Audio CD review:
Madonna - Ray of Light

Madonna - Ray of Light

Band: Madonna Title: Ray of Light Rating: Release Date: 03 March, 1998 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Drowned World/Substitute For Love 2: Swim 3: Ray Of Light 4: Candy Perfume Girl 5: Skin 6: Nothing Really Matters 7: Sky Fits Heaven 8: Shanti/Ashtangi 9: Frozen 10: The Power Of Good-Bye 11: To Have And Not To Hold 12: Little Star 13: Mer Girl

Editoral Review While Ray of Light is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: First, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: By nearly all critical accounts, Ray of Light, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's Bedtime Stories, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, Ray of Light is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: Fresh from singing lessons on the Evita set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centered pat on the back that belies her claim to a newfound altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the center of our spiritual world too. --Roni Sarig .. You can see a complete list of all Madonna discography, or go back to the Madonna tabs