Bedtime Stories - Madonna (CD 1994)

In many ways the flip side to Erotica , Bedtime Stories was Madonna s commercial recovery album, and as such it basically thaws the ice, taking sex and placing it next to love, then letting them snuggle up under the covers.

Embracing R n B and soul influences, this album is as warm, gentle and tender as Erotica was cold, harsh and distant. Fortunately, despite the somewhat obvious maintenance tactics, most of the material here works. It opens strongly with the poppy Survival , with cute horns tooting as Madge reminds everyone she ll be living to tell (get the reference?) regardless of criticism. Lead single Secret is next and introduces an acoustic guitar, with an insanely hooky and memorable chorus ( mmm-hmmm, my baby s got a secret ) that s as tasty as a mug of hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course).

I m also pretty fond of the rampant bassline of I d Rather Be Your Lover , which despite some Justify My Love soundalike lyrics rolls along nicely, with a punchy rap from guest star Me Shell Ndegocello that blends in seamlessly. Elsewhere, massive hit Take A Bow is a graceful Canto-pop styled ballad, with a pretty melody, gorgeous backup vocals and a silky, soft glide.

A lot of the songs here follow that pattern, and while I am fond of Forbidden Love and Love Tried To Welcome Me , I do wish there was a bit more variation. Still, some does exist courtesy of Bjork collaboration Bedtime Story , which is an intriguing hallucinogenic stroll that rejects language for oblivion; as well as Human Nature , in which Madonna does a drive-by at her Erotica critics ( I m not your b*tch, don t hang your s*** on me I m not apologizing, would it sound better if I were a man? ) over a wailing synth line most hip-hoppers would be proud of.

The other songs unfortunately just kind of sit there, although I enjoy Inside Of Me and its clever use of heavy breathing beat effects, which at first points out the sexual implications of the title before seeming ironic as Madonna delivers a tender requiem to her mother. With the exception of the annoying Sanctuary , I don t really dislike any of these tracks, as the combination of Madonna s soft, feminine vocals and slow, gentle grooves creates a dreamy mix that while lacking character, provides a gentle cradle.

Like Erotica , the lyrics are also solid, as Madonna imbues even generic sentiments with her own personality, crafting solid pop tunes with a touch of ambiguity and a deal of thoughtfulness that works emotionally there s a genuine sorrow evident on Inside Of Me , Love Tried To Welcome Me and Take A Bow , and it makes for a lonely but ultimately uplifting experience. With stronger melodies, more diverse production and fewer ballads the record would have been better, but it s probably her best in terms of balancing her individual statements with widely appealing music and gentle tones.

Other Madonna Album Reviews:

Madonna
Like A Virgin
True Blue
Like A Prayer
Erotica
Ray of Light
Music
American Life
Confessions On A Dance Floor