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Ray Of Light

Madonna

1998

Buy At Rough Trade
Ray Of Light
Album Summary

Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released in early 1998 by Maverick Records. A stylistic and aesthetical departure from her previous work, Ray of Light is an electronica and techno-pop record which incorporates multiple genres, including ambient, trip hop, psychedelic music and Middle Eastern music, while also seeing Madonna singing with greater breadth and a fuller tone. Mystical themes are also strongly present in both the music and lyrics, as a result of Madonna embracing Kabbalah, her study of Hinduism and Buddhism, and her daily practice of Ashtanga yoga. After giving birth to her first child, Madonna started working on the album with producers Babyface and Patrick Leonard. Following failed sessions with them, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer William Orbit, which resulted in a much more experimental sound being produced for the album. The recording process was the longest of Madonna's career, and she experienced problems with Orbit's hardware arrangement which would break down and cause delays until it could be repaired. Upon release, the album received widespread critical acclaim, with reviews praising the singer's new musical direction, Orbit's complex, innovative and experimental production, and Madonna's writing skills. Referred to as her "most adventurous" record, Ray of Light has been noted for its introspective, spiritual, and religious nature with Madonna's vocals also being commended. Retrospectively, the album has continued receiving critical acclaim from contemporary critics and is often considered to be her best album. On top of this, the album is frequently cited by critics as one of the greatest mainstream pop albums of all time. Ray of Light won four Grammy Awards from a total of six nominations. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, with the biggest first-week sales by a female artist at the time. It also peaked at number one in 17 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, and charted within the top-five in most musical markets. Worldwide, Ray of Light has sold over 16 million copies and is one of the best-selling albums by women. Five singles were released from the album, including the international top five hits "Frozen" and "Ray of Light". The album's promotion was later supported by the Drowned World Tour in 2001. Music critics have noted the album's influence on popular music, and how it introduced electronica into mainstream pop culture in America. They also noted Madonna's musical re-invention which helped the 39-year-old remain contemporary among the teen-marketed artists of the period.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.97

Votes

10078
Genres
Pop

Reviews

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Thu Jul 07 2022
2

"how do you do fellow kids?"

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Wed Nov 04 2020
2

A whole lot of investment for a maximum of 15 minutes pay-off. You can certainly die before listening to this one, and in all honesty, at 1 hour 6 mins in length, there is a good chance that you might.

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Sun May 09 2021
5

Top tier mid-career Madonna. Confident, composed, and coooool

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Fri Apr 16 2021
4

I was pleasantly surprised by this, as downtempo stuff usually isn't my bag. And it is long, though the beauty of the production can't be overstated (Actually, maybe it can when the cheesy strings come into Little Star.) Madonna's voice doesn't have much zing to it here, but if it did the whole album would have to be retuned to it. She takes you through the hour of music, and the melodies are pretty if not very hooked, and the calming effect of the music is undeniable. I tend to prefer my trip-hop with more of the mentioned zing, but Madonna is absolutely my bag.

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Thu Dec 03 2020
4

The last good Madonna album according to my wife

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Wed Oct 27 2021
2

Once such a daring and courageous beast, this effort seems rather lazy and insipid. Just throwing some EDM into the mix, because, well why not? Madonna reminds me of a wounded sealion gasping for air as it watches its pups be fucked to death by the predatory ghost of Sir David Attenborough.

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Thu Feb 04 2021
5

A little like OG Lana Del Rey. Cool electronica style.

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Sat Aug 28 2021
5

This album is without a doubt the singular high watermark for 90s American pop, and potentially Madonna's entire career. Between her other albums, I struggle to pick a favorite between Ray of Light, Madonna and Like a Prayer.

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Wed Sep 06 2023
4

This was a total surprise. The only things I knew about Madonna were the adoption stuff and her hits, more from the 80s with that big, brash style. I really wasn't expecting to enjoy this, but it was easy to listen to and surprising in it's style. I'd happened to get Massive Attack's Blue Lines the day before, so the slightly laid-back trip-hop nature of this was interesting to compare - it's all fine enough, but lacks the drive and energy and rawness of that album: just a little too bland and over-produced in places perhaps. Not half bad though.

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Thu Oct 21 2021
1

I never understood Madonna's popularity. Don't get me wrong. Can she sing? Yes. Has she written, recorded, and produced several hit songs. Sure thing. But she's pretty average in my opinion - and this album is evidence of that. These songs sound like a hundred other songs that came out around this time - there's nothing really innovative or different about it. Every song is 6 minutes long and they could have been 3. In fact, the whole album could have been one 3-minute song. They all sound the exact same. It's like the soundtrack for a Disney movie that was way to sad and weird to make it to theaters. And, even though I'm not a fan of Madonna, this album cannot be her best effort. Not sure why it's on the list.

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Mon Aug 07 2023
1

(Deep inhale, followed by audible sigh) Ok…here we go. Madonna’s “Ray of Light”. Produced by William Orbit (whose album, “Strange Cargo III”, I found to be utterly loathsome), “Ray of Light” finds Madonna embracing the electronica of the mid 90’s and turning it into a easily digestible product for the masses. Thematically, Madonna draws inspiration from religious mysticism, psychedelia and yoga. Honestly, I am surprised that she isn’t writing songs about the probiotic benefits of kefir or multipart suites about vaccine conspiracies she read on a “very reputable” website. I fucking hate this album. It’s awful. What’s next? That Cher album with all the auto-tune?

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Mon Jul 19 2021
5

Easily the best Madonna album.

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Wed Oct 20 2021
5

ну бест оф зэ бэст оф зе бест!!!! виллиам орбит лучший

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Sun Feb 06 2022
4

Still remember that after a sequence of rather mediocre albums -say anything after Like a Prayer and this albums- and a string of singles that were good but not great (except This Used to Be My Playground but that was with Shep Pettibone again) ..suddenly ..Frozen was released and after that: the Ray Of Light single and then Substitute of Love and the Power of Goodbye.. in short: the best 4 pop singles of the 90s, seemingly out of nowhere. So bought the album but felt a bit disappointed as it was made in the same way as in the 80s: great singles (*****) some (very) decent albums tracks (***/****) and some filler (*/**). Think True Blue or Like A Prayer. Still feel the same after listening to it again today. The 4 singles and the William Orbit contributions are as fantastic as ever, just like a couple of other tracks, but overall it falls short to be of 5-star, just like True Blue and Like A Prayer (to compare, for me, her first album and Like A Virgin are both 5-star).

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Wed Jun 09 2021
3

Good memories from MTV in the 90's https://youtu.be/SnUu2E1pjm0

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Tue Apr 27 2021
2

i can appreciate it but i'd never listen to this kind of music willingly. also no 13-track album should be over an hour

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Thu Mar 10 2022
2

Just look how quickly rich and gauzy becomes "deep" and "meaningful", the shorthand for which is--sigh--an Indian song. I note William Orbit is credited on that. It appears not even the best artists were immune to 90s ambient wank.

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Tue Jul 06 2021
5

Como no iba a estar Madonna en esta lista. Aunque no me esperaba este disco, muy bueno para volver a esos maravillosos 90's.

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Thu Dec 02 2021
5

This was great 90s pop, Madonna voice is incredible

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Thu Dec 16 2021
5

A definitive Madonna album. Madonna has constantly reinvented herself with each new album. And through her career until Confessions, she successfully took modern technology and made it her own unmatched by anyone else. Madonna's work has always been tied to synths and electronica, but you can hear the evolution of music in her albums. In Ray of Light, she modifies her Erotica dance and Bedtime Stories R&B strategies with the rising techno scene, which was never that big until Madonna slapped her label onto it. This is an electro-pop masterpiece. It is incredibly well produced, with innovative techno effects that make tracks suitable for dancing, studying, or sitting back and having a drink. Her vocals are mostly influenced while her last two albums, soft and sexy, reflecting the speed and subject matter of the lyrics. Just hear how perfectly entwined her vocals are with the techno sounds in "Skin", I can't believe how perfectly they blend together. There are plenty of perfect tracks on this album. "Drowned World" is such a surreal and sad reflection of her relationship with fame. "Nothing Really Matters" is the friendliest for newcomers and old fans. "Ray of Light" is a perfect dance track, although I admit it sticks out from the other tracks. "Frozen" is like listening to a movie, with dramatic build ups, tense effects, orchestral strings, and spacious yet gloomy vocals. And most of the non-singles are suitable for any dance mix. My only two complaints are that it's super long, and the last few tracks feel like bonus tracks, belonging to Bedtime Stories. I get that dance tracks should be long, 5 minutes, but softer tracks like "Little Star" could be cut a little or just entirely. It's hard for me to decide which Madonna album is my favorite. But I can definitely say this is the one with the least flaws, and combined with its influence and outstanding production, it's one of the best pop albums out there.

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Wed Feb 16 2022
5

I am a Madonna fan. This album is one of the ones in my normal circulation of 10or 20 albums that I listen to on a daily basis and it is GOOD.

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Wed May 25 2022
5

Whenever there is a phase in Madonna's career, no matter how brief and noteworthy, it all serves a use for a section of the fanbase to hang their hats on. Ray of Light is the culmination of a return to the public's good graces that began with Bedtime Stories and peaked with her starring role in Evita. Crafting compositions about enlightenment and motherhood, this is Madonna's most mature outing; a record that positions her as a sage for all things groundbreaking and revelatory (not that she wasn't beforehand). Sooner or later, she'll slide back down into dangerous waters of irrelevancy but, for a while, Madonna became someone to love again. This album is proof.

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Fri May 27 2022
5

p829. 1998. 5 stars. Madge on top form. Not a weak track on this. Excellent production. Still sounds great 20 years on.

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Wed Sep 28 2022
5

Very surprised how good this was. Sound very trippy

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Wed Oct 05 2022
5

What a brilliant idea to bring in William Orbit as a producer. It’s a match made in heaven with Orbit laying down the catchy but innocuous rhythm tracks and Madonna composing songs over top of them. The album would have sounded super-fresh and club-ready upon release. The first 2 tracks are subtle, not immediately catching your attention and then the title track slaps you in the face. “Skin”, “Sky Fits Heaven” & “Froze” are also classics. Even the mellower ballads are made interesting, listenable and Everything-But-the-Girl-ish by the production.

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Wed Feb 01 2023
5

Madonna always surprises with her creativity: all her albums are different from each other, both in lyrics and melodies. This all ensures that she remains active and extremely interesting over time. This album is no exception, all songs are great and take you on a mystical journey of that time (she changes too, just like Madonna). I still prefer the Madonna of the 80s, but it is undeniable how great this album is.

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Fri Feb 03 2023
5

disco maduro de madonna? fuck I'm in

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Wed Apr 19 2023
5

With a slight dipping with Bedtime Stories and American Life, Madonna's run of albums from Like A Virgin through to Confessons on A Dancefloor - near twenty years, is pretty well unmatched putting her up with critical darlings like REM and Prince. Like A Prayer and Ray of Light are the Everest and K2 in this range - I have a personal preference for the latter as I love the William Orbit wooshes and wibbles that provide the distinctive soundworld of this album. As ever the question is take the singles out and what's left. The answer is a lot. I'll even forgive her a bit of karmic nonsense with the om shantis and everything. This album is almost 25 years old which seems crazy as it still sounds contemporary.

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Mon May 01 2023
5

I haven’t listened to this album in some time, so even though listening again today there was complete familiarity I was startled how I had kind of forgotten about a lot of the music on this album. Ray Of Light is a dreamy, beautiful album built on one amazing song after another - not a throwaway track in the bunch. Madonna’s performance is at its peak. She sounds incredible. I sink into this album and get lost in another world… I’ve said for years that Like A Prayer is Madonna’s best, but listening to this today I have to say this one has the edge. Ray Of Light is an absolutely phenomenal album that should be at the top of my regular rotation. So so good!

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Mon May 01 2023
5

Wait. Did I just say a few days ago that Music is one of Madonna's most mature albums? I did. But so is this. More like yoga class than a dance party, this one goes down real easy. And Ray of Light is one of my feel goodest songs.

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Mon May 01 2023
5

well, this album could change a person's mind about being a Madonna fan. It was beautiful and amazing!

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Mon May 01 2023
5

Oh, this is a good one. As with Music, I had this on CD when it came out, but hadn't listened to the whole album for years. In this very successful reinvention of herself, this is the mystical electronica dance one. It's pretty awesome. The title track may well be my favorite Madonna song. The whole thing sounds great and I'm happy to hear it again.

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Tue May 30 2023
5

Ein af mínum allra mest uppáhalds plötum. Frábær frá upphafi til enda. Mikil gleði með að hún sé á listanum 🥰

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Tue Jun 06 2023
5

Madge’s last great album. I love the cohesiveness of it. It’s clear that every song is a part of this album, yet each has its own unique perspective and sound. The Eastern & Middle Eastern influences work well for me, giving the music and the spiritualized edge. Madonna’s voice is in fine form and the production is unmatched. Complicated and catchy rhythms meld with super-rich bass lines and ethereal atmosphere to provide an elevated club sound unlike any other. Frozen is a highlight, with its lush strings, jangly percussion, and almost medieval chord structure supporting her cutting words to a cold, emotionless subject. Little Star, an electronica lullaby to her then-newly-born daughter Lourdes, is unexpectedly touching, yet retains much of the sugary fun that made Madonna a pop goddess.

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Fri Jul 07 2023
5

I never knew Madonna was that experimental with the sound in her albums. This one really surprised me, on how much variety it has. You got Trip-Hop, Trance, some hints of techno and much more. I really enjoyed it.

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Fri Aug 25 2023
5

Madonna has always been the Queen of Reinvention and jumpin on trends. This is one of her peak moments. William Orbit brought out the best of Madonna with this blissful collection of techno pop. Unlike the bulk of her albums this one isn't patchy either, it is a solid piece of work no song feels like it needs to be skipped

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Thu Dec 14 2023
5

Expecting just a simple pop album, I wasn't really looking forward to this one. But... Wow. I wasn't expecting this album to be quite as electronic as it turned out to be. I never knew there was a Madonna album like it, not that I really know much about Madonna's discography. This is a wonderfully electronic album with some songs that would suit a lounge, and others that would fit in a rave. It's filled with downtempo, house, trance, drum and bass, basically everything my ADHD-ridden millenial British mind can almost automatically adore. To be honest I almost forgot that this is an album by an American singer - William Orbit really brings a lot of British and European flair to the album. There's also some really cool Middle Eastern elements to this - Shanti/Ashtangi makes for a really cool midway(ish) point of the album, and a nice comedown from the trance rush of Sky Fits Heaven before it. From my impromptu research into this album I found out that she had underwent vocal training for her role in Evita, a couple of years before this album, and as a result she came to this album with a broader vocal range than ever. The full-bodiedness of her vocals pairs really well with the electronic direction of this album. I was really surprised by how much I loved this album. It's a fun, ravey, mystical and spiritual record with a bit of everything that the 90s electronic scene had to offer. I wasn't expecting to be seeking out a Madonna album because of this list but it's fair to say that it's what I'll now be doing. Favourite: Nothing Really Matters

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Wed Jan 24 2024
5

This was GREAT! I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Added and will be listening again

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Wed Jan 24 2024
5

Awww yeah! I do not give a flying fuck what anyone has to say. This is fun. And I love it.

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Thu Feb 22 2024
5

Madonna forever. Nice album.

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Sun Mar 03 2024
5

madonna's 7th studio album i think was the last of her great era. she's unfortunately past her prime now, or maybe I'm just saying that because i haven't heard enough? i dunno. madonna swaps her usual dance pop style for a really trippy and atmospheric techno new age sound, and she pretty much nails it. beautiful vocals and uniquely produced instrumentals that haven't aged a bit.

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Tue Apr 27 2021
4

The album where Madonna remade herself and brought EDM to the mainstream. Solid stuff. Best track: The Power of Good-Bye

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Sun Jun 13 2021
4

Hyvä levy, positiivinen levy ja näin. Vähän nuo intialaiset kikkailut välissä pisti harmittamaan, mutta kokonaisuutena positiivinen, hyvä levy. Madonnasta oli kuva ehkä hieman enemmän joko kasaridiscon tai myöhemmin hieman modernimman discomusan esittäjänä, mutta tämä oli aika rauhallisen miellyttävää musiikkia. Nelosen arvoista menoa!

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Fri Mar 05 2021
4

Great pop with an ambient/trance twist

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Fri Jun 18 2021
4

Of the Madonna albums I've listened to, this is definitely my fave. Love that William Orbit production, and I'm a sucker for electronica with world music blended in. Fave track - it always used to be "Frozen", but this time around the title track really jumped out at me. It's quite a tune! Got me pretty energised!

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

A stunning pop record with incredible diversity. Definitely electronic-based, but I’d argue brings a fair amount of alternative rock to the table as well. Unfortunately drags a bit in the second half. STANDOUTS: -Drowned World / Substitute for Love -Swim -Candy Perfume Girl -Skin -The Power of Good-Bye

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Tue Mar 23 2021
4

Didn't expect this from Madonna

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Sun Jan 24 2021
4

I forgot just how beautiful madonnas voice is. I grew up on OG Madonna and when this album came out, it was “weird” but so Madonna :) I didn’t listen to it much because I was so nostalgic for her old stuff. I realize now just how ahead of our time this sound was. It fits way better into today’s music. <>.

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Sat Apr 24 2021
4

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Drowned World/Substitute For Love, Swim, Ray of Light, Candy Perfume Girl, The Power of Good-Bye Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: I really liked this album's vibes. 5 stars? No. But it was a very enjoyable listen despite nothing really happening. A clean 4.

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Sun Apr 25 2021
4

Weaker 4, some of the songs were quite great, however I wouldn't mind if the was about 10 minutes shorter.

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Wed Feb 24 2021
4

Not bad pero prefiero alguno de los anteriores

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Mon May 03 2021
4

A really good, nostalgic electro-pop album. Singles like Frozen immediately bring me back to my childhood.

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Wed Jun 16 2021
4

Album being delighted with thick bass with soft and gentle vocals.

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Tue Apr 06 2021
4

мать навалила клубнячка 😎 На самом деле ну Мадонна, хули. До примадонны, канеш, не дотягивает, но марку держит. Отличная фоновая музыка для поддержания приподнятого настроения (кроме первого и финального трека). Особо сказать нечего, песни пустые довольно, как по мне. Слушаются и слушаются. Привлекают внимание только различные экспериментальные вставки, в один момент как будто даже атональный хор каких-то волынок появился, что я вполне бы рассчитывал бы увидеть на альбоме позднего Аукцыона, а не главной поп-певицы девяностых. Драмы довольно часто прикольные сбивки дают, ну и всё такое. За поиск разнообразия вполне могу семёру въебать, жалко ко второй части альбома интересных элементов становится меньше. как-то так, хз

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Sun Mar 28 2021
4

flows really well, some songs better than others but good vibes

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Thu Apr 22 2021
4

Madonna at one of her peaks. Is and was a good sound

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Tue Apr 20 2021
4

pop perfection. I'd heard the titular track before but didn't know its name. more vibey than I expected. nice guitars. I liked the spiritual interlude, reminded me of the Beatles going 2 India. favs: Swim, Skin, Nothing Really Matters, Shanti / Ashtang

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Wed Aug 18 2021
4

This actually bangs in places. Makes me want to be in an early 2000s action film. Could have been trimmed down a bit, but otherwise loved it.

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Wed Aug 25 2021
4

My favorites: Drowned World / Substitute For Love Frozen Sky Fits Heaven The Power Of Good-Bye To Have And Not To Hold

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Thu Sep 16 2021
4

Kolejna odslona Madonny na liscie, tym razem juz z okresu gdzie byla niekwestionowana krolowa popu, a jak to krolowe maja prawa do wszelakich eksperymentow i wyznaczania nowych granic muzycznych, tak wiec Ray of Light jest odsluchem o wiele bardziej zroznicowanym niz like a prayer, a nawet bym powiedzial, ze mniej popowo a bardziej elektronicznie, bo ludzmi odpowiedzialnymi za produkcje sa tu william orbit, patrick leonard i rick nowels, czyli szpece w dziedzinie tri hopu i szeroko pojetej elektroniki co czuc podczas odsluchu, bo plyta brzmi jak cos co mogl wypuscic moby, nie ma tutaj zbyt duzo zywych instrumentow, wszystko jest produkowanie elektronicznie co daje albumowi 2k00 feeling, ale zachowany jest dobry balans pomiedzy trakami wolniejszymi, a kawalkami z wiekszymi bpmami, jesli chodzi o szybkosc albumu, to pacing przypomina tutaj troche sinusoide startuje wolno, zeby osignac najwyzsze bpmy na sky fits heaven, po czym traczek inspirowany hinduizmem i joginizmem shanti/ashtangi, ciekawy i egzotyczny kawalek, bo jest on spiewany w hindi, a tekst pochodzi podobno z tekstow wedyjskich, reszta plyty utrzymana jest tez raczej w wolniejszym tempie, ktory pasuje do kontentu lirycznego jaki serwuje madonna, bo wydaje mi sie, ze plyta jest o wiele bardziej osobista niz poprzedni material ktory mialem okazje sluchac, wiele odniesiec do swojej malej corki, little star jest chyba nawet bezposrednim tekstem o niej do niej, ale odsluch sie troche dluzyl, bo jednak jest to godzina i szesc minut na 13 piosenkach, pomimo tego plycie nie mozna odmowic innowacyjnosci, bo o elektroniczny album popowy z tak pelnym wokalem, ktory jest jeszcze lepszy niz na like a prayer, a calkiem inny od tego ktory znam juz z mtviowej ery madonny z 2k10, jest on pelny a jednak lagodny brzmieniowo i jak kameleon dopasowuje sie on do elektronicznych beatow zaserwowanych przed producerke, ta sinusoida o ktorej mowilem wynika wlasnie z tego, ze praktycznie plyta podzielona jest pomiedzy trzech producentow, wiec kazdy odcisnal na nim pietno swojego stylu poczatek orbitowy, srodkowa czesc leonardowa i koncowka nowelsa, wlasnie dlatego piki plejkowe tez ida wedlug tej zasady po kawalku od kazdego, zaczynajac od poczatku popowa ballada o niezbyt popowym temacie, bo mordach i gwaltach, kolejny sky fits heaven napakowany kontentem joginskowym, bo chyba taka filozofie sobie ogarnela w tamtym czasie, ostatnim kawalkiem na plejke bedzie little star, czyli utwor o ktorym juz wspomnialem wczesniej, kolejny raz poznaje artyste na nowo przez spojrzenie z perspektywny innego albumu, a o ile nie jestem wielkim fanem elektroniki, tak takie jej polaczenie z spojnym kontentem lirycznym i wokalem topowym, jesli chodzi o muzyke popularna naprawde robi robote

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Fri Sep 17 2021
4

very solid, enjoyed it more than I thought.

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Fri Sep 24 2021
4

Fun when it came out. Dated now but broken new ground for her at the time.

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Wed Oct 27 2021
4

It's a William Orbit album innit, and a good William Orbit album at that. It just happens to have Madonna singing over the top. It probably would have been better without Madonna singing on it but then it probably wouldn't have made this list. So there you go.

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Wed Nov 03 2021
4

Madonna reinvents herself again! I'm used to the OG pop Madonna but enjoyed this alternative electronica vibe. I would have personally chosen one of her earlier albums, but reading the Wiki it seems this album was groundbreaking at the time (I'm too young to remember!) As others have said, it was a tad too long, but who am I to argue with the Queen of Pop? I liked 'Frozen' and the title track the most.

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Fri Nov 12 2021
4

At first, I was not really into it. But then the album picked up for me after a few tracks. Skin & Sky Fits Heaven are beautiful. Pleasantly surprised, as this is my first ever listen to a whole Madonna album.

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Fri Dec 03 2021
4

Electronic dance pop. Surprisingly good time.

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Fri Dec 10 2021
4

Her best and includes Frozen, a VFX job from yesteryear

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Fri Jan 07 2022
4

Without the vocals it would sound like a cyberpunk computer game soundtrack, and I don't think the vocals take anything away from that.

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Wed Feb 16 2022
4

Blown away by this one tbh. I like a lot of Madonna's big hits but found the couple of albums of hers that I'd listened to a bit samey and inconsistent This was a massive departure from anything I expected, the opening track set the scene so perfectly- sounded like Enya singing over a Trent Reznor instrumental. Then there's some exploration with trip-hop and big club bangers, with some fantastic sounding synths and a really wide range of instrumentation and grooves. It tailed off slightly for me towards the end, and did start to feel its length, but the mysterious and slinky closing track was another highlight. All in all a great album, very different to what I was expecting, and definitely something I'll revisit

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Wed Feb 16 2022
4

Not what I expected from a Madonna album! It had its naff moments, but a few corkers and just generally a good time. I have been singing Ray of light non-stop for the last few days, which might just eek this one to a 4.

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Fri Feb 18 2022
4

As much as I've enjoyed the "hits" of Madonna, never did I think I'd enjoy a whole album. TIL.

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Fri Mar 04 2022
4

A very solid album. Like the production and more laid back vibe for Madonna

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Wed May 25 2022
4

I love this album. I think it's a much more honest Madonna, post her 80s heyday and pre her 'gone a bit mad' era. The production is really good as well. Not all songs are brilliant but overall I do like it a lot

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Wed May 25 2022
4

Classic Madge!! Absolutely lovely, great beats, perfect for dancing, interesting sounds, great melodies and lyrics. Sky fits Heaven is absolutely banging and of course Ray of Light what a banger.

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Mon Jun 06 2022
4

I actually like the religiosity of this album, combined with the electronica sounds, which makes it kind of like a meditative trance of an album.

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Wed Aug 10 2022
4

The singles from this album are absolute FIRE! I really enjoy this era of Madonna. The overall flow and point of view here is so cohesive and focused. She's still putting a very trite spin on all of the Eastern ideologies she's exploring, but it is an impressive feat of adaptation and growth for Madonna's music and artistry when you consider where she started. Even though I fucking hate electronica with the fiery burning of a 1000 suns, somehow I like it when it's been heavily distilled through Madonna.

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Fri Aug 12 2022
4

Probably her best album. Her first album is massively underrated but sounds a bit dated. Having not listen to this one in ages, it's definitely got that late 90s sound in parts . 24 years old and yet feels like yesterday... Not listened to it in a bit so had forgotten some of the songs. A few listens in and it all comes flooding back She still doesn't get her dues as a songwriter.

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Sun Aug 28 2022
4

She was veering dangerously close to a Fat Elvis period, only to successfully pull off something of a miracle. It was ahead of its time and blazed a new path for pop music. Further proof that Midge could always pivot and often times be vital.

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Thu Sep 22 2022
4

A different side of Madonna that I had not known until now. Pulling inspiration from the rise of downtempo and trip hop sounds over in the UK, Ray of Light is a definite departure from her usual dance-pop that got her famous in the first place. This is a bold and rewarding move for her, in my opinion, as she utilizes her voice in a way that compliments the new electronic production. Producer William Orbit is equally deserving of praise, as his work in Downtempo on Strange Cargo 2 and 3 helped paved the way for the sound on Ray of Light. For how well-executed this album is, it still feels marred by tracks that could have been cut. "Shanti / Ashtangi" showcases Madonna's passing interest in Hinduism at the time, pulling from Indian pop in a way that feels more like co-opting than honoring. "Candy Perfume Girl" feels like it could have been a cut from an earlier Madonna song that was touched up for the downtempo sound. It leads to things getting overly long. The overall product is stunning regardless. I am fascinated by this move from Madonna, and have a lot of respect for her as a result. Absolutely worth being on the list.

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