Madonna

Ray Of Light

The Gospel of 'Madonna'

Review Score:

(8/10)
This is one of those CDs that is hands down good. Reviewing it, it's important to point out that it's good because its such a departure from the rest of her work. As other reviewers pointed out, it had been a long time sense the music world had an appearance by Madonna. She returns after "Bedtime Stories," ending on the song 'Take a Bow.' During her new call to stage, she returns completely re-done and remixed. "Ray of Light" is not really pop. It experiments with trance which back then was rather new. She's of course continued to experiment with it since using it but it was here when it was all new for Madonna.

This was a turning point in Madonna's personal life and her musical career. She made "Ray of Light" personal, mixing her new-found religious beliefs in with her gained insight on life she picked up during her departure. The striking difference is that she's mature and so is her music. "Ray of Light" doesn't have love songs that are about sex and lust as in "Erotica" and "Bedtime Stories." It deals with growing up, growing into the person you're meant to be, letting go of old things. I call this album the "Gospel of Madonna" mainly because you can walk away from it touched in some way. It's a moving piece of work, appealing to everyone on some level.

While the title track is fun and deserving of all the acclaim it recieved and still gets, I think another release on here by the name of 'Nothing Really Matters' seemed to set the tone for this massive music star. She begins, as I said, to remix her image by scolding those who may go after material wealth and goods and overlook other important lessons and matters of life. It's a song that pulls you in and gets you moving. It's touching and even sad in some manner while having a great deal of power and influence. "Little Star" is soft and like a lullaby; something new for Madonna. It's written to her newborn child and has Madonna stepping into her new role as a mother. "Sky Fits Heaven" is another track that is fast moving and gives you the sense of urgency and progress as Madonna gives you some instuctions on how you should conduct your life. 'Shanti/Ashtangi' is another track that stands out. Though it'll take more research on your part to translate it all, it reveals that Madonna has newly acquired knowledge on life and spirituality.

"Ray of Light" isn't my favorite Madonna CD but it stands as a moving piece of work that shows that Madonna is indeed a perfectionist. She put work into this and you can tell by the thoughtful songs and their moral lessons to be picked up. It's one of those CDs that you have to listen to closely to pick up on everything and once you do, it sticks with you. Inspiring in many ways and sets Madonna apart from most other artist. I can't think of many who have put out a CD as personal and moving as she has. It's a personal CD, very revealing and brutally honest which makes it great. It stands out among Madonna's works that take you into her life and mind in a very revealing manner, such as her earlier CD "Something to Remember" and her 2003 release, "American Life."

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