Ray of Light

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: by nearly all critical accounts, IRay of Light/I, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's IBedtime Stories/I, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. While IRay of Light/I is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: first, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, IRay of Light/I is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: fresh from singing lessons on the IEvita/I set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centred pat on the back that belies her claim to a newly found altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the centre of our spiritual world too. I--Roni Sarig/I

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-05-27 rating:
One of Madonna's best ablum's, a must have!
I have always liked Madonna over the years and when I heard Ray Of Light for the first time it blew me away, because it was so different to her other stuff but also so brilliant too. The first song Substitute For Love is such a great song as is the title track. All the tracks are good infact and Madonna really was on top form when she did this ablum. The song Little Star is to with her becoming a mother and how much she loves her child. Which is maybe the reason why Ray Of Light is so fantastic being a mother inspired her.

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review by: date: 2009-02-25 rating:
My Favourite Album of All Time!!
Where can I start with this album? This is the most stunning, unusual, stand out album of Madonna's career. The sound created by Madonna and William Orbit was one of the most original I have heard in years, and even in subsequent years after. The album has a reflective feel, and explains her rebirth as a spiritual person. The songs are dance orientated, but still have a slow, peaceful feel - just simply stunning! br /Drowned World/Substitute For Love is a perfect opener, where the audience know what's changed, and how her new perspective on life has made her question her past, and her chase of fame... We definately see an older, wiser Madonna here, and she opens up a new space of vulnerability - something which has rarely been done throughout her 25 year career. Frozen and Power of Goodbye are completely mesmerizing and haunting, Nothing Really Matters reflects back onto her changes as a person, and Shanti/Ashtangi is a stunning song written in Sanskrit. There are 13 tracks on here, which is intential - and a reflection of her new found belief in Kabbalah (in which the number 13 is very powerful) br / br /Simply the best album of Madonna's career, a must have for fans and non-fans - I guarentee you will find this interesting

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review by: scifihorror fan date: 2008-06-16 rating:
Frozen in my top ten greatest albums ever known to mankind!!
For anyone who loves good music...this album is for you. br /no artist has ever come up with a spiritual and future dance orientated soundtrack quite like this one. br /Madge got her teiara with the stunning Like A Virgin album,then got her crown for the mesmerising Like A Prayer album and Vogue,now the crown is now and truely ecured...Maonna is officially the queen of pop...if no music as a whole. br /tied 4 ways with Like A Virgin,Music,Erotica and Confessions On A Dancefloor as Madonnas greatest album ever...and most definately one of the 10 greatest albums ever created. br /entirely spiritual...and purely mesmerising. br /let Ray Of Light enchant you forever. br / br /track list- br /Drowned World/Substitute For Love-5/5 br /Swim-5/5 br /Ray Of Light-5/5 br /Candy Perfume Girl-5/5 br /Skin-5/5 br /Nothing Really Matters-5/5 br /Sky Fits Heaven-5/5 br /Shanti/Ashtangi-5/5-sang entirely in Sanskrit. br / br /Frozen-5/5-my all time favourite song...ever!!...rythmitic and enchanting yet deeply moving. br / br /The Power Of Goodbye-5/5 br /To Have Not To Hold-5/5 br /Little Star-5/5 br /Mer Girl-5/5-a deeply moving and disturbingly beautiful way to end the album. br / br /Music pefectionism a must for your collection.

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review by: Ron date: 2008-04-29 rating:
Bad Girl...
...Spiritualized! br / br /1. Drowned World/Substitute For Love. 10/10 br /2. Swim. 9/10 br /3. Ray of Light. 10/10 br /4. Candy Perfume Girl. 8/10 br /5. Skin. 8/10 br /6. Nothing Really Matters. 10/10 br /7. Sky Fits Heaven. 7/10 br /8. Shanti/Ashtangi. 8/10 br /9. Frozen. 10/10 br /10. The Power of Good-Bye. 10/10 br /11. To Have Not To Hold. 7/10 br /12. Little Star. 9/10 br /13. Mer Girl. 8/10 br / br /OVERALL GRADE: 10/10 br /This is an album that you dream of finding, beautiful beats, brilliant lyrics and interestingly put instruments. Have it, you won't be dissapointed!!!


review by: date: 2007-11-14 rating:
madonnas best album ever!
up to the release of this album in madonnas career had been in a bit of a decline...the pop of her youth had given way to blatent sex and shock..always delivered with madonna flair! br / br /released in 1998 after the birth of her daughter and her interest in karma and such the lyrics are heartfelt and personal and show where madonna was as a artist/mother/person at this point....william orbit produces the album beyond perfection! br / br /anyone who had put madonna down as another pop singer had to eat there words with this album! br /"drowned world/substitute for love" was the 3rd single to be lifted and only reached no.10. its a brilliant song with great atmosphere and very personal lyrics..maybe not a great choice for a single but a stunning track 10/10 br / br /"swim" builds the atmosphere from the last track...its a great track but due to the quality of most of the songs it doesnt stand out 8/10 br / br /"ray of light" was single no.2 and reached no.2...it deserved to take the no.1 slot! the mad crescendo of dancefloor electronica, great vocals, hysteria provides a madonna classic 10/10 br / br /"candy perfume girl" is a poor track and should have been left off...4/10 br / br /"skin" like "ray of light" is a stunning electronic dance track..it builds and builds and builds to a dancefloor heaven 10/10 br / br /"nothing really matters" was single no.4 and reached no.7 and of all the tracks it is more of the early madonna sound..its good and solid but not amazing 8/10 br / br /"sky fits heaven" is another great big dance track that alternates between club beats and electronic heaven 10/10 br / br /"shanti" is a fast forward pile of rubbish 2/10 br / br /"frozen" was the 1st single and put madonna back on top of the charts...its amazing and like the whole album has stood the test of time as a classic track! it was so different to what was around at the time in the same vain as "like a prayer" did 10/10 br / br /"to power of goodbye" was single no.5 and reached no.6 it is a standout track on an amzing album and if it had been released before everybody owned the album would have topped the charts 10/10 br / br /"to have and not to hold" is another stunning track that gets overlooked..the great lyrics..perfect vocal performance..the hypnotic production 10/10 br / br /"little star" is madonnas track to her daughter and shows all the contentment and stability it brought her...it is a beautiful track..again very personal lyrics as madonna opens her soul 10/10 br / br /"mer girl" is an overindulgent song about the loss of her mother and trying to deal with it..its deeply personal..almost voyeuristic...but unless you have been there the deeply moving lyrics will mean mothing...its sparse and anyone who has not experienced the pain and loss will think its useless..i did till i was in the situation 10/10 br / br /the album is 100% personal and if was a 'serious' artist it would be classed as a life changing album - which it is! br / br /its great for getting ready to go out..to dancing about to..but take an hour sit back, turn off the lights and read the lyrics as you listen...point if you have turned of the lights you cant see the lyrics...solution...lots of candles!!! it will add to the effect! br / br /a stunning timesless album! br / br /

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