Madonna [Remaster] - Madonna (CD 2001)

Before she went on to conquer the world, Madonna was a pretty damn good dance singer. It's hard to believe that when this album finally blew up in 1984, people thought she would be the flash-in-the-pan while her contemporary Cyndi Lauper was viewed as the woman who would take over the world and become a legend. However, the proof is in all that the Material Girl has done in the 20 years since this album was released. This 8-song collection of dance songs remains one of her best albums and one of the best debuts ever.

Way back when, Madonna was the prototype early-80's club kid, trying to establish a singing career while shaking her butt at NYC's many dance clubs. A demo containing the song "Everybody", produced by club DJ Mark Kamins, made it to Seymour Stein, the president of Sire Records (home at the time to Yaz, The Pretenders & The Tom Tom Club). Stein signed the young singer, and the resulting album contained tracks that captured the essence of the early 80's post-disco club scene and also showcased the 'attitude" that would become a Madonna trademark.

"Everybody" and "Holiday" (the track that broke Madonna on the pop charts) are both prime examples of Eighties synth-pop. The lyrics are not terribly deep, and the singing isn't especially great, but the girlish quality in her voice (which has deepened somewhat over the years), and the positive energy reflected in the somewhat trite lyrics ("Everybody...come on, dance and sing!", "Holiday...celebrate...) makes these songs work.

Actually, the album's best two tracks are not immediately recognizable as her singles. "Physical Attraction" is a slinky midtempo R&B groove produced by Reggie Lucas (Phyllis Hyman, Stephanie Mills). It has a groovin' guitar part and a less-girly vocal from Madonna. "Burning Up" is the other side of the coin. It's as upfront as "Physical Attraction" is coy. Over a rock/dance hybrid that suggests Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff", Madonna sounds...well, sleazy. "Unlike the others I'll do anything/I'm not the same/I have no shame/I'm on FIRE!!!". The arrangement, madonna's vocal, the guitar, everything sounds so dirty you almost wanna take a bath after you've heard the song.

"Think Of Me" is memorable only for the trashy 80's-style synths that permeate the song, while "Borderline" is Madonna's first attempt at an almost-ballad, while "I Know It" is the album's only throwaway track. (Yeah, there are only 8 tracks, but this was 1983, before the advent of the long-playing CD. Albums typically ran for about 35-45 minutes).

It's always been my belief that Madonna is at her best when doing more urban-influenced material (this folk-acoustic-electronica thing has got to go!), and it's almost weird to understand that when Madonna first came out, she was marketed as an urban artist. This stands as one of her better albums (IMHO)because she's not trying to live up to an image or change the world. The songs are easygoing and danceable, and her voice is (somewhat) innocent and she sounds like she's really having fun. "Madonna' is a worthwhile purchase and easily one of Madonna's Top 3 albums.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Key tracks: "Burning Up", "Physical Attraction", "Holiday"