Review
MADONNA: 'HARD CANDY'
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UK release date 30.04.2008
US release date 30.04.2008
Well, what can you say about Madonna that hasn't been said before and in many different guises. The Queen of reinvention is back with the cracking album 'Hard Candy.'
With this album she effortlessly morphs from the disco diva on the 'Confessions on A Dancefloor' album and hip hops to the R&B genre with relative ease.
This is Madonna's 11th studio album and her last under her contract with Warners Brothers not including a (compilation album to be released in late 2008 or early 2009 will complete it) First single from the album '4 Minutes' featuring the skills of Mr Timberlake and Mr Timberland did VERY good business reaching number 1 in fifteen countries across the globe.
The album itself has a hip hop feel but keeps both dance/pop coursing through it's veins 'Hard Candy' sounds like a mix of Timberlake's last album Future/Sex and echo's Nelly Furtado's last album 'Loose...' and why not?! I say... as both albums have done extremely well and have the production skills of Timberland to thank, so Madonna can be seen to be just carrying on in the same vain.
This may irritate some as they have come to expect re-invention from Madonna and this is one of the main reason that she has stayed at the top of her game for so long. But what I think, shouldn't be forgotten is the fact that she has the skill and ability to give any genre the Madonna treatment and breath life into any project she chooses (as she did with her disco influenced last album).
Standout tracks for me are the self album titled 'Hard Candy, 'Give it to Me,'Heart Beat,' and 'She's not me'. All four tracks have Pharrell William's at the helm and together with some hot tight beats have the Neptune's stamped all over them. You can't ignore '4 Minutes' (of course), 'Dance 2Night' and 'Beat Goes On' (Feat the inform Kanye West) for some solid production and great hooks then this album defiantly has it. Chuck in a little sentimentality with the songs 'Voices,' 'Incredible' and 'Miles Away' as Madonna claims that Guy "Love's her more when he is miles away" I'm sure he does.... then this album has got it all.
BUY 'HARD CANDY' WITH HMV
Words LEE TYLER
