Lady Madonna: Albums to Get and Those to Avoid

Madonna's latest studio release Confessions on a Dance Floor made headlines because it returned the veteran pop diva back to the pop charts after a bit of a stumble from 2003's disappointing American Life. Madonna released her self-titled debut in 1983 and has been consistent in quality and quantity. The 1980's brought studio albums that had tremendous singles with decent filler. In the 1990's, Madonna became a more pensive ponderous artist and her albums started to have themes (not strict concepts, though) and her singles, while no less tremendous, relied on the context of their home albums. She has also produced a few soundtracks, some to her own starring feature films, none of which are incredibly memorable, but some are worth a listen. The following is an album-by-album review of each of her albums - including compilations, soundtracks and live albums, as well as, EP's if appropriate.

Madonna (Sire) * * * * *: Madonna's debut is one of her strongest in her catalogue. It seems a blueprint for post-disco dance-pop that would be aped by artists such as Janet Jackson, Jody Watley and Paula Abdul. The singles are excellent in their frivolity - there are no lyrics questioning fame, life or spirituality - this is simply a record for the dance floor. "Holiday" is an excellent ditty that messily incorporates kettle drums and R&B. Her voice is still very unripe and a bit tinny, though she pulls the music off with her killer star-power. Her prowess as a songwriter is also featured in the hit singles "Lucky Star" and "Borderline" - both songs are extremely frothy and light, and would later seem inconsequential compared to more ambitious material, but it would be a mistake to cast them off as bubblegum dance-pop; the singles are wonderful standards of dance-pop, which incorporates many elements, including catchy beats, addictive hooks and a charismatic, though not spectacular singer. A classic in much the same way that Michael Jackson's Thriller is, though Madonna is more underrated, unfairly. (1983)