Madonna, 'MDNA' - First Listen
By Ailbhe MalonePosted on 03/12/12 at 05:43:43 pm
The Material Girl returns with her 12th studio album. Is it any cop? Lets find out....
Girl Gone Wild
Though most will have heard this track already (its the second single off the album) its worth a recap. Produced by Benny Benassi, Madonna intros with a spoken word segment about how she wants "so badly to be good". As the album plays through, the strangeness of the single's choice will become more apparent. Girl Gone Wild does little to set the listener up for whats about to come next.
Gang Bang
With an intro consisting of a revving engine and a solid four-to-the-floor beat, Gang Bang is Madge Gone Industrial. Were certainly not mentioning another blonde female artist who also took inspiration from German Industrial on her last album, but were in the same ball park. Its exciting. Madonnas ditched the faux English accent and the mood is tense. It feels like something's about to snap as she declares You were building my coffin/ you were driving my hearse". Ubiquitous Dubstep wobble aside, the track tails off into a wonderful 'Faster Kill Pussycat' segment, with Madge singing Drive bitch and while you're at it die bitch!
Im Addicted
Electronic ripples open the track into something that sounds like Momma's Place-era Roisin Murphy. There are some nudging references to Killer Rave Drugs as Madonna sings "It's like MDMA and that's OK". Theres another dubsteppy breakdown that ends with her chanting "MDNA" over an electro explosion. We can't wait to see this live.
Turn Up the Radio
This is the first of the six Martin Solveig-produced tracks on the album(including the bonus tracks). Theres a Dragonette style vocal and lyrics about music helping you to forget your woes. Its quite sweet, and leads nicely into the next track...
Give Me All Your Luvin
...which is still amazing.
Some Girls
The first William Orbit cut (of five). Direct and bitchy, Madonnas vocals are treated and hidden beneath a heavy bass. Its a mid-tempo track with a chorus of "Some girls are not like me / I never want to be like some girls".
Superstar
This track feels a bit lightweight amongst the others. Theres a Katy Perry vibe. The "Oh la la you're my superstar" chorus seems like a incongruous filler with the cheeky cringey teen lyrics: "You're like Abe Lincoln because you fight for what's right". Maybe Lourdes helped her with this one?
I Dont Give A
Lyrically, this is a list of all the things that Madonna has to do: "Message manager no time for a manicure". It avoids turning into American Life thanks to Madonna letting a little bit of her guard down: "I tried to be a good girl I tried to be your wife". Nicki Minaj's guest spot is relaxed and ends with the immortal line: "There's only one queen and that's Madonna, bitch".
Im A Sinner
A psychy track that feels like a mix of Peaches and Martha And The Vandellas. It sounds fresh, and tongue firmly in cheek Madonna lists some saints over a "Wo-oh-ah" backing vocal.
Love Spent
Though Love Spent could come across as a kind of 'Exquisite Corpse' of a track (banjo intro, then violins, then spoken word) its really brilliant. Madonna channels ABBA-level spousal hurt as she sings "Hold me like your money, tell me that you want me, spend your love on me".
Masterpiece
The track from W.E. It sounds a bit zzzz here to be honest.
Falling Free
Elegant and classy, the warped piano sounds of the final track on the album proper is a fitting end. This icy ballad fits far better than Masterpiece as Madonna addresses a problem she wishes she could forget: "When I move a certain way I feel an ache I've kept at bay".
Beautiful Killer
Yep, you guessed it: beautiful filler, more like.
I f**ked Up
Its strange that this didnt make it onto the main CD. This is the track that most critics have pegged to be about Guy Ritchie. Aside from the token French interlude, this is understated and excellent, and could easily have replaced Masterpiece.
B-Day Song
M.I.A. makes an appearance on this 60s-influenced Solveig track. Though theres a line about how Madonna likes to spend her birthdays ("Give me a spanking start the day off right") its clear why this isnt a main track.
'Best Friend
Madonna lists things she misses in her partner. It sounds a bit like a vocodorized Max Martin track, which would normally be amazing, but in these circumstances, it doesnt really fit.
So, is the Queen of Pop back on her throne? Just about. Wed pledge our allegiance anyway.