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Madonna Appreciation Thread (Part 8) |
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#3726 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ireland
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Madonna at the Brits 2015
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#3727 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Berkshire
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Rebel Heart
I can now fully appreciate just how professional Madonna is. She's a Goddamn perfectionist and considering how strong the demos were/are, to actually produce an album of this calibre and make improvements on the demos is absolutely astounding. This simply has to be the album of the year and in my opinion, it is one of her landmark albums that her future albums will be compared to. For the poster who said Wash All Over Me was better when it was Avicii-fied, I disagree. The new version sends shivers down my spine. It is absolutely stunning and you wouldn't even know it was produced by Kanye West. The constant choral drones on the track are breathtaking and her vocals are magnificent. And Iconic? Bloody hell, what a track! Todays artists could get a masterclass of how to do things properly from this track. It has everything thrown in and it is stunning. If people thought Messiah was perfect, think again! She's done the impossible and made a perfect track totally heavenly. Whilst Ghosttown is still a very strong track, the clever and delicious changes she's made to Joan of Arc are genius. The song has become strengthened by adding a drumbeat and I love it. I really can not wait to own this album. I have now heard all the tracks and Rebel Heart is possibly the weakest track on it, and Rebel Heart is superb. She hasn't changed it drastically but it has lost virtually all the Avicii sound. SEX works on the album and isn't as bad as some posters think and Holy Water, complete with the sample of Vogue is much improved.
The tracks on the extra disc are clearly there because they're the weakest set. They're not bad by a long shot, but I prefer the demo of Beautiful Scars and Queen is a track that will need to be heard again before I pass judgement. Borrowed Time has been toned down and works well enough but Graffitti heart is a pulsating dance track. Autotune Baby is a bit hit and miss but catchy enough and Addicted is virtually the same as the demo but with refinements. This album is likely to get good reviews and you can tell 100% that Madonna's heart was in it this time. I haven't felt her input since CoaDF because with Hard Candy and MDNA, you got the feeling others were pushing her buttons. With "Rebel Heart" you actually sense that she wanted to get out of bed and go to to work. It's Madonna at her best. This is definetely one of her best albums. Hallelujah for that! |
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#3728 |
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Norrbotten, Sweden
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Such a shame that the entire album has leaked
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#3729 |
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,431
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I've listened to the leak but I'll 100% be buying a deluxe copy once it's released. It's such a shame. I love the way Madonna's taken her time with this album and you can really feel how much work she's put into it. It's incredible. For it to leak I wouldn't be surprised if she released it early
and it'll be rushed with single releases etc, making the campaign a bit of a mess.
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#3730 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Quote:
Such a shame that the entire album has leaked
![]() Quote:
I've listened to the leak but I'll 100% be buying a deluxe copy once it's released. It's such a shame. I love the way Madonna's taken her time with this album and you can really feel how much work she's put into it. It's incredible. For it to leak I wouldn't be surprised if she released it early
and it'll be rushed with single releases etc, making the campaign a bit of a mess.That said, as a life long fan I couldn't resist to listen because she rarely disappoints me so listen I did and boy, I was blown away. As I said in my review above, I just can't believe how much of a perfectionist she is. I can't believe we have been given such a strong, dynamic album. Listening to it today has made me a whole lot more excited to buy the album and I can't wait to have it in my hand and to put it on my CD player! It is the first time since Confessions that it will be on continuous play. This is the Madonna album we've been waiting for for a decade. Bring it on! March 9th can't come quick enough. A plea to genuine fans: Listen to the leak if you want, it's brilliant, but DON'T download and burn to disc. Please! Artists may not provide new music in the future if everyone just steals it. Buy the CD next month! Thanks.
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#3731 |
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Brighton
Posts: 1,973
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I listened to it but will always buy the CDs too. All my friends think I'm weird as I'm the only one who still goes out to buy CDs!
I prefer having a physical copy to keep as well as my MP3 versions.I'm so hyped for Madonna doing the Brits. She is going to own the entire night!
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#3732 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Quote:
I listened to it but will always buy the CDs too. All my friends think I'm weird as I'm the only one who still goes out to buy CDs!
I prefer having a physical copy to keep as well as my MP3 versions.I'm so hyped for Madonna doing the Brits. She is going to own the entire night! ![]() |
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#3733 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Quote:
I'm so hyped for Madonna doing the Brits. She is going to own the entire night! ![]() |
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#3734 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 235
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Horrible that it leaked in full - feel so bad for Madonna
When the first demos of Rebel Heart and Wash All Over Me leaked in November it was an interesting experience and I enjoyed them but the mass exodus of leaks in December was just insane. Still won't listen to them, so March 9 can come with 13 new tracks to enjoy, including the finals of RH and WAOM. I want to enjoy this album as Madonna would have wanted. |
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#3735 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Horrible that it leaked in full - feel so bad for Madonna
When the first demos of Rebel Heart and Wash All Over Me leaked in November it was an interesting experience and I enjoyed them but the mass exodus of leaks in December was just insane. Still won't listen to them, so March 9 can come with 13 new tracks to enjoy, including the finals of RH and WAOM. I want to enjoy this album as Madonna would have wanted. |
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#3736 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 235
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"Madonna is no longer relevant" is what we hear all the time. Yet her music is so highly anticipated that some people can't wait to hack her computer and leak it! You will 100% enjoy the album. Madonna has created a blinder. It is heart breaking that she can't be the one to present it to the world rather than thieving bastards who think they're cool. They're not cool. They're evil. And, Madonna was right. It is artistic rape. And if anyone gets offended by that then they can go and play with some lego.
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#3737 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Brighton
Posts: 1,973
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Quote:
She'll get the last laugh somehow; I can feel it
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#3738 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Atherstone
Posts: 164
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I've heard the final album in full and I'm gutted... Everyone has a different opinion about her music, but I feel that this album isn't very good at all, I think there are so many weak and forgetable tracks on the album. Her voice isn't even clear in a lot of the songs, and on others she is using to much auto tune and effects on her voice. There's so many songs on the album that are nowhere near as good as the demo versions, the most notable is Rebel Heart, that song has been butchered. The demo with avicii sounded so much better, Beutiful Scars isn't as good as the demo either, intact I got bored halfway through the final version. The songs with the rappers on are just terrible and the Sex song is cringeworthy. The Autotune Baby song is irrating.
Overall she could have done so much better and the demos prove it, and the fact that the demos are better than the final versions is quite bad. The only standout track for me is Ghosttown. I'd rank this album as one of my least favourites. It is definitely no Like A Prayer, Ray Of Light or Confessions on a Dancefloor 3/10 |
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#3739 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,436
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Quote:
I've heard the final album in full and I'm gutted... Everyone has a different opinion about her music, but I feel that this album isn't very good at all, I think there are so many weak and forgetable tracks on the album. Her voice isn't even clear in a lot of the songs, and on others she is using to much auto tune and effects on her voice. There's so many songs on the album that are nowhere near as good as the demo versions, the most notable is Rebel Heart, that song has been butchered. The demo with avicii sounded so much better, Beutiful Scars isn't as good as the demo either, intact I got bored halfway through the final version. The songs with the rappers on are just terrible and the Sex song is cringeworthy. The Autotune Baby song is irrating.
Overall she could have done so much better and the demos prove it, and the fact that the demos are better than the final versions is quite bad. The only standout track for me is Ghosttown. I'd rank this album as one of my least favourites. It is definitely no Like A Prayer, Ray Of Light or Confessions on a Dancefloor 3/10 |
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#3740 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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Posts: 164
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Yeah I'm going to give the album another listen through today from start to finish and try to listen to them without thinking of the demos. It's hard to explain what I mean about her voice, it's just that on some of the songs it's very hard to hear/understand what she is saying. I think maybe I was just too excited about the new album and my expectations were too high. If I had to pick out the songs I like so far from the final album they would be.
Ghost town Joan of Arc Heartbreak City Addicted But I'm hoping that more will grow on me over time... |
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#3741 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,026
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Fantastic album. She really worked hard on making gorgeous melodies. Well done, Madge.
== Personal favourites == Inside Out Addicted Bitch, I'm Madonna Hold Tight Iconic |
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#3742 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,468
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Quote:
Yeah I'm going to give the album another listen through today from start to finish and try to listen to them without thinking of the demos. It's hard to explain what I mean about her voice, it's just that on some of the songs it's very hard to hear/understand what she is saying. I think maybe I was just too excited about the new album and my expectations were too high. If I had to pick out the songs I like so far from the final album they would be.
Ghost town Joan of Arc Heartbreak City Addicted But I'm hoping that more will grow on me over time... I also think that it's unfair to judge some tracks for being 'chasing the trend' simply because they feature rappers. I think one needs to consider them in the lyrical context. I thought the Mike Tyson intro to Iconic was a risk paid off, it adds intensity and put context to a song which is about embracing your inner strength. Also Chance the Rapper did a melodic rap which unusual. Nas' rap break in VVV is absolutely heart warming and once again fit perfectly with a song that tells your life story. |
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#3743 |
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Norrbotten, Sweden
Posts: 17,817
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Quote:
Fantastic album. She really worked hard on making gorgeous melodies. Well done, Madge.
== Personal favourites == Inside Out Addicted Bitch, I'm Madonna Hold Tight Iconic |
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#3744 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 27,919
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I have just finished playing "Bedtime Stories" for the first time in years. It sounds better today than it did 21 years ago! And, amazingly, I am now listening to "Music" and the sound of the whole album is fresh and modern, it's as if it's a current release and not a 15 year old album. I now realise why Madonna is renowned for being "ahead of the game".
If anyone wants to try this for themselves. Stick Music on, it truly is a timeless album. It could be released tomorrow and it would be quite happy alongside the albums of the modern artists. |
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#3745 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 27,919
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My Very First Full Album Review of.......
HARD CANDY
I have had a Madonna listening afternoon. As stated in my previous post, I played Bedtime Stories, Music and then afterwards American Life and finally Hard Candy. I always remembered Hard Candy being better than it actually is. Don't get me wrong, it isn't a bad album, not by a long shot, but it doesn't feel like a Madonna album. It was only when I managed to read the miniscule credit page with torch and magnifying glass (I loathe the way she has taken to relegating the credits to virtually unreadable blocks in the back of a pointless 16 page booklet that just features pictures and photos that I could do without), that I discovered the reason the album didn't quite fit with the style of Madonna. Five of the tracks had Madonna absent from any production duties, and it is these 5 tracks that feel like she is having her buttons pushed and that she doesn't really want to be there. It is also telling that she wanted to collaborate with a British hip hop star and The Pet Shop Boys and again with Stuart Price. But Warner over -ruled her and insisted she create an album primarily for America after the Europop influenced Confessions two and a half years earlier. So, you have 5 songs: 4 Minutes, Miles Away, Dance 2Night, Devil Wouldn't Recognise You and Voices that are produced by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. Voices especially is so badly over produced it has a muffled sound. It also has Madonna singing stronger vocally than she has for a while. But Voices should have been a terrific close, had it's production values been toned down it would have been anthemic. It is on the tracks where Madonna had production duties that the sound becomes more vibrant and you sense that she is starting to enjoy herself. She's Not Me especially has her being traditional Madonna. Heartbeat has her with toned down, sweet vocals. And, more appropriately, she is having a blast on Spanish Lesson even though the song is the low point of the record. Had Warner allowed her to work with the people she wanted to work with, Hard Candy could have surpassed Confessions in quality. But, she comes across as submissive on this album and you feel that she just wants to record a song as quickly as possible and then grab her coat and go home. Madonna is better when she's in control - of everything. Sure she gets the top producers to tweak and perfect for her, but since 1989's Like A Prayer, she has always been co-producer on all tracks. It must have felt really strange and uncomfortable for her during the Hard Candy sessions and it is also obvious now, in hindsight, why all the other Timberlake/Timbaland demos were left off the album. Oddest choice ever by Madonna though, is her desire to have Candy Shop as the lead single. Thankfully this was over ruled by Warner and 4 Minutes was chosen instead. 7 years on, this song feels and sounds like she is the guest singer and not Timbaland/Timberlake. I don't particularly rate this single compared to when it first came out. Hard Candy is less about Madonna and more about the egos of Timbaland/Timberlake. You'd think that when you produce stuff for Madonna it would be the best you could ever do. And that is the albums underlying problem. It so wants to be epic but it doesn't quite make it. 6.5 / 10. |
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#3746 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ireland
Posts: 714
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New Video
I just watched the new video. I love it, it really suits the song and this era. Iconic.
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#3747 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,026
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She is really on point. Bravo.
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#3748 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Brighton
Posts: 1,973
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I love the video!!
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#3749 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,468
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One word: Epic!
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#3750 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Brighton
Posts: 1,973
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Wonder if the Grammy performance will be like the video? if so its going to be iconic!
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I prefer having a physical copy to keep as well as my MP3 versions.