Ray Of Light

nooit grote fan geweest... maar vroeger schopte ze nog heilige huisjes omver... nu is ze er zelf een geworden...

Classy lady

Not that bad tbh

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.

Not too bad, not too good either...

She had some catchy, fun songs in the 80s, but otherwise Madonna has just never done anything for me. I was actually bored a lot while listening to this.

5 per la sorpresa

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

Not my cup of tea

Just plain boring.

first two songs started off really strong… then it kinda went downhill. Shanti is probably top five worst songs i’ve ever heard. That being said, this album still isn’t the worst. pretend this is a 2.5

Kabbalah? Really?

A looong album. Not my fave but also didn’t hate it. I like how it was experimental and some of the pop elements were fun. I think Madonna has better albums though.

Not exactly my jam. But I can see why Lady Gaga wants to be her.

It didn’t annoy me, and the dance beats changed throughout; actually, it was mostly interesting, although simplistic lyrically, and deserves a 3.5, but I won’t round up.

Like so many albums on this list: she's talented, but it's just not my thing.

Some hits and misses!

Nope. Spray of Shite, more like. Not that I hate Madonna, mind you, but... next!

I am not a fan of Madonna. She was an '80s staple in high school, and I saw her in concert in '84 on the Virgin tour. She was a good performer, but the highlight was that the Beastie Boys were her opening act. All that said, this album took me by surprise, and I thought it was very well done. It is a bit poppy for me, and some of the songs sound very similar, but overall, I liked it.

★★★½

Maso

Ray of light, skin both bangers

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.

It was fine.

It's ok. No it's not

funky, fresh, beautiful

Heh, it's funny. I got this album on a Saturday and I don't rate stuff on the weekends. I've heard this album many times, so when it came up, I thought to myself, "This was sort of Madonna's Sgt. Pepper's album." Sure enough, the next day I got The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's. Kind of funny how that worked out. This is one of Madonna's better albums after her insane 80's pop releases. I say insane, because she was cranking out album after album and while a lot of them were good and had great songs on them, none of them were what I consider a complete album. Erotica started the process of changing who Madonna was, Bedtime Stories was a weird divergent and was better than I thought the reviews gave it and then finally this album finished her evolution, and could be her best out of her entire discography. (The Immaculate Collection can't be considered, since it's a greatest hits album). Can't miss tracks: Swim Ray of Light Frozen The Power of Good-bye 3/5

This started off promising, then took a turn for the worse, then kind of got back to being good, then got bad again. Wildly inconsistent song-to-song.

I thought it worked really well. It did a good job of having a nice variety, while still keeping a consistent vibe. I definitely want to listen to this one again sometime.

I have to say, as we've been going through this and we've been confronting different eras of Madonna, her instincts keep winning me over. She was reliably ahead of the curve, sometimes to the extent that her albums - like this one - were not as highly rated when they came out as they will be/have been in retrospectives.

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.

Title track is an ATB. album goes on a little long and doesn't always keep the energy up.

All the electronica styles from the 90s in this album. Pretty cool textures and production even though I’m usually not a Madonna fan.

Never knew Madonna was one of the first artists to incorporate more electronic music in pop. This sounds way before it's time, rave/dance version of Madonna. Also, the album was kind of a surprise for me, since I related Madonna to a different kind of sound and vibe. Never listened to her that much, but I have heard the popular songs. Turns out once I read the album summary that this was a departure from her previous work, and a one for the better it seems. One of the highlights of the album is definitely the production. Everything is crystal clear, the beats come of nice and round, the mix is quite loud and there is a lot of stuff going on most of the time, but the sound is still balanced. Madonna's vocals take a bit of a step back in this kind of genre as opposed to being the absolute center in her previous work, but this is handled without issues. She blends in with the grooves really well, singing in a lower register than usual I think. The album also gets dark at times, with oriental and eastern melodies, hard grooves, and straight to the point lyrics. Having said that, the songs do sound similar and the album gets a bit monotonous. All in all, a pleasant surprise, a well produced album, .

The word for when bile backs up into your throat and you can taste it and you think that you’re going to vomit is “waterbrush.” Madonna gives me waterbrush. As such, did not listen. I refuse to contribute even a fraction of a penny to her undeserved wealth.

The album won 4 Grammys, peaked at number one in 17 countries and has a score of 2.9 here. My feeling of being surrounded by straight men is confirmed!

I was happy because I was pretty sure that I would rate with 1 star to my loathed Queen of Pop, but to be honest, I enjoyed the trip-hop approach of some of the songs of this album. Some others are crappy, and this have no soul, so rating it with 2 stars anyway.

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.

1,5?

low key banger

Ok, let me tell ya what "Like a Virgin"'s about.

Started off well but track 3 came out of nowhere and changed the sound. I'm just not a fan of electronic music

Ray of Light was crafted well, flowing well in this beautiful, ethereal way. But this isn't the eighties Madonna that she's so famous for--yet she pulled off this sound well. She incorporated other genres, like trip hop, to create a totally new, mature sound. I recognize that electronic and ambient influence from Brian Eno, and the mythical influence on Goldfrapp (a la Seventh Tree). The lyrics had more of an internal focus, so the album felt way more personal. An interesting listen on the history of Madonna.

So, here's the thing. I had never listened to this album from front to back, but some of my favorite individual Madonna songs come from this album. Her tone, mood, and composition on those songs is unparalleled, both by Madonna herself and others. The very forward new age and eastern sounds intertwined with pop music really makes for a noteworthy listening experience. That said, while the overall album still preserved this mood, I did feel like parts of the album lulled a bit; not all songs on the album were created equally or stand with the same level of presence. While not every song on this album may be a winner, it's an overall noteworthy presentation from the woman who broke so many pop molds in the 80s and was being looked at to see what she would do next. Nobody assumed that what she would do next would be bringing Eastern music, new age music, and electronica clashing together into the mainstream. It somehow felt right as far as the progression of Madonna's style into the mid-90s. That influence is still prevalent in mainstream music today.

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. I'm not sure there is an artist who has traded more on sex appeal and cultural awareness, and less on actual talent. Her singing voice is just OK - nothing here stretches her and I don't think she has the chops to take it higher. Orbit is a good contributor, but given the choice I'd just listen to his work instead.

Enjoyable to listen to, good vocals, not my style really but good album 2.75/5

some absolute belters in here (wrong vibe for 9am Monday morning in the office) but was about 30 minutes too long and a lot of the tracks didn't click with me. Would return to some of the singles

It's a 2 from me, it was edging a 3 but it's never a good sign when I'm hoping the album will end soon. First track was a standout for me, felt weirdly profound somehow

Enjoyed this, not sure how often I'll listen to it again but it's decent

I was expecting more of this but i found it dragged and a bit samey. the singles are bops. 3.5

Brilliant

Only like the hits

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.

Whether you like her or not, she has influenced music throughout her Career. This album one of her Better later albums.

Pleasant surprise, really enjoyed the combination of Madonna's pop sensibility with 90s trip-hop/electronica/moody songs.

Nej nej nej. Sämsta sortens pop. Det är dåligt på nästan alla vis. Får en två pga ok hits, frozen/ray of light. Men de är rätt kassa också.

Positivt överraskad av denna. Man har förstås hört hitsen, men i övrigt är det både varierade och välgjorda produktioner som gör att man inte tröttnar, även om skivan är i längsta laget.

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

It's not as cute as True Blue or Like a Virgin, but it's the last time I listened to a Madonna album and thought "hey, this is pretty good"

Nice

I wasn't a fan of William Orbit's album on this list, but I think his work combines really well with Madonna. Interesting electronica that goes nowhere matches really well with Madonna's pop-sensibility. The album is a bit on the long side but its full of nice motivs and weird left turns to keep you engaged. I loved hearing the snippets of Arabian and other world-music on here. Madonna also sounds great on this album. Frozen is also an all time classic.

The first four songs honestly had me floored - I couldn't believe I was enjoying a Madonna album that much! It unfortunately fell off hard for me after that, but perhaps there will be some revisiting value here. 2.5/5

Okay.

Madonna's not usually my jam but I enjoyed this one. Great electronica-tinged production, solid vocals, and a handful of certified bangers.

So much to like about this album! I expected little going in but then spent ages considering whether to rate it 4 stars. If there was a 3.5 I’d go for that but there isn’t. And then The Power Of Goodbye dropped and I was like ohhhhhhh.

Absolute bangers on here mate - icon of the era, takes youbright back to the period. Imagine your face on a screen, all blonde hair and cars whizzing about like flies, all on a time lapse like you're on some balloons or something. Oh I'm madonna, you're madonna, aren't we all madonna?

idk man this was overall a madonna flop for me

Pre-listening thoughts: YAYY Madonna!!! I liked Music so excited for this, plus I’ve really been meaning to listen to more Madonna cause she changes her sound up a LOT during her career. Post/during listening thoughts: this is a lot more mellow than I was expecting. But also electronic and upbeat at times, similar to its successor, Music. This kind of goes crazy??? This wouldn’t usually be the kind of music I spring for but even at points where I found myself skeptical, it reined me back in. Lowkey Madonna I might be a fan 8/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Drowned World/Substitute for Love, Ray of Light, Skin, Nothing Really Matters, The Power of Goodbye, Little Star Least fav tracks: Candy Perfume Girl

Meh

Ray Of Light (the track) was a banger! I knew it but I had no clue it was Madonna. The rest of the album was listenable but I'm not the hugest fan of Madonna-ish pop so I'll take it or leave it.

Memo to all late-90's albums: you are too long by 1/3. Maybe this was the start of more dance influence in pop music but doesn't make it any more enjoyable for me personally. 1.5 stars

She heard Shirley Manson from Garbage and thought, “I could do that.” Turns out, she could not. This has the attempt of a song, but it’s just not quite there. Her singing is great, it’s the producer that did wrong.

The song "Ray of Light" is ok. The EDM framework is ok, sometimes even danceable. Madonna is not a great singer, though. And if you've heard one semi-naughty boy/girl song you've heard them all. I couldn't finish it, it's an hour-plus, and I know what the rest will be like. Small moments of interest but nothing thoroughly exceptional here.

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.

nice, I've listened to this a little bit but wanted to spend more time with it. such a cool album, i love just letting myself sink into it. it's probably an 8.5 or 9 out of 10, so i will give it 4 stars

Gear: Moondrop Variations Artwork: 👱‍♀️🟦🤷‍♀️ Production: 🎤🌟🤩 Music: 🌈🌌🌟 Rating: 🌞🌞🌞/5

Very of its time, a bit new age-y, and too long but better than the other Madge album (Music) which came up a few weeks ago.

Not really my taste. Got repetitive

Very pew pew

One of her better albums

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*

A fair mix of slappers and clunkers.

Very bland. I love The Power of Goodbye, but one good song cannot save this snoozefest.

How dull. I remember one or two songs from whenever this was released - I assume they were singles that got a lot of airtime. I don't ever want to hear it again - but most of it, I could hear again without realising I'd heard it before.

only slightly better than the previous Madonna album. It might be bias because I do remember some songs of this one. Still not my thing.

I have a memory of liking this album a LOT more in the 90s. Still i love it went artists reinvent themselves. This is no exception.

Madonna really isn’t my type. However, this seventh album is a departure from her earlier style and moves into what I guess is called trip hop. Which might not work for me either, but in its best moments the music shifts and grooves and keeps you engaged. The first half is stronger than the second, but I’m rounding up to 4 stars, even to my own surprise. Also, randomly… I could picture mashing this up with Talking Heads’ “Remain in Light.” Compare Ray of Light to Crosseyed and Painless.

The list is a perfect mechanism for me to encounter an album like this one. I’m hater, but I couldn’t tell you the last time I intentionally put on some of Madonna’s music. My reaction is mixed. While the music was solid for the genre, I was surprised at the lack of breakout single(s), and by the end of the album the writing was weak and aimless… which was odd because of the length of the album. I would have cut a few tracks.

This album was one hour and six minutes too long

Better than expected.

That time when Madonna reinvented herself as a one hit wonder

I do like this but I’m not sure it has aged particularly well. William Orbit had his moment. It’s a bit on the long side too. Want to give it 3.5. Madonna is a pop legend and I did see her live many years ago supported by Technotronic lol so 4 it is

Never a huge Madonna fan -- largely because my little sister absolutely adored her when we were growing up, but I really liked this. Not that there's anything too wild or genre-bending, but a nice set of club bangers, atmospheric beats, and trip-hop adjacent dream pop. Unexpected bangers: Skin, Little Star

This was like an undiscovered album for me, I never heard any of it (save for Ray of Light). It was great.

8/10 Favorite Tracks: Ray of Light, Nothing Really Matters, Mer Girl Least Favorite Tracks: Shanti/ Ashtangi, Little Star

Lubię Madonnę. Ale nie na tej płycie. Ta płyta jest zbyt elektroniczna, ciągnąca się, pozbawiona magii. Nikt nie śpiewa tych piosenek na karaoke, nikt nie wymienia ich wśród ulubionych, nikt nie śpiewa ich w kościelnym chórze. Jest kilka dobrych kawałków, całość jest spójna, ale nie zasługuje na więcej niż 6/10

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.

Album 678 of 1001 Madonna - Ray Of Light (1998) Rating : 2.5 / 5 While Madonna isn't someone I usually reach for, this wasn't half bad. It was only about half great, though. Some nice, introspective tracks. One of her better releases.

Jotkut instrumentaalit aika teknovaikutteisia. Muuten aika keskinkertaista poppia. Onkohan Frozenista otettu tää yks Tiktok sample? Parhaat: Sky Fits Heaven, The Power Of Good-Bye, Little Star

Sorry, Madonna

Not as bad as I feared, but completely forgettable.

Took a break after Candy Perfume Girl. Turned it off for good during Shanti / Ashtangi. It’s not me, it’s you, girl.

I know this was a more experimental album for Madonna, but didn't do it for me. At all. Some interesting sounds and melodies, but overall, not wowed by this.

Not hurting anyone

Ray of Light (the song) is a banger. I remember listening to many of the others, but they don’t hold up as well to me.

This is my favourite side of Madonna. Some great songs like the title track, Frozen and The Power Of Good-Bye. I quite like Sky Fits Heaven as well. Some songs kinda feel like filler though.

Не моя музыка конечно, но отрицать не буду, хорошое

забавно молодую мадонну послушать

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

Listened to this belatedly after getting William Orbit's Strange Cargo III, and yes, his work is better with a melody on top. It's still a little long. 3.5, rounding up to fall between Music and Like a Prayer.

A pastiche of 90s pop trends with the sort of slick production one might expect from Madonna. Drags a bit near the end, but pretty good all said.

I was never a big fan of Madonna but that was a pleasant listen

huge props for taking a more complex, electronic route than what is expected for the average pop album, it was still slightly forgettable though.. there are some songs i’ll return to sometime x

I really like trip hop and I had no idea Madonna made this type of music, so that was a surprise. I really liked the first song, but then ever other song just felt like lesser versions of that song. Nothing was bad, and the production was great throughout, but few songs stood out. High 3.

Terrible

I thought the album was fine. But honestly True Blue is a far better album.

Meh.

Well, I sort of do, sort of don't, know what I expected from Madge. But what ever did, this wasn't it! And, at the risk of losing the very little street cred I had, I really liked it. It was as though she had listened to what was popy and listened to some more off the beaten track stuff, and combined the best bits of each. And it worked! It was a little bit Kate Bush like, and a little something else that has been on here, but I can't remember who. Mixed with a little bit of the modern pop, and yes it worked. I really want to give this a 4 but am not sure if I should, oh sod it.

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.

What a combination, i like Madonna and i love Wiliam Orbit. At this point in his career, Mr Orbit was at the height of success and called in to produce some of the biggest names in music. So this should be a top album? On the most part, it is, it has thr usual fantastic spacey instrumentation one expects from Orbit, with its electronic bleeps and lush guitar sweeps. But there are a few odd bits like 'shanti shanti' religious stuff yes Madge, we knew you had taken up some obscure religion, but we dont have to hear it on your record. So if she had left the kobblers out and it could have been a high 5. Because of the odd annoying thing its just a high 4.

Absolutely below average album by Madonna, you have a quite sentimental Frozen and a bunch of weird 90s rough electronic samples that didn't survive the test of time. Like Madonna herself, actually. Pop culture icon, but not because of this album, surely.

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)

It’s ok 3.2

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

Whatever album by Madonna, i don't think she's as revolutionary in 2025 as she was when she was putting this stuff out

acho esse uma delicinha

doideira. madonna experimental, super eletrônico, indo pra vários subgêneros diferentes. bem produzido. bem eletrônica europeia downtempo noventista. tudo que nós gosta. inclusive, envelheceu super bem.

2,5

Outstanding

Her best album but far from perfect. Swim and Frozen are the best songs It does have a Massive Attack vibe which I like. But it's too long and it has lull spots. Still, decent.

It sounds like Madonna chasing trends. It's not bad, but it doesn't stand out at all from the generic pop landscape of the late 90's.

👎🏻

Madonna had a kid, did a bunch of religious tourism (typical Los Angeles white lady) and made a killer pop album. The first half of this album is definitely stronger than the second half, but it's still a solid listen.

I thought she sounded good vocally on this album. The album had a different vibe from some of her other works. While the songs sounded very similar they were enjoyable.

It was her voice that lifted it up to a 4 because it was decent in general

Okay. If you gave this a 4 I wouldn't fight you over it. Her voice sounds really nice on this. The techno kinda vibe works really well for this album, sounded really good. The album is pretty lengthy though and with each song being around 5 minutes it's just a lot. Not a ton of variety in length which kinda drags it down. Nice variety in feel and style though especially in the first half, liked that.

her vocals are strong-great control of her tone & depth. "Ray of Light" is great track, and "Frozen" is one of her strongest period (love her vocals and lyrics have depth). but overall the album is just too long. several tracks just lag a bit. still a really nice listen-especially since electronica is not my favorite

Thought about doing a full relisten on principle then gave up after one track. Don't care!

Some of these songs go a little bit, actually, especially the title track but it felt very derivative/bandwagony at the time and it's not something I'd ever listen to of my own volition.

Solid, some really great songs. Really nice vibe.

Ray of Light is a great single and the album has its moments. However, it is a little pedestrian and based on reviews, massively overrated. She was still in the midst of a very strong run, but this may be her weakest non-soundtrack entry until American Life. If you want to listen to modern dance electronica Aladdin’s listen to Music or Confessions on the Dance Floor.

not my cup of tea but it was fine.

I would have given it 0 if I could, the most inauthentic piece of crap I’ve ever heard

It was okay, nothing earthbreaking.

A few solid pop songs but most came up short.

Ray Of Light is a really good album that i wasn't really expecting to sound the way it did. Despite mainly being a pop album, This album was an electronic music lover's dream. It has a lot of the different genres that are well associated with electronic music including techno, trip-hop, ambient, house etc. And i can safely say that every genre that was tried in this album was executed really well. At worst, the songs could just be a little forgettable but most of the songs here were actually pretty catchy and enjoyable to listen to. This is definitely a really solid album. Best Song: Frozen Worst Song: Shanti / Ashtangi Side note: I also noticed that depending on the music video, Madonna could look incredibly different in one compared to the other.

Moins de la bombe que ce que Madonna nous avait donné dans le passé, c’est un album imprégné de sérénité comme nous dit le livre, découlant probablement de la naissance de sa fille Lourdes et de sa conversion à la kabbale. On sent d’ailleurs l’ésotérisme et le mysticisme tout du long, chose qui m’avait rebuté à la première écoute, mais qui donne une cohérence à l’album et le rend doux et agréable malgré plusieurs chansons dansantes, dont deux gros hits : « Ray Of Light » et « Frozen ». L’apogée du mystique arrive avec « Shanti / Ashtangi », qui est très bonne et assez rythmée.

this was an interesting one! not at all a sound i associate with madonna, so that was a fun. i've only really known her as a performer versus a singer, but she has some really delicate, beautiful vocals here. it's not totally my favorite kind of sound, but it was an interesting listen. ray of light is a platinum 5/5 to me. it's just so wonderfully late 90s/early aughts.

well, this certainly wasn't what i expected it to be, as it was practically an electronica dance record. unfortunately all the songs were three minutes too long and sounded pretty similar, so it all evens out. this was a 3, maybe 3.5 star album, but there's just nothing really substantial to sink your teeth into here. favorites: ray of light, nothing really matters, frozen

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.

A good album, I liked Ray of Light and To Have And Not To Hold.

It's good! Definitely exceeded my expectations. The production is tight and she sounds great. I wish this was trimmed down to, say, the 45 minutes; I think it'd be stronger for it. Most of these songs are a minute (or even two) too long. Highlights: Ray of Light, Skin, Sky Fits Heaven

One of Madonna's finest work

I probably haven't heard this album since it first came out and have forgotten how good it is. Madonna can sometimes be a mimic as she was with her 'Music' album but here on 'Ray of Light' she works with some of the best producers in a genre that has moved away from her original style and she keeps up. 3.5/5

Refreshingly eclectic and surprisingly good!

Not a massive fan of Madonna but this album has some good songs, I enjoyed it but I won't search to listen to it.

Techno-Pop sounding like the soundtrack for a Disney movie that was way to sad and weird to make it to theaters.

Yeah she has a great voice but that doesn't stop this album from being a dragging slog

Takes me right back to my college years!

I remember really loving this when it came out but there are several meh songs. I like well enough. It’s no Bedtime Stories.

a couple rays of light (get it) but not much could i write poetry to this? n

"The One Where Madonna Goes To A Rave" I still consider this one of her best. Maturity and motherhood tempered Madonna's foray into Hebrew/Buddhist mysticism and 90's optimism. This album threw it all in a pot with a dash of pre-millennium tension, thanks to producer William Orbit's techno backbone. At this point, Madonna and Radiohead weren't that far apart. The only knock on "Ray of Light" is a problem of length. This is another CD-era recording that would have been better if trimmed by at least fifteen minutes down to LP length. With eight of its thirteen tracks clocking in over five minutes (and nothing shorter than 4:11), there was plenty of room for editing. The club kids' attention span was getting shorter by the moment and Madge only had one good album left.

I'll leave a full review if this album ever ends.

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

The unique and expansive production definitely elevates this album. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten to a point where the sound is pretty dated, and Madonna’s voice has never really been my cup of tea. Still some good stuff here despite those factors. Best song: Little Star

The best of the \"reprieve\" albums that I've listened to thus far. This definitely only made the list because of Madonna's immense popularity, though I can't deny an album this pleasing. Downtempo trip-hoppy pop music from the 90s is one of the more sugary sweet guilty pleasures that I have.

A few tracks I'll return to on here. I liked the atmospheric and electronic style of this project generally as well

Madonna must've heard "Dummy" by Portishead. This album proves this assumption. But it's nowhere near as fantastic as "Dummy". "Substitute for Love" is my favourite song off "Ray of Light" After that, it slowly becomes a boring listen. 3 stars for "Ray of Light".

Stands the test of time for me. And I believe this is less of an emotional connection than some (Coldplay) so I'm thinking the enjoyment is more genuine.

Not as bad as I expected

I like the Indian influence.

Ray Of Light is a mix of songs that were way better than expected and some of the worst music I’ve ever had in my life. The opener Drowned World is great… on the other hand at some point, she sings in what I’m guessing is Hindu. It’s offensively bad. Also a lot of uhhhist uhhist uhhist EDM 3.7/10

I thought this album was a very soothing and sophisticated album. I really enjoyed the more experimental songs, and the pop songs were more interesting than one would expect in a pop album. The poppier songs were definitely a tier below, but the album as a whole was a solid listen. Top tracks: Diamond World/Substitution for Love, Shanti/Ashtangi, Mer Girl

I've always liked this album. The collaboration with William Orbit really did Madonna good musically. Before, the music was too disco-like for me. Frozen is one of my favorite pieces. Listening to the album, I remembered some songs that I had forgotten. It's nice that these memories are fresh again. 5/5

Always changing Madonna this was a good listen

Great opening. There are great swathes of this I really don't like.

Formulaic pop that left me cold. Awkward sounding with a techno-esque/EDM beat applied to vocal lines and melodies that really don't suit them. "Here are some songs... make them 'club'". Madonna has a great voice but it is wasted on this. Was going for 2/5 but the longer I listened... 1/5. It loses a point for wasting the talent of her voice.

Her last decent album.

This wasn't bad I guess, but every song had a level of genericness that I really couldn't shake. "Ray of Light" was cool but that's probably just nostalgia talking. "Sky Fits Heaven" had a good chorus but otherwise uninteresting. Not really worth listening to. 2.5 stars

This is really a gem. It is grown-up pop with danceability at its highest. Ray of Light is the standout track, but dreamy Candy Perfume and meditative Shanti are really excellent and overlooked. Probably her most mature and listenable album.

Majestic and magnificent. Love it.

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

meh

Weird lyrics, cool dance moves

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.

Why? An hour of late era Madonna. Listen. I’m less than 100 albums into this thing, but I can imagine there won’t be any death metal, minimal thrash metal and very few interesting oddities. Hell, even jazz has been elusive and I thought this list would be rife with new jazz discoveries. I’m already mad at this album. I haven’t heard it and I believe this shouldn’t be here. My initial belief is that there are 1000 albums released IN THE PAST 10 YEARS that surpass the value of this, but only Madonna can prove me wrong. Now that my biases are on full display. Take it away, artist past her glory. She’s in her Julie Andrew’s era. That’s probably the gayest thing I’ve ever said. This is Microsoft headquarters elevator music in 1999. Is it too late to request a substitute for this album? I don’t know what to say. When an album is trying to be this understated, there is nothing to review. People get so wrapped up in making music that is so gentle and so palatable, that they forget to prepare something to fucking listen to. This is nothing. Hell yeah brother. Attach the laser beams to my roller skates pal, I’m putting down my orange pop and rippin’ out on the rink. I then fall in a heap and am trampled by 350 middle schoolers on an activity field trip. I am rushed to the hospital with a suspected concussion and broken clavicle. That’s how this song FEELS. I asked for SOMETHING in the previous track review. This is something, alright. This is a complete atrocity. War crime. Inoffensive water based cell phone ring tone underneath an ex pop star on quaaludes. Lyrics written with a cynical sneer by some moron writer who churned out 200 plus pop tunes that year. Oh buddy. Commence the club banger. This would be playing in the club in a movie funded by Madonna and John Travolta. It’s actually not the worst song but in a completely ironic way. Pretty funny. Does anything matter? Madonna certainly seems to think nothing does. Why oh why did she continue this pursuit then? The worst so far. MAKE IT STOP. As we enter the “middle aged white lady has spiritual awakening” portion of this album, I just want to remind all white people that while you may think your own culture is “boring” or “uncool,” it doesn’t mean you get to latch yourself to someone else’s. Develop a personality and while cultural appreciation and self-education should be encouraged, whatever this is truly fucking sucks. Back to Michigan, faded pop diva. We’ve recovered from our mid-life crisis to return to our mid-album crisis. Frozen. Uhhh. Something about the movie, uhhhh errrr uhhh fuck. How about just BADonna. Saved it. The power of good-bye is truly the greatest of powers. Imagine saying goodbye to this piece of trash album? I can picture it like I’m walking into an idyllic cloud kingdom. God how I pine for that future. Hold music for a suicide hotline. They had to change it out as it decreased call volume for the wrong reasons. I thought it was over. Two songs. That’s it. I can do it. Fuck I almost forgot how to dream. Thanks Madonna. I owe you one. I’ll repay it now, with a tip: retire. Quit. You’ll make more in a month than I’ll make in a decade off of Spotify royalties alone. Travel the world. Hug your loved ones. Burn your albums. Just stop perpetuating this. Let’s get a song about a monstrous lab creation where a girl is turned into an aquatic beast!! A “MerGirl” if you will. This will be cool right? Oh. It’s a whisper pop song belched out by an aged former star with a whiff of spiritual nonsense that ultimately goes nowhere and provides nothing? Who could’ve seen that coming? Nerds love this album. Maybe it’s not me who hates music. This album is a collection of near silent, yet not silent enough pseudo songs. It’s gruel. It is flavourless sustenance for people to ignore in waiting rooms, car dealerships and bad movies. Just there to coat the walls like slimy, outdated wallpaper without any sense of kitsch or whimsy. Oddly racist club tracks in amongst a sea of washed out nothingness. An attempt at producing oceanic atmosphere ends up the waterlogged corpse of a career that while never musically capable was at least somewhat alive. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: smoke billowing from the eyes of a cursed token. Gods consume the dying seconds of each passing hour. Floating heavenward adrift in purgatorial anguish, the steam rises from an endless ocean. Searing the once faithful few as their loyal vessels melt into the endless expanse of human suffering. Penance is paid.

Some solid electro pop. I think with how popular electro pop is now, this record feels pretty dated. But it was undoubtedly influential and experimental at its time.

Cool. Apparently the video for the title track gives an approximate expression of the sensory overload some people with autism experience sometimes.

Lovely album, I have a thing for this sort of 90s electronica and this is a fine example, but I will use this as a soapbox to question if a notorious popstar should get as much praise as they do for treading on the same ground as less mainstream artists in a not particularly transformative way? This is a good album, but Bjork, Everything but the Girl and Tori Amos had already done this before, Ray of Light only has the reputation it has because historically tacky Madonna was responsible for it (and her bs Hollywood spirituality is still woefully tacky I'll say). Good album by any measure, but I would've given its spot to Post, Homogenic or Walking Wounded in a heartbeat over it.

Fav: Ray Of Light Least Fav: Skin It’s MAD to me that she’s ONNA roll with each song on the album. Sorry

I tried my best

Some good, some bad. Overall, better than I expected. Definitely can tell William Orbit had involvement.

Good album, enjoyed most of this. Great production with deep bass, and lots of interesting electronic sounds.

2 - just a bit boring

Lovely album; very nice listening.

4.0

3.5

This was surprisingly nostalgic, I think my parents must’ve loved this record when it came out because I knew every song. Madonna doing trip hop, surprisingly good.

As per Wikipedia: "Ray of Light is an electronica and techno-pop record which incorporates multiple genres, including ambient, trip hop, psychedelic music and Middle Eastern music." Nonetheless, it was surprisingly not annoying.

A career highlight from Madge. Lovely William Orbit chill to a lot of the tracks and it works well with her voice.

love!

Title cut i'Ray ofLight" ios great Madonna - as she has matured but still has a different creative voice. Surprised I really enjoyed this. It is more of a dance album than pop.

This sounds like what people thought the future was going to sound like 25 years ago, but now it feels like a strange relic of a future never played out. Certainly not a bad album, and definitely not what you expect from a pop star. I think there is a lot of cool stuff going on, but it gets old kinda quick and starts to drone in the second half.

Spherical sounds, 2 recognized songs one being Frozen (banger), overall ok.

Madonna – Ray of Light Given that my prior knowledge of Madonna extended only to her providing Die Another Day, one of the weakest Bond themes in history, I wasn’t very optimistic going into this album. But this? This, I liked. Ray of Light marks the intersection of Madonna’s reinvention of her style and my own musical tastes, and the result is excellent. Her vocals shine throughout the album, and William Orbit’s production elevates everything with a spacy, ethereal sound that feels timeless. Standout Song: Frozen (in my opinion, her greatest ever track) Score: 4/5

2 Stars (5/15)

Remember when this came out, loved it then and love it now. Madonna has turned into something different these days but this is really bright and fun.

This feels like Madonna’s most complete and well paced album - with bangers like the title track and frozen but also a tight set of songs throughout its length. It’s never boring and at times surprising - not what I expected.

Kind of just that Matrix Reloaded rave scene if it were stretched into most of the movie, with Madonna there.

I might as well be Pluto.

Drowned World/Substitute for Love 3 Swim 3 Ray of Light 2.7 Candy Perfume Girl 2.6 Skin 2.4 Nothing Really Matters 2.5 Sky Fits Heaven 2.5 Shanti/Ashtangi 2.8 Frozen 2.6 The Power of Good-Bye 2.5 To Have and Not to Hold 2.3 Little Star 2.2 Mer Girl 1.3 Score: 2.492307692

Before today, I had actually never listened to this album. Sure, I was familiar with the title track, but everything else was new to me. Sitting here in 2024, I can see the importance of this album, insofar as Madonna using her brand to bring electronica into the mainstream, but this confirms what I assumed when I heard the title track back in 1998: she was headed in a direction I was unwilling to follow. In fact, knowing what I know now, I'd say this "ray of darkness" is the very harbinger of the overproduced garbage that has been the Top 40 ever since the turn of the century. In that "light", Madonna is responsible for the destruction of modern music. I jest, of course, but this album DOES kick off what I dislike most about today's music. At any rate, there were a few nice moments on here (i.e. the ones without the clubby drum machines), but I, personally, didn't care much for it. Still, I'll give her credit for being the trailblazing queen she is.

Ray of light is such a catchy song, and I love it. The rest of the album fails to deliver though. I liked some aspects of what Madonna was trying to do, but it fell flat for me.

non male, madonna in versione trip hop meditativa buddhista

Oh! Madonna is like Kate Bush! Favourite track: Ray of Light.

Jodå, hon kan hon.

Usual Madonna drivel made slightly more bearable by William Orbits input.

старушка пришла к модным продюсерам электронной музыки, попросила освежить её карьеру и собсна получила профит. очень за неё рад.

It's good, but the songs are too long and there's too many of them. Favorite song: frozen

bizarre and cool, though it wont stick in my mind like other madonna hits

I am not a fan of Madonna but I certainly get why this albums is on the list, it’s iconic, good production, her voice “fits” the overall tone of the album. If I were to complain about something it’s probably the length, 1h6m feels too much

I always think of Ray of Light from this album, but there were two other singles that I hadn't even thought of since the '90s.

1.5 thought it was gonna be worse but it was till a really weird combo

It was fine I guess

This was the second time I’ve ever listened to this album. It sounds nice but it’s just so boring

Indian Electronica Madonna is my favourite Madonna!

better than i expected but i’m not sure how much of that is due to madonna

I quite liked this, it's actually really solid pop. Madonna has a beautiful voice, and that + good pop composition is just kind of tough to screw up. She occasionally tries. The worst moments are when the CD strays from that formula. "Shanti.." for example is a blunder. But when they're on, with fast thumping beats and Madonna pushing her register, it just clicks. I especially liked "Sky Fits Heaven", which might be the most poppy song on there, and I was surprised it did not have the playcount of some of the hits. There's a bit of a 60s feel on here too, it's kind of tough to put a finger on though. There's some drone-like sequences that sound a bit like raga. Moody synth plus slapping backbeat always sounds vaguely psychedelic. And the guitar tone, where it's used (e.g. on the title track) is always kind of jangly, Rickenbacker-esque.

DNF Can see it banging at the time but sounds dated compared to where pop is now. Switched over to a second listen of the Wu-Tang album instead. Kid yeeted a chair at the school printer yesterday

Mm did not like at all. A few songs were ok. I don’t understand the hype

It appears I am a fan of the millennium Madonna.

Bad, but not as bad as stagger Lee so it gets two stars

This was bad. Like really bad. What was the formula here? Madonna does madlibs over generic Dance Dance Revolution-type beats? Lyrically, this is one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. The production ranged from bland to jumbled, at some points sounding like they were just randomly hitting a keyboard to see what stuck. I am left with more questions than answers: why was this included on the list? How did Madonna get so big making music like this? What was going on in the 80s? I’d rather grab a beer with Stagger Lee than listen to this pile of garbage again.

I like the vibe, but a little of it went a long way.

Dang, this album is SO 90's. I really enjoy a lot of the musical arrangements and backing tracks. Most of the songs are not really standouts for me though, except for Ray of Light and I actually found Mer Girl really intriguing as well. Don't know if it's one I'll come back to though.

It's different from her usual stuff, with a vibe that's kind of reflective. I prefer her earlier work. Not necessarily a factor in my review or rating, but Ray of Light made me nostalgic for Windows XP.

A fine album but Ray of Light is the only song that really stands out to me. In general I consider Madonna and most dance artists as singles artists more than album artists. The modern digital format actually benefits them because most of their fans only want the one or two radio/club hits anyway. I’ve noticed she has leaned hard into the singles and remix strategy for the past 20 years and that seems like a good strategy.

What a pleasant surprise with this one!! My sister bought this CD when it came out and so I’d heard it a bunch, but that was 20+ years ago!! It was neat listening again after all these years, because there were songs on here that I haven’t heard since I was a teenager, but I was still able to remember some of the lyrics. I don’t think Madonna has an especially magnificent voice. It’s not really all that powerful or versatile in my humble opinion, but what she does posses is creativity and she’s never been afraid to try new things. Her mid to late 90s phase is my favorite and so this album is a thumbs up for me. It isn’t at all boring and even though it sounds very much like a late 90s album I think it holds up well. My favorites on this one were Skin, Nothing Really Matters, Frozen, and The Power of Goodbye.

I was a little surprised as how much I enjoyed this. I don't think it's super revolutionary, but it was cutting edge for the time, and Madonna is one of those artists that makes things that are approachable, of the time they are from, and yet unique. It's quite the combination. So many of her records are great records for the time. Always reinventing herself, never sitting idle.

Sounds exactly like the time it was released, which I guess is what I expect from Madonna (the cynic in me suspects she was a serial bandwagon-jumper, but maybe that’s unfair - presumably some of the time she helped set the trend, too?) Despite sounding dated, I don’t think it’s aged badly. There are few standout moments but equally nothing offended me, and it’s certainly got a cohesive sound. I’m more likely to revisit this album than Like A Prayer so I’ll give it a slightly higher score: 3 / 3.5

This was a waste of time. It's missing the upbeat pop elements that I usually associate Madonna with and this was more ambient than what I'm used to.

Good album. Really enjoyed it when it first came out.

Not a great direction. Good to see artists try new things, but this just sounds a bit...patronising

I didn't realize Madonna liked IDM/Bjork. Not bad though imo. Good blend of pop/90's club aesthetics. Although I'd rather listen to Cher's "Believe" on loop but that's beside the point.

Around the time she struck a pose, I stopped listening to Madonna. It was nothing personal. We'd just drifted apart, I thought. We were both getting older, and the shock value was starting to wear off. Sure, I'd revisit the Material Girl if I needed a hit of that nostalgia from high school days. But mostly, I left her work in the rearview mirror. This made listening to Ray of Light for the first time such a revelation. This 1998 album is the club album U2 had hoped they would make with Pop (an album for which I still harbor great affection), a reflective journey through the deeper questions of life that wouldn't seem out of place amid pulsing lights and technobeats on a sweaty dance floor in downtown Miami. Madonna succeeds where U2 fell short because she doesn't come down from the clouds to address the messiness. Instead, she begins in the sinewy sensuousness and lets it lead her to contemplative heights. One of Madonna's gifts is the discipline to stay within her voice's confines and never push beyond her own boundaries. This places the electronica and mesmerizing beats into the forefront as she raises the questions of life, joy, fulfillment, and depth without us having to leave the dance floor. The coyness of the early 80s transforms into a spiritual seeking at the end of the decade that fronts authenticity over artifice.

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.

My second Madonna album on this list. The first I can understand, not only was it a smash hit, it helped define a generation. This one however is just not on that tier. I appreciate that this was a radically different sound for Madonna, and that her vocal range is a lot better than earlier albums, so I guess it's on the list for those reasons. Ultimately though, this just isn't an album for me.

Pretty good. Easy pop listening. Not the irritating gay-icon Madonna that is my default (uncharitable) impression of her. If I'd heard this album as a kid, I definitely could imagine it would inspire nostalgic vibes. "Swim" especially. I also like what she does with lyrics in "Candy Perfume Girl."

Idk some fun rock techno stuff but not really my stuff

It’s fine. I remember it being such a huge hit when it came out. Her video was on constant rotation on MTV.

I forgot how great this was. Peak Madonna.

Got progressively weirder as it went

Quelques pièces m'ont vraiment accroché, plus que je ne m'attendais considérant comment l'album commence (Ex : Skin, Sky Fits Heaven, Frozen). Mais globalement je suis tellement perplexe par plusieurs des choix de production : ça sonne tellement comme si Madonna essayait beaucoup trop fort de s'appuyer sur les sons électros qui étaient populaires à l'époque. Ça fait très "fellow kids". Aussi, plusieurs des paroles sont vraiment ininspirées et gênantes. Je ne comprends pas l'acclamation critique de cet album. 4.5/10

Ok, but would not listen again 2/5

Madonna’s electronic-spiritual-mother record released after the drastic post-Erotica mellowing she did to get the Evita role. A sort of return to form but with noticeably less edginess and zero controversy. Some lovely songs with some outstanding music videos.

It’s okay - just okay - early career was so much better

Got some decent songs but overall not a patch on her first 3/4 albums

Got to give Madonna her due - she always knew how to jump on a trend. This is her late 90’s electro pop period and probably the last decent album she made.

I'm good, she had some jams back in the day but most of her output seems so polished and manufactured that I can't get into it

I often think that many of the albums on this list make it because of 1 or 2 popular singles that the album produced. And this is one of them. In this case, it was Frozen and Ray of Light. Outside of that a largely forgettable album, that is for the Madonna fans. I don't think this gave us anything that made it an absolute must hear.

Meh

This is a vibe! Happy I finally listened

The 90s was the decade of grunge, britpop, acid house, girl power and a whole other bunch, but this sound is what I consider to the the defining style, where pop producers got a bit more involved, so ultimately this was pretty good.

It's alright I guess. Not my favorite Madonna album, but it's a chill listen.

Started off better than it finished for sure.

Definitely like 80's or even early 90's Madonna better...the Euro pop M kinda sucks. 2/5

Not terrible

this album flows from pretty damn cool, to good bad, to lowkey bad bad in such a seamless way that you can’t help but respect it. i want to give it a low 4 but there were more bad bad songs than cool ones so we’ll go high 3

This isn't good. Fairly drab pop strewn with unnecessary EDM and eastern twang.

Rating: 6/10 I respect the artistic change for this album: a lot more ambient and soothing production than her other albums. The problem is that it is way too long and there are not many memorable choruses.

I remember at the time it was considered a ground breaking album for Madonna. Problem is whilst that may be true it doesn’t really feel ground breaking in the wider music context. Also reinforced my opinion that whilst Madonna may have been making great pop singles during her career the albums didn’t really add much.

Favourite tracks: swim; ray of light; power of goodbye; candy perfume girl

Really? Greatest 1001 ever. Yes, on the one hand you have an absolute pop legend combining with one of the greatest producers of the era. Ray of Light itself is an absolute STORMER of a track that means this gets a minimum 3 stars. The other single I remember "Frozen" is pretty special too. But the rest, the rest........................ I just don't see why you would include this when you could have picked, say, Mezzanine by Massive Attach, Elliot Smith's XO or, presumably, any number of other albums from around the world. 3 stars for "pop legend produces career reinvigorating absolute banger"

I don’t know. Seems Madonna’s for dancing, not for listening. I don’t dance anymore. So, for me, the time of Madonna has passed.

Not going to dignify this with a response

revelatory for pop

Eh. Frozen somehow was the best song on this album.

The title track and Frozen are solid songs, the rest of the album is filler of varying quality. Maybe pared down to a 40 minute album this would be better.

sigh, it was okay

All I asked for was a good album to end off a very slow and busy week of school. This is what the universe has decided to answer that request with. Sometimes you just can’t win. The rocky relationship I have had with Madonna and her music goes back well over a year now. I vividly remember being on the bus and deciding I’d rather listen to Henry Rollins talk about his life in Black Flag over her music. It has never appealed to me. She was actually the first artist I had that I wrote a negative review about. It’s still a little strange to me that she managed to find three placements at very time periods on this list. But when is the selection of records on here not confusing me? The progression of sound in her career is interesting to follow. And to a degree, I respect how much she branches out. On just the three albums I’ve heard, you get 80s pop in potentially it’s most unoriginal form on Like a Prayer, artsy 2000s dance music on Music, and downtempo electronic-based trip hop on Ray of Light. Except I would not regard her as an artist who is capable of applying herself to any genre and magically doing it right. I wanted to let my bias against my previous experiences with her, and honestly just her as a whole, affect how I looked at this as little as possible. Because that’s utterly unfair to do to any artist, no matter how much I dislike them as a person. The only exception is something like a Varg Vikernes situation, where they are genuinely irredeemable. You wouldn’t ever catch me willingly listening to Mayhem anyways. So I approached this album with the hope to find something good. I think that mindset actually helped me. Because this is the most tolerable and enjoyable piece of music I’ve heard from Madonna by a mile. It’s still not amazing though. This record feels so 90s, I can almost taste it. Why was everyone making music like this around the end of the decade? Everyone wanted to be Portishead, and apparently it worked because people were eating it up. The production here is actually really cool on many songs. It really draws on a club energy, and I can appreciate how it maintains a relatively chill vibe, and doesn’t have any throw away songs that are obviously radio bait. But because it sticks so closely to one style, it quickly backs itself into a corner and becomes stale. It’s a little bit of a slog to get through. Over an hour, with an average song length of around 4 or 5 minutes. I still don’t understand the perception she has garnered for herself over the last 40 years. Because I can name off 5 or 10 different pop artists who were cut from the same cloth that I would rather listen to. But at least there was something of value to be found here. Rating: 5/10

Well it wasn’t as bad as I feared but most of it is self indulgent dirge! I liked the pure upbeat pop songs though.

This album is great. I fw this techno pop style and ambience of the album was so good. There were some really good songs but tbh the rest of the album was kinda boring.

Weak pop, 1 Star sorry lady

Was waiting for this one to end. Too long and not my style, but was alright in moments. Will I listen to again: 0%

Nothing worthy of more words than this.

In high school I was a very casual Madonna fan so I was surprised how much I liked this.

It's easy to make fun of Madonna and her urge to always chase the latest musical trend and work with the currently in demand producer. It gets quite silly at some point in the 2000s. But I have to say that here she kind of hit bullseye. I'm not saying that triphop was still at its zenith in 1998 but (more than) 25 years later that doesn't really matter anymore and this actually sounds quite timeless. It hasn't dated as much as other music from around this period (or later Madonna records even). Lovely space-y production. It doesn't feel forced at all. The songs are quite nice. Frozen is lovely. And Skin is a nice discovery. Probably could have done with the last couple of songs (especially The Power of Goodbye).

Fabulous album. Love Madonna

Interessante comunque. Ce ne sono un paio notevoli, in generale bello.

This is the third Madonna album on here and every time I've been impressed. I like many of the tracks on here but also a few I really don't like. Solid.

Ziemlich viel elektronische Musik.

I actually really enjoyed the production. She also has a great voice. Would never throw it on though.

I dig it! Recognized several 4-5 songs in here. Had Ray of Light stuck in my head all day. Still need to watch the music video again for a nice little middle school flash back VH1 top ten count down

The title track was definitely a guilty pleasure for me at the time and I have a lot of respect for the fact the Like A Virgin and Isla Bonita girl came up with this in 1998... and had a massive hit with it. Frozen is brilliant as well, but while the overall vibes are good, I'm a little disappointed to learn that the singles are its best moments. So while 70% of this is new to me, nothing is quite as exciting a discovery as I'd hoped. Still, the production is excellent and overall I'm glad it's included as it's definitely a snapshot of the time and a testament to Madonna's versatility, something that probably doesn't get talked about enough.

experimental and sometimes wack, some bangers though

bit boring tbh

Yeah, Madonna's comeback in the late 90s/early 00s was pretty desperate and Ray Of Light isn't good, but it's better than "Music". I don't know whether it's simple nostalgia and familiarity from having lived through their releases but the title track and Frozen are really quite good songs, and better than anything else on the record, but we still only get to a high 2 vs a low 2 for Music. Her best song from the comeback 'era' was ironically Beautiful Stranger, which never ended up on any album.

Meh. Better than the other Madonna album we had recently, but in no way good. Don't have any nostalgia for it (but do remember Beautiful Stranger that Rolfe mentioned). Some funky influences, goes spiritual in places and very electronic in others, but it doesn't feel like she's quite comfortable with either of those sounds. 2/5.

I love Madonna, for a variety of reasons. Her music is down on that list. Much respect for the true Queen of Pop, but the sound just doesn’t move the needle with me.