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NYT About Madonna: "Material Woman, Restoring Her Brand"
Check out a very favorable review of Madonna's "Hard Candy" in The New York Times today.
In his closing arguments, writer Jon Parales concludes, "'Hard Candy' is a retrenchment, but it’s a typically savvy one. The dance floor — not the pulpit, not the art gallery — is Madonna’s truest home, and it’s a good place to shake off pretensions and excesses. Her grand statement on 'Hard Candy' is nothing more than that she’s still around and can still deliver neat, calculated pop songs. Madonna has had more profound moments — 'Like a Prayer,' 'Ray of Light' — but not every pop star is cut out for full-time profundity. This time around, concocting new ditties that will have her arena audiences singing along, she was smart to stay shallow."
April 27, 2008 in Madonna | Permalink
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Posted by: Nathan Derolf at Apr 28, 2008 4:13:50 PM
I find it real sad when people who base their whole lives on such superficial nonsense grow old... It's just sad. I mean... "material girl" when you're 50? Ugh. Pop stars should go away when they turn 30. You know, there's nothing there really.
Posted by: Mr. Music at Apr 29, 2008 12:43:24 AM
Talk about a marketing genious. Madonna has found a way to reinvent herself time and time again and be on the forefront of music and fashion. Not to mentioned she signed a deal that will have her making records for the next 10 years. I can see her sixty and still rockin' mtv.
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Posted by: runaway dorothy at Apr 29, 2008 2:57:32 PM
Yeah, Mr. Music-- everyone should just die once they've hit their 30's because noone has any relevance after that. You're age-ist and, most likely, judging from your thoughtless comments, contemptible and "real sad."
Posted by: RJ March at Apr 30, 2008 10:29:03 AM
To Nathan Derolf: "Pop stars should go away when they turn 30" is a stupid thing to say. You know it's stupid. Basically, in your world, you're happy to listen to newbies but not mature musicians who have spent time developing themselves. Damon Albarn started in pop.
Madonna has never sung so well as she does on this album.
That said, it's not really to my taste and I don't like her new look either (she looks like an extra in Eastenders). She could have done better and I'm sure she will next time.
Posted by: Babs at Apr 30, 2008 4:57:31 PM
oops, just realised writer's names appear below the post. My post above is to Mr Music (apologies to Nathan Derolf)
Posted by: Babs at Apr 30, 2008 4:59:23 PM
I don't care how old she is, HARD CANDY IS AWFUL. She can't reach the notes to save her life, the beats are outdated, the chorus' are weaker than Nelly Furtado b-sides and the production is creativeless and absolutely risk-free and dull.
I consider myself a Madonna fan and cannot listen to this album at all. I really urge many of you to stop using your nostalgic notions as ears. This is a completely unhealthy album and although it may sell as much as a McDonald's burger would, it IS BENEATH HER TO EVEN RELEASE IT.
Posted by: JOhn at Apr 30, 2008 8:53:14 PM
I adore Madonna, I do. But instead of making something new, as was promised, she fell back into the style that will make money with the young'ins these days. The album is incredibly empty of thought or emotion, and we've seen her show both well before... it's just depressing.
It has to be embarrassing to put something like this out after Like a Prayer, Erotica, and Ray of Light. To have to stoop to being an accessory to a Justin Timberlake "song" is just wrong!
Posted by: Mon at May 1, 2008 4:48:40 AM
I love how so many of my fellow long time Madonna fans are HATING this record so much. I think it's fun, crisp, of the moment, pure dance pop - there's really very little that's RnB or hip hip/hip pop about it - and, um, note how much GUITAR is featured! Hell, even Wendy Melvoin shows up to sling on She's Not Me and gets a Madonna+Pharrell shout out at the breakdown.
I love this CD. It's fun, silly, groovy and sounds AMAZING in the car or on the headphones at the gym.
Posted by: Ben at May 5, 2008 7:15:02 PM
