful lyrics really build and build throughout the song. I also have fond memories of the opening lyrics - "Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone" being quoted by Edina (I think) in Absolutely Fabulous as if they were the words of a great philosopher.

2. Express Yourself - a real girl-power style anthem, Madonna is yet again confident and assertive, and if you're a bloke, quite scary! The lyrics are some of Madonna's best, with the Material Girl now saying that "you don't need diamond rings or eighteen karat gold".

3. Love Song - written and performed with Prince, this is perhaps my least favourite track on the album. It seems a bit self-indulgent, and though it does have quite a relaxing, laid-back continental vibe, it never really goes anywhere.

4. Till Death Us Do Part - one of the most interesting songs on the album. The first time I heard it, this track sounded like very simple play it by numbers pop, but the lyrics are actually about Madonna's marriage to Sean Penn and are quite dark. Gets better and better the more you listen to it and is reminiscent to me of the late, great Dubstar.

5. Promise To Try - a song about dealing with her mother's death, the lyrics are again powerful and moving and the musical arrangement is understated. One of her best ballads ever, I would say.

6. Cherish - a welcome burst of happy pop after Promise To Try, this song is just a delightful celebration of love. Another Madonna classic.

7. Dear Jessie - even though this was released as a single I hadn't heard it at all until I bought this album. And it's an excellent track that takes you into a childish wonderland with rainbows, magic lanterns and ponk elephants. A bit Beatles-esque.

8. Oh Father - has an orchestral backdrop that really adds to the drama of the lyrics talking about tears, pain and hurting. I prefer Promise To Try but this is still a moving, powerful ballad.

9. Keep It Together - has been described as Express Yourself Part Two on Ciao before now and I wouldn't disagree with that. It's all about the importance of family ("'cause blood is thicker than any other circumstance"), and although not as good as Express Yourself, it's still excellent.

10. Pray For Spanish Eyes - about the Spanish Civil War, this reminds me of Madonna's later single Take A Bow. Unsurprisingly this has a strong Spanish feel to it, but I don't think it would have been strong enough to be chosen as a single.

11. Act of Contrition - uses Like A Prayer played backwards and Madonna praying and eventually shouting about computers. A very brief, disturbing end to the album, you really have to hear it to know what I'm going on about!

Overall Like A Prayer is full of songs of a consistently high standard that showcases an artist at the height of her powers. It certainly challenges Ray Of Light as my favourite Madonna album and the songs have not aged even though it was released way back in 1989. If you don't have a copy, start collecting those ipoints now!