I picked up Madonna's new CD "Confessions on a Dance Floor" the other day and I have to say I've been pleasantly surprised.  With this latest offering Madonna still hasn't recaptured the energy of Ray of Light, but this album is definitely more fun than either Music or American Life in my opinion...

However I suspect that die-hard Ray of Light fans will not like this album.  In recent years Madonna has been going with a more and more synthetic sound with each new album, and Confessions is no exception, there's more synth here than there was on American Life, and that's saying something.  But one of the nice things about sticking with something is that you tend to get better at it over time.  This may be synth, but compared to American Life, it's better quality synth.  You won't have to clench your teeth through any dentist-drill-like-drones with Confessions!

There is also a lot less introspection in Confessions than in the last three albums. There's still some, but it doesn't dominate album.

What you will find is kick-ass dance music and some pretty unimaginative lyrics.  The previous three Madonna albums all have more depth from a lyrical perspective than this album, but if you are dancing your fanny off, you're likely not going to care.

If you were expecting otherwise, I would have to question why you would be buying a Madonna CD in the first place.  Let's face it, apart from the majority of Ray of Light, and a few standout pieces here and there, Madonna isn't exactly known for her lyrical depth.  Heck before she recorded a ballad called "Forbidden Love" for Confessions on a Dance Floor someone should have reminded Madonna that she already recorded a ballad called "Forbidden Love" on Bedtime Stories.

True Madonna fans forgive such flaws and just dig the music, and there is a lot to dig on Confessions.  If I could change anything, I would like to hear more of Madonna and less synth.  I loved Bedtime Stories (Let's Get Unconscious, Human Nature, Secret) and Ray of Light (heh, every track).  But if this is as much as she is prepared to give right now, I'll take it.  Any love is good love.

Unfortunately the CD insert doesn't include any lyrics, which normally would be a bummer, but does include a racy pictorial of Ms. Ciccone, revealing that she is as hot as ever.


Madonna Ciccone

Hard to believe she's 47.  Man do I feel old.  Some might find this shocking or degrading, but AFAIC Madonna is wealthy and talented enough that she wouldn't have to do a pictorial like this to sell the album.  Ergo this is how she wants to be seen.  As she herself says on the last track Like It Or Not:

You can call me a sinner,
And you can call me a saint,
Celebrate me for who I am,
Dislike me for what I ain't.

...

Because, this is who I am,
You can like it or not,
You can love me, or leave me,
But I'm never gonna stop.

Basically the same message as that killer verse in Human Nature "I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me." If you prefer that more blunt approach, don't worry, you'll get some of that in Confessions as well, here's a bit from the track I Love New York:

...If you don't like my attitude
Then you can eff off
Just go to Texas
Isn't that where they golf?

New York is not for little pussies who scream...

I guess it's okay to say "pussies" and "eff off" because Madonna seems to have avoided the "explicit lyrics" warning label this time around.  Go figure.

Anyway, the album was definitely worth the wait, and is clearly the best offering since Ray of Light.  Give it a listen, but be prepared to dance.

Previous ULev articles about the material girl: