Okay... So I bought this in 1998 I was 15 at the time. and now 6 years later I still listen to it and continue to find elements of the tracks that I hadn’t heard before. This quality is rarely found. William Orbit rose to fame with this album, and his work is superb. It covers every emotion from heartache to the joy of life. It lifts you up when you are down, it grabs your attention and never lets you go. Its an album that you can relate to on many levels, being either surface level or delving yourself in and never coming back. The sheer attention spent on the writing, lyrics and production is simply outstanding...
Onto the Tracks...
**Drowned World/Substitute For Love** The album gets of with a subdued pace. But this is certainly not a bad thing. This track is gentle tt is very atmospheric. Its a though you are gently floating through clouds. There is a subtle beat throughout the song. With the ending packing a punch being taken into a louder sound. It reflects on fame and how it isn’t so important to Madonna anymore, there is so much more. That love is the only thing that is needed. Stunning.
**Swim** Ocean vibes here mixed with guitars. Here you get the message that the world is in a bad place. . We cant continue to live in this world without making a conscious effort to change it. Consistent beats and a real vibe
is created. Kind of get the impression of going into the water only to be overcome with negativity and ciaos... you have to submerge again and throw it all of you.
**Ray Of Light** Dancey, makes you want to just get down! The start is strumming on an electric guitar and then WHAM BAM the song takes off!!! Madonna's vocal range is something to admired here. The pure power of her voice is taken to its limits. Its a song that is always remembered and will be one of Madonna’s all time hits for years to come. Stomping!
**Candy Perfume Girl** Lots of Guitar and heavy beats in this one. Its Madonna meets rock something of a new one for her. This one takes some listening to get hooked. But it is new and much respect for giving it a go.
**Nothing Really Matters** One of my favourite tracks. Very Beaty and Jerky. Very addictive. When the beats get going it doesn’t stop. The lyrics talk about how material things do not make you happy and that you have to introduce love into your life as at the end of the day, that’s the only thing that you really need in life. There is a break from the beats towards the end that blows me away every time. Its like everything stops and the music is incredible. WOW!
**Sky Fits Heaven** Again uplifting and beaty. Heavy Beats and gets you going. Love the drums solo in between verses. A Madonna reflection here. I love the chorus... this makes the song "travelling down, their own road watching the signs as they go I think I'll follow my heart its a very good place to start" I love this track as I’m driving on the Motorway! It gets your pulse going!
**Shanty** Erm well its a spiritual Madonna here. Sang with the influence of the Kabala. No English in this track. But is catchy and you will find yourself learning the words in no time! Has alot of Bite!
**Frozen** A Madonna Masterpiece. A strong presence of strings and electro bits. I heard this song on the radio as it was the first single of the album. It never loses its strength how many times you play it. Emotions are strong. Madonna voice is beautiful and it gentle and perfectly pitched. Its somewhat haunting. This song takes you on a journey and never lets you go. Its extremely additive and conjures up an array of images in your head. Outstanding effort.
**Power Of Goodbye** Another one of my favourites! The music is yet again atmospheric and uplifting. Madonna really gets to grip with all the emotions of the song and projects it to a T! This is the song to listen to if you have just broken up with someone. It puts into words exactly how you are feeling and helps you overcome your most difficult times, its not exactly slow and its far from dance. Hard to express how the music comes across but its definitely worth a listen. STUNNING!
**To Have Not to Hold** Ok. Imagine your in a dark room with a candle burning in the centre. Next imagine that flame duplicates itself many times and they are floating about the candle which is in front of you. That’s how this song makes you feel. Its light but dark at the same time. Its about how much you love someone but the feelings aren’t reciprocated. Electronic and floaty. Madonna’s voice is so beautiful on this one words simply can’t describe…
**Little Star** This song was inspired by Lola (Madonna’s Daughter). The only way I can describe this song is as though you have just put your face in cold water and how you feel when you lift your head from it… Refreshed! The track is full of light. Nice but not consistent with the rest of the album. You will find yourself skipping past this one… well I think you will.
**Mer Girl** This creates a mini movies in your head, don’t know why but it remind me of a Nightmare before Christmas. Well the imagery does. Extremely haunting! And has no real rhythm but yet again its something a bit different! A song that you will put on and it will take you to a dark place inside your mind.
This is Madonna’s album of her lifetime for me, with 5 Grammy’s and critical acclaim from all over the world. If you don’t have this album then I strongly suggest that you run and get it. It will be in your CD player for years to come. You will keep on discovering things that you never heard before. It will give you ideas and truly enlighten you. Its packs a punch and leaves its mark. The music is full of ideas and really fills your head with emotion. Its Madonna like you haven’t heard before. And the way she’s going I don’t think you will hear it again. ALL HAIL MADONNA!!!
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Feb 26th, 2004
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