American Life [PA] [ECD] - Madonna (CD 2003)

What a difference 20 years make. In that time, Madonna has made the leap from vulva-gazer to soul-searcher. At least in the former, Madonna knew how to make bouncy, heartfelt pop songs about love, female empowerment and deep dicking, but the introspective Madonna of American Life , her 10th studio album, comes up just as earnest but sadly minus any noticeable fun.

I purposely waited a month before reviewing this cd because I wanted to be sure that my mind wouldn t change with repeated listens. But the more time passes however, the more I realize that the musical risks Madonna took on this jaunt - though always admirable and welcome - did not pay off this time around. If you re going to engage in some soul baring narcissism, then you better impart some original wisdom other than I m drinking a soy latte/I get a double shotte . (And just in case you want my take on whether Madonna can spit: No. No, she can t). Since Madonna is no Fiona Apple, the end result doesn t go down as smoothly. The fault however, doesn t lay all in the songwriting, especially since it doesn t help when 80 s style synth clatter comes crashing against such threadbare lyrics.

The American Life CD seems to be based on Don t Tell Me , a previous hit from Madonna s equally uneven, but far more brilliant CD Music . Don t Tell Me featured a stop-and-strum guitar saddled with heaps of keyboard twiddle and a programmed drum beat. It s such a remarkable musical combination, that I m sure no one will argue it deserves to keep company with Madonna s other classic oldies. The template of staccato guitar and electro-squiggles seems to be the overriding theme on American Life . Love Profusion , I m so Stupid , Nothing Fails and Intervention all bear its trademark. But the comparison should end there. Instead, American Life takes us on a 45-minute journey rehashing some familiar territory in Madonna s life namely her relationship with her parents, her questioning of warped social mores that come along with living the fast life, and her evident apostasy from materialism and the sinister trappings of fame all of which have been far more eloquently tackled in previously uplifting works as Like a Prayer and Ray of Light .

So why bother? Madonna doesn t tend to make strong albums as she does memorable singles. While as a whole American Life leaves me thoroughly unimpressed, when broken down to its individual tracks, some of the singles show some fire and grit. Nothing Fails is as inspired as the bellowing chorus that backs her placid refrain. Mother and Father could have been a mawkish downer, but instead turns into one hell of a dance anthem. Love Profusion doesn t astound lyrically, but the musical arrangement carries it along. The same goes for Nobody Knows Me , Madonna s umpteenth foray into spiritual awareness and vocal tweaking. The closer, Easy Ride , is Madonna s quest to better her life through hard work and soul searching, and it also showcases what Madonna does best. In her lower register, Madonna can convey a sad longing that shimmers with a steely determination. It s just that character in her voice that makes Easy Ride such a dramatic tour de force. And that s incidentally, why after twenty years we still bother.