Review de otro que se ha hecho con el CD Standard... Me da miedo porque da notaza a I Rise y Future...
01. Medellìn feat. Maluma
A mellow reggaeton inspired track that's well structured and catchy enough to open the album. Honestly it's one of the weakest moments on Madame X but avoiding the usual edm overproduction mess or the current trap phenomenon was a smart choice for the first single. It really sets the tone for what's next without spoiling the best. One two cha cha cha...come on it's already iconic 7/10
02. Dark Ballet
Probably the most experimental piece on the album. The song starts beautifully with lyrics inspired by Joan of Arc only Madonna could sing and then goes into a stunning piano sequence. Then it gets messy quoting Cajkovskij which sounds pretentious and out of place in a heavily Latin inspired album. The annoying spoken words in the second half don't help neither. I'll be roasted for this but this is a track only good for an interlude video at the tour, no one is gonna listen to this.
5/10
03. God Control
The provocative wordplay refers to gun control policies currently under scrutiny in the US to the rest of the world's dismay (WAKE UP FRIENDS!). Musically the track is a Donna Summer type of disco production with some glimpse of 2000s extravaganza...I hear Impressive Istant, Nobody Knows Me and Sophie Ellis Bextor influences! I love the choir and the strings as well, a very musical song rich in details and meaning. Oh and it sounds so GAY thanks to a Vogue-ish spoken part. Queen 10/10
04. Future
Reggae + Trap + Caribbean = dope! This is such a laid back track with surpsringly good lyrics about the changing times and its people. I usually hate featurings especially with these so called rappers but Quavo gives a current young edge to the song without tarnishing the listening experience. 8/10
05. Batuka
This is such an inspired production coming from the Batucada genre having roots in Brazilian, African and Portuguese music. It sounds Eastern European too? Very daring for the Queen of Pop to sound this folk and niche. The beat is obsessive and tribal, sounds like a hypnotic spell and I'm enchanted. "Put that man in a jail where he can't hurt us"
Madame X sings about freedom.
9/10
06. Killers Who Are Partying
Folk type of song, sounds very gypsy and European, reminiscent of American Life. Haunting. Madonna identifies herself in various minorities with poetic lyrics. Unfortunately her voice is not as warm as it used to be and the metallic sound is distracting, otherwise a stunning quality album track 9/10
07. Crave feat. Swae Lee
Trap with melody? Yass Madonna saves music again. Finally a current and modern top 40 type of song with an actual structure and a melody. The track is so mellow, smooth and catchy..kinda reminds me of Ciara's platinum certified bop I Bet. Swae Lee also is a nice addiction. This is my jam 8/10
08. Crazy
This is adult pop at best. French inspired (Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie anyone?!).
It's been ages since such a well written song made its way on a major mainstream pop album. Pre-Chorus/chorus/bridge...everything is gold.
10/10
09. Come Alive
Basically the correct version of Body Shop. It's so soothing with its beautiful choir and strings 9/10
10. Faz Gostoso
This is Rio baby! The new Gay Pride song for the next 10000 years. And can we appreciate Madonna's more than decent Portuguese? Rhythmically pounding and hypnotic, this is good. Maybe a bit messy but it's so unique!
8/10
11. Bitch I'm Loca
This screams summer single. A tacky reggaeton track with a hard beat that's actually pretty cool. "Bitch I'm loca, besame la boca - You can put it inside" unapologetically sings Madonna on the song. Is it a refined production? Maybe not but it's a great club song in this age, if this was Jlo all the gays would be scalped 6/10
12. I Don't Search I Find
Vogue meets Bedtime Stories meets Erotica. This is the gayest Madonna since Girl Gone Wild. Another hypnotic song with that 90s nostalgic element many will love. Having said that the track seems to go on forever becoming very repetitive and disconnected from the rest of the material which sounds way more organic.
7/10
13. I Rise
This has become one of my favourite Madonna songs. Very catchy and heartfelt. Melody + meaning + vocals + production = perfect pop.
10/10
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