I have to preface my review by saying, "I never met a Madonna song I didn’t like". There have been many songs over the years, which I think are only "okay", but none that I ever said "yuk" about. I will also go on to add that most of my favorite Madonna songs were ones never released as singles. Some of my favorite songs over the years have been: Shanti, Human Nature, Love Don't Live Here Anymore, Erotica, Love Song, Dear Jessie, and Holiday. I also must add that I like all kinds of music and my taste varies from Annie Lennox to Marilyn Mason, Tori Amos to Garbage, from Cranberries to Prodigy, Blonde to Soul Coughing and that's just from the "pop" and "alternative" genres....

My grading system is as follows:
A+++ to A- unbelieveable
B+ to B- very good
C+ to C- okay

Overall album grade: A
(its in my top 3 fav albums...I will need to listen to it about a 100 more times before I decide which position though...it will probably beat out ROL)

So here goes my review….

MUSIC:
Wow…I was first very glad that it didn’t sound like Paradise (Not for Me), and second that it had a good dance beat. I think it is a great homage to Madonna’s early songs. I don’t think it is the best song on the album, but I have listened to it about 200 times already and I could listen to it a billion more. I think that all of the remixes are great – and it is really great that the maxi single has so many on it. A

IMPRESSIVE INSTANT:
This is a pretty good song…while I really love theng. "Music take me where my heart wants to go" …I think the song loses something in the middle where "wingy" "samba" and "rumba" are whispered in threes. It also suffers from a bit too much vocoding. B-

RUNAWAY LOVER:
This is my least favorite song on the album. While it has a good beat, I really don’t like the lyrics that much – which is odd to me because it usually the other way around for me (Mer Girl is a good example – like the poetic lyrics didn’t like the arrangement). I give it a C-

I DESERVE:
I LOVE it! I really love the lyrics, it has a simple clean arrangement (with a good bass feel – I can imagine some really "bassy" remixes that could be done), Madonna’s vocals are very strong. I really like it when Madonna’s lyrics have that personal, almost biographic poetry in them. I love the chorus "Many miles, many roads I have traveled, fallen down on the way, Many hearts, many years have unraveled leading up to today" WOW A+++

AMAZING:
Very catchy lyrics (I have gotten them stuck in my head a few times already), and while people say it sounds too much like Beautiful Stranger is that really so bad? I loved the retro feel that Beautiful Stranger had and I think Amazing takes it a step further. This might make a good single. B

NOBODY’S PERFECT:
I really like the lyrics, I think the slow techy feel is pretty cool, and while a little less vocoding would suit me fine, I think it works. There is one part that I am not crazy about and that is the long, whiny, electronic sound in the middle that sounds off key….leave that out and it would be better. All in all pretty good, I would like to hear a live version of this…maybe more acoustic I think that could be awesome. C

DON’T TELL ME:
Okay all you guys who thought your CD’s were broke….please….Now with Erotica I did think something was wrong but not this one. This is one of my favorite songs on the album. I LOVE the stop start feel, its got a good beat, love the guitars, and Madonna’s vocal s are really clear and strong. Song makes me want to sing along and clap my hands. Reminds me a bit of Sheryl Crow. A++

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL:
Cool intro, great message, I really like this song. I wonder what it would sound like with the more acoustic feel and bell clear singing that I Deserve has. In some places the vocals are a bit overwhelmed. This song reminds me of Dear Jessie or Little Star (whimsical)…but with a more meaningful message. I think this would make a good single – a good B-side to this might be Impressive Instant for contrast. A

PARADISE (NOT FOR ME):
I think this is an interesting song…I like the mix of English and French, I like the contrast of the whispery and mechanized vocals. When I first heard it, it reminded me of Justify My Love. C

GONE:
LOVE IT! I think the lyrics are really awesome! Maybe I am reading too much into them, but to me it sounds like the chorus "Turn to stone, Lose my faith, I'll be gone, Before it happens" she saying that she will be dead before she loses her compassion and faith in the world. I think it’s a beautiful song. I would like to see it out as a single. A++

MY WRAP UP:
I think all in all this is an AWESOME album…I haven’t decided where in my rankings it goes but its in my top three for sure. I hope their will be many singles and lots of remixes – and maybe a tour to go along with it. I am really glad to see Madonna mixing the electronic/techno sounds and the more traditional acoustic guitar sounds on many of the songs – I think those are some of albums best. I think her writing is as good as always, and her vocals are very crisp and strong; and I am happy to see her going back to the mid-alto range (especially since I like to sing along). Madonna gets better with every album – and does not disappoint. As always Madonna’s material is fresh and unique compared to most of the "pop" music being produced. It is no wonder why Warner wanted the new contract with Madonna, and I for one am glad to know that there will be more Madonna albums in the future.