As much as most of us enjoy "Hard Candy" and appreciate it for what it is, I don't think we'd really relish another Timbaland/Pharrel-produced album.

So it begs the question...where does she go from here?

Pesonally, I wish she'd stop chasing the latest trend and focus on the actual musical content for a change. She's been doing variations on dance pop for years now. Isn't it time to go back to a more mature form of songwriting and musicianship? I've been saying it for years, but yes, this means working with Patrick Leonard and Joe Henry on honest-to-goodness, gimmick-free songs that rely on melody and lyrics, not on the clever, tricksy production. A more acoustic, classic, mature pop sound would be a breath of fresh air amongst all the wannabes and silly pop of today.

It would be great for her to do something in the vein of American Life again. Not musically... but something that she alone wants to do. It seems very personal, reflective and from the heart. And that's something that we often don't see in Madonna's music though.

However, as with American Life, I don't think it would do very well. The public wouldn't warm to it, unless it was fantastic!

Also, there is the issue that Madonna seems so bent on achieving the highest goal possible, maybe at the expense of what really matters, maybe not. But I don't know how Madonna would feel taking that chance again if it doesn't mean she won't sell the most records from it

She's pretty much written the rule book when it comes to commerical success. I have no idea why she still craves it so much. It's almost like a disorder or something.

I'm not saying she should go out and make a wilfully uncommerical album, but if she just wrote a musically strong album, would she REALLY care if it didn't sell bucketloads? I also think that everywhere except the US would pretty much lap up whatever she did if it was actually good, even if it wasn't the "latest sound" etc.

Exactly.... she is just BENT on it. It all links to her need to control everything around her, and her increasingly strong belief in Kabbalah... like the stuff she trails on about it the Q magazine interview. She obviously has this overwhelming need to fulfill, but she'll carry on til she's dead if she's not careful. I just want her to relax. And yes I've thought about this way to much

:unsure:

I would love for her to work with Pat Leonard again. Those were the days - good solid pop. Actually she should release a retro album and let Pat, S Bray & Shep P each do 4 songs.

I still think an album co-written by her with Pat Leonard and Joe Henry ... with production by Stuart Price (with his creative head on) would be a blinder.

It simply couldn't fail, could it?

I just don't think she's in that headspace at all though. :(

She should stay away from electronica for at least one album.

I also agree with that. Enough with the dancey electronic stuff. It's been beaten to death at this stage. She needs to get ORGANIC.

Yes, and also, everybody is doing electronica now, Britney Spears [As much as Like her, I want her to stay away from electronica too], Kylie Minogue and even Ashlee Simpson and Hilary Duff. Madonna needs to start another trend with organic music.

yes!!!!

and work on her VOCALS.

Exactly. She's supposed to be the artist who veers away from the pack, but she's actually been reasonably stagnant for years. Electronic-based music is *everywhere* these days. I still think she's FAR too obsessed with the *sound*(i.e. production) of her albums than the actual content these days. The plaudits she got for the sound of the ROL album went to her head I think. Fortunately though, that album has very strong material as well as cool production.

Totally. Her voice sounds soooo thin and reedy these days. I think "Hard Candy" is vocally one of her worst albums in years. She needs to stop veering off into that screechy, higher voice and focus on her middle-range. She needs to get it sounding deeper and rougher like it used to years ago, or when she's been on tour a while and it starts to sound deep.

I'd love to hear more Live To Tell and Cherish-esque songs from her in the future.

The sad thing is that if Madonna were to record "Live To Tell" in 2008, it would have some generic, beat-heavy production like "Miles Away". She doesn't have a clue how to record ballads anymore. She mars perfectly good songs with dubious, "current" production.

I'm tired of Joe Henry. I don't want Stuart Price again.

American Life would have been a success if it wasn't for Mirwais. He sucks. The album was also boring with all it's guitar crap.

Patrick Leonard I would love to hear again. I do believe that she needs to find another hot producer. Why is that so hard? She's around a billion creative people, can't they pass some shit onto her for her to check out?

I agree with the content as well. I think it's great that she takes on the age thing, but she needs to have some really decent lyrics.

Oh, and change her fucking hair! :Topaz:

She needs to start smoking again!

How can you be "tired of Joe Henry"?? She's only had a couple of songs with him. :manson:

The songs she did with him are gorgeous, both melodically and lyrically. Why? Because he's a proper songwriter, not just some producer who got lucky and decided to branch into songwriting as well.

She should work with Brian Eno and do something experimental. Use some drugs and be creative!

Eeew. Drugs are for losers. Madonna is NOT a loser.

If I sound uptight or old-fashioned, tough shit.

I wonder where her head IS. She made this record with the hottest producers to earn back the US supposedly and now she's letting it die. What exactly is she after? I hope she doesn't ASPIRE to be some irrelevant touring act like the Rolling Stones.

She should do an album in French with M.Farmer :alexz:

Eeeeeew. What a terrifying thought.

Oh christ. :vomit:

Farmer's music sounds sooo dated. She is so hugely over overrated.

Shut up and drive baby 'cause I got a ride better than a limousine.


M. Farmer is perfect.

Yeah sure, if you're into dated, early 90s sounding, Euro tosh.

There's a reason why she's unheard of outside of France. I'm sure you can figure the rest out.

She seems to only be worshipped by French people and gays. It's so amusing! :lol2:

Isn't Madonna only worshipped by French people and gays? :unsure:


And the ocassional Irish and Mexican.

Eh....you're comparing the popularity of Madonna with Mylene Farmer?

Riiiiiiight. :lmao:

HER HEART BELONGS TO FRANCE B)


And no, that was *obviously* a sarcastic comment :rolleyes: you old dumb ho.

France can have her! Nobody else is even remotely interested. :sadbitch:

After hearing about that Farmer woman over and over I looked her up on youtube. I found a performance that looked and sounded like it was from 1992 with some red haired deathly looking woman that was actually fairly recent. Then I knew why all the pretentious European gays like her.

Absolutely! I've had "trendy" gays trying telling me how wonderful she is for years. I couldn't believe how incredibly dated and weak her material is when I eventually investigated it. She is staggeringly banal. I'm sure within France she might be better than many of her peers, but on a global scale, her material absolutely *stinks*.

Haha could you imagine Madonna on drugs?

She's much to self obsessed and desperate for control to ever consider doing drugs regardless of whether she minds others doing them or not

So people who choose not to do drugs are "self obsessed" and "desperate for control"?

Holy. Fuck.

:megamanson:

Er...I really don't think that's what Brad meant :blink:

I just read what he said again and I fail to see how he meant anything else

Perhaps you could explain...?

Well simply that people who hate to "lose control" generally aren't inclined to get off their tits.

Not rocket science.

Not PEOPLE, Madonna.

Oh please. I know you're Brad's biggest fan, but he clearly implied that people who refuse to do drugs are "self obsessed" and "desperate for control".

Who the fuck asked you?