American Life: South African Review

[Brad aka "Cherish"]

ALBUM REVIEW

 

Artist: MADONNA

Title: AMERICAN LIFE

South African Release Date: 21 APRIL 2003

Rating: **

 

* Very Poor

** Poor

*** Fair

**** Good

***** Excellent

 

---

 

This time 2½ years ago, I found myself reviewing Madonna's MUSIC album for a local music site, and I ended up launching a scathing attack on it.  I then listened to the album a few more times and regretted my "already concrete" review.  After several rounds, some of the songs appeared better than I had originally thought.  However, it still came nowhere near matching the likes of TRUE BLUE, RAY OF LIGHT or LIKE A PRAYER.  This time I decided to take my time with Madonna's new album, by listening to it on-and-off for at least a week.  My overall response?  "Despondently Mediocre".

 

One cannot help but wonder how a debut artist would fare if they released an album as weak and unconvincing as AMERICAN LIFE.  Their album would probably land somewhere in Music File 13 - to be forgotten forever.  Luckily for Madonna, her roots are firmly planted into international music gardens so, just by virtue of her name, she will manage to sell a few million copies of this uninspiring album.

 

Older fans may likely be incensed by the lack of upbeat pop or familiar dance they are accustomed to on Madonna albums.  Being an older fan myself, perhaps my tastes in music are not as diverse as they used to be.  Perhaps AMERICAN LIFE may prove to be a success with a new generation of Madonna fans.  It seems strange, however, that I find myself gearing more towards releases by Kylie Minogue (the second most successful international female artist) than Madonna these days - as her albums are seldom as discouraging.  I remember the days when there generally existed a disgust by Madonna fans towards anything released by Kylie (outside of North America).  These days, I think the tables have turned, and I am aware of numerous Madonna fans who are suddenly leaning towards Kylie's side - probably those who are fans of dance or casual pop.

 

AMERICAN LIFE, although personal at times, fails to deliver in its persuasiveness.  The Euro-electro funk sound, together with beautiful, clandestine lyrics, meld together like oil and water.  They just do not fit the puzzle, and they sound awful together.  What a pity Madonna chose to work once again with French producer, Mirwais Ahmadzai.  Did she not learn from the weakness of her last album?  His music delivery exists only in the New Wave early-80's era.  In fact, at times, certain tracks on AMERICAN LIFE could easily be placed on an old Kraftwerk, Human League or New Order album.  However, I doubt any of the artists mentioned would want any of this mediocre material.  I wonder what kind of music Madonna would have produced with an acclaimed writer like Pat Leonard?  The lyrics on AMERICAN LIFE are outstanding.  If only the music could match such brilliance!

 

TRACK ONE - AMERICAN LIFE

 

Never before has Madonna delivered such a poor piece of work as her first release on a new album.  In fact, it is so poor, that the CD single is not even being produced in South Africa.  It is only available via import.  This has never occurred before, with promoters in South Africa having always been confident of the success of Madonna's CD single releases.  She is, after all, the most successful international female artist in South African music history.  The track is nowhere near memorable and the spark is all but gone.  At times, the song sounds like the second release of a "One-hit Wonder" band.  At other times, it appears reminiscent of an Eminem track, especially towards the end of the embarrassing rap sequence.  Once again, perhaps this may attract a new audience for Madonna - a new group of Eminem and Linkin Park fans.

 

TRACK TWO - HOLLYWOOD

 

Much better than the first track, but still hopelessly feeble.  I started to anticipate more upbeat tracks from here onwards - much to my dismay.  "Hollywood" is definitely not release material, and the opening guitar sequence is only the beginning of many similar-sounding tracks.  At times, I thought I was listening to the same song over and over again - a' La Stock Aitken Waterman from the 80's and 90's.

 

TRACK THREE - I'M SO STUPID

 

What an appropriate name for this song!  The voice distortion vibrazorb is becoming a bit much now.  It was killed by Cher's "Believe" in 1998!  What happened to Madonna being two steps ahead of everyone else?

 

TRACK FOUR - LOVE PROFUSION

 

This is one of a few tracks on the album which deserves a compliment.  A certain second release - the beat, the lyrics and the melody melt together like Swiss chocolate.  Perhaps Madonna could have chosen this as her first release from AMERICAN LIFE, to bolster album sales.

 

TRACK FIVE - NOBODY KNOWS ME

 

The vibrazorb again!  Luckily it works this time and fits in with the Euro-Funk Melody and Drum 'n Bass Loop.  However, it still fails to produce a memorable hit.

 

TRACK SIX - NOTHING FAILS

 

Well, I beg to differ!  This song fails dismally!  A ballad definitely gone wrong!  Much along the lines of the ridiculous "Drowned World" off RAY OF LIGHT and "What It Feels Like For A Girl" off MUSIC.

 

TRACK SEVEN - INTERVENTION

 

The second compliment on this album belongs to this track - beautiful, melodious chorus and catchy lyrics.  However, the cherry on the top is still absent.

 

TRACK EIGHT - X-STATIC PROCESS

 

Excellent track!  A superb ballad with memorable lyrics.  Extremely personal a' La "Like a Prayer" or "Live to Tell".

 

TRACK NINE - MOTHER AND FATHER

 

Reasonable track, except for the helium voice.  Singing in a 5-year olds voice does nothing to enhance this song.  It would easily have benefited from Madonna's more soulful side.

 

TRACK TEN - DIE ANOTHER DAY

 

Probably one of the strongest tracks on the album, but nevertheless nothing special as the charts proved.

 

TRACK ELEVEN - EASY RIDE

 

A wonderful ballad spoilt only by the Eurotronic pops and out-of-place stops & starts which are enough to irritate even the most placid of people.

---

 

Has the "James Bond" voodoo struck Madonna now too?  Will she be another star to disappear as soon as the movie theme song is released?  Time to go into hibernation and wait for an album which is the Madonna we know!  She is trying to be someone else on this album, and is barely recognisable.  I had said before that this album is make-or-break for Madonna.  Only the serious fans can help her now.  I certainly hope I am proven wrong!!!

[Davidgil...@hotmail.com]

 

Brad aka \"Cherish\" schreef:

TRACK ONE - AMERICAN LIFE Never before has Madonna delivered such a poor piece of work as her first release on a new album.

DJ thinks it is a great track!

 TRACK TWO - HOLLYWOOD Much better than the first track, but still hopelessly feeble.

DJ thinks it is a nice tune TRACK THREE - I'M SO STUPID What an appropriate name for this song!

DJ thinks this song ROCKS !!!

TRACK FOUR - LOVE PROFUSION This is one of a few tracks on the album which deserves a compliment.

DJ thinks this is the best Madonna song ever since Sky Fits Heaven!

 TRACK FIVE - NOBODY KNOWS ME

DJ thinks it is a good song to dance to!

TRACK SIX - NOTHING FAILSWell, I beg to differ!  This song fails dismally!  A ballad definitely gone wrong!  Much along the lines of the ridiculous "Drowned World" off RAY OF LIGHT and "What It Feels Like For A Girl" off MUSIC.

DJ thinks DROWNED WORLD IS AN AMZING SONG! And he really likes this track as well !!!

TRACK SEVEN - INTERVENTION The second compliment on this album belongs to this track - beautiful, melodious chorus and catchy lyrics.  However, the cherry on the top is still absent.

DJ thinks it is one of the 5 best songs on the album 9/10 !

 

TRACK EIGHT - X-STATIC PROCESS Excellent track!  A superb ballad with memorable lyrics.  Extremely personal a' La "Like a Prayer" or "Live to Tell".

DJ loves this song as well

TRACK NINE - MOTHER AND FATHER Reasonable track

DJ thinks it is a great song but the lyrics are so so :(

TRACK TEN - DIE ANOTHER DAY Probably one of the strongest tracks on the album

DJ likes this one

TRACK ELEVEN - EASY RIDE A wonderful ballad spoilt

DJ thinks it is a fair song

Overall : DJ thinks it is an album JUST AS GOOD AS Ray of Light.....!!!

[Danny wept about fumbling a cousin]

>Subject: Re: American Life: South African Review
>

>From: "Davidgil...@hotmail.com"

>--------------731C1BA473734A43F4DE05D1
>Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>
>Brad aka \"Cherish\" schreef:<blockquote TYPE=CITE>TRACKONE - AMERICAN LIFE
>Neverbefore has Madonna delivered such a poor piece of work as her first
>releaseon a new album.
>DJthinks it is a great track!
> TRACKTWO - HOLLYWOOD Muchbetter than the first track, but still hopelessly
>feeble.
>DJthinks it is a nice tune TRACKTHREE - I'M SO STUPID Whatan appropriate name

>for this song!
>DJthinks this song ROCKS !!!

>TRACKFOUR - LOVE PROFUSION Thisis one of a few tracks on the album which
>deserves a compliment.
>DJthinks this is the best Madonna song ever since Sky Fits Heaven!
> TRACKFIVE - NOBODY KNOWS ME</blockquote><blockquote TYPE=CITE>DJthinks it is
>a good song to dance to!</blockquote><blockquote TYPE=CITE>TRACKSIX - NOTHING
>FAILSWell, I beg to differ! This song failsdismally! A ballad definitely
>gone wrong! Much along the linesof the ridiculous "Drowned World" off RAY OF
>LIGHT and "What ItFeels Like For A Girl" off MUSIC.</blockquote>DJ
>thinksDROWNED WORLD IS AN AMZING SONG! And he really likes this track as
>well!!!<blockquote TYPE=CITE>TRACKSEVEN - INTERVENTION Thesecond compliment
>on this album belongs to this track - beautiful, melodiouschorus and catchy
>lyrics. However, the cherry on the top is stillabsent.</blockquote>DJ
>thinksit is one of the 5 best songs on the album 9/10 !<blockquote TYPE=CITE>
></blockquote><blockquote TYPE=CITE>TRACKEIGHT - X-STATIC PROCESS
>Excellenttrack! A superb ballad with memorable lyrics. Extremely personala'
>La "Like a Prayer" or "Live to Tell".</blockquote>DJ lovesthis song as
>well<blockquote TYPE=CITE>TRACKNINE - MOTHER AND FATHER
>Reasonabletrack</blockquote>DJ thinksit is a great song but the lyrics are so
>so :(<blockquote TYPE=CITE>TRACKTEN - DIE ANOTHER DAY Probablyone of the
>strongest tracks on the album</blockquote>DJ likesthis one<blockquote
>TYPE=CITE>TRACKELEVEN - EASY RIDE Awonderful ballad spoilt</blockquote>DJ
>thinksit is a fair song

>Overall: DJ thinks it is an album JUST AS GOOD AS Ray of Light.....!!!
>

>--------------731C1BA473734A43F4DE05D1--

"btw, could you turn off the HTML thing and post plain text
I can't read your messages properly"

--LoveMrs...@madonnaweb.com (Madonna Rulez)

Oh well...

---

As to cleaning up this group believe me I have been working on that...I have
the perfect solution but it will take a little time to get sorted out but I
will e-mail people on my list here as things progress, :-)

~Madonna Rulez [12-18-02]

[JMR]

The song does deliver some good songs (ie.(IMO), Nothing Fails, Intervention, Easy Ride) but while it delivers in this dept, it seems a little confused in its intent.

 

Some may call it 'eclectic', I'll just leave it a cd I'll listen to occasionally for the mentioned three songs.

Though it certainly isn't as bad as some say. I'm sure critics are still in 'bash Madonna/Swept Away'mode.

 

 

"Brad aka "Cherish"" <bra...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3ead7...@news1.mweb.co.za...

[Danny wept about fumbling a cousin]

>Subject: Re: American Life: South African Review
>

>From: "JMR" jmrod...@iprimus.com.au
>

>it seems a =

>little confused in its intent.

>Some may call it 'eclectic', I'll just leave it a cd I'll listen to =
>occasionally

Nice, JMR...very nice. :)

Thank you for your input...your discussion and chat is always welcome. :)

--
alt.fan.madonna |news, interviews, discussion, writings
|chat, exchange merchandise, meet fans....
|Get into the groove baby you've got to... check us out!