Hard Candy [4/29] * - Madonna (CD)

One single listening of this album is enough to fall in love with this new release from the pop diva Madonna. "Hard Candy" is a collection of twelve tracks consistent to all previous Madonna works since "Ray of Light", when she started adopting more of a pop-electronic-dance style hardly filled with slow ballads. Basically, there are no or very few connections to what she had done until "Bedtime Stories", the last album that followed a style she has begun with since her very first album in the 80s.

This album is very well produced, arrangements are well done and songs are captivating, to say the least. Those who normally follow Timbaland will certainly recognize his presence by the sound effects and producing style found on most of the tracks.

All songs from this album have a good beat, are enthusiastically played and very energizing from the rhythm standpoint. Lyrically speaking, "Miles Away" (probably about dealing with her relationship with Guy Ritchie when they are apart due to professional reasons), "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" and "Voices" are the most beautiful ones. "Give It 2 Me", "She's Not Me" (which talks about being replaced for someone else) and "Incredible" have a very provocative storyline on each. "Dance 2night" is also a beautiful song, both lyrically and musically.

So far, this is the best 2008 release in pop music.