CityLife

Madonna - Hard Candy (Warner Bros)

MADONNA'S 11th studio album is nowhere near as bad as you might expect. This follow up to Confessions On A Dance Floor dispenses with the disco sound and replaces it with a more Urban feel.

But instead of sounding like granny trying to get down with the kids, it has some moments of real Madonna magic.

Give It To Me is not as naughty as it sounds and has such a relentless back beat that it sounds like a classic already.

Other gems are Heartbeat (which is pure pop perfection recalling the heady days of Into The Groove) and Dance 2 Night which is her noughties Keep It Together.

Sure, Hard Candy is over-produced as she is backed by Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Nate 'Danja' Hills and Justin Timberlake.

But you have to admire this gal's stamina. With 4 Minutes currently filling dancefloors, even Madonna reduced to guest vocals still sells.

Lyrically there are a few howlers because, let's face it Madonna is as good a songwriter as she is an actress. Miles Away being a good case in point but the hooks draw you in, line and sinker every time.

Not quite Ray Of Light, but light years away from the awful American Life. I cannot stop playing it!

Released on April 28

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