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Reviews on Rebel Heart [Full Album]

 

Positive Reviews

muumuse [5/5] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57536

abcNews [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=62231

The Toronto Sun [4/4] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56682

Newsday [A] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56680

Breathe Heavy [8.5/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53860

Idolator [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=58723

Digital Spy [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53847

The Times UK [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53574

The Independent [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53530

The Daily Mail [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53215

Fort Worth Star-Telegram [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53049

Dutch Telegraaf [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=52820

The National [8/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=52478

Telegraph.co.uk [8/10]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=44629

New York Daily News [8/10]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=47086

Pride Source  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=66430

Paste Magazine [7.6/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=58272 / http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/03/madonna-rebel-heart-review.html

Impactnottingham [7.5/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=86125

Miami Herald [3/4] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=59865

L.A. Times [3/4] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56141 / http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-madonna-rebel-heart-review-20150308-column.html

Chicago Tribune [3/4] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53687

Vox.com [7/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57438 / http://www.vox.com/2015/3/10/8182469/madonna-rebel-heart

Musicohm [7/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56774

Attitude [7/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=54814

Billboard [7/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53027

Slant [7/10]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=46312

Rolling Stone [7/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=45273

Drowned in Sound [7/10]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=50432

EW [b by ANDERSON / C+ by MARKOVITZ]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=52886

 

Mixed Reviews

Spin [6/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57442 / http://www.spin.com/reviews/madonna-rebel-heart/

Out.com http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56710

PopMatters.com [6/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56109 / http://www.popmatters.com/review/191224-madonna-rebel-heart/

FT.com [6/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53024

The Guardian [6/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=52869 / http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/08/madonna-rebel-heart-review-observer-basqued-polemicist

Uncut [6/10]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=47349

Q Magazine [6/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=43765

Pretty Much Amazing [C+] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=51999

Cleveland.com [C] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56247 / http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/03/madonnas_rebel_heart_is_defian.html

Pitchfork [5.1/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=58994

NME [5/10] http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=51997

 

 

Unrated

V Magazine http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=68291http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=59868

Popologynow http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57535

People http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57509

PopInsomniacs http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57507 / http://popinsomniacs.com/2015/03/madonna-rebel-heart-album-review-exciting-eclectic-pop-from-its-champion/

Vulture http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=57440 / http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/madonna-sounds-currentand-empty-on-rebel-heart.html

AllMusic.com  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56711

ABC News http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56708

Boston Globe http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56254 / http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/03/09/madonna-rebel-heart/zjQ7dPyEVcrKOKPjzgs8GO/story.html?p1=Article_InThisSection_Bottom

Time.com http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56119 / http://time.com/3735645/review-madonna-rebel-heart/

All Music Guide http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=56043

Boston Herald http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=54826

New York Times' ArtsBeat http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/madonna-is-still-madonna-on-rebel-heart/?_r=0

Spiegel Online http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=53691

Vadamagazine http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=52504

gaytimes.co.uk   http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=44059

thesun.co.uk  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=42769

samesame.com.au http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=41793

Sweet Muzik Blogspot  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=32860

Disco pop Heaven http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=32484

US Weekly http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=52476

USA Today  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=47861

Time Out   http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=47027

The Quietus  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=45165 

Mojo Magazine UK  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=45099

Attitude  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=44858

SMH  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=50934

 

 

http://www.metacritic.com/music/rebel-heart/madonna

Posted ImageMetascore
68 Metascore [Updated 3/20/2015]
 

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critics

 


Positive16 out of 29

  • [*]
80 Boston Globe Mar 9, 2015 [*]80 All Music Guide Mar 9, 2015 [*]80 The Independent (UK) Mar 6, 2015 [*]80 New York Daily News (Jim Faber) Feb 27, 2015 [*]80 The Telegraph (UK) Feb 25, 2015 [*]76 Paste Magazine Mar 11, 2015 [*]75 Los Angeles Times Mar 9, 2015 [*]75 Entertainment Weekly Mar 5, 2015 [*]75 Chicago Tribune Mar 6, 2015 [*]70 musicOMH.com Mar 9, 2015 [*]70 Rolling Stone Feb 25, 2015 [*]70 Slant Magazine Feb 26, 2015 [*]70 Drowned In Sound Mar 2, 2015 [*]70 Billboard.com Mar 5, 2015 [*]67 The A.V. Club Mar 10, 2015 [*]65 The Line of Best Fit Mar 11, 2015

Mixed: 13 out of 29
  • [*]
60 Mojo Mar 19, 2015 [*]60 NOW Magazine Mar 11, 2015 [*]60 Spin Mar 10, 2015 [*]60 PopMatters Mar 9, 2015 [*]60 The Observer (UK) Mar 9, 2015 [*]60 Uncut Feb 25, 2015 [*]60 Q Magazine Feb 25, 2015 [*]60 The Guardian Mar 5, 2015 [*]58 Entertainment Weekly Mar 5, 2015 [*]58 Pretty Much Amazing Mar 2, 2015 [*]51 Pitchfork Mar 13, 2015 [*]50 Consequence of Sound Mar 26, 2015 [*]50 New Musical Express (NME) Mar 4, 2015

Negative: 0

 

 

Reviews on Rebel Heart Pre Order [2nd Round] 3 tracks - Track 7-9

Slant Magazine  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=38255

MuuMuse  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=38113

 

Reviews on Rebel Heart Pre Order with 1st  SIX tracks

PopMatters.com http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=21384

Billboard: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6414019/madonna-living-for-love-single-review

Slant Magazine: http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/madonna-releases-6-new-songs-from-rebel-heart-including-lead-single-living-for-love

Time: http://time.com/3643968/madonna-rebel-heart-new-music/

MTV: http://www.mtv.com/news/2032728/madonna-releases-new-songs/

USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/12/22/madonna-rebel-heart-listen-up/20783447/ /   http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/12/22/madona-living-for-love-listen-up-song-of-the-week/20768787/

i-D: https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/madonnas-rebel-heart-reviewed

Metro Times: http://m.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2014/12/21/heres-a-track-by-track-review-of-madonnas-rebel-heart-preview

NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/arts/music/madonna-6-songs-offers-preview-of-rebel-heart-album.html?_r=1

NY Post: http://nypost.com/2014/12/20/madonna-surprises-with-six-new-song-release/

NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/new-madonna-songs-rebel-heart-review-article-1.2051828

LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-madonna-notebook-20141223-story.html

Boston Herald: http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/music_news/2014/12/madonna_displays_innovative_style_on_6_released_songs

Dallas Morning News: http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/12/madonna-returns-we-review-the-rebel-heart-songs-released-over-the-weekend.html/

Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/madonnas-rebel-heart-early-review-something-old-something-new-something-borrowed-20141222-12c1pf.html#ixzz3Mk1cALRx

Lincoln Journal Style: http://journalstar.com/entertainment/music/album-reviews/madonna-rebel-heart/article_a6fdf6fe-68b0-5fd4-9b6d-bc84abfbea39.html

All Noise: http://all-noise.co.uk/single-review-%E2%80%9Cliving-love%E2%80%9D-madonna/10175/

Vulture: http://www.vulture.com/2014/12/best-new-music-of-the-week-madonna-weeknd.html?mid=twitter_nymag

Direct Lyrics: http://www.directlyrics.com/new-music-madonna-living-for-love-full-audio-review-news.html

FDRMX: http://fdrmx.com/madonna-living-love-single-review/

Jeremy Gloff: http://www.jeremygloff.com/index.html/madonnas-rebel-heart-is-the-most-important-thing-to-happen-to-me-this-year/

VICE: http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=19163http://www.vice.com/read/madonna-sings-about-isis-657

Gaffa.dk [Danish Music Publication]  http://www.madonna-infinity.net/forums/index.php?/topic/832-rebel-heart-reviews/?p=20944

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"Rebel Heart is easily @Madonna's best album in 16 years" 
Madonna Sings About Sniffing Glue on Her Great New Album 'Rebel Heart'
On paper, Madonna singing about the Illuminati sounds atrocious, but Rebel Heart is easily Madge's best album in at least 16 years. The artist initially planned to drop the album in the spring, but after a series of tracks leaked, she decided to release the first six song on iTunes, three months before the whole album comes out in March.
 
When the songs premiered, gay Twitter naturally exploded—some people were literally downloading the tracks on their smartphones at gay bars—but many fans expected little from Madonna's 13th album. Since her 1998 comeback Ray of Light, Madonna has released five full-lengths, but only two have been truly worthwhile: Music and Confessions on a Dance Floor. In recent years, instead of collaborating with relatively obscure producers as she did on classics like Erotica and Ray of Light, Madonna has hired major names like Timbaland and Benny Benassi. The results, 2008's Hard Candy and 2012's MDNA, sounded tepid. On "Give Me All Your Luvin'," a 2012 song featuring Nicki Minaj and MIA, she sounded downright bland when placed next to the rappers' swag, like the queen of pop was attempting to reclaim her title from female MCs who had never stolen her throne in the first place. Coupled with an awkward Super Bowl performance and a lackluster grinding session with Miley Cyrus, some fans believed Madonna had lost her creative way and become a vampire lusting after her competitors' youth.
 
Rebel Heart takes this critique and uses it as gasoline for empowerment anthems and vulnerable confessions perfect for the surreal, tragic year known as 2014 . The lead single "Living for Love" discusses surviving after a breakup with a guy Madonna left herself vulnerable to. (The person could easily be her haters.) "I'm gonna carry on," Madonna triumphantly sings. "Living for love / I'm not giving up."
 
Against a throbbing Diplo beat on a later track called "Bitch, I'm Madonna," her angriest song since 1994's "Human Nature," the pop star sings about "jumping in the pool and swimming with our clothes on" and then imitates the ageist critics who complain about her dressing like a twentysomething. "Who do you think you are?" she angrily asks, before answering herself: "Bitch, I'm Madonna." Next, Nicki Minaj jumps on the track, embodying Madonna. "Ain't got a thing left for me to prove / It's that bottle service all night," she raps. "Bitch, I'm Madonna. These hoes know." Unlike her "Give Me All Your Luvin'" verse, Minaj's vocal swagger compliments Madonna instead of overpowering her. Madonna's anger gives her a charisma we haven't seen since she danced alone in a dance studio to "Hung Up" nearly a decade ago.
 
On another Diplo joint, "Unapologetic Bitch," she becomes an Anna Wintour–like boss, echoing "Human Nature": "It might sound like I'm an unapologetic bitch / but sometimes, you know I've got to call it like it is," she sings. "You know you never really knew how much you loved me 'til you lost me / Did you? / You know you never really knew how much your selfish bullshit cost me / Oh, fuck you."
 
As she did on her recent tour, where she flashed her nipple while singing a ballad version of "Like a Virgin," Madonna veers into the ridiculous on "Illuminati." "Rihanna don't know the new world order," she sings. "It's not Isis or the phoenix, cameras of Egypt." The song starts as a vague, confusing meditation on the media, but the song's chorus ("It's like everybody in this party shining like Illuminati") elevates the track from a piece of camp to a great dance banger. Few listeners can relate to a global superstar's analysis of a celebrity-oriented conspiracy theory, but everyone can relate to feeling like a superstar at a club for a few fleeting minutes.
 
Madonna's surprising relatability sounds like downright vulnerability on other tracks. "Devil Pray" opens with string sounds reminiscent of Madonna's American Life singer-songwriter phase, but avoids the awkwardness of a pop star channeling her inner Liz Phair when a beat kicks in as Madonna sings, "We can do drugs and we can smoke weed and we can drink whiskey." (She goes on to brag about how they could sniff glue and take E. Did I mention she's 56?) Like "Illuminati," the refrain seems absurd, but when Madonna admits she's "getting weaker" and asks to "sing hallelujah" and save her "soul," she sounds honest, even spiritual, and for the first time since Confessions on a Dance Floor, she finally fucking nails it.
 
The vulnerability crescendos on the standout track "Ghosttown," one of those great dance songs that's moving but not catchy enough to become a single. "Everything's gone to hell," Madonna sings. "All we've got is love." Capturing the mood of the country, she asks how we've got to such an odd, terrible place. During the refrain she sounds like she's painting herself as a savior, belting, "When it all falls down / I'll be your fire when the lights go out." But at the end of the chorus, she reveals she's discussing a one-on-one relationship with the listener: "We'll be two souls in a ghost town."
 
The trick captures what made Madonna great in the 80s and 90s: her ability to sing cliches ("I am a material girl," "we need a holiday," "you've got to make him express himself") and transform them into both personalized anthems and universal truths. And the slick, expensive production is catchy as hell this time around. What else can you ask for?
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As she did on her recent tour, where she flashed her nipple while singing a ballad version of "Like a Virgin," Madonna veers into the ridiculous on "Illuminati." "Rihanna don't know the new world order," she sings. "It's not Isis or the phoenix, cameras of Egypt." The song starts as a vague, confusing meditation on the media, but the song's chorus ("It's like everybody in this party shining like Illuminati") elevates the track from a piece of camp to a great dance banger. Few listeners can relate to a global superstar's analysis of a celebrity-oriented conspiracy theory, but everyone can relate to feeling like a superstar at a club for a few fleeting minutes.

 

 

I dont know where to begin with everything that is wrong with this paragraph.  :cryin: 

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ROL is fine, but it was 16 years ago - there's been better things since then (just to name one : American Life)

And songs like Little Star (what's the deal with singers that have kids and NEED to bore the hell out of us with the subject ?) prevent it from being a perfect album.

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Although ROL is good, it's certainly not my favorite album, I find it nice but a bit boring, maybe because sooo many people went on and on about it when it came out, and nowadays too. And for them to say that Illuminati sounds ridiculous...... I happen to love Illuminati.  WTF do they know loool. But that review is both good and bad.

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Danish music magazine Gaffa has published a review of the 6 pre-order tracks.
 
Translated:
Exciting, but messy tastings bodes well for Queen of Pop's forthcoming response
Prompted by the panic that demo versions of her upcoming album Rebel Heart were leaked on the large internet, Madonna rush-release six songs from the new album. And how do they sound?
 
The Diplo-produced "Living for Love" is a melodic, but also somewhat anaemic disco-pop song that sounds as if it could have come from Confessions on a Dance Floor. 
 
Devil Pray , among others co-produced by Avicii, seems forced, with studied provocation. However, in hearing Madonna's delivery: "And we can do drugs and we can smoke weed and we can drink whiskey / Yeah we can get high and we can get stoned / And we can sniff glue and we can do E and we can drop acid " it's also very effective and shows that Madonna is still strong not only physically, but also vocally, which she also demonstrated in the melodically powerful ballad "Ghosttown".
 
Diplos eminent feeling for reggae and dancehall cannot be denied on the infectious unapologetic Bitch , "Unapologetic Bitch", which might as well have been a Major Lazer number, while Kanye sprinkles his sinister magic on "Illuminati ",  in which Madonna namedrops everyone from Jay-Z to Steve Jobs and Obama on top of Kanye West's heavily shuffling beats.
 
Closing the album sampler we find the equally irritating and rousing "Bitch I'm Madonna", which features a guest rap by Nicki Minaj. The sampler shows that the feisty Queen of Pop is a lady, who by all accounts does not intend to settle down soon.
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Madonna's 'Rebel Heart' Reinforces Her Relevance
Despite the detractors who insist that she gives it up, Madonna is determined to dominate the cultural conversation once again. Madonna is making headlines again, and for the first time in two years, the topic of conversation is her music.
 
Over the past few weeks, demos of her latest songs have leaked into the Internet, forcing the pop star to think practically about her next move. In a seemingly desperate decision, Madonna made six finished tracks available to digitally download on 20 December 2014, and announced that her 13th studio album Rebel Heart, scheduled to be released on 10 March 2015, would come with 13 additional tracks.
Each Madonna release is held to the highest standard by professional music critics and die-hard fans. For better or worse, the Queen of Pop has an impressive legacy to live up to, and it is not enough for her to release a good pop album. She must release her best album every time, which is to say that each release must be trend-setting and iconic. This is why critics and fans were not too pleased with 2008’s Hard Cady and 2012’s MDNA. For other pop stars like Britney Spears or Katy Perry, these would have been solid albums, but for Madonna, they were lame attempts to appeal to the mainstream. This is obviously not fair, and such impossibly high expectations often overlook the fact that even Madonna’s lesser work is significantly more interesting than what passes for contemporary pop, but better this than to accept everything she does simply because her name is attached to it.
 
Unlike the Little Monsters, the Swifties, and the Arianators, Madonna’s fans are not afraid to tell her when she needs to step it up, and they don’t defend her every move for the sake of it. When she released “Give Me All Your Luvin’†as the lead single from MDNA, for example, fans expressed their disdain for the song, and the vast majority of them did not hold back their disappointment. How can pop music’s premier artist deliver such a trite, moronic single, they wondered? Such laziness was not going to be tolerated.
 
Whether or not the leak of Rebel Heart will impact first-week sales, Madonna fans can rest knowing that it will be her best album since 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, if not better. I have listened to the majority of the demos and can breathe a sigh of relief, but out of respect for the artist, I am only going to focus on the six finished tracks that were released.
 
The first track, “Living for Loveâ€, is her most joyous since “Express Yourselfâ€, and shows us why Madonna still matters today. The production, which is inspired by ‘90s house, is instantly listenable, and the uplifting lyrics fit right in with contemporary pop’s obsession with self-help DIY optimism. Like Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Offâ€, Ariana Grande’s “Break Freeâ€, and Katy Perry’s “Roarâ€, “Living for Love†is a survivor’s anthem. However, unlike those other artists, Madonna has lived long enough to experience survival, which makes her song more powerful and emotional.
 
“Devil Pray†is the second track, and it is reminiscent of Madonna’s more introspective work from 1998’s Ray of Light and 2003’s American Life. The song finds Madonna searching for salvation, and it is bewildering and beautiful in equal measure. Track three, “Ghost Townâ€, is similarly introspective, and is arguably the most haunting love song of her career.
 
Although fans and critics are unanimous in their praise of the first three tracks, the latter three—“Unapologetic Bitchâ€, Illuminatiâ€, and “Bitch I’m Madonnaâ€â€”are more divisive. Some admire Madonna’s audacity to have fun, while others think that she is too old to be singing about the party life. Some appreciate Madonna’s ability to experiment with the current sounds, while others wish that she would stop trying so hard to stay relevant.
 
I understand the negative criticism, but it is impossible not to admire Madonna’s bravery. At a time when pop music is saturated with young twenty-something newcomers, the 56-year-old veteran takes a huge risk every time she returns to reclaim her throne. She risks alienating her older fans, as well as turning off younger generations that aren’t familiar with her aggressive persona. In a way, she reminds me of Jean-Luc Godard, who at age 84 decided to release his first digital 3D film, Goodbye to Language, in 2014. Despite the detractors who insist that she gives it up, Madonna is determined to dominate the cultural conversation once again.
 
That she has succeeded, at least for now, is an impressive achievement, and calls into question the significance of sales in the digital era. An artist like Madonna doesn’t need a number one hit in the same way that Swift might, and at this point in her career, she seems more interested in the quality of the music than anything else. Rather than chase the top of the charts like she did with Hard Candy and MDNA, Madonna finally seems to realize that the pop culture landscape she once dominated in the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early ‘00s has drastically changed. These changes have liberated her, and have inspired her to make some of the most personal and fully realized music of her career.
 
The idea of an artist’s legacy is worthy of contemplation, especially when icons like Madonna continue to create. How should we measure Madonna’s latest album, and in what ways can it influence her reputation? Do the first week sales and amount of top ten singles really matter? What about positive reviews from critics or fans? How important is quality?
 
Perhaps none of these things matter unless the artist can enter the cultural conversation, which Madonna continues to do with each release. Whenever someone expresses their opinion about her, whether it be positive or negative, they reinforce her relevance. Social media users around the world have joined the discussion after the surprise release of the aforementioned six songs, with some celebrating her return and others condemning her entire career. Regardless, everyone cares enough to offer an opinion.
 
When the dust settles, Rebel Heart will be cited as one of Madonna’s better albums, and fans and critics will praise her return to form. However, as we all know by now, it’s never been just about the music with Madonna, and more than anything else, Rebel Heart shows that she is still the most talked about pop star in the world.
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  • 4 weeks later...
ALBUM REVIEW: “REBEL HEART†- MADONNA
Madonna is right where she is supposed to be.
A-

It’s been years since Madonna had released some new material which would be good enough to please both critics and fans. We all remember the sweet, yet underwhelming disco-throwback “Hard Candy†offered us, and well as the carefree euro-dance of “MDNAâ€. Both of these albums, while containing some good songs, weren’t strong enough as a body of work. On “Hard Candyâ€, Madonna was often out-shadowed by Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland’s productions. On “MDNAâ€, she tried too hard to please young fans with basic dance music and generic singles that the rich lyrical layer (mostly treating of her divorce with Guy Ritchie) was put aside in favor of cliché songwriting (remember “Turn Up the Radioâ€?). These periods were hard to swallow for fans who knew and loved “Ray of Light†or even “American Life†for its lyrical depths and experimental music, or even “Confessionsâ€, for its re-invention of Madonna’s persona.

 

The “Rebel Heart†era will be remembered mostly for its many leaks (all of the songs from the album somewhat leaked in over a month), but it’s a shame. “Rebel Heart†is actually a wonderful addition to Madonna’s discography, and her greatest album of the last decade. While we experienced the first six songs early, as Madonna released them on iTunes back in late December, waiting was required for the other ones. And here they are, after the whole album and its 25 (!) songs leaked. And guess what? They’re actually really good.

 

Those who heard the demos know that Avicii heavily contributed on some of the songs, including the title track. Well, here, his productions are more subtle. Goodbye, good old dance breakdowns, welcome actual melodies. “Rebel Heart†becomes a country song, which would perfectly fit on “Musicâ€, while “Wash All Over Me†is now a symphonic album closer, where Madonna reflects on her loneliness. Of all the demo songs, “Body Shop†is actually the one who transitioned the most successfully. It is now a sweet, guitar-driven song, where Madonna shines as a playful, loving partner for her lover.

 

The album raises the question of Madonna’s identity: is she a revolutionist, a loner, a deluded woman, a fierce diva, …? She’s actually all of that, and she says it herself. Yes, she may have flaws and she may come off as a heartless diva, but really, she’s as much a sucker for love as we all are. â€œTake me with all my stupid flawsâ€, she sings, and we happily oblige. This album could easily be compared to “American Life†and its sumptuous, personal ballads, as Madonna delivers here some of her best material in years. “Ghosttownâ€, an apocalyptic ballad, “Joan of Arcâ€, a confession of lack of confidence facing the hardest times, and “Messiah†a masterpiece of unrequited love: they are delicate, honest songs, and the proof that Madonna can actually deliver real down-tempo songs with talent and confidence (remember “Take a Bowâ€?).

 

But let’s not forget the more up-tempo songs: “Living for Love†and its mix between dubstep and “Like a Prayer†gospel-throwback is a winning mix, while “Hold Tight†is a soaring anthem to be. “Iconic†is the most basic song on the standard version and yet its dark, yet empowering nature makes it all work alright. Plus, how good is self-reference when it’s about playing “Vogue†halfway through your songs? The Natalia Kills-penned “Holy Water†feels straight out of “Hard Candyâ€, and its futurist production and cheeky lyrics remind us of what the 2008 could have been. Madonna also self-references herself on “Veni Vedi Viciâ€, an autobiographical piece where she remembers her success throughout past successes.

 

Madonna offers us her best dance material thanks to eclectic genres mixes and autobiographical exploration, yet she shines the most through her ballads, where the woman behind the persona reveals herself for the first time since 2003. In a world that changes, Madonna stays the same, and we are so much thankful for that “Rebel Heart†in our lives.

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The first half of Ray Of Light is extraordinary, absolutely one of M's finest moments. But the second half descends a little into over polite 'mah-ture' territory, which I don't think quite suits her rebel heart rebelliousness (and I agree with BlankFormatted; why do pop stars always have to inflict insipid songs about their newborn kids onto their public?) That said, To Have And Not To Hold is unquestionably one of my favourite tunes of hers.

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Madonna - Rebel Heart (Review)
The highly anticipated 13th studio album from the Queen Of Pop is slated to be released next month, and there are rumors it may be moved up to next week to coincide with her Grammy Awards performance on Sunday.
 
Madonna began work on this album last year. She was very active on Instagram throughout that year documenting her process with many collaborators including Alicia Keys, Avicii, Diplo, Kanye West, Mozella, Nas, Natalia Kills, Nicki Minaj, Ryan Tedder, Toby Gad, and many others.
 
Nearly a week before Christmas, a number of unfinished demos and work in progress versions of songs from the album leaked online forcing Madonna and her team to release the first 6 songs as 'instant downloads' when fans pre-ordered the album on iTunes. The lead single "Living For Love" was one of the songs to be released then. A full remix package has also been released and a music video is in the works. The album was originally envisioned as a concept project with two discs each containing a particular them with one being "Rebel Heart" with the more socially conscious and emotional songs and then "Unapologetic Bitch" with the more playful and light-hearted songs. That concept was abandoned due to the leaks and it is now one album going back and forth between the themes.
 
Here is a track by track writeup.
 
1. Living For Love
This throwback to 90s House music about finding new love after a breakup is an excellent album opener.
Grade: A
 
2. Devil Pray
The Folk/Dance midtempo is super catchy with its many hooks. This is begging to be a future single.
Grade: A
 
3. Ghosttown
The haunting ballad is one of her best in a longtime. This one desperately needs to be used in a movie.
Grade: A+
 
4. Unapologetic Bitch
Reggae and Dubstep being put together sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, but it works on this song about throwing caution to the wind and being true to oneself.
Grade: B-
 
5. Illuminati
This is a hilarious commentary on how the blogosphere erupts to discuss the hidden symbolism referencing the Freemasons whenever a new music video or something is released by various famous people. M namechecks many celebrities during the vocoded rap.
Grade: B-
 
6. Bitch I'm Madonna (feat. Nicki Minaj)
It sticks out like a sore thumb amongst some of the more thought provoking ballads and midtempos, however, this one would probably best enjoyed while drunk.
Grade: C+
 
7. Hold Tight
Giorgio Moroder would be proud of this dreamy marching band-laden gem.
Grade: A
 
8. Joan of Arc
Another stunner that sounds like something off of one of her earlier albums.
Grade: A
 
9. Iconic (feat. Chance the Rapper & Mike Tyson)
This is a convivial fusion of EDM and Dubstep with two unexpected guests.
Grade: B+
 
10. HeartBreak City
The confessional piano ballad builds into a midtempo is a bit of a tearjerker.
Grade: A
 
11. Body Shop
The marching band drums return for this cute one. The car and auto body shop cliché lyrics are a bit suggestive, but the way they are sung doesn't necessarily mean they should be interpreted in that manner.
Grade: A-
 
12. Holy Water
The bass heavy, semi Dubstep song is one of the raciest ones she has done in a while with its many catch phrases. It incorporate a short sample from the rap in her iconic hit "Vogue."
Grade: A
 
13. Inside Out
This is another fun, hooky EDM midtempo.
Grade: A-
 
14. Wash All Over Me
This is absolutely beautiful.
Grade: A
 
15. Best Night
Sinewy and sensual, this has a deep layered production with many exciting elements.
Grade: A
 
16. Veni Vidi Vici (feat. Nas)
This is an autobiographical EDM/Hip Hop song referencing her own lyrics with some fierce rhymes by Nas with a cute sample from "Holiday."
Grade: A
 
17. S.E.X.
The room-shaking bass combined with the over-the-top sexual lyrics is hilarious.
Grade: A-
 
18. Messiah
This is a cinematic masterpiece with an epic orchestra. The vocals are just heavenly.
Grade: A+
 
19. Rebel Heart
Another Folk/Dance hybrid that has been reworked considerably from the demo.
Grade: B+
 
20. Beautiful Scars
This is another gorgeous midtempo begging to be a single.
Grade: A-
 
21. Borrowed Time
This sounds like the little sister of "Love Profusion" from American Life, however, this is much catchier.
Grade: A-
 
22. Queen
This is another haunting, atmospheric song with gothic church bells and marching band drums.
Grade: A
 
23. Graffiti Heart
This cute song could have been on one of her earlier albums. It's a fusion of her 80s synthpop and contempo EDM.
Grade: A-
 
24. Autotune Baby
This is one of the strangest songs on the album with the heavily autotuned baby crying sounds used as the basis for the synths. It's catchy for the most part, but that sample...
Grade: B
 
25. Addicted
The album closer is an Acoustic/EDM hybrid with another strong hook.
Grade: A-
 
Overall, the album ends up being one of her strongest and most cohesive efforts in a long time. She was clearly inspired and going through a great creative period. Her primary focus this time around was the music and that made a huge difference. Hard Candy and MDNA had some excellent songs as well, but they lacked the focus that this and other previous albums had. Madonna's vocals sound far more natural on this record. A major complaint with the last two was the unnecessary and extreme autotuning that made her sound robotic and severe (although it was intentional on some songs on those records and even this one). The ballads and midtempos are a great return to form. American Life was the last album that had proper ballads whereas subsequent records had some songs that were not quite close enough to the traditional ballads she has graced us with. The uptempos are pretty good as well, however, a couple of the ones released in the initial 6 put on iTunes ended up being the weakest tracks of the album. The newer ones ended up being much better though. This is a solid release with a little something for everyone.
 
Overall Grade: A-
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  • 2 weeks later...
Round two of the #RebelHeart track-by-track, featuring the 3 newly released songs:
The last time we left off with Queen Of Everything Madonna‘s 13th studio album Rebel Heart, the record had only leaked in full once, and Snapchat and Grindr were still only being used for nudes…and “networking.â€
 
My, how much has changed.
 
By now, we’ve all watched Matadonna’s spectacular, rose-colored return among sexy minotaurs on Snapchat (and then on YouTube, like normal people) in “Living For Love,†stared in awe as she extreme back-bended her way up toward the heavens on the stage of the Grammy Awards and signed up for Grindr in hopes of some NSA discreet fun with Madge.
 
There are now three more songs from Rebel Heart to enjoy, officially. (You know, in case you didn’t hear it in demo form or semi-finished form already.)
 
Like the last Rebel Heart track-by-track, let’s take this one song at a time.
 
“Hold Tightâ€
If ever there were ever a pop star who could speak to perseverance with any kind of authority, it’s Madonna. “Hold Tight†is a simple, powerful statement of romantic determination, crafted alongside MoZella and “The Rhythm†maker MNEK. “A million miles later, we walk through the valley of the darkest night/We made it through the fire/Scarred and bruised, but our hearts will guide us,†she assures. The production on this track is superb — it feels modern without being “current,†filled with pounding drums and thunderous, tribal-like beat drops. “Everything’s gonna…†Woooosh! In a way, it’s like a faster cousin to Coldplay‘s epic “Princess Of China.†The dramatic, us-against-the-world bridge is especially gorgeous: “I don’t want to breathe air that you’re not breathing/I don’t want to hear if your heart’s not beating/If you hurt then I wanna be the one that’s bleeding…†It’s already one of the finest moments on Rebel Heart.
 
“Joan Of Arcâ€
If you took a listen (or ten) to the Rebel Heart demos, you’ll already know that “Joan Of Arc†was given a makeover. It’s now a richer, more propulsive production than the somber and slower first take, which has caused some grumbling among fans. (What doesn’t?) That being said, the emotional tone of the track hasn’t been lost: The fact is, “Joan Of Arc†is possibly Madonna’s best ballad since “Miles Away†(which is only sort of a ballad, for that matter) — or really since the Music or Ray Of Light era. There’s a sting of vulnerability throughout the melodic, guitar-led tune that cuts extra deep: “I don’t want to talk about it right now, just hold me while I cry my eyes out/I’m not Joan of Arc, not yet…†Madge might be in an #UnapologeticBitch most of the time, but there’s something refreshingly real when she drops the hashtags and simply allows herself to be…human. “Each time they write a hateful word, dragging my soul into the dirt, I wanna die/Never admit it but it hurts.†Gulp.
 
“Iconic (feat. Chance The Rapper & Mike Tyson)â€
Let’s get this out of the way: The Mike Tyson feature isn’t a rap, thank God. He’s actually Madge’s hypeman, delivering a brag-filled ramble about being the best above the roar of a cheering crowd. And it works! Well. The usage of Tyson is no doubt troubling given his track record, but it works in the context of his career as a boxing legend — I’ll just leave it at that. The blood, sweat and tears perseverance anthem is all sorts of classic Madge: Work hard and shine your light like a beautiful (lucky) star! She’s no stranger to using boxing to illustrate her point, either. (See also: The Hard Candy visual campaign.) Along the way, she channels Muhammad Ali (“standing in the wings, a butterfly that stings“) and delivers echoing nuggets of encouragement (“I can’t, icon, two letters apart“) above marching drums and booming bass, resulting in a confidence-boosting compliment to a grueling gym workout. The ominous beat drops are certainly more ‘on-trend’ than, say, “Hold Tight,†but the song still feels (mostly) fresh and strange, as opposed to the late-to-the-party dubstep/EDM excursion on MDNA. Later on, Chance The Rapper comes in and fits a surprising amount of food for thought into a quick verse about idolatry. It’s a thrilling, weird and semi-embarrassing-yet-ultimately-empowering centerpiece of Rebel Heart that feels as bold as a song called “Iconic†by Madonna should. Only Madonna would.
 
More to come when the album drops, officially, in March.
 
‘Rebel Heart’ will be released on March 10. (iTunes)
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Review of song 7-9 from Slant Magazine http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/madonna-releases-three-more-songs-from-rebel-heart-joan-of-arc-iconic-hold-tight

 

"Joan of Arc" sounded like a highlight even in its more acoustic demo form, but the album version is a full-on stunner, compensating for a loss of some of the leaked incarnation's ethereal haze with a new beat that lifts the BPMs considerably, but preserving the gorgeous, string-laden bridge and acoustic denouement.

 

"I worked hard and sweated my tears," Mike Tyson goofily barks through a wall of chintzy applause during the intro to "Iconic," a song that otherwise boasts Rebel Heart's toughest, weirdest beat (think Kanye and Jay-Z's "H-A-M" arm-wrestling Skrillex), not to mention a show-stopping Chance the Rapper verse and a pretty disarming message from the singer herself: "There's another part of me no one sees." It's unclear if Madonna means to embrace her iconic status or fight her way out from under its oppressive expectations, especially since the song sounds like such a waking nightmare. It's that kind of discontent, uncommon for a pop star pushing 60, that makes Rebel Heart occasionally sound like Madonna's most committed work since 2003's underrated American Life.

 

"Hold Tight" is perfectly acceptable album filler: innocuous, lyrically platitudinous pop that briefly works itself up into something exciting when it threatens to become a gospelized stomp.

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Review: Madonna - Rebel Heart
Discussing Madonna around a dinner table will likely garner her some ridicule. “Relevant†seems to be the last compliment people want to give her, these days. The typical naysayer will give praise for what she used to be but express disdain for her continued eminence in culture. Reasons for such contempt usually circle her 56 years of age and the belief she’s desperate to still be doing what she’s already been doing for 30 + years.
 
Ironically, considering this apparent attitude, there are forces at work,which want Madonna’s new music in the world before she’s quite ready. The release of her 13th studio album Rebel Heart will be remembered for its premature leaks. Even before last year was through, numerous demos seeped onto the internet, prompting Madonna and her team to make six tracks from the LP immediately available on iTunes. An Israeli man was eventually arrested under suspicion for the hack, but the full album, in its completed form, subsequently emerged online earlier this month.
 
For an artist who has always muscled an iron grip on her career, it seemed, for the first time, Madonna was without considerable control. Interestingly, loss of control is a developed theme on ‘Rebel Heart’. In ‘Wash All Over Me’, she questions, “Who am I to decide what should be done?†There’s a sense Madonna has learnt to lean into seeming unease. “If this is the end then let it come. Let it come, let it rain. Rain all over me†she sings over the song’s majestic pace of marching band percussion. Lyrically, she’s releasing. And, at a point in her career where ageism is tugging at her seams, it’s a needed expression of self-awareness in being a mature icon, in today’s condemnatory pop world.
 
With letting go, Madonna is also willing to be vulnerable. Exposure runs rampant on ‘Rebel Heart’. Ten years ago, she was making frivolous confessions on a dance floor, now she’s confessing from a deeply honest place. On ‘Joan Of Arc’s’ tuneful chorus, she vents, “I don’t wanna talk about it right now, just hold me while I cry my eyes out.†It’s a tender moment from a woman who’s physicality, at the very least, suggests nothing can break her. ‘Joan Of Arc’ leads us to believe that despite her astonishing resilience, her armour can be shattered by what they say. Perhaps it’s responsive to claims of her irrelevance and desperation – “Each time they write a hateful word, dragging my soul into the dirt. I wanna die.†It’s an admission from Madonna that feels like a rarity, considering her typically steely persona.
 
Madonna’s previous album, 2012’s ‘MDNA’, was deemed her divorce piece. Her lyrics often detailed the drama she experienced in leaving ex-husband Guy Ritchie. On ‘Rebel Heart’, Madonna articulates her experience with separation on a greater spectrum. Sentiments travel from anguish to the power found in goodbye. ‘HeartBreakCity’ is a clear cut from her material defined by grief. “Cut me down the middle. Fucked me up a littleâ€, she tremors over a forlorn piano, which is later intensified by another percussive march. Notably, marching is the sound of endurance on ‘Rebel Heart’, and we’re taking Madonna’s steps of survival in listening.
 
From the strength she finds in moving on, ‘Living For Love’ is manifested, as the album’s lead-single. The Diplo made sequence of house lifts the roof like her titanic benchmarks, ‘Like A Prayer’ and ‘Express Yourself’. There’s also duality within the song’s context of life-after-love. The secondary message is making love the point of life. And, for this reason, one can easily imagine pride seasons around the globe elevating ‘Living For Love’ to a higher anthemic level than where it already stands.
 
The reverse side of Madonna’s loss of love is her undying affinity with romantic idealisation. Such musings gain tremendous momentum on ‘Ghosttown’, where her perspective is starry-eyed, as she narrates a tale of love’s survival in a post apocalyptic world. Adorned with a far-reaching chorus, ‘Ghosttown’ is an electro-ballad with melodies that curve deeply. Despite minor flourishes of auto-tune, Madonna’s voice sounds wholesome and less cartoonish here. Behind all that goes on, sonically, the cinematic embellishments of this tune are lassoed in by a series of humble yet mighty chord progressions, which work to keep everything tightly arranged. Solely written by Madonna, ‘Ghosttown’ feels more concerned with song-craft than trend, making it a rewarding listen.
 
The delightful ‘Body Shop’ is another rose-tinted vision. Madonna likens her romantic needs to upkeep on a car, which ought to be attended to by her beau in the body shop. “Jumpstart my heart, you know what you gotta do.†The metaphoric discourse is endearing and the song twangs somewhere between India and Middle America. Is it a sitar or banjo playing? Either way, it strums blissfully on the ears. Not dissimilar to ‘Ghosttown’, it’s a track where Madonna doesn’t seem preoccupied with staying current, and the results are actually quite fresh.
 
Of course, there are ticks on ‘Rebel Heart’, where Madonna’s penchant for appealing to the youth market makes the production overexcited. ‘Bitch I’m Madonna’, featuring Nicki Minaj, swanks a flatulent synth that ambushes the listener with its teenage enthusiasm. With lyrics like – “Yeah, we’ll be drinking and nobody’s gonna stop usâ€, the song essentially uses the age-appropriate-guidebook as toilet paper. Likewise, on ‘Unapologetic Bitch’, Diplo edges the production with raving alarms, as it’s reggaeton beat struts with brazen confidence. “I’m popping bottles that you can’t even afford. I’m throwing parties and you won’t get in the doorâ€, it’s a brattish ode to validating oneself against the ex. The pressing break-up suggests one she had with a recent boy-toy, perhaps twenty-something Jesus Luz or Brahim Zaibat? Surely Guy Richie could afford expensive champagne.
 
Even among the party packages, ‘Rebel Heart’ is an album laced with lush guitar and strong song writing. A noteworthy number, which attests to these qualities, is the title track, ‘Rebel Heart’. It’s a mid-tempo ballad so melodically sophisticated, with its sing-along euphony, that the chorus reaches a much higher plane. The instrumentation of heart-tugging strings and percussive punch helps to support a vocal performance from Madonna that echoes wisely from her point of reflection. The song, thematically, is a look back, “So I took the road less travelled by, and I barely made it out alive.â€
 
Unlike the Madonna of previous eras, this one is absorbed in pronouncing all she’s done before. The album explicitly rejoices in her legacy and that’s evident in song titles like ‘Iconic’ and ‘Veni Vidi Vici’. In the latter, Madonna self-references her litany of hits by weaving big names into autobiographic lines like “I expressed myself, came like a virgin down the isle… I opened up my heart. I learnt the power of goodbye. I saw a ray of light. Music saved my life.†In the Natalia Kills assisted ‘Holy Water’, she goes as far as resurrecting the rap from ‘Vogue’ to commemorate her history. And after three decades of prominence in the music industry, she’s earned her privilege to revel in such rich heritage.
 
No one has matched the endurance of Madonna in pop. No one has had a career of consistency to compare to her achievements. ‘Rebel Heart’ can be enjoyed as a testament to her continuance. Usually, persistent success in one’s career, over a lengthy period, is societally regarded as an achievement worthy of applause. Therefore, it seems contradictory for cynics to drag her for prolonging a career. The alternative perception is to simply appreciate the music, as it so easily is, with ‘Rebel Heart’.
 
Inarguably it’s her best release in ten years. This is Madonna’s new era. If attention looks beyond the music, perhaps it’s time to notice that what she’s doing, as a 56-year-old female in pop, is shifting the paradigm for what it means to be middle-aged. We’re all living longer lives, let this central part in our life become more abundant. Let’s look to Madonna as an example on how to express freely.
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Madonna's raunchy rebellion 
World Exclusive: First review of Madonna’s new Rebel Heart album
By DAN WOOTTON, Head of Showbiz
THE Queen of Pop will reign again – MADONNA is about to release her best album in 17 years and one of the greatest of her career.
 
Not since Ray of Light in 1998 has Madge come up with such a perfect collection of pop belters, while managing to remain at the cutting edge of music trends.
 
Rebel Heart, her 13th studio album, is deeply personal, exposing her darkest secrets, sexual desires and fears for the future.
 
It’s provocative, sexy, emotionally raw and self-referential.
 
But above all else, it features melodies and hooks that should send her back to the top of the charts.
 
While the 56-year-old has had to deal with almost constant leaks over the past two months, this is the first official review of the album.
 
If you were one of the few who has listened to the tracks illegally released online, then discount what you’ve heard.
 
Nine songs are now officially available through Apple’s iTunes store but ten more will be released on March 9.
 
I’ve had a world exclusive First Listen for Bizarre and am excited to bring you my top ten countdown of the unreleased new songs.
 
10 INSIDE OUT
Yes, Madonna most definitely still loves sex — or “the purest form of ecstasy†as she describes it on this track.
 
Eroticism and romance collide here as she stops singing to gasp: “I want to love you from the inside out.†Later she makes it clear the song is actually more about revealing your deepest feelings to your lover.
 
She sings: “Every scar you try to hide. Every dark corner of your mind. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.â€
 
9 HOLY WATER
One of four tracks co-produced by KANYE WEST. His influence is immediately evident, with “Yeezus†even getting a nod in the lyrics. The stripped-back instrumentation is very modern. But there’s still a cheeky reference to Vogue when Madge says: “Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it.â€
 
8 BEST NIGHT
Top DJ DIPLO worked with Madonna on this feelgood and chilled-out party song about a one-night stand. A rap from Madonna, where she references the recent phenomenon of sex tapes, is the highlight here.
 
She seductively whispers: “Surrender to the pleasure when we breathe in together. It’s either now or never. No sex tapes on camera. Just you and me together.â€
 
7 MESSIAH
The most traditional ballad on the album has similarities to Madonna’s brilliant Nineties hit You’ll See. There’s an impressive string section and very little dance production compared to the rest of the album. It’s one of five songs Swedish DJ AVICII has contributed to.
 
6 S.E.X.
Madonna shows why she was so scornful of Fifty Shades of Grey, with her own X-rated mission statement that puts EL James to shame. Her “lesson in sexology†includes handcuffs, blindfolds, high heels, perfume, fishnets, leather belts, thigh highs, silk scarfs and, er, a bar of soap.
 
Oh, there’s also audio of a woman, we presume to be Madge, making love . . .
 
5 HEARTBREAK CITY
This is how you write and perform a break-up ballad. Madonna sounds angry here. Like, you-don’t-want-to-mess-with-me angry.
 
Her vocals are on point too as she builds to a soaring chorus, singing: “Cut me down the middle. F***ed me up a little. You said I was your queen. I tried to give you everything. And now you want your freedom. You got what you came for — a bit of fame and fortune. And I’m no longer needed.â€
 
4 VENI VEDI VICI
“I came, I saw, I conquered,†Madonna sings as she takes an exhilarating look back on her impressive career.
 
In a spoken word verse referencing some of her most famous songs of old, she explains how she’s impacted pop culture, saying in part: “I expressed myself, came like a virgin down the aisle. Exposed my naked ass and I did it with a smile. And when it came to sex, I know I walked the borderline. When I struck a pose, all the gay boys lost their mind. I saw a ray of light. Music saved my life.â€
 
The guest appearance from NAS is brilliant too and proof he should be back in the charts in his own right.
 
3 BODY SHOP
One of the most experimental moments, this track is completely joyful and a strong contender to be a future single. There’s an eastern influence instrumentally and fast-paced verses, fused perfectly with background dance beats. Unlike most of the deep lyrics on the album, Madge has some fun here. “You can polish the headlights. You can start the ignition,†she sings happily.
 
2 WASH ALL OVER ME
An incredibly powerful and pretty emotionally traumatic song ends the main version of the album, with an intense church-like organ overlaid with modern house beats. Madonna looks at her place in the world, opening with the line: “In a world that’s changing, I’m a stranger in a strange land.†She also talks about “running away from all this madnessâ€.
 
1 REBEL HEART
Surprisingly, the brilliant title track — my favourite moment of the album — doesn’t find a place on the main tracklisting, instead closing the deluxe version.
 
The lyrics are autobiographical — and she admits to being a “narcissist†and “provocativeâ€.
 
The first verse is my favourite lyrically as she sings: “I live my life like a masochist. Hear-ing my father say: ‘I told you so, I told you so. Why can’t you be like the other girls?’ I said: ‘Oh no, that’s no me. And I don’t think it will ever be.’â€
 
Thank God for that.
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