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| Artist: Madonna
Label: Warner
Category: Music
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £7.18
You Save: £8.81 (55%)
New (50) Used (9) from £4.03
Rating:  137 reviews
Sales Rank: 231
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 093624988496
UPC: 093624988496
EAN: 0093624988496
ASIN: B0015D3Z4O
Release Date: April 28, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Consistent and up there with her best April 24, 2008
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
I was expecting to be sorely disappointed with this album, thinking that it will be more "Bedtime Stories" than "Confessions on a Dance Floor". I am very happy to say that my initial expectation was wrong, and that the 2 demos that leaked last year (both of which appear on the album) were misleading. The album starts with `Candy Store' (almost in its leaked form), and it's a very Pharrel sounding, R&B tinged innuendo laden track, and is probably one of the albums weakest tracks, and one I had hoped would not appear on the album. "4 minutes", which is Madonna's 13th No. 1 single, is the 1st of 2 duets with Justin Timberlake. It took sometime for this song to resonate with me, and but now I love it's blaring horns and its very Timbaland `sound'. "Give It To Me", the 2nd single off the album, is a fantastic, energy filled dance floor classic, and will be one of Madonna's best ever singles. Go Neptunes!!! This for me is where the album really starts to take hold and come together. Heartbeat is a gorgeous, 80's sounding pop track, with a slight R&B twist and I would hope a possible single, and "Miles Away" is simply gorgeous, a beautiful pop song with the most beautiful vocal on the album. "She's not me" is a classic Madonna track, and also a possible single. of the way through the song, it completely changes style and makes you want to hear more more more of it! "Incredible"; well for me, not so incredible, though a lovely song. It reminds `slightly' of Kylies "All I see", a nice enough song, but not single quality. An interesting song though, it changes style 3 times in all. The 2nd track which was leaked in demo form is "The Beat Goes On"; I hated the demo version but I am happy to say that this is now a great track. Suped-up and funky, this is also now a possible single, and with a contribution from Kanye West, this song has class. "Dance Tonight" is fantastic, and is the 2nd duet with Timberlake on the album. It should be a single, but as it's another duet with Justin, I doubt it'll be given the privilege which is a shame; it's a great mid temp dance tracks with stunning vocals and Madonna uses a lower register than normal on the verses. "Spanish Lesson" is fun, and sounds like it's sampled a Neptunes track. Then it's "Devil", an R&B tinged track which is lyric laden and a great song. I doubt a single, but I love it. It was originally written years ago by Madonna for a musical project she was to be involved in, but has been redone for this project; I'm glad it saw the light of day. The final track "Voices" samples the beat from Madonna's "Thief of Hearts" and is a great final track. This album is (surprisingly) up there with Madonna's best albums to date; it's consistently good and there are some classic tracks on there. Whilst she has had Timbaland, Pharrel and Timberlake produce, that Madonna `sound' still exists. Kudos to all involved.
 Disappointing. April 24, 2008
5 out of 15 found this review helpful
Apart from the saving graces of "Give It 2 Me" and "She's Not Me" I think it just sounds like a very generic and quite bland 'urban' album.
It's a shame as I am a huge Madonna fan but this doesn't float my boat much.
But I'm sure there are others who will love it....we all have different tastes.
 .... and she strikes again!! April 23, 2008
4 out of 11 found this review helpful
Madonna is so hot right now!! Having just reached her 50th birthday, she is nowhere near over yet! The first single, 4 Minutes hinted that she has moved to a hip-hop type sound but she is just delving into every type of music there is!!
1. Candy Store - Awesome beat but the chorus is slightly annoying. Forgive me to criticise one of the best female entertainers of this time but the chorus sound out of time with the beat - probably meant to but it is just a little bit wierd for me! - 7/10
2. 4 Minutes - (Current single) AMAZING!! One of the best tracks on the album, I think! Her and Justin sound so good together!! Plus, this shows Madonna's versatility! - 9.5/10
3. Give It 2 Me - Very 60's and very old skool, blended with modern dance! Good but a bit repetitive! Awesome rifts tho! - 7/10
4. Heartbeat - At the beginning it started to sound like Robyn's - Heartbeat, I had to have a quick look to make sure... Then the slammin beat came in! Very catchy chorus!!! - 8/10
5. Miles Away - Hmmm guitars... Wow, really impressed with this song! The beat to this song is fantastic but the lyrics are abit wierd to the song! But I'll get used to the lyrics! - 7/10
6. She's Not Me - Now this is Madonna!!! This song is so hot! Club-hot! I could see this in the club now! Very poppy but fantastic! - 9/10
7. Incredible - Just when I was a bit disappointed with the album, she turns it RIGHT up! Another club type song! Slow melody with fast beats! Very nice combination! - 9/10
8. Beat Goes On - OMG! That's all I've got to say! Her and Kanye... Wow!! I'm.. in shock! - 9.5/10
9. Dance Tonight - Best track on the album! Power beats and slow lyrics... plus her and Justin... part two! Really impressed with her and Justin duetting on here! - 9.5/10
10. Spanish Lesson - Great beat but again I feel like the lyrics dont match with the song... I don't know why? Can't put my finger on it - 7/10
11. Devil - This has Timbaland and Timberlake all over it!! Really, really nice song! and the song and lyric, I feel, match lol - 8/10
12. Voices - Not my kinda thing! - 6/10
Summary:
Dance 2night
4 Minutes
Beat Goes On
Incredible
She's Not Me
Devil
Heartbeat
Give It 2 Me
Miles Away
Candy Shop
Spanish Lessons
Voices
Utterly Brilliant Album!!! April 22, 2008
9 out of 16 found this review helpful
well, it's finally here ... all the worry bout it being too r n' b or too timbaland etc can be put to rest, this is up there with all the other classic Madonna albums, and has hints of The First Album, Like A Virgin, True Blue, Like A Prayer, Bedtime Stories, Ray Of Light and Confessions On A Dancefloor to prove it!!!
It's great how well it all holds together as an album ... and the oblique arrangements and little quirky bits make for an exciting listen ...
Candy Shop is an interesting novelty opener - minimalistic funk workout, and 4 Minutes (Madonna's 13th UK Number One single this week) we're already familiar with (and these are for me 2 of the weaker tracks on the album) so let's move on ...
'Miles Away' is a swirling summery soft, guitars n harmonies tune('La Isla Bonita 2008'?) which ends with a great glam rock stomp!
'She's Not Me' - a dancey track with brilliantly spikey lyrics (sounds bit like it shoulda been on the 'Like A Virgin' LP) has a Motown style middle 8, hand claps, whistles, ace melody and as you think it's ending turns into a 'Confessions' type electro-disco-thon with orchestration and a chant of ''she's not me and she never will be''!
'Give It 2 Me' (the next single) is Ska-dance with organic sound and relentlessly catchy chorus, ending all whistles a go-go at a rave up! A Madonna classic!
'Heartbeat' start with a heartbeat, and is very 80's (actually reminds me a bit of Pet Shop Boys 'Heart' or something off 'The First Album') which doesn't settle for any obvious melody and has a hilarious ''see my booty get down'' break mid tune!
'Incredible' is pretty amazing concoction of everything that you could throw at one song including the kitchen sink (although i didn't hear a sink) kinda 2-step loveliness and fluffy which outta nowhere gets all rocked up, then raved up: ''sex with you is incredible, let's finish what we started''
'Beat Goes On' reminds me bit of 'Holiday' or 'Spotlight' and references Hung Up in the ''i can't keep waiting for you, anticipating'' hook... and the rap is actually not bad at all ''let's go, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat''
'Dance 2night' is cool 70's funkadelica with what feels like several irresistable choruses in one song! another one that sounds like it'd be screaming from a Brooklyn Boombox in 1983 and an '08 ending which will send the clubs wild!
'Spanish Lesson' is the 'experimental' track a la 'Shanti/Ashtangi' which most will wanna skip thru - it's bit of a timberlake album track...
'Devil Wouldn't Recognize You' is a brilliant epic ballad type tune that's a bit lost in a production that can't match the song... still an excellent track - very dramatic - tells a good story, and has piano's and thunderstorms and multi-layered harmonies and everything! oh, and yet another great chorus!
'Voices' is more dramtics... great orchestration, with philosophical musings over a driving beat and ends with a repeated clanging bell of doom - ooer!
I give Hard Candy 4.5/5
Excellent Album - Highly Recommended.
CANDY GALORE April 21, 2008
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
When Madonna decided to work with The Neptunes and Timbaland for her new studio album most fans and critics were convinced that this is her version of the 'Faustian Pact'. But if you know Madonna and her immense body of work you will realize that this album is only the latest example of what she has been doing for the last 25 years. Sometimes more and sometimes less effective.
"Hard Candy" is an album full of explosive dance tracks crafted by distinctive beats, memorable hooks and a lot of ambition. It might not be her best LP in terms of innovation but it is certainly a very fresh-sounding reflection of and on today's music industry. Even if it is not very likely that the media is ever going to stop criticizing and/or admiring M-Dolla (as Pharrell Williams likes to call her) for how she is presenting herself, the fact that this woman is turning 50 soon is actually nowhere to be noticed on this record. Not that it is of any relevance.
The majority of the tracks was produced by The Neptunes, namely Pharrell Williams, and Madonna. Probably the one collaboration that has been most fertile bringing forth electrified club-bangers like "Heartbeat", "She's Not Me" and "Beat Goes On". Timbaland's input is not as heavy as expected though songs like "Miles Away" and "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" are rather predictable pieces combining typical Timbaland beats with lyrical input by Madonna and Justin Timberlake. The Timbo/Danja instrumental tracks seem to show little to no Madonna involvement but thankfully the words and melodies are rather balanced recalling both Madonna's and JT's back catalogue - a big "credibility saver" on M's behalf.
All in all Madonna has once again managed to partly re-invent herself and more importantly her music. Like all of her albums "Hard Candy" showcases a new persona for the media to talk about. A nice little treat for her fans, especially if you look at the promo pictures, but not very important for what we can hear on the CD itsef. And that part of the package sounds even better than Madonna looks!
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