Twenty-one years ago, Madonna reinvented herself yet again with Confessions on a Dance Floor, a hybrid of ’70s disco grooves and electronic music more appropriate for the the 2005 scene into which she released it. The album, produced in-part by Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Stuart Price with Madonna, brought the Queen of Pop her two most-recent Grammy Awards, including a 2007 win for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
The proceeding years haven’t been unproductive for Madonna. She put released four albums of original music and a number of compilations, including a successful greatest hits record and several remix collections. But none of it met the high standard of impact that the icon had set for herself over the course of a four-decade career. One could be forgiven for believing that Madonna’s moment had passed — especially in the eyes in the Record Academy.
But this is Madonna we’re talking about.
Paired with an announcement that she was returning to her first industry home, Warner Music, Madonna announced that a sequel to Confessions was on the way, complete with production from Ahmadzaï and Price. Confessions II on its face seemed to be a promise of a return to an era — and perhaps even a Madonna — that was worthy of a celebration.
Now, a day ahead of Confessions II‘s scheduled release date, reviews of the album are hitting, and the write-ups represent Madonna’s best critical reception since the original.
“If it’s not quite as good as Confessions on a Dance Floor, it’s unequivocally Madonna’s best album since Confessions on a Dance Floor, which you suspect will be more than enough for her fans, and might even beckon back some apostates: an accommodation with her past that bodes well for her future,” writes Alexis Petridis in The Guardian.
“Madonna started the record craving anonymity but by the end she’s lifted that purple veil,” writes Mark Savage for BBC. “This is the closest we’ve come to hearing the real Madonna since Ray of Light, almost 30 years ago.”
The headline on Neil McCormick’s review for The Telegraph says that with Confessions II, Madonna “reclaims her crown.” “If it hints at more mellow paths Madonna could follow, the sweaty body of Confessions II makes it clear the long-reigning dancing queen is not about to abdicate of her own free will.”
If Confessions II is striking a familiar and welcome chord with critics, the Record Academy may be expected to follow. Gold Derby won’t have predictions on Best Dance/Electronic Album until closer to the nominations this fall, but already Madonna is ranking in the general field. Confessions II isn’t quite within the range for a nod in Album of the Year, but its current position in 17th makes it a record to watch (and maybe dance to).
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