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Thursday, March 29, 2012

MDNA a Track by Track Review

10:01 AM By Barry Smyth No comments

By now I'm sure everyone knows and has heard one track if not more from Madonna's new album MDNA. Having spent a little time listening to all the tracks I thought I'd write my own review of them. So if you'd like to know what I think then read on ...



Girl Gone Wild ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
I was immediately turned off by the spoken religious references at the start of the song and cropped those out straight away. Really, it wasn't required. The music for the track is good, but lyrics like "girls just want to have fun" have already been well used. The lyrics are repetitive and not very imaginative. I expected more from this track. Loved the music, hated everything else about it.

Gang Bang ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
This started off as a really interesting track but didn't really get any where. "fish out of water", "bat out of hell" again more poor lyrics. No regrets about shooting your lover in the head etc, it had all makings of being a great track but again another let down. The music takes a while to get going, but like the previous song the music makes up for the poor lyrics once again (well almost). Lots more talking at the end of the track that really isn't required with very dark images. My least favorite track on the whole album just too dark and slightly disturbing for my taste.

I'm Addicted ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
At last something interesting. Great music on this track. Once again lyrics are a little repetitive but for this track that's forgivable. It's the kind of track that will get your ass moving on the dance floor and I'm looking forward to hearing some remixes of this specific track as I'm pretty certain they are going to be awesome, although lets hope they crop out the spoken reference to "MDNA" at the end of the track which are the only spoiler on this song. No need for it, not even linked to the song in any way, just a piss poor attempt at "mental suggestion" that falls flat.

Turn Up the Radio ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
A feel good song that many people will relate to and again another one that I'm really looking forward to hearing the remixes for. One of the better tracks on the Album although I wish there was a stronger beat behind it so I'm hoping that the remixes will really help this track shine.

Some Girls ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Another good track this time with a good beat behind it. This is one of the stand out tracks on the album for me and again another that many people will be able to relate to. Great music and great lyrics.

Superstar ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
This is a little hit and miss for me. Pretty simply and repetitive lyrics and lots of "oh la la" throughout the track. Many people will like it simply because they can join in the refrain when it gets played.The music like the lyrics is pretty simple as well, nothing to really recommend it and I wouldn't have missed it if it had been left off the album.

I Don't Give a (feat. Nicki Minaj) ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Another good track, strong fast lyrics. That said the music for the track never really gets a chance to take off which it could have with this track and taken it from being good to being great. Nicki adds some additional depth to this track as well although it doesn't really do much to showcase her own talent and seems more of an after thought rather than an active collaboration between two artists. The only spoiler for me is when artists reference themselves by name in the song, which this does.

I'm a Sinner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I hate this song. Sorry, but religious references in songs just irritate the hell out of me and this track is loaded with them. The concept of the song "I'm a sinner" was a really good one and this could have been taken in a different direction and been fantastic. The music is good its just a shame that the lyrics are are so bad. This for me is one of the tracks on the album that missed that mark. That said I'm sure it will go down a treat in a catholic girls school which I hope is the only place it ever gets any airtime.

Love Spent ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
As this track started playing I immediately sat up and took notice. This is another great track, great music and lyrics. This is another one that I'm looking forward to hearing the remixes for as its got loads of potential.

Masterpiece ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Time to slow it down, but this is a great song as well. Absolutely great lyrics. This is one of the tracks that really stood out for me.

Falling Free
Falling Free ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Another slow song, and again more thought given to the lyrics and content of the song. For me Masterpiece is the better track but this still grabbed my attention. It's slower again that masterpiece and gets even slower towards the end of the track and fades out to die which I guess is intentional given subject matter.

Beautiful Killer ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The music for this track is actually not bad, but its totally let down by the lyrics and subject matter. "Can't really talk with a gun in my mouth" as one of the lines go. If only that was "sing" we might have been spared this particular track.

I Fucked Up ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
With a song title like this I have to admit that my expectations high to start. Music and lyrics are actually pretty good so it didn't disappoint. Definitely one that you'll want on your play list for those moments when you have to admit that you lived up to the track title.

B-Day Song (feat. M.I.A) ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Crap. This is one of those REALLY annoying songs that is going to be an instant hit. It's self indulgent pop rubbish that is going to get loads of radio air play simply because its a birthday song. This is not worthy of Madonna, not even even at her worst. Saying I hope I never hear it again would be a waste of time so I'm gearing myself up for lots of cringing over the next couple of years until it fades away like a bad memory.

Best Friend ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Another good track, and something that I'm sure many people will be able to relate to. Good lyrics and music and another remix that I'm really looking forward too.

Give Me All Your Luvin (Party Rock Remix) ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Not the best remix but way better than the original track. This at least pumps it up a little and is definitely much easier to listen to despite the annoying cheer and my second pet hate which is when artists refer to themselves by name in a song. That said, this version is way better and for people like me who didn't like the original you might find yourself more drawn to this version simply because the beat is way better.

Love Spent (Acoustic Version) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I already liked this track but fell in love with this version instantly and think this version is actually better. I hope when the remixes start surfacing that this version gets the attention it really deserves.

So, that's it. My take on MNDA the album. It's a little hit and miss but overall not bad. Many people will say this is her best Album (those would be the annoying love anything Madonna does even if its utter rubbish cause we don't care we love everything Madonna crowd) but I don't think so, its different yes but not Madonna at her best. There's some great tracks in this album but they are in the minority. That said they sill help to pull the album together. I'm really looking forward to a number of remixes from this album as there are a few tracks on it that with the right treatment will be outstanding.

Wether you love it, hate it, or are on the fence over it, enjoy!


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