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Madonna's new album brings yet another change of direction now towards R&B, with the help of Kanye West, Timbaland & Pharrell Williams. Can Madonna still successfully re-invent herself yet again?

The first track, Candy Store, has an irritating drum & bass beat running through out. It just sound's way to basic for a track from Madonna. 4 Minutes is a little better with it's catchy hooks & rifs. It has a slight James Bond vibe with it's four minutes to save the world, tick-tock tick-tock lyrics, but Justin Timberlake is just annoying; the combination doesn't seem to work. Give It 2 Me starts off well until the rapping starts, making the listener want to switch off to this euro-disco-esqe track.

Heartbeat is a track that you would expect to hear from Kylie; basic, bouncy & a effortless listen. Miles Away has a latino feel , nothing like La Isla Bonita though. It has a breezy feel but you have heard better from the likes of Nelly Furtado! She's Not Me could sum up the whole album really; it is certainly not Madonna by a long way. Incredible is another euro-disco track with electro touches reminiscent of tracks from the Music album...repetitive & bland.

Beat Goes On has a nice chorus & has a solid feel containing great musical touches, even Kanye West puts in a good effort. Dance Tonight has a glorious pumping bass-line that pulls you into the track a flows throughout & takes you back to some of Madonna's early work. Spanish Lesson should be called music lesson; Devil Wouldn't Recognize You is the closest on the album to a balled just passes by and then we get to Voices ......the end, at last!

Yet again Madonna successfully re-invents herself, this time by going backwards though. There is nothing wrong with moving with the times, but Madonna used to be ahead of everyone else. Whether she had too much control or not enough over this album, its doesn't sound like her! There is no feeling or passion, even American Life had a purpose & tried to get a message across, but Hard Candy does none of this. A poor effort!

4/10

Reviewed by curly