Yes, Madonna’s in a rapturous state of mind in 2012, and in more ways than one: A bulk of her latest album, an incredible, varied collection of pounding club cuts, bloody revenge odes and swinging, psychedelic ’60′s-tinged anthems, seems to be tripping out on acid–or, more accurately, ecstasy. After all, the euphoria-inducing club drug (MDMA, formally speaking) is largely responsible for the cheeky, initial-inspired album title, MDNA.
Like her classic 1989 release, MDNA is a post-divorce record. Unlike Like A Prayer, which was released only a few months after her divorce from Sean Penn, MDNA comes almost four years after the fact. Since then, new love has already sprung.
As a result, there’s contrasting moods at play: MDNA is an incredible, explosively defiant record–full of both euphoric club cuts and swoon-filled swinging ’60′s pop anthems, yes–but also unexpectedly raw, introspective balladry, all of which showcasing far more vulnerability than one might have concluded from the album’s two lead singles.
MDNA won’t help to reassert Madonna’s position on the throne as the Queen because of forward-thinking production or a particularly relentless promotional campaign. Instead, it serves as a reminder of what Madonna has always represented (and what most other modern pop stars fail to truly grasp): Fun.
There’s the religious aspect–a signature characteristic in the Madonna catalog. This time however, it’s back to Sunday School: Gone is Ester, Kabbalah-centric songstress present in the earthier cuts of Ray of Light and the Hebrew-soaked mysticism of tracks like Confessions‘ “Isaac.” No, Madonna Ciccone has us returning “Like A Prayer” territory on MDNA, down on our knees and grasping at our rosaries for forgiveness.
Forget the bible: Everything one ever needed to know about Catholicism can be found in MDNA.
most of these awesome remix tracks can be found on Youtube
