It's Spring time and what does the season symbolize; Rebirth. No, not the title of Jennifer Lopez's now defunct 3rd album, but Spring is a time when the flowers start to bloom and the sun starts to shine a little more vibrantly. Okay, what does this have to do with music? All the new fresh music that came out this past April was consistent with the season.
Mariah Carey released her 11th studio album E=MC2 on April 15. Her adoring fans flocked to get it--making E=MC2 Mariah's 6th number one album. Madonna and Janet Jackson have both held this title as two female pop artists with the most # albums, now Mariah joins these two divas, although I willing to bet that Madonna's latest release will hit number one--making it her 7th.
And, on that note, Hard Candy****, the title of Madonna's 11th studio album boast an array of hip-hop's finest producers, from Timbaland to Pharreal and Kanye West, Madonna has besieged a highly danceable, easily digestible assortment of music. What do I really think of Madonna's latest venture into pop martyrdom? Madonna has great audience awareness. She has made a career out of reinventing herself--satisfying the masses with a new sound, look, and persona on each of her albums. Hard Candy is no different. She is a true professional--embodying and adopting various musical styles is her signature. Hard Candy is an excellent mixture of late 70s pop/r&b with an early eighties funk vibe,too. The disc is contemporary. Madonna makes this mosaic of club/dance music current. You won't listen to the disc and think "Gosh this sounds dated," but you will hear the late
70s and early 80s influences. On songs like, 'Heartbeat,' Give it to Me,'and 'She's not Me,' Madonna soars into this sort of dance club disco beat that would make the staunches Donna Summer disco fanatic gush with bravado. The only flaw on the album is at points, Madonna's producers seems to guide her too much. The album seems to reflect or showcase their contributions more blatantly than Madonna's. If I compare this album to some of her previous work, Madonna's presence is an undeniable force in songs like, 'Hung up' 'American Life,' or 'Music.' Yet, on Hard Candy, many of the tracks don't sound like a signature Madonna song. The songs could easily be a Nelly Furtado or Gwen Stafani hit. In fact, on some of the songs Madonna seems to be going through the motions. The disk lacks some authenticity. Nonetheless, it is a great dance-hall jam. The most ebullient Madonna fans should enjoy Hard Candy.
Download these, 'Heartbeat,' 'Dance2Nite,' 'Incredible,' and 'Devil wouldn't Recognize You,'
