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| Artist: Madonna
Label: WEA/Reprise
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $5.56
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Rating:  474 reviews
Sales Rank: 256
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 093624988496
UPC: 093624988496
EAN: 0093624988496
ASIN: B0015D3Z4O
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new sealed. In stock in our warehouse, and ships right now. 20% chance the case has a crack or two.
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Showing reviews 26-30 of 474
 Turkish delights and more... April 29, 2008
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
14 out of 20 found this review helpful
Determined to make a bigger splash in the US (despite the quite
respectable sales of her last CD), Madonna ropes in two teams of the
hottest producers, Timbaland, Danja and Timberlake on one hand, and
Pharrell Williams on the other. "Hard candy" is Mrs Ritchie's 11th
studio album, and I must confess, when I heard with whom she would be
working, I half feared the result would be some anonymous sounding Hip
hop/R&B.
I needn't have worried. The only songs leaning in that direction are
the first two ("Candy shop" and "4 minutes"), everything else sounds
more like the stuff she's done on her last 4 albums. It's very much a
dance/electronic album with lyrics generally about love and dancing,
and it reminds me of Britney's last album which was done by the same
teams (minus Timberlake). The mood is upbeat (there are no real
ballads), and according to Pharrell, she pitted both teams against
each other to see which came up with the better product.
At twelve tracks, she keeps it nice and sweet. Opening cut, the
thumping "Candy shop" (with stabbing synths and Eastern-sounding
string breaks) makes loads of innuendo laden references to sweets;
"Don't pretend you're not hungry/there's plenty to eat/I got Turkish
Delights" she purrs. "4 minutes" is the lead-off single and is a duet
with Justin Timberlake (he gets to say "Madonna, huh!" a lot), her
second duet single ever, after the rather dismal one she did with
Britney ("Me against the music"). It has a killer chorus, though I
find rather grating that riff that threatens to drown out the vocals
during the verses. It has already become her 37th US top 10 hit, and
60th UK top 10 hit.
"Give it to me" is just ok, it doesn't move me, and to think this is
pencilled as the next single. Hopefully, the remixes will be much
better. "Spanish lesson" is an attempt at flamenco pop, think Timberlake's
"Like I love you" (which like this was produced by Pharrell) or N*E*R*D's
"She wants to move". The Flamenco-style music is nice, but the lyrics
are puerile and her voice sounds whiny.
Not quite another "La isla bonita", "Who's that girl" or "Spanish eyes", but still, it is silly fun.
My favourite moments on the CD are when the Pop sheen bursts through
all that layering. "Heartbeat" (which starts off with the sound of a
heart beating) is catchy Europop with a Hip hop beat. The tender
"Miles away" (with a sparse sound, nice guitar strumming, electronic
flourishes and a disco beat closing it) features heartfelt pining
lyrics; "You always have the biggest heart when we're six thousand
miles apart" she sings. "Beat goes on" is an eighties style groovy
number (similar to her "Holiday") with a very laid back rap by Kanye
West, though it does seem to lose its groove in the final minute. I'm
sure I'm alone on this, but I prefer the leaked version I heard last
year. That was more stripped with fast strummed guitars, different
verses, and no Kanye. The fantastic "She's not me" is very reminiscent
of Chic, complete with scratchy guitar, though the final two minutes
or so seem to go nowhere for too long. "Dance 2night" is another
extremely catchy dark eighties style groovy number (I love the bridge
before the chorus).
The frenetic piano sprinkled "Incredible" features syncopated beats,
(I love the swirling synths that come and go) but still has a ballad
feel, as does the beautiful quasi-symphonic "Devil wouldn't recognize
you" (with haunting choir-like harmonies) which reminds one ever so
faintly of co-writer Justin Timberlake's "What goes around" or even
"Cry me a river". Closing is the theatrical semi-ballad, "Voices" (the
opening vocals are so Queen-like) which sounds like some movie score
especially in its closing minute.
A natural follow up to "Confessions on a dance floor" though better
(in my opinion) and I find I can't stop playing it. Fun and incredibly groovy!
CHEEKY FUN April 29, 2008
BOYWAY (new york city)
14 out of 21 found this review helpful
It's hard to beat a hot dance track poured over sexy,suggestive lyrics... a trademark strength Madonna shows off well (with a wink) in her latest CD, Hard Candy which once again, delights/appalls the planet with a fashion-fetish-inspired cover crotch-shot...can YOU think of a better way to save the world's adorable orphans?!!!Her new sound is inspired by the "back in the day" hypnotic dance beats of the Philly/Soul-Train era club scene. Always living in the 'now', Madonna's usually bankable instincts to pick the "it" talent of the moment to enhance her musical output has kept her work well ahead of others in her over crowded genre...with ever younger, lip-glossed lolitas ready to arch their backs and coo for the masses and foaming-at-the-mouth-hungry to sign that zillion dollar contract! On Hard Candy,she's incorporated the urban R-n-B style sounds and sexy, macho-hip-hop energy of three hot music men Pharrell, Timbaland and Timberlake and by doing so, insured that her music stays current, fresh and vibrant. She admitted to having to share "diva-space" with the three younger, in-demand hotties (a first for her), but it paid off ,in spite of all the scheduling/ego dramas. The first three dance tracks totally hit the mark and are impossible not to move to followed by a few softer, but still very strong, tracks offers a perfect groovey-loungey mood. Upon repeated hearings,the tracks grow on you fast. Just don't overthink the lyrics,just enjoy it for what it is...what it's been.Afterall, "bubblegum" is always sold in a "candy shop".As she's stated in her promos for this CD, there's always room to have fun (and dance-damnit!) dispite all the negative energy in these chaotic times.I can easily see some of these tracks being played on and on and on during the endless pride marches, rally's and parties this june 08.The sugar-dance-pop loving target crowd all lit-up for a diva bragging " got no boundaries and no limits, if there's excitment put me in it, if it's against the law, arrest me, if you can handle it, undress me...give it 2 me" YEAH!!!! A very dancable, upbeat final CD after her 25 years at Warner. Sweet exit
 Madonna finally becomes self-parody May 5, 2008
moving stranger
14 out of 23 found this review helpful
One look at the tacky cover of this cd and we're transported back to the time of her "Sex" book, when Madonna loved to "shock us". Shocking people with her up-front sexuality was her primary talent. It certainly wasn't singing,although she could be quite good at times,with "Ray of Light" being her peak. Desperate to stay relevant she became in her career an expert on trend-hopping. So after the fizzy,dizzy Abba-sampled,disco-retread of "Confession on a Dance Floor"(and just how great were "Hung Up" and "Sorry"!)Madonna tries on another producer team, to keep up. If I were a devout Madonna fan(which I'm not)I'd actually be a little insulted by "Hard Candy". Totally phoned in,this cd sounds exactly what it is,a rushed affair to finish out her contract,and make a few bucks off of fans who would pay to hear her burp. But,the songs here will probably be greasing up dancefloors through the summer cause the djs need something to play and Madonna has certainly,if nothing else,become a brand. I think I'll go listen to "Frozen".
Ugh!!! May 13, 2008
M. Smith
14 out of 22 found this review helpful
What happened to the Madonna I used to love?
I have been a huge Madonna fan for many years and I was very excited for her when she made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But lately I have no idea what she's thinking.
Oh well, it's pretty obvious why she teamed up with Justin Timberlake with this one. She's simply selling out her long time fans, people who have supported her from the beginning, in an attempt to attract a new audience among the pre-pubescent, pre-teen types that would buy a bag of s**t if it had Justin Timberlake's name/logo on it.
The tracks on this album are simply awful and uninspiring and that's an understatement. It's like she's not even trying anymore. I haven't heard a single track that held my attention for more than a few seconds. The American Life album was bad, Confessions was okay with some redeeming qualities, but this album is worst than anything I have heard in a long time. I find it hard to believe that the woman who ruled the music industry in the 80's and 90's can't come up with a better attempt than this.
They say that the long term and repeated effects of Botox can cause mental instability. Hmmm . . . in Madonna's case, there could be some truth to that.
Perhaps it is time for her to retire.
Madonna's Worst Album June 8, 2008
Julian Vargas
14 out of 19 found this review helpful
Madonna has lost her magic, Hardy Candy is her most uninspired album to date. It seems as if she was just making an album for making an album. She hooks up with JT and all the biggest Hip Hop stars to win the U.S market, making something marketable but dull.
1. "Candy Shop". 3/10.Embarrasing song. Is this how a 50 year old shows her sexual maturity, by chanting lyrics as a 16 year old skank. Older woman can be sexy, specially when they transmit their maturity, think Kylie's "x", Goldfrapp " Supernatural", Bjork " Vesperstine, 3 albums about sex that are smart and original. What ever happend to the woman who made "Erotica"? Talking about sex albums.
2. "4 Minutes". 5/10.Madonna pimping JT. Gross. Madonna should be singing with Prince or even Kylie, someone equally great as her. Using the most popular youngster and producer of the moment, is an easy trick for a woman known for her innovative choices, think William Orbit or Mirwaiz.
3. "Give It To Me". 7/10. Although a little bit over produced, this is the only song that gets closer to Madonna's usual goodness. The "get stupid" part is a little bit painfull, plus Gwen Stefani did this kind of stuff.
4, "Heartbeat" 2/10. Terrible and unispired lyrics. "See my booty get down" Madonna chants. Great!
5. "Miles Away" 6/10. Similar to ballads such as "I Deserve It" or "Love Profusion", although the mediocre lyrics and monotonous production make it sink.
6. "She is not me" 3/10. Bad Lyrics, cheesy production. "She is not me, She doesn't have my name" , Duh.
7. "Incredidle" 4/10. " Just one of those things,When everything goes incredible, and all is beautiful" she sings. Is Rocco writing her lyrics?
8. " Beat Goes On" 5/10. Although unoriginal, its almost decent. The Kenya West cameo kind of kills it. Again Madonna trying too hard.
9. "Dance 2night" 5/10. Almost good. I kind of like the "You don't have to be rich and famous to be good" part but the rest is just moronic sexual inuendo between Madge and JT.
10. "Spanish Lesson". 1/10. We all know this sucks.
11. "Devil...." 2/10. So overproduced it almost explodes and not in a good way.
12. "Voices" 2/10. This sort of sounds like Michael Jackson " Dangerous" album, but in all the wrong places. This 90's retro song has almost acceptable lyrics but its so overstuffed that it becomes unlistenable.
If you are looking a good pop album for the summer go and get Kylie "X" or Robyn " Robyn". This album is utter crap, I wonder if Madonna even likes this?. I really hope Madonna redeems herself, her next album better be good.
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