Ray Of Light

Fantastic pop album. Standout production all across this thing and some amazing vocals from Madonna. This does go on a bit longer than it probably should've, but I still enjoyed pretty much every song here to some extent.

Идеальный поп-альбом 90-х

A regular on my car stereo in the late 90's I'm not really a fan of Madonna, but I loved this collection I really wish she had done more in this kind of style

One of the best albums from the Queen of Pop. Different from her other stuff, but still great. Side note: The fact that Madonna only has two albums on this list is criminal. And one of the two is Music?! True Blue? Confessions on a Dance Floor? Like a Virgin? Favorite Songs: Ray of Light, Shanti, Frozen, To Have and Not to Hold

Best Madonna album ever. Almost every song is a lyrical journey of exploration and emotion The power of goodbye To have not to hold Little star Drowned world Frozen Nothing really matters - just incredible! The power of goodbye - beautiful words. The spell has been broken, you were my lesson.

# In-Depth Review: Madonna's *Ray of Light* (1998) ## Overview *Ray of Light* is Madonna's seventh studio album, released on February 22, 1998, and widely considered her magnum opus. It represents a dramatic reinvention—transitioning from the R&B-tinged *Bedtime Stories* (1994) into a futuristic, spiritually-charged electronic landscape. The album emerged after pivotal life changes: the birth of her daughter Lourdes, intensive study of Kabbalah, Buddhism, Hinduism, and daily Ashtanga yoga practice . --- ## Production & Sound ### The William Orbit Factor The album's sonic identity is inseparable from producer **William Orbit**. After failed sessions with Babyface and Patrick Leonard, Madonna connected with Orbit, drawn to his experimental, "cutting-edge" background . Orbit's production created what critics described as a "light batter of electronica" —not a pure techno record, but pop songs adorned with electronic flourishes. The sound palette is remarkably diverse: **trip-hop, techno-pop, ambient, house, drum and bass, rock, new wave, Eastern classical, and new-age** all swirl together . Orbit's approach was intentionally raw. As he noted, Madonna's favorite phrase in the studio was *"Don't gild the lily"*—resisting the urge to over-perfect everything digitally . ### Vocal Evolution Having trained extensively for her role in *Evita* (1996), Madonna emerged with a transformed voice. She discovered "a whole piece of my voice I wasn't using" , resulting in a fuller timbre, greater range, and a deliberate abandonment of the vibrato that characterized her earlier work . On the title track, her upper register cuts like crystal . --- ## Lyrical Themes & Song Analysis ### Spirituality & Mysticism The album is saturated with Madonna's spiritual explorations. **"Sky Fits Heaven"** directly references her studies, with lyrics adapted from Max Blagg's poem *What Fits?*: *"Sky fits heaven so fly it, that's what the prophet said to me / Child fits mother so hold your baby tight"* . **"Shanti/Ashtangi"** goes further—an up-tempo techno track sung entirely in Sanskrit, adapted from the Shankaracharya prayer . ### Motherhood & Transformation **"Drowned World/Substitute For Love"** opens the album with a declaration of change: Madonna has traded fame for motherhood, finding that fame was merely a "substitute for love" . **"Little Star"** is a direct, heartfelt lullaby to Lourdes: *"Never forget who you are / Little star / Never forget how to dream"* . ### Mortality & Grief The album's emotional core lies in **"Mer Girl,"** a harrowing meditation on the death of Madonna's mother, Madonna Fortin Ciccone. Recorded in a single take, it features visceral imagery: *"And I smelled her burning flesh / Her rotting bones, her decay / I ran and I ran / I'm still running away"* . Producer William Orbit recalled the session: *"She stepped out of the vocal booth, and everybody was rooted to the spot. It was just one of those moments. Really spooky"* . ### Love, Loss & Letting Go **"Frozen"**—the album's lead single—addresses emotional unavailability: *"You're frozen / When your heart's not open"* . **"The Power of Good-Bye"** meditates on loss with Eastern-tinged production, while **"To Have and Not to Hold"** explores loving someone who remains perpetually distant . --- ## Cultural Impact & Influence ### Mainstreaming Electronica *Ray of Light* is credited with introducing electronica into mainstream pop culture at a critical moment—affirming the 39-year-old Madonna's relevance during the peak teen-pop era of Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys . It laid groundwork for the EDM and neo-house movements that would flourish in the 2000s and 2010s . ### Awards & Legacy The album won **four Grammy Awards** from six nominations at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards . Madonna herself has called it her "quintessential album" . Its creative DNA remains visible in contemporary pop—critics have noted its influence on artists like Addison Rae and the broader Y2K dreamy dance-pop revival . Commercially, it entered the US *Billboard* 200 at number two with the biggest first-week sales by a female artist at the time, hit number one in 17 countries, and has sold over 16 million copies worldwide . --- ## Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Production Innovation** | William Orbit's fusion of electronica with pop structure created a sound that was futuristic yet accessible | | **Vocal Maturity** | The *Evita* training gave Madonna her most full-bodied, technically impressive vocals to date | | **Emotional Depth** | From maternal love to unresolved grief, the album offers genuine vulnerability rare in mainstream pop | | **Cohesive Vision** | Despite genre-hopping, the spiritual and maternal themes unify the record into a coherent journey | | **Cultural Resonance** | Successfully bridged underground electronic music with mainstream pop, influencing decades of pop and EDM | | **Standout Singles** | "Frozen" and the title track remain among the most acclaimed songs of her career | --- ## Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Production Homogeneity** | Orbit's sonic palette, while distinctive, can feel repetitive across the full album—some critics felt he "doesn't have enough tricks to produce a whole album" | | **Spiritual Heavy-Handedness** | Tracks like "Shanti/Ashtangi" risk feeling like spiritual tourism—Sanskrit techno-pop is an admirable risk that doesn't fully land for all listeners | | **Uneven Pacing** | The shift from euphoric dance tracks in the first half to darker, more meditative material in the second half creates a tonal whiplash | | **Occasional Pretension** | The album's philosophical "sermons" can feel overwrought—Pitchfork noted it arguably opened floodgates for the "sanctimonious and Instagram spirituality" of later celebrity wellness culture | | **Lyrically Uneven** | Songs like "Candy Perfume Girl" feel underwritten compared to the album's heavier material | --- ## Final Assessment *Ray of Light* succeeds because Madonna's life changes—motherhood, spiritual seeking, vocal training, and the death of her mother—were not marketing angles but genuine transformations that bled into the music. The album captures an artist at a crossroads: the Material Girl dissolving into something more searching and vulnerable. While not every experiment works perfectly, the record's ambition, sonic beauty, and emotional honesty make it not just one of Madonna's finest achievements, but one of the most compelling arguments for pop music as high art.

Favorite Track: Candy Perfume Girl Least Favorite Track: Ray of Light

There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the best albums of all time. I've listened through many times before and it always moves me. Listening again yesterday was an emotional journey and reminded me how perfect this album is from start to finish. It's a reflection of her life in her music that very few artists can pull off. Madonna has always been and will always be a controversial person, and I know we can't stop the misogyny that affects how people review her music, but I truly believe this album speaks for itself. It succeeds in everything: lyrics, production, vocals, pop, trip-hop, dance, electronic - it is the best of the best in every way. I will never get tired of listening to this album and hope I get goosebumps every time. Top Songs: Frozen, Ray of Light, Skin, Shanti / Ashtangi, The Power of Good-Bye, Little Star

I love Madonna. I can remember sitting in my grandparents' house watching the 1984 MTV Movie Awards on one of the three channels they had back then. You know the show I'm talking about. The one in which Madonna performed Like a Virgin in her lace lingerie, rolling around on the stage. Whoa boy! I’m not sure how that memory is burned into my mind…I mean, I know why, but my grandparents didn’t have cable, and this was way before DirecTV. I assume CBS or another channel aired an edited version of it. I digress. I always loved Madonna. She had hits, nice, big, spectacular hits. And even though I was a metalhead and probably never bought a Madonna album, I loved the singles. Then, as we both got older, I kind of aged out of Madonna right around the time Ray of Light came out. Beyond the title track, I’m not sure I really know any songs off this album. And because this album is one of the many times Madonna reinvented herself, I’m excited to hear what she sounds like reinvented with electronic music of the 21st century. Track 1 is Drowned World/Substitute for Love, and I already love the mysteriousness of it. There she is. Madonna has an unmistakable voice. She isn’t the best singer in the world. She has no Mariah Carey range, but she only got stronger as a singer as she moved on through her career. What she lacks in technicality, she more than makes up for with emotion and character in her voice. The song is quite sad. She’s basically going over the list of things she’s traded for love, either from a partner, or a child, or God, maybe all three. At the end of the song, she finds the love she’d been substituting for and decides to accept that love over all the other things. This was the third single off the album. Track 2 is Swim, and I love the music. The music isn’t there to be the focus. It’s just giving Madonna a chance to shine. In fact, the music is actually kind of sparse. There isn’t a lot going on. This album so far sounds like one you’d put on after a long day to just relax and chill to. Track 3 is the title track, Ray of Light and it was the second single. It’s very bright and energetic. It’s the total opposite of the first two tracks. This is a dance track. I can imagine DJs did 1,000 remixes of this song back in the day. The album was released in 1998. I could have sworn it was in the early to mid-2000s. It sounds like the early 2000s. This song makes me think of summer. Track 4 is Candy Perfume Girl and it sounds like a Beck song. This album is kind of all over the place, but it’s all connected in a way, so it’s not jarring. Most of the songs are credited to Madonna and producer William Orbit, but there are certain songs with another name or two credited. That may explain the different vibing songs. This song gets kind of heavy at the end. I feel like I’d hear this on an episode of Veronica Mars. Track 6 is Nothing Really Matters and I’m quite sure this isn’t a cover of the Metallica song of the same name. This is a pure old-school dance song. It was also the sixth and last single issued from the album. This song is the first song that sounds dated. I’m not sure that’s the word I’m looking for, but the beat and groove are more rooted in early 90s dance music and less in the 2000s. It may be that this album was one of the albums that pushed dance music forward in production, at least in the mainstream. Many critics believe this is peak Madonna, her magnum opus. The music is brilliant, and her lyrics are really good. They sound more personal than I'm used to hearing from her. This album was recorded after the birth of her first child, and I’m sure motherhood changed her in ways she may have never anticipated. I must say, I really am enjoying this album. I was a Madonna fan, but just a casual fan at best. I can see what all the hype was about. It’s great pop and dance music. Her voice is so strong on these songs. Track 9 is Frozen, and it too was a single. I love the start of this song with the strings swelling up as what sounds like an acoustic guitar plucking. I remember this song. It’s a beauty. This is less a dance song than a love song, or lack of love song, as Madonna’s lover has a frozen heart. If Madonna can’t melt your heart, you’ve obviously got a frozen brain as well. Of course, she could be a devil-woman, but I’d be willing to take that chance. Track 9 is The Power of Good-Bye and it’s also a single. These songs have all been homeruns when it comes to the music. It’s all electronic and robots, but when done right, it can be very satisfying. I’m not sure if this is the best Madonna album out there, but it sure sounds like it. I believe this is a must-listen album. It’s brilliant. I should have been listening to this 30 years ago. If you’re a fan of dance music or electronic music, this is an album for you.

ok

As a firm believer that 13 is Blur's best album (and definitely should be on this list!!), I was looking forward to listening to more of William Orbit's work. I loved everything about this - the lyricism, the vocals (why do people think Madonna can't sing?!), and especially the production. I've had this on repeat ever since my first listen! 4.5/5 rounded up to 5/5

I could listen to this on repeat forever. It doesn’t matter if I’m trying to be amped or relaxed, it somehow ticks both boxes.

Ahead of her time. Madonna was the Queen. I could listen to this album constantly.

These late 90s/early 00s Madonna albums are SO good and they slap SO hard. What a delight! Also, her voice sounds so good on this album?? What kind of trickery is that (no offence)? I love it, what a quintessential 1998 sound, dare I even say I can hear a hint of bjork? A tiniest bit? What a record of the time (and I should know, I was 3)!!

Incredible! I didn't expect this, an album focused on a single specific vibe that changed my evening

An awesome album by the queen herself!

Oh wow this is one of the greatest pop records over heard.

Damn, what a great album. Combines a few things I'm not really a fan of into something I really enjoyed. Starts to drag a bit by the end. Felt like it really needed a couple more upbeat tunes to avoid the sun of midtempo stuff rusts fine but samey. Still, a pleasant surprise and can see why it's on the list

I'm sorry, Madonna, I wasn't familiar with your game. This is a great album, especially the production. The first couple tracks really set the mood, and Ray of Light is a great single from this. But my favorite by far was Nothing Really Matters. It doesn't even start out as a boring pop song, but wow, around halfway this song just layers more and more on top of itself and it's truly great. And Madonna's vocals are rock solid throughout. I enjoyed this far more than I expected for a pop album. Could definitely return for a full relisten.

The best Madonna album in her catalogue… fact!

Never listened to a Madonna album before and wasn't expecting much but this album really caught me by surprise. Skin, Frozen and The Power of Good-Bye the stand out tracks.

Her har vi et album jeg har god kjennskap til. Etter et tiår med søte pop-melodier, beveger Madonna seg inn i en verden av trip hop og slowcore. Det er en stil hun nailer så til de grader. Et klasse album som virkelig sementerer Madonnas legendestatus. Top 3: Sky Fits Heaven, Swim, Frozen

Enjoyed this FAR more than expected. Might go for full marks for the fun of it.

good album

My favorite album from Madge. This album came out with a bang at the time and really was peak Madonna.

This was one of the first albums that E and I agreed on for road trips.

The title track is easily the strongest, but this whole album was a lot of fun - Madonna (and her production team) are firing on all cylinders here. The electronic aspect is ethereal and hypnotic in all the right ways. I listened on a long drive and this album helped me lock TF in

Can’t believe I’ve never listened to the full album before, loveeee

As a fan of 90s dance music, I loved this album. Madonna shows us exactly why she stayed relevant for so long in an ever changing pop scene. The ethereal vocals, high energy beat, and soulful lyrics make each song a treasure. Vibes of pain and longing mixed with hopefulness hit you right in the heart. A truly wonderful album and definitely worth your time.

wahrscheinlich das album der neunziger! toller sound!

Great pop album, dont get all the hate for it, which is probably for the wrong reason. It was quite experimental at the time and i like how she stepped away from the more simple hits in earlier albums. 4.5 stars

I wasn't expecting this at all, but I've got to say, it's excellent. An intriguing fusion of 90s euro-trance, trip hop and downtempo; it's clearly ushering in influences from the likes of Massive Attack, Portishead, Culture Beat, Goldie, Björk, Ace of Base etc. but it somehow manages to blend all of them into something unique and thoroughly engaging. One of my all time favourite bands in The Gathering released "How to Measure a Planet" during the same year, where despite the album's generally more prog rock-oriented leanings, Ray of Light surely must have been on their radar to inspire their shift in direction towards similar forms of electronic which are showcased here. There is a mystical, even spiritual thread running through a fair portion of the album, most pronounced in a track such as "Shanti / Ashtangi", with drips and drabs of Middle Eastern instrumentation on a track such as "Skin". The album also has a very personal feel to it, with themes ranging from the birth of Madonna's daughter and of struggles such as heartbreak, but delivered in a more sophisticated manner than your typical pop fare. I can't believe that a Madonna album has been one of my favourite discoveries along this process so far, but here we are. It's going to be purchased.

26 years on it still manages to sound totally unique. It's like a journey through a dreamy, chrome-covered utopia from a distance future.

#156/1001. My favourite Madonna album, easily. For me everything that came after is her trying to reach this album mixed with trying to reach the 80s mixed with trying not to get old. All the electronics start sounding the same, a bit too new agey - for me the album is not really experimental - unless of course if you compare it to her previous work or what was happening at the top ten at the time. But yes, we did have electronica artists in the mainstream, and also artists like Björk and Beck creating big hits mixing electronics, pop sensibility and weird shit. Or artists like Prince -while not heavily using electronics - still constantly redefined what a pop song / hot 100 hit might sound like. But the beauty and genius of Madonna and Orbit in this album is that you mix a quite a simple song and melody and layer electronics, instruments and all droning and circling around the main melody, creating a sound which is meditative, easy to approach, interesting and at times instant dance floor classics.

Well... damn. This album is so good and it was such a huge departure for her. I didn't appreciate it enough when it came out but I can sure appreciate it now. 5 stars. I want to buy this on vinyl.

Cracking record, really enjoyed rediscovering it

Vibey, not what I expected from Madonna, good background music.

Surprised how good this was. Deviation from Pop Stupidity works when you're an artist.

Some albums are great and others are excellent timeless masterpieces. This one is of the second group, being a testament of Madonna proving for the seventh time (and not last) why she is the Queen of Pop. This album comes from one of the most reflective and creative times of all of her career, for which she went deep into the electronic music and meditation, rediscovering herself and giving a new perspective and dimension to her career. Ray of Light is a diverse yet very cohesive album, with great pop songs. The pop genre dives into lots of textures and fantastic lyrics in this record, that would shape the genre for future generations. This album is not just pop, it's electronica, rock, a bit of folk, and, overall, Madonna at her best shape.

Truly a great album. The blend of Madonna and William orbit’s production is pure pop perfection.

I loved the album immediately. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-ray-of-light-by-madonna?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Album 8 of 1089 and i’ve found my first (previously unheard) 5⭐️ album 💖 this is such a bit of me, i already really liked the title track and Frozen. it captures the essence of chill pop/electronica/trip hop that really resonates with me and i can hear the way it’s influenced later projects that i love. i added every song to my spotify which is a big feat for me. i sometimes find Madonna’s voice a little off/it doesn’t always click but on this album it does 94/100 faves: Sky Fits Heaven, To Have and Not To Hold, Frozen least faves: skin and candy perfume girl if i had to pick

Ok she paid William Orbit to come up with it but it is my favourite album of hers . A real musical shift and a consistent quality.

Had ik niet verwacht, maar ik vind dit best leuk. Er is werk besteed aan de beatjes en de andere begeleiding, er zitten intrigerende nummers tussen en hoewel ik verder niks met Madonna als persoon heb, moet ik toegeven dat ik dit wel vijf, zes keer heb zitten luisteren. Het is gewoon goed gedaan, hoe je het wendt of keert. Weet je wat, laat ik niet moeilijk doen.

I would argue that this is Madonna's finest album. A culmination of all her previous efforts, a mature release, and one that she only emulates in records after this one. Loved it.

Madonna proving she still had it in the 90's with some kickass electronic instrumentals. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. One of two present on the list, this is my first full Madonna album, and really, my first proper dive into hearing anything she made after the 1980s (I guess “Vogue” came out in 1990, but shh). Granted, I’ve never been that big into Madonna, but I know her place in music history, and just how damn brightly her star was shining at her peak. For my first Madonna album, I have to imagine this is a bit of a style shift, but it’s a style shift that certainly works for 1998. It’s a bit dated to the era, sure, but it’s dated to the era in the best way. Sort of like how “Jagged Little Pill” is a quintessential example of 1995 production, this feels like the electronica trends of the late 90s finally being thrown into a high-profile situation and nailing it across the board. A lot of these tracks must’ve felt even cooler to listen to in 1998, and it’s no surprise to my ears why this had the acclaim it did. Once again, I feel justified in saying that “Walking Wounded” by Everything but The Girl just didn’t go far enough in how it integrated electronica into pop, with Madonna’s effort here lapping that album in spades. Her vocals glide on these tracks, and the lyricism is often pretty damn good to match. Excellent production work across the board here, especially on William Orbit’s stuff (Ray of Light is indeed as good as advertised, thanks Weird Al). My only real knock production-wise is the length of the album. A number of these tracks could’ve been trimmed down to avoid some of the repetition, no matter how good the vibes were and how much space a CD had. So, why the 4.5 then, and not a flat 5? A few tracks just bounced off of me, that’s all. Part of it is fatigue from the length of the album, part of it is that sense of repetition creeping too long, and part of it is just “the beat was too plain”. Realistically, I don’t have any major problems with the album. It’s a really good listen, no matter how “dated” it might feel. If you’re not the type of person to already feel predisposed to electronica like this (I’m avoiding video game music comparisons like the plague on this one), then it may very well just bounce entirely off of you, and I suppose that explains the average on this being less than a 3 on the site. A bit undeserved to my ears, though I guess a 38-year-old who wasn’t as present in the 1990s suddenly coming back into full swing by riding the electronica wave might be a little bit “how do you do, fellow kids” to some. Ultimately, I just really enjoyed this – smart songwriting with some lovely tributes to her family throughout, great production work, gliding vocals, and if nothing else, 66 minutes of chill enough beats to do whatever the hell you want to, whether that’s studying, driving around, or belting out the chorus to “Ray of Light” on a whim. It didn’t all click, and the album does feel a little long, but it clicked enough where I feel just fine bumping this up from a 4.5 to a 5. Good stuff, Madonna.

Great and beautiful woman

Best ever

Madge's masterpiece. A sweeping, glitch-lined stunner that sat perfectly alongside the likes of Björk and Portishead. Practically perfect in every way.

Amazing pop

For someone used to the Material Girl's early work in the 1980s, Ray of Light was jarring. By 1998, Madonna's old style was old hat, she had made forays into acting with the quirky Desperately Seeking Susan, terrible Dick Tracy and Shanghai Surprise, the heartwarming A League of their Own, and surprisingly wonderful star turn as Evita. The old Madonna was done. Instead of her usual techno-pop dance music, Ray of Light embraced the nascent EDM movement. Guided by early EDM innovator and Torch Song alumnus William Orbit, Madonna headed off into a new and modern (at the time) direction on the dance floor. Even by EDM standards, this album is impressive, lacking the usual stereotypes of the genre. Instead of constantly dropping the bass to inject emotionality into otherwise sterile beats, Madonna deploys emotive vocals - even screams - swirling rhythms, and percussive bass. It is an EDM album worth LISTENING to off the dance floor. Her follow-up, Music, was similar but lacked the punch and pizzazz of Ray of Light. This was her last truly great album, but it was genuinely great.

I rolled my eyes whenever I saw that today’s album would be Madonna but it was actually really good! If I didn’t know who it was, I would’ve thought it was a random chill indie artists. It surprisingly went by really fast considering it was an hour long. Really enjoyable listen with good vibes.

Thank you

Not much time today as I have to travel to collect my new car. But fear not I know this album well. It is also an album which I will play regularly in my new car. People who know me are shocked when they discover I like Madonna not only musically but on the evidence I’ve heard and read also as a person. It was this album which really made me notice her. I had been intrigued by her earlier hits but this album oozes quality from start to finish. Really accomplished by an artist at the top of her profession. I just about have all of Madonna’s albums but this one is by far and away the best musically. I’m very much a Prog Rock man and 90% of my listening time is consumed by Prog but the remaining 10% will have a fair smattering of Madge. Strange but true. Now off to get that car! 5/5 29/4/25

5 per la sorpresa

All hail Madonna, the queen of- *checks notes* Downtempo?!

the first two albums I ever got into as a kid were New Order's Republic and Madonna's Ray of Light. The rest of my ratings here are just an argument between those two albums.

The production on this album is incredible. It seems like a lot of people on this site are disregarding this album solely because it’s Madonna. What’s the point of doing this list if that’s your attitude? Get over yourself. This album is over an hour and there’s really not a dull moment. Genuinely interesting and fun, and like I said, the production is phenomenal.

For a bitch who was raised to be a Madonna stan, and who bonded with her Mom over ‘80s Madonna songs and albums, I’m pissed that I’ve never heard this masterpiece. I’m music-obsessed enough to know that this was her ✨spiritual✨ album when she was really into Kabbalah and yoga after having her kid, and I knew it was an electronic record, and yet, despite those things being right up my alley, I never sought this out. And in some ways, I’m glad I waited. For a few different reasons, the last few months have been an emotional roller coaster for me, and to say I’m trying to ✨find myself✨ would be an understatement. Enter Ray of Light– a beautiful reflection on what it means to find yourself as a grown woman. Whether that’s spiritual, whether it’s within the context of your career, whether it’s more about family or your future family or even yourself, Madonna seems to be working it all out here. None of it is ever so blatant that it slaps you in the face and takes you out– although the chanting makes it a bit obvious– but I truly was along for every step of the ride on this journey of self-discovery. I don’t know if I could have done this a few years ago, and I definitely couldn’t have done it a decade or two ago in my early 20s or teens. This is an album for grown women. Yet these are also songs that remind you that you are That Bitch™️ 💅🏻✨ Yes, sure, I’m fully aware that in Madonna’s mind, these are songs about how Madonna is That Bitch™️, but god, does she make it feel like I’m also That Bitch™️ if I’m not Madonna herself! Even in its slower, more reflective moments like “Swim” or “The Power of Good-Bye,” even in its sadder moments like “Frozen” and “To Have and Not to Hold,” even in its more religious moments like “Nothing Really Matters,” “Shanti/Ashtangi,” and “Mer Girl” – it all feels empowering. And it especially feels empowering when it’s trying to be, like on the anthemic “Ray of Light,” or the sexy “Candy Perfume Girl” [a potential favorite song out of this whole challenge], and the uplifting “Sky Fits Heaven.” Obviously, a lot of this power comes from the electronic production. Now, I’m always a sucker for electronic music, but trance typically isn’t my thing. Here, though, it’s used to Madonna’s benefit. Obviously, it is a bit more “background,” allowing her to take up space as a pop star, but I also think it’s thematically appropriate– uplighting, empowering, the sound of a religious experience in the club. Obviously when it hits hard it hits HARD like any good club track should, but by fully embracing the power of trance, it creates space for a lot of the touching, reflective moments that make Ray of Light not only artful and respectable, but also emotionally impactful. It also obviously helps that Orbit’s production itself is unique; trance often sounds dated, but his mixture of that ‘90s trance sound with real instrumentation, especially heavy guitar, help this record hold up sonically to this day. To call Ray of Light transcendent feels lame. It’s a Madonna record– a narcissistic record made by a narcissist where she tells herself to love herself, which is silly when you’re a narcissist who’s already in love with herself. And yet, as the listener, that message hits me in the head like an air conditioner falling out the window of an apartment complex on my walk to get my morning bagel. It has emotionally wrecked me for the better, and I am so thankful that this record came into my life, especially now. It may not be my favorite record yet, but give it time, and it may honestly get there.

Madonna’s Ray of Light is simply one of the greatest pop records ever, a defining moment not just in her career but in pop music as a whole. The production is absolutely stunning: trippy, hypnotic, yet still catchy and accessible, pulling you into this dreamy atmosphere that feels both futuristic and deeply emotional. Madonna’s voice shines throughout, ethereal and powerful, perfectly carrying the weight of the themes she explores. Her songwriting here is poetic, reflective, and deeply personal, touching on motherhood, spirituality, and transformation. There’s a real sense of maturity and wisdom that sets it apart from her earlier work. The album is incredibly consistent, with every track serving a purpose and flowing beautifully into the next. Standout songs like Frozen and Ray of Light aren’t just career highlights they’re pop classics that defined an era. Altogether, this feels like Madonna’s magnum opus: a breathtaking, emotional, and timeless record created by a true legend at the peak of her artistry.

My own fault for getting behind, getting 4 albums in a row that are 80 minutes long - great vibes but really drags after a while

This style of music serious suit's Madonna's cool vocals, allowing her to be vulnerable and poetic in the lyrics. The songs feature a perfect blend of softer, introspective songs and energetic, danceable songs.

I used to like Madonna back in the old days but went off her when she started her psychodivabitchslag period and I haven’t listened to a Madonna album since about 1990. 
 I think it helped that this album popped up on a chilled Sunday evening. It’s full of great tracks ; exquisite, atmospheric, ambient, trippy, rave electronica . The production is brilliant and her voice sounds great. I’m listening again on a Monday morning and it’s still awesome (Shanti is a dud, but everyone's entitled to one). I need to re-evaluate Madonna perhaps. Nah perhaps not she’s still a batty old fruitcake. 

5*

Madonna’s constant reinvention shadows the fact that she’s a really talented vocalist. Ray of Light is a hidden gem if you weren’t already blessed enough to have heard it in the past. As far as I’m concerned it’s one of the best downtempo albums ever released. There are multiple 5/5 songs on here, which is good enough for me to give this album a 5.

Mom had this on cd in the car, Ray of Light is just one of THOSE albums

When this came out it, she had me on track one. I wasn’t ever a Madonna fan at all. In fact a bit of a hater, ever since my then girlfriend dragged me along to see her at Wembley Stadium. But this album felt like a complete reinvention for her. Not just the musical style which is a really cool trippy vibe, but her vocal style. Her annoying squeaky pop voice was gone, and she performed this with much deeper, richer, breathy tones and a fantastic range. As I said she had me on track one with that! It was a guilty pleasure then. Normally played loud in the car alone! But it’s stood the test of time, and I’d play it in the company of those I love without fear of judgement! ‘Drowned World/Substitute’ and ‘Nothing Really Matters’ are the standouts for me.

william orbit produced the best blur album so i knew from the get id dig the whole thing. ray of light is the second best madonna song (2nd only to take a bow)

This album is just nuts. What an insane experience, William Orbit carves out an other-worldly production and Madonna merely guides us through it. Genuinely one of the best pop albums to ever come out

Outstanding

wow, the production is fucking incredible. One of the most atmospheric and futuristic sounding albums. I seriously love the consistency throughout the album, I can't believe just how good it is. So creative and beautiful, such an interesting album, madonna did not give a fuck i guess, not a single song under 4 minutes, that's absurd by today's standards. Loved so many of the songs on here, especially Shanti, Ray of Light and To Have and Not to Hold, so fascinating.

One of Madonna's finest work

is this the best album ever made, or am i just gay

Ray of Light is truly one of the best songs ever This album is great. Some really interesting production on here, has that almost industrial sound at times that I love. 4.5 rounded up

This is the kind of album which you start with arms crossed arms (and mind) and while listening to it you start moving the big toe. With every song you move more muscles and around the half I was dancing on my own at home.

Indian Electronica Madonna is my favourite Madonna!

I forgot how great this was. Peak Madonna.

revelatory for pop

Fabulous album. Love Madonna

😍

Beautiful album of hauntingly produced ballads by this remarkable singer. Deserves to be on this album accolade list.

Madonna is a goddess of music.

I've never heard this album and that is embarrassing. When she goes--this is the album people will point to.

Was never a big Madonna fan, except maybe when at the clubs in the mid 80's, but this is a really good album. Kind of a techno trance sound. Would be good for background music.

A shimmering plate of psych dance pop.

I have been wrong about Madonna for 25 years, that was amazing actually . I was surprised by how good this was. I don’t really like the Ray of Light song so much, so I didn’t have high expectations of it, but it’s downtempo and really well put together. I think sometimes we don’t give albums a fair shake when the artist is a media spectacle. Lesson learnt

I’m generally kind of ambivalent about Madonna. I like some of her songs but generally don’t seek out her music. So color me surprised when I listened to this and loved it? This isn’t even a genre I enjoy in general, let alone from Madonna, but this was amazing. A super cohesive album, and while on the longer side with songs on the longer side too, it never overstayed its welcome. So many great artists fall into that trap, but Madonna figured out how to perfectly toe the line here. “Drowned World/Substitute for Love,” “Ray of Light,” and “The Power of Good-Bye” were my favorite songs, but I found something to enjoy about every song on this album. Was not expecting to love this as much as I did, but I’m so glad this came up on this list and forced me to give it a chance.

Drowned World/Substitute for Love Swim Frozen

Madonna's seventh album, "Ray of Light" is the magnum opus of her long career. After several moderately successful albums in the 1990s and the film Evita, it was questionable whether she would be able to reinvent herself or whether her career would hit a deep pit. Well, she reinvented herself and came back with a fantastic album. She took voice lessons for Evita, and on this album her singing was never better than it had been before. Also, "Ray of Light" was produced by William Orbit, who created stunning sounds that still feel fresh after 25 years. This album brought electronica into the mainstream, but also drew inspiration from many different styles (trip-hop, psychedelia, pop, trance, eastern influences). The hits are outstanding, especially Ray of Light, and the music videos for them were also ahead of their time (Frozen, Nothing Really Matters) - but there are plenty of great songs even besides the hits (Swim, Candy Perfume Girl, Shanti Ashtangi, etc.). Meditative, atmospheric, pulsating, captivating - and it's probably her most honest album since the birth of her daughter seemed to have matured her a lot. Although I'm not a big fan of pop, my childhood was this album and I remember that I was captivated by the hit songs, especially the video of Ray of Light. I hope it's not just nostalgia talking when I say it's still an outstanding pop album today. Maybe a little too long at 66 minutes, but still a very coherent and balanced album. Overall it deserves a 4.5 rating, which is 5 rounded up.

cool

Definitely one if not the best that Madonna has made

Best Madonna album!

Hörenswert.

Apparently a childhood album

great!

good tunes

Love her

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.

Madonna forever. Nice album.

4.55

madona es la 1

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

Musa máxima.

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.

Certified banger

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.

This was great 90s pop, Madonna voice is incredible

Pop + eurotrance & Madonna

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

4.5

++: Swim, Ray of Light, Candy Perfume Girl, Skin, Shanti/Ashtangi, Little Star, Mer Girl +: Drowned World/Substitute for Love, Nothing Really Matters, Sky Fits Heaven, To Have and Not to Hold +-: Frozen, The Power of Good-Bye 8,1/10

Madonna does trip hop while showing maturity. I prefer the remix of the title track, but other than that it's a great album

Always been my favorite of her albums.

Nice

a pop classic

Inte ett så stort Madonna-fan överlag men den här eran har helt klart något!

Seguramente el mejor disco de Madonna, se puede escuchar hoy en día con agrado. Buena producción.

When to listen: on your way to Kabbalah. This album is ambitious and interesting, I understand why it's getting so much hate but I think it's genuinely cool and a fun listen. Obviously love Ray of Light.

Not a big time mains

wait i loved this. this is the type of music i crave nowadays. thanks madonna

'Drowned World' is my favorite Madonna song. The whole album is spectacular. William Orbit takes the weaker songs a long way and the strong songs are already great. (Obviously.)

A classic of my childhood.

Madonna is nothing if not a diverse artist. I really like this album, more than her earlier work. Something about it connects with me.

Wow what a surprise this one was. I listened to this album a few years back and didn't think much of it at the time, but recently I've been more into 90s electronic music so it really hit this time around. I like Madonna as much as the next guy, but I've never been a huge fan or anything, but this album blew me away upon revisiting it. This must've been such a bold move for the 80s queen of pop to make what's basically a trip hop album and do so successfully. Like imagine if Taylor Swift did something like this for her next release (horrible thought). My respect for Madonna has really increased quite a bit. This is the prime example of a mid-career project successfully shifting to modern trends. I'm gonna round down to four stars because it is a bit longer than it needs to be, but regardless I really do adore this album and I am so happy I fell in love with it. Favorite track: Swim 4.5/5

Definitely a good album, not a Madonna fan but this is a bit good. I suspect a lot of the plaudits for this album go to William Orbits arrangements and production, but Madonna’s vocals are also excellent

This was pretty cool. Cooler than I expected. A lot of air.

Rather liked this

A solid e try in her career, more dreamy and in line with the water theme

I’ve always liked this Madonna album even though I’m not a huge Madonna fan. It doesn’t sound like any of her other records, even though some of it is dance music, sort of. There’s a distinct mood and feel conveyed and It’s sonically consistent and cohesive. The soundscape is rich with a beautiful depth. Feels quite spiritual. Which sounds strange because some of it is EMD, or house, or electronica (or whatever this style is called). Vocals are excellent throughout. Wondering about “Shanti.” Is it cultural appropriation? I think it’s more exploration than appropriation and doesn’t feel out of place. Clearly an exploration of faith and spirituality. I think this record is excellent… probably the only Madonna album I’d ever say that about. Almost a 5, but it peters out a little on the last couple of tracks.

La resurrección de Madonna, después de Erótica, Bedtime Stories, Evita... el ostracismo (y la irrelevancia) en el que se metió a partir de entonces. Aquí hablamos de un disco enorme, que sigue reluciendo y que junto a Music y Confessions on a Dancefloor (pasando por un American Life que ha ganado con el tiempo) configura la cúspide Madonna. Con ello tenemos que publicó discos esenciales en los 80 (True Blue o Like a prayer), en los 90 y en lo s 00s. Ahí es nada. Aunque me gusta más la Madonna ochentera de True Blue y sobre todo de Into the Groove, esto es otra cosa. Es el paso de Babyface a William Orbit, introduciendo (con éxito y talento) jungle, drum and bass, trip hop... entre The Prodigy, Massive Attack y ella misma. Y sí, Madonna canta aquí mejor que nunca. Frozen es un clásico, una revolución cuando salió. Ray of light fue otro enorme éxito. Swim está inspirada en (la muerte de ) Gianni Versace. Más interesante es Skin, cercana al trance. The power of goodbye o Little star están bien , pero quedan algo romas. Mer girl, cierra de un modo íntimo.

Crazy. First, I just listened to/ rated Mariah Carey’s Butterfly from around this same period. It also was a mid-career change up album by a pop star seemingly trying to stay relevant. Mariah leaned heavily into the RnB/ hip-hop trend I guess she felt was working for her. I definitely did not feel it worked on Butterfly. Yeah. The more distance I get from that listen, the more I find I want. So when this came up, I was… less than enthusiastic. And less open minded than I generally try to be. Second, I found this album saved in my library. Often not a good sign, if I have no memory of it. I mean, at some point I felt I needed to listen to this mid career Madonna, but I was drawing a complete blank on what I was going to find when I hit play. But man…. This works. Obviously, a huge part of what’s working is William Orbit. But this partnership is… well damn if it ain’t magic. Madonna sounds awesome in the mix. I love it. It’s the polar opposite of the Mariah album. A totally different sound for our pop star, but it’s consistent and cool. I can see why I listened to it once. And I am glad to hear it again. I almost want to give it a 5. It’s too long. But if someone just got her to trim it, it really could have been a 5. 4 Boolean: True, I needed to hear this, obviously multiple times, before I die

sorry for doubting you madonna, didn't even know she made trip hop

Surprisingly good, I wouldn't have thought this was my thing but I could listen a few times

Pretty good

I wasn't a fan of Modonna in the 80s. Don't know why. This album is clearly a forefunner of the pop of the new millenium and deserves to be honored as one of the great pop songs of all time. Well, I guess it is. 4.5/5

I really enjoyed the beats and the vibes.

There are some songs here that I will be listening to again. But there are also some songs that border on outdated and a little culturally appropriated.

Sometimes it would drag on, but overall I really enjoyed this album! I was close to rating it a 5, but some songs were just a bit too repetitive for me. So 4.5

Great album. Favorite songs: Drowned World/Substitute for Love, Ray of Light, Nothing Really Matters

RATING: 9/10 HIGHLIGHT: Drowned World/Substitute for Love LOWLIGHT: Little Star

87/100. Ray of Light by Madonna is a truly special listen, one of the best art pop albums I've experienced. Infused with ambient soundscapes, trance rhythms, and even psychedelic touches, this album takes you on a captivating emotional journey from start to finish.

“Do you play techno?” “Oh we have both kinds: trip-hop and trance!” Honestly I liked Sting’s late 90s spiritual techno journey more but I think that’s just a familiarity bias.

This an epic album. It touches so many different styles of electronic music and has two of Madonna’s biggest hits: „Frozen“ and „Power Of Goodbye“. But it also sounds like its decade which is not that great. So a solid 4/5.

Every ringtone Samsung has made in the 2000's tried to recapture the magic of this album's sound, but never quite made it. Very trance-y, clubby, Y2K-y, and just right. Really, Frozen alone makes this worth a 4-star rating, criminally underrated song. Faves: Drowned World / Substitute for Love, Ray of Light, Frozen

Dette er et av albumene fra barndommen. Husker jeg våknet til denne musikken da jeg var liten, Mamma-musikk! God assosiasjon, og egentlig ganske bra! Liker det veldig godt, og er selvfølgelig biased, bringer frem gode minner

Liked it more than I expected

Sounds like a Bjork album

Yes it's more than a little cringey, but it's great fun in most parts

Favourite Songs: Skin

Relaxing nostalgic summer vibes. Liked Swim and most the others were ok too.

This album has such a mellow feel. Almost like having a personal Madonna concert all to myself.

Pretty nice stuff. Low 4/5.

I had stopped listening to Madonna a few years before this came out. I’d heard this was well reviewed and seen as a kind of comeback album for her, but aside from the title track I didn’t give it a chance. Listening today, I mostly enjoyed the record. I thought it started great, loving the first four tracks. It kinda bogged down a bit after that and was a bit more hit or miss for me. There were a couple of songs that kept me interested enough that it was overall a positive experience.

A lot to like on this album. Love that Madonna was willing to push in new directions from her beginnings.

8.5/10

Always liked the title song and now I know the album is pretty good aswell!

First time listening to a Madona album and pleasently surprised. Not the pop sound I expected. Production is so good musically many different sounds and styles to enjoy. I found myself thinking how good it would have been to see this album preformed live.

Cracking album, reeks of being in my Mum’s car in 1998/1999 Favourite track: Ray of Light

I don’t love this album, but I think if I listen to her other albums, I would like them more. This album is just kind of mid I like the song swim

In the history of pop music, the Beatles may be the only group who were able to continuously re-invent themselves as effectively as Madonna. This album might be the peak of that re-invention, maintaining some of the core dance mix elements that are the most basic through line of her career and effectively blending them with electronica and world music pieces to create something we really hadn't heard before. She was an artist who always leaned into taking chances whenever she reached a new "peak" in her career, and in doing so, she blazed a lot of trails that artists are still routinely following today.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I kind of didn't even remember the single from this album--it was before the one with Ali G on the video. The production is great, this comes off more like triphop or 90s electronica than the usual Madonna album. Not sure I'd listen to again but it wasn't bad at all, and I can appreciate how fans would love this.

My wife happened to buy it the day it came out. It was the first Madonna album I had liked since her first three albums. It’s the only one worth revisiting unironically. This and U2’s Pop make a good set. Cast your opinions of Madonna aside and listen to this without prejudice. It’s a great album.

A great collection of songs, far superior to the Like a Virgin era.

Madge in her sweet spot

Madge doing what she does, surfing the current fashion wave. And in that respect it feels like William Orbit should get joint billing. But, a bit like sausages, it doesn't pay to over analyse the manufacturing process - it's a great album. 4*

The best Madonna album for me and it’s not really close, excellent Balearic late 90s vibe, amazing work from William Orbit, Madonna really selling it. Good stuff well done

Surprised by how good this is. Madonna was never my favorite, but I enjoy the restraint in these songs. Interesting production and some of her best vocals.

This album is about taking drugs and vibing in a late 90’s club in Berlin. That’s great

A great listen, admittedly I was tired while going through this one and zoned out on a couple tracks but on the whole I really enjoyed it

Solid four stars for the songs I love. I dont love/like all the songs but this is a four star album for me

beautiful late 90s iridescence

peak white girl in the 90s

To me, Pop music is like candy - it's fun and tasty and safe in small doses, but too much will make you sick. Sometimes, though, Pop music is a decadent desert - still a sweet treat, but more substantial and impressive. Either way, a meal it is not. This Madonna album leans toward the latter. The dance tracks are dance tracks, and I think Madonna does those well, and there's other candy in here, but there are some wonderful deserts here too - like the opening track and Frozen. This album gets a lot of flack, I think, for being a departure from her earlier work, but I think it's some of her best work because it's not just a bowl of candy.

I wasn't a fan of the title track. Still am not. But the rest of the album is actually quite decent. And I'm not really a fan of Madonna, either. Frozen is a great track, and Little Star and Power of Goodbye are grand, too. I'm hesitating to give this 4 stars, but heck, why not.

Solid, from start to finish. Mature Madonna is still good Madonna.

Much to my surprise, I really liked this album, which up until today, I was completely unaware of. A mixture of Electronica, Trip-Hop, Techno-Pop, and New-Age, a lot of the tracks are unlike any other Madonna music that I'd ever heard.

Another pleasant surprise, a pick that initially drew a groan from me that I ended up enjoying. I remember what a big deal everyone made about Madonna changing her sound when this album came out, and the techno/EDM really works for her on this album.

I actually liked this surprisingly a lot. Not too cheesy even though heavy pop

Seen the cover graphic, never listened to the album: if I wanted EDM, I wasn't looking to Madonna for it. Look at the song list, I don't know any. ("Top 5 hits" or not - I wasn't following pop/sales charts.) What is the album like? "Just like EDM, only poppy!!" I have slight anticipatory prejudice against the degree of polish - but the production and arrangements really are all well done, credit to William Orbit's skills I assume. So in what sense is it a Madonna album, should it be called a Madonna/Orbit album? (He seems to get writing credit on every track - along with at least Madonna, and up to four other writers per song ...) 'Presumably' Madonna was involved in sound design choices ... She 'presumably' had a lot to do with lyrics? She doubtless did the singing - voice is of course not injected raw into the mix, it was maybe strengthened by training for Evita, it was certainly produced into as much depth and body as money could buy... Any songs stand out? Shanti/Ashtangi is interesting but yoga-ish lyrics unintelligible to 'average' listener, simply connote exoticism, eurk. (Personally I like yoga, but IMHO any 'magic' is in the practice, not recital of the words.) 'Frozen' is entertaining (eye candy video). How to rate overall? Orbit's work is neat, but overall still pretty meh. Feeling generous after some re-listen with headphones, I'll say it's "Good", 7/10.

Smooth album

I do enjoy this album, and the Frozen video is as great as I remember it being. I actually like quite a lot of Madonna’s output over the years and this album is as a nice change in direction with William Orbit producing. Certainly added a nice electronic element to her repertoire which had been more pop orientated for much of her career.

Madonna is the 🐐

No soy el mejor cliente de Madonna. Sus discos suelen parecerme un tanto aburridos, pero eso no hace que deje de reconocer el gigante que representa dentro de la industria y la cultura pop. Ray of Light me pareció un disco considerablemente notable, con varios hits y una de mis canciones favoritas de Madonna, Frozen. Pero no puedo dejar de sentir que se alarga un tanto en su duración, tanto el disco como algunas canciones. Aún así, me parece un buen disco, con muchísimo sonido interesante y experimentaciones destacables, así que se va con cuatro estrellas.

Album banger avec des tubes connus

Album très expérimental / mystique Franchement, je l’ai trouvé chouette

fave from my club days. lots of good stuff, but some filler, too

Drowned World / Substitute for Love Ray of Light Frozen The Power of Good-Bye

I am not a Madonna fan. But this is a good album.

Absolute banger of the music TV era

Hef aldrei hlustað á þessa plötu í heild sinni áður, en vitaskuld heyrt smáskífurnar oft. Hún kom mér mjög ánægjulega á óvart, þrátt fyrir að ég hafi verið jákvæður í garð Madonnu í gegnum tíðina. Þetta er oftar en ekki ansi flott og skemmtilegt.

AND I FEEEEEEL LIKE I JUST GOT HOME AND I FEEEEEEEL AND I FEEEEEEEEEEEL LIKE I JUST GOT HOME AND I FEEEEEEEEEE EEEE AY AH ELLLLLLLL

My favourite Madonna album. I enjoyed this stage - I found I could engage with her lyrics and melodies in a deeper way. I'd enjoyed her hits as a teen on the dancefloor in the 80s, felt a little alienated by the raunchy 90s stuff, and then was very happy to have her music back in my life with this. It was the first of her albums that I actually bought, apart from the compilation The Immaculate Collection. You could argue that the album is production over substance - many of the songs can be strummed in two or three chords (not that that's an issue per se) - but I happen to like the chords and melodies, and the clever production works for me, adding interest and atmosphere. A rare album from 1998, when I was quite busy having babies, that I didn't miss completely; in fact, the opposite: I bought the CD, played it a lot, and still enjoy the album now.

I hope someone else here has seen Music and Lyrics, the amazingly crap 00s Hugh Grant drew barrymore romcom featuring a singer Cora Corman, who does a slutty Buddhism thing. This album instantly took me there. But also I really liked it - I didn’t know Madonna did this downtempo trip hop beat based electro pop and I found it joyous and mature. May be later a 5.

Having become a mother for the first time and fresh off plenty of acolades for her title role in 1996's 'Evita' (including a Golden Globe for Best Actress), Madonna was at a fascinating point in her career by the late 90s. So, in entering the next phase of her storied career with 'Ray of Light', Madonna turned to electronica, trip-hop and the techno sounds commonplace with popular music of the time, and the results are actually quite impressive. After Madonna had spent the first half of the 90s pushing the envelop beyond her 80s pop stardom with 1992's sexually explicit 'Erotica' (complete with the racy coffee table book, 'Sex'), before attempting somewhat of a course correction with 1994's 'Bedtime Stories', 'Ray of Light' sees Madonna not only in her most relaxed, but also her most daring state. Her voice is quite subdued but always appears to be at one with the music, not needing to lead the sound, but rather complement it. The title track is a joyful romp expressing the glee of spiritual awakening a strong sense of self, 'Candy Perfume Girl' is a seductive alternative number that could be mistaken for a Garbage song (in fact, Shirley Manson and Madonna do sound quite a bit alike), 'Skin' is a deep electronic cut expressing a need for intense physical desire and then you have a track like 'Shanti/Ashtangi' which is a full-blown Hindu Sanskrit prayer expressing inner peace and enlightenment. There's no denying Madonna pulled out all the stops for this record, as it goes in several different directions. In a way, 'Ray of Light' kind of reminds me of David Bowie's 'Earthling' record in the sense it unflinchingly explores and incorporates the popular sounds of the time (in this case, electronic, trip-hop and techno music) into the artist's already recognisable style. While Madonna doesn't exactly reinvent her formula on 'Ray of Light', she shows a clear awareness of the direction pop music is taking and is able to bend it to her will. This approach would ensure Madonna would maintain her relevance well into the 21st century, even among plenty of successors to her female pop crown (Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Shakira, J-Lo etc.). Best songs: Drowned World/Substitute for Love, Ray of Light, Candy Perfume Girl, Skin, Frozen

Drowned World/ Substitute for Love - 4/5 Swim - 3.5/5 Ray of Light - 4.5/5 Candy Perfume Girl - 4/5 Skin - 4.5/5 Nothing Really Matters - 4/5 Sky Fits Heaven - 3.5/5 Shanti/ Ashtangi - 3/5 Frozen - 4/5 The Power of Good-Bye - 4/5 To Have and Not to Hold - 4.5/5 Mer Girl - 4/5 3/5

I think honestly just the novelty of Madonna doing an album like this is what put this album so high up for me. It is a true departure from what I knew her sound to be prior but it works. There are tracks on here that definitely get the blood pumping and honestly just sound really well mixed and inventive. It's cool that she tried to really go outside of her usual style and pay attention to the sound that was around at the time. That being said, the album is not perfect and has a tiny bit of bloat and potentially too many tracks. I definitely like some more than others but I have to say I'm not disappointed and I probably would listen to this again. So right now 4 out of 5 stars. I could see that fluctuating in either direction depending on the rest of my list.

I liked this a lot more than I expected. Ray of Light is really the only song I recognized and I like it, but it feels like it is just a little bit too long. I liked everything on here. I think maybe I should have not overlooked Madonna's music so much back in the 1990s. Overall this is a good album.

Starts out strong but peters off toward the end. Love that the opening track is a JG Ballard reference. Love that book

150126 16:50 3.5

Moi je pense que ça mérite un beau 4. Bien aimé ce melange de pop, trip hop, electronica, saveurs indiennes. Je trouve ça cohérent. De plus je trouve le voix de Madonna magnifique.

4.4

I never particularly liked Madonna, her vocal delivery between talking and whispering with strange vibrato always annoyed me, this and her attempts to stay trendy (in later works). But Frozen is such a great song, and it's on this album. The album is quite solid, pleasant electronic pop, and her voice sounds decent. My only question is about the track Shanti / Ashtangi. why does it even exist (but who knows, someone might like it). I also read a bit of her biography and was impressed. And it turns out she is the author, or at least a co-author, of almost all her songs. All in all, she's awesome.

The peaks of this album are very very high but the filler drags it down

Madonna is a cornerstone of my introduction to music. My aunt who is 5 years older than me pulled the Columbia House scheme when I was 8 or 9. As part of her haul she got several Madonna albums, the Violent Femmes, and some others. She would babysit us and ruled with an iron thumb. Because of this I listened to a lot of the early (pre Vogue) Madonna on a loop. Of this I did not complain. Her other treatment could be cruel but at least she had good taste. Ray of Light is a really solid album . I am shocked that this was only her 7th album, as by 1998 she had been one of the most popular musicians in the world since the early 80s. This is a great album The title track is the biggest hit but I love "Little Star" the most. The production is incredible and while Madonna certainly did not create this style of music she was still a taste maker as this is much more well done than the albums released at the time that are in the same vein.

Madonna's best album, legitimately a 90s trip-hop masterpiece (edit: I revised this to a 4 because it's very good but maybe not that good)

I owned this. A unique album for Madonna. A few very good songs.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of Madonna or where her career eventually went, I have to admit this album was pretty forward thinking for a popstar of her stature at the time. Bringing in William Orbit as the producer was a great call. His work really is the backbone of the album’s success. It covers a range of electronic styles but maintains a cool ambient undertone that feels unique for such a massive pop release. Between Madonna and Orbit, they managed to pull it off.

Mapping Madonna's pop sensibilities onto electronica and ambient sounds results in an incredible album (and directly leads to my favorite song from the last 33 years of her career on her next album, what it feels like for a girl).

Surprisingly good Madonna album... Or is it a William Orbit album feat. Madonna?

# Playlist Track - Ray of Light # Notes - What a fun and engaging album. I'm old enough to remember this playing on MTV, but I didn't pay too much attention at the time. You know, metalheads can't enjoy Madonna. - Pretty solid tracks, awesome energy. Bit of letdown on the tail end, but it's still a very good time. Recommend.

Very sexy, very cool.I like how shes Indian for a bit.

3 songs in, knew the third. First two were certified bops.

has some cool stuff in it

I actually have not heard this album in probably a good 10 years or more and I must say I think it aged better with me than I thought it would. The main thing I think I really like about this album is that she uses the Techno and electronica more is a simple basis for the background. It's not just musical motifs running over and over, and they're behind some well-written songs. The album starts off incredibly strong with "Substitute for Love", "Swim" and the title track. And others that really drew me is "Nothing Really Matters", "Sky Fits Heaven" & "Frozen" which I like to a lesser extent but I think really shows a great marriage between the Techno World and straight pop songs. Too deep Cuts I was really impressed with were "Shanti/Ashtangi", which I kind of actually enjoyed the overall spiritual feel of the music that went along with her Kabbalah teachings, and "Mer Girl" which is a strangely morbid song for her and I think she actually did it well I'm actually not used to her going that dark. It almost makes me wonder what it would sound like if she did an entire album that way. There are a few songs in there that come more to the electronica side than I really get into but I don't think it pulls away from the overall feel of the album. 8.75

More than any other Madonna album, it sounds like an album -- a singular creative vision. William Orbit is a really interesting fit for her and it ends up kind of being her coolest album since he debut. It's a bit long and some of the tracks don't quite work for me, but there's some of her best stuff here -- "Drowned World/Substitute for Love", "Swim", "Frozen", "The Power of Goodbye", and the title track are all really good. 4 stars

Hadn't really listened to much of her stuff besides the main radio plays: this was better than I'd expected. A good voice, well arranged.

Strange… you know how some albums from your youth don’t hold up when you go back and listen years later? I actually enjoyed this one MORE now than I did at the time! Madonna in her enlightened spiritual stage was actually pretty interesting.

I didn't think I'd like Madonna album - I did like Madonna album, hooray for progress and growth this is good. It was a bit long, but I'd merrily re-listen.

Gutes Madonna Album mit „Frozen“ und „City of light“.

Frozen brings it back

I blame Gustavo Cerati for getting me into this exact flavor of electronic music. It's very relaxed, but still has some nice energy to it. Sometimes the sound of the album starts to feel pretty similar, though.

The trip-hop/shoegazey/electronic vibes really work for me here. Music is cool, I like Madonna's vocals. Sweet album!

Certainly the best of Madonna. Nice and unexpected surprise, some really good trip hop production but also with some fillers. If only it was sung by someone with a better voice.

Not bad

8/10…art pop / dance pop

Prelude to the new millennium 3/5

Madge going dross go on gal

Honestly some decent soft pop.

This isn't normally my style of music, but there's a certain je ne sais quoi about this record. I don't THINK I'm saying that based on nostalgia, but I could be. When I was in my early 20s and freshly free of school for the first time, my roommates had it on repeat. So it definitely reminds me of that fun period of my life. But whatever. Some of the more techno-dance tunes on the latter half are forgettable, but overall, it's better than a 3. So . . .

Well... I turned this on expecting to hate it....and I absolutely did not. In fact, I thought it was really excellent. I had the thought that it sounded a bit like late 1990s Beth Orton (but with Madonna's voice), so I checked the production credits. And there it was: William Orbit. I suspect that's why I liked this album so much. Or, at least, that's what I going to tell myself to preserve my self-image.

I liked this album a lot too. Probably a high 3 like a 3.8

3.5

I just watched Mic the Snare’s Madonna DEEP DISCOG DIVE on Nebula (not sponsored) a couple weeks ago and he had good things to say about Ray of Light, so I was pretty excited to get it as today’s assignment! This is actually the first Madonna album I’ve heard cover to cover and it was honestly the perfect place to start as an electronic music fan. Ray of Light could have easily been another generic ‘90s dance pop outing, but Madonna clearly approached this album with respect for the genre and the result is pretty exceptional. I listened to Ray of Light twice today and I honestly feel like it could go toe-to-toe with pretty much any other electronic/dance album from this era (excluding Discovery by Daft Punk). The first half of the LP is genuinely amazing and it only slightly loses its stride in the back half. I was fully prepared to give Ray of Light my first five star rating around the time I was six tracks deep, but I unfortunately did lose a little bit of steam toward the end and I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed tracks like "Sky Fits Heaven" and "The Power of Good-Bye" to the same degree as those first several tunes. But yeah, Ray of Light is a good one – catchy vocals, grooving beats, masterful production, tasteful experimentation and occasionally thought-provoking lyrics make the album an experience that I’m excited to continue reliving in the future! I’m also looking forward to checking out some of Madonna’s other stuff from this era in the future. Highlights: Drowned World / Substitute for Love, Swim, Ray of Light, Candy Perfume Girl, Skin, Nothing Really Matters, Frozen, To Have and Not to Hold, Little Star, Mer Girl

madonna is that artist that i admire, but i always find songs i know but never knew she made, this album encapsulates that very well.

Well consider me surprised. I was expecting this to be pure pop shite and I was pleasantly shocked to find myself truly enjoying this record. I believe William Orbits inclusion probably had a lot to do with what I loved about it but still. It is a bit on the long side though which lets it down near the end.

In an ever changing music movement, Madonna's 80/90 reign and style was becoming outdated as it went for pop to grunge to electronica. This album is the definition of a major artist reinventing herself and welcoming the changes of the music scene she was the queen of. This is where most artists struggle and their careers decline. Madonna being a smart, enbraced the electronica element which was an evolution of her music as disco was before her, she adapted and changed creating an album catered with those elements but for mainstream people and her fan base while captivating a new fan base at the same time a younger crowd who discovered her talent and her past as well making this one of the best comeback albums for any artist. On my take it is pretty good a little slow paced and to much puppy love crying for my taste from a more mature woman and artist. She (or whoever wrote the lyrics) must have fallen for someone and hthat someone was not having it. Maybe a little cringe for my idea of what Madonna stood for in the past and her no apologetic fuck that lets move on attitude. She also included a japanese speaking track to appeal to a bigger international market doing a brilliant move with the advertising opportunities in Japan it was a brilliant marketing move Still a good album and in context for the time its a masterpiece.

This is my Madonna. The Global Madonna. The sung straight to camera while a long exposure shot of a traffic jam speaks to me Madonna. It’s the Madonna with the controversial (or at least conversational) Kabbalah bracelet. The one they called “Madge” and whose marriage to Guy Ritchie healed all rifts, unifying 90s culture while readying it for the new millennium. This Madonna, my Madonna, is also the apotheosis of the postmodernist artistic tendency to bricolage – and bricolage hard. To the ears of a 9 year old, this was what the future sounded like; it was what MTV looked like; it was what “cool” must feel like. For all intents and purposes it was the first significant cultural announcement I can remember living through – a multimedia, multi-strand cultural takeover that dominated the collective five senses for at least its allowed fifteen minutes. Hearing this album in 2025 invites especial appreciation of its legacy. Immediately, there was Pure Shores (which shared a producer in William Orbit); but in the intervening quarter of a century we’ve had Taylor Swift, FKA Twigs, Ariana Grande, Chapel Roan, Sabrina Carpenter … diverse talents each indebted to something of Madonna in a different way. Songs like the title track, “Frozen”, “Little Star” and (personal favourite) “The Power of Good-bye” feel fresh; production choices that feel like they should have noticeably aged just … haven’t. That’s the paradox of Madonna I guess. She was the zeitgeist three or four times through her career – to the extent we can’t talk about late 20th century pop culture without eventually talking about Madge; the various Madonna’s are as useful a periodising concept as any list of popular genres – but still the songs feel timeless. My Madonna moves faster than a speeding Ray of Light – yours?

It’s quite a pleasant surprise how much I have liked the Madonna albums on this list. Really wasn’t expecting that to be the case. Without all the image changes etc stuff up front and just listening to the music. This has a nice slightly trippy electronic feeling. 4 Star

Better than I expected, I liked the production a lot.

I loved Immaculate Collection growing up but never really got into her "newer" stuff (yes, I know this is over 25 years old now). Excited to listen to this properly beyond the singles I heard at the time. The blend of pop and electronica is right in my sweet spot. Starting off with Substitute for Love, I was struck by the beautiful lush production. Looked it up and it's William Orbit so that tracks. I recognised the singles but listening to them in the context of the album gave them much more meaning. Definitely one to relisten to. How did I miss this first time round?

I am not a Madonna fan. But-this album is impressive. Her growth is shown from the original Madonna album. The original was impressive because it was a new sound. But this album shows a rich voice and sound that came with age and experience. I enjoyed it a lot. Hats off to Madonna’s Ray of Light.

Madonna goes downtempo. A great collection of artsy, chilled out pop music. Get some nostalgia from this as well as it was huge when I was a kid and my parents used to have it on regularly. Frozen and Ray of Light are wonderful pop songs. Madonna's best era.

Enjoyed this more than I expected.

Great memories. Thanks

It's kind of appropriative in Madonna's mysticism era ("Shanti / Ashtangi" whoops) but it was also the late 90s, and the album does in fact slap.

Album No. 0029 on my list. This is the first major pop album on my list (or, to be more precise, the first album by a major global pop artist). Although I knew the album and one or two songs (the ones that probably everyone knows), I didn’t have many expectations. After listening to it, I have to say: it was surprisingly good! You get the big hits (“Frozen”, “Ray of Light”, “The Power of Good-bye”), you get some more experimental, avant Garde songs (“Mer Girl”), you got your EDM songs - all very nice. 4/5 stars!

I remember being pleasantly surprised when this album came out, as it felt refreshing for a popstar like Madonna to make downtempo-ish music.

I did not expect to enjoy this album much at all. I was pleasantly surprised. Lots of interesting EDM-style sounds and Madonna's voice over top. 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.

im tripping bro me gusto esto, es el segundo album creo de Madonna que escucho y me sorprende como experimenta

This one really surprised me. Never listened to a full Madonna album before. This is far more experimental than I would’ve expected. Came very close to lifing this. It’s a mix of pop and house music. Loses me with the last 3 songs because it overstays it’s welcome, but that's still a good hour of good music.

I really like this record. I used to listen to the singles back in the day and, in reality, it never really left me. Listening today, from first to last track, it seems I missed a pretty good album. There's something to be said about a talented star finding the right colaborator and putting some of her best work in their career.

Ідеальний поп-альбом. Я взагалі не всі періоди Мадонни люблю, але вражений тим як вона змінювала свій стиль і музику протягом кар'єри.

Heard a familiar sample. Good album would be interesting to listen to prior releases to understand more of “how we got here”. Interesting sounds, some does seem to be reused on occasion but it doesn’t hurt the album overall. Very dreamy.

Such a great dance album. A late 90s return to form for Madge.

I'll be honest, I was not expecting to enjoy Madonna. The slinky Trip-Hop groove and restrained vocals on "Drowned World / Substitute for Love" were an immediate surprise that made me look forward to the rest of the album. I also didn't realize I already knew "Ray of Light". Great track! Overall, I adore the synthesis of various dance music styles, Madonna's powerful vocals, and the neat little experimental flourishes they manage to sneak in. Admittedly, the lyrics can be trite or dumb in the the way pop lyrics often are ("Candy Perfume Girl"), but Madonna commits with great vocals, and the production and musicianship more than make up for it. This is an absolute time capsule of what 1998 felt like, and I love it for that. WOW.

So this is Madonna’s trip hop, trance, electronic album and I enjoyed it quite a bit. There are some absolute bangers on here but it is also let down by a few weaker tracks but in the whole it’s very good.

Not familiar with this side of Madonna (stopped paying attention after Erotica) but this was a pleasant surprise, really liked this. Recognized two tracks (Frozen and The Power of Good-Bye) so must have heard those some time. Not all tracks are the same quality and some are a bit long but all in all very enjoyable. Will be listening to this again.

Madonna slays per usual this time with an excellent dance vibe. Truly the queen of pop.

A great album from Madonna, I feel it really demonstrated how good a singer & songwriter she could be, not just a pop singer. Of course it helped having William Orbit behind the controls, but loved the different styles that were adopted.

As with most Madonna albums the worst songs on here are still really good and the best songs are very good. Its different from her earlier albums but not in a bad way, it just fits the time period it was created just as her earlier work.

Madonna certainly had her finger on the pulse of the moment. While I wasn’t crazy about this album when it dropped (vivid memories of changing the radio station when the title track would come on), I have come to appreciate Madonna as an artist in my old age and this music feels like it has taken on a new life for me at 43. This not only captures late 90s pop, but it does so authentically and with panache.

90s classic

Anyone who grew up in the 80/ 90's knows Madonna. She was a household name, prolific and maybe even somewhat controversial, yet still "the queen of pop" to be sure. This album has been said to be her best. I would be merely mildly pressed to deny that but I know her whole catalog. Maybe? As a specifically representative single album... I am not sure. But what I am sure of is that this IS a great album She may not be the greatest actor... but when it comes to music she sure knows what she is doing!

SOOOO 90s. Love it

This was great. I love this 90s techno era, and Madonna’s voice and the eclectic instrumentation make this an extraordinary take on the genre.

I always liked her music. This was really good.

So talented. Nice dance music.

Her best work apparently

la reina che

Really enjoyed this, feels like a white woman version of Love Deluxe

4.5

This is Madonna's spiritual techno era, and I'm here for it. It is a bit long, but multiple strong singles, good variety, and superb production throughout.

The closest to new age Madonna ever came. Stranger than the hits might have led you to believe.

Really good vibe, nice sound, overall great. 4 stars

Jeg er blevet meget mere bekendt med den type elektronisk musik, dette album er inspireret af, på grund af den her liste😅 det trækker den op på 4 for mig, for jeg synes faktisk det er rigtig velproduceret. Når det så er sagt er alle numrene lidt for lange og teksterne er lige banale nok

9/10. When I was 4-6 years old, Madonna was my idol. I used to listen to her all day, and watch her performances in awe. At night, I would try to imitate her, and sing her songs (made-up thingamajigs that sounded like Madonna to me, to be more accurate). While there were quite a few songs on here that I haven't heard in over a decade, many of them were still so recognizable to me. Also, it's just a really good album. I like it! :)

Amazing sound palette and vibe, she's a queen and this was SUCH a great era, I love this album

Some surprisingly good synth/electronica. Madonna, I was unfamiliar with your game

What surprised me here was the production, which absolutely SHINED and complemented Madonna's voice beautifully. Lots of musical details - like the little guitar riffs all throughout Skin - make this a very fun and textured album that will be great to revisit. Standouts: Skin • Nothing Really Matters • To Have and Not to Hold

The complex production of William Orbit, breaking electronica into the mainstream, and the emphasis on spiritual themes on this album were the fanfare of her coronation. Madonna on album seven had finally bloomed into her final form: She's the Queen of Pop 4.5/5

Didn't expect to it enjoy it but I did. Frozen really reminded me of Pure Shores by All Saints, which I also like.

This is as much a William Orbit album as it is a Madonna album. Solidly fun electropop. Some of it reminded me a bit of Beth Orton in places, perhaps because of Orbit producing both. The title track is really good IMO.

Ray of Light is the sound of reinvention done right. Trading in her earlier pop sound for shimmering electronica and spiritual introspection, Madonna dives headfirst into ambient textures, trance beats, and personal reflection without losing her pop instincts. Tracks like Frozen and the title song feel expansive yet intimate, layered with swirling synths and beats that pulse with life, while still offering some of the most emotionally resonant performances of her career. The production—helmed by William Orbit—is lush, futuristic, and incredibly detailed. Songs like Drowned World / Substitute for Love and Swim build slowly and beautifully, showing a patience and maturity that wasn’t always present in her earlier work. There are a couple of moments where things stretch a bit long or blur together, but overall, this is Madonna stepping into a new era with ambition and surprising vulnerability. A bold, stylish pivot that still holds up.

I’d never really heard much Madonna before, but I really liked this unique blend of Electronic music and Singer-Songwriter. Favorite Track: Skin

I’ve never been much of a Madonna fan but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this album. 4

Not half bad.

What a lovely surprise to hear her more laid-back songs for the first time. Lovely sound, interesting lyrics, lovely dreamy poppy sound. I think I'll come back to this one. I do however feel like the production is carrying this just a smidge more than she and her voice are. 4/5.

I still think 80’s/ early 90’s Madonna albums are better. I enjoyed the album but other than the tracks that were released no bangers

drei bis vier

Classy lady

The other Madonna albums I have gotten have been so disappointing - I had such low expectations here, but it actually held up really well. Is it trend chasing? Sure. But not as graceless as she usually is about it.

I remember this getting a lot of play during car rides back in the day. Younger me loved Ray of Light and older me appreciates even more of the tracks.

funky, fresh, beautiful