Madonna - American Life (Parental Advisory, 2003). Condition is Like New. Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class Large Letter.

Having reinvented herself for the umpteenth time on her last album of jittery electronic effects and shuffling beats, American Life, finds the Queen of Pop in familiar territory and in a self-obsessed mood. Keeping with the Music formula and utilising the talent of French production-wizard Mirwais Ahmadzai has resulted in an album rich in delightful digital disco rhythms, exuberant electro and shattered beats. In the main, Mirwais' magic makes for spellbinding music; unfortunate then that the 44-year-old mum's self indulgent ramblings induce a less pleasurable stupor. The single "American Life" swaggers along with a jaunty cyber strut, while Madge offers us a witty lyrical dismantling of fame and the attendant somewhat soulless "luxuries". It's hard too feel too much sympathy though and her incessant first-person references (nearly 350 of them) begin to grate even before she announces "I am so stupid 'cause I used to be in a fuzzy dream". As well as sarcastic attacks on the fame machine she has so cleverly oiled during her 21-year tenure as music's monarch, Madge is quick to defend her relationship with a sprinkling of odes to current squeeze Guy Ritchie. Subtle and tender acoustic-based moments such as "X-Static Process" and "Nothing Fails" and the string-led beauty of "Easy Ride" add variety while truculent tracks such as "Hollywood" make for a mixed bag, but one that certainly swings in style. --Christopher Barrett

Product description

American Life CD Maverick, 9362 48454 2, 2003, 11 Track

Track Listings

1 American Life

2 Hollywood

3 I'm So Stupid

4 Love Profusion

5 Nobody Knows Me

6 Nothing Fails

7 Intervention

8 X-Static Process

9 Mother and Father

10 Die Another Day

11 Easy Ride

Product information

Original Release Date ‎2003

Label ‎Rhino

Number of discs ‎1

ASIN ‎B00008X8NV

American Life

Hollywood

I'm So Stupid

Love Profusion

Nobody Knows Me

Nothing Fails

Intervention

X-Static Process

Mother and Father

Die Another Day

Easy Ride