Album Description: Vinyl edition of her 1998 & latest smash album --unavailableon this format in the U.S. Features the hit 'Frozen' & thetitle track. Black wax. The sleeves include full lyrics. AMaverick/ Warner Brothers release.
Amazon.com essential recording: Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: By nearly all critical accounts, Ray of Light, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's Bedtime Stories, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. While Ray of Light is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: First, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, Ray of Light is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: Fresh from singing lessons on the Evita set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centered pat on the back that belies her claim to a newfound altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the center of our spiritual world too. --Roni Sarig
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Not Madonna's greatest achievement
The "Mother Of Reinvention" reinvented herself noticeably for this album, but unfortunately it just doesn't work in this case. Not that it's completely worthless (the title track, the beautiful "The Power ... Read More
Rating: - Ray of Light keeps on shining
Forever a fan. I still have the "Ray of Light" cassette tape I bought in 98', along with the ROL CD and of course a few single remixes from this album. Timeless and classic. Every single song on this CD stands ... Read More
Rating: - Ray of Light
i didnt really think that i would enjoy this cd even though i really enjoyed "Ray of Light" as a song. But i was seriously wrong and minus maybe one misstep on the cd the rest of "Ray of Light" is one of my favorite ... Read More
Rating: - Madonna finally learns how to sing.
I heard the title track and had a hard time believing it was really Madonna. It was, and she wasn't pulling a Milly Vanilly stunt.
Most of the songs are good.
There are a few throw away filler songs.
Not ... Read More
Rating: - Very sentimental CD
I heard this album years ago, but lost some of my collection of CDs which I had this stored. After listening to this CD again, I recall how hot Ray of Light is. The remixes of some of the songs on this album are brilliant, ... Read More
- Not Madonna's greatest achievement
- Ray of Light keeps on shining