Madonna: safely and securely to tedious yoga

Any Madonna’s album is always expected with a mixture of interest and hype… ‘American Life’, the Material Mum’s tenth studio album, has been co-produced by French electronic guru Mirwais, who produced much of Madonna’s landmark 2000 long-player ‘Music’ and has co-written all of the new material.

And there lies a problem; this is a continuation rather than a step forward. It sounds rather repetitious, familiar, quite ordinary… This album reprises the electro beats and acoustic guitar meanderings but lacking the immediacy and power of the tracks from the previous album.

Sticking on her Bond’s song, ‘Die Another Day’ – her worst single ever and defintely the vilest 007 theme-tune – is, quite frankly, unforgivable. Another song is named ‘Nobody Knows Me’ and we wonder if her hubby Guy’s got a subject to worry about? And, another thing, on the evidence of these songs, isn’t her musical talent starting to equal her acting one?

Madonna set her own standard and it is very disappointing to discover stagnation and decline. One possible explanation for the state of Madonna’s album is that, according to the interviews she’s been doing, she is – happy, a loving wife with a fulfilling sex-life. Well, contentment has never produced any great art… Misery makes art-ery!

Then, there is her rapping; although with a tongue-superglued-to-her-cheek, it still sounds – lame; also, the rhyme-subject of ‘American Life’ (song), we know how hard and complex it is being a mega-star! Still, there is a touch of genius in the single/title track when her rapping segues to singing and she poignantly delivers ‘Nothing is... what it seeeems!’ It lasts the whole of … 10 seconds! Worth the album price?

Well, for hardcore fans… otherwise, mostly harmless.

5/10