Ray of Light

Madonna | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 3, 1998)
• Original Release Date: March 3, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002NJS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (831 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,055 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: By nearly all critical accounts, Ray of Light, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's Bedtime Stories, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. While Ray of Light is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: First, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, Ray of Light is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: Fresh from singing lessons on the Evita set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centered pat on the back that belies her claim to a newfound altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the center of our spiritual world too. --Roni Sarig

Product Description

CD > POPULAR MUSIC > ROCK

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Madonna's "Ray of Light" a breath of fresh air January 20, 2001

By John Jones

Format:Audio CD

Family matters have always been a good forum for Madonna. After all, 1989's "Like a Prayer," dealing with the breakup of her marriage, her mother's death, and her complicated relationship with her father, shattered the notion that Madonna was an artist best relied on for singles; the deep and expressive set made for a mature album that could be enjoyed from start to finish. Unfortunately, subsequent recordings weren't as sharp: "Erotica" and "Bedtime Stories" definitely had their moments but just as surely had their share of filler. Luckily for us, "Ray of Light" picks up on the flip side of "Like a Prayer": this time around, Madonna's the parent, and the topic of family provides a springboard for musings on love versus fame and what a grown adult considers truly important. Adding to the mix is her collaboration with electronica producer William Orbit, making "Ray of Light" one of the most mature and satisfying albums of dance music you're likely to ever hear.

And while the opening track gets things off to an unexpected start with a hypnotic slice of slow rock, the lyrics of "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" set the pace of the record: "I traded fame for love/without a second thought...I found myself in crowded rooms/feeling so alone." Halfway through the song the music backs off and Madonna distances herself from side-effects of fame: "no famous faces, far off places/trinkets I can buy/no handsome stranger, heady danger/drug that I can try." As the list continues the decibel level grows until both Madonna and her music are at an in-your-face level, clearly declaring that fame may be nice but enough is enough.

The club-happy "Nothing Really Matters" is another summation of her new point of view; singing to her newborn daughter, the onetime Material Girl admits that she once "lived so selfishly," but now "everything's changed because of you/nothing really matters, love is all we need." The concept is simple but nonetheless a touching one. It could even be argued that the album's first single, the entrancing "Frozen," holds a deep premise. Lyrics like "you only see what your eyes want to see/how can life be what you want it to be/you're frozen when your heart's not open" could have easily been written from her daughter's point of view, as if Madonna realized during pregnancy what changes in outlook her child would need from her and decided to set it to music.

Not all the lyrical content is parental, however: the slow hip-hop of "Swim" offers a grim look at current events with a nonetheless optimistic plea for change, while "Shanti/Ashtangi" sets her spiritual beliefs to a funky, computer-laden rhythm. And then the midtempo "Power of Goodbye" and the near-Bossa Nova "To Have and Not to Hold" are flat-out love songs, albeit doomed ones. Still other songs appear to be about nothing in particular: "Candy Perfume Girl" is a trippy electronica workout laced with seemingly random poetry, while the frenetic title track has a lyrical spin that is either about Mother Earth, the downscaling of celebrity, or something in between.

And while the drum-and-bass lullaby "Little Star," a blessing to her child for a contented life, may come off feeling a little lightweight, the album's only true stumble is the spooky closer, "Mer Girl." Whereas "Like a Prayer" offered a moving account of a young girl missing her desceased mother in "Promise to Try," "Mer Girl" is instead a dreamlike sequence in which a new celebrity mother is still in search of the mother she didn't have long enough. It may sound like a touching idea, but lyrics like "I smelt her burning flesh/her rotting bones/her decay" are too dour and heavy after twelve tracks of mostly dance music. But all in all, "Ray of Light" marks her most successful connection with dance music and her most compelling efforts as a lyricist. It's a relief to know that, years after enjoyable ear candy like "Holiday" and "Like a Virgin," Madonna grew up and matured over the years just like the rest of us. As she observes on "Sky Fits Heaven": "isn't everyone just travelling down their own road/watching the signs as they go/I think I'll follow my heart/it's a very good place to start." Very good? Some would say brilliant.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Do not underestimate the power of Madonna! August 8, 2000

By CoffeeGurl HALL OF FAME

Format:Audio CD

Madonna has managed to manipulate the media with her outspoken nature and undeniable wit. She has also kept people in suspense by constantly changing her look. People have wanted her career to end, but she is still around and will be around for a long time. Also, some Madonna fans aren't sure that they like her new sound. Do not underestimate Madonna, for she has always managed to surprise us.

Ray of Light is the most artistic and creative album Madonna has ever recorded. Instead of trying a new look (although she did), she decided to try a new sound. Ray of Light is filled with electronic music and edgy dance songs. The result is brilliant. Her voice is stronger than ever and her sound is a lot more refined -- very different from the pop ditties she recorded in the past. Yes, she is not as outspoken as she used to be, but then again she has evolved as a person and as an artist. I love "The Power of Goodbye"; the lyrics are very touching. I also like "Ray of Light," "Frozen," "Nothing Really Matters," and "Skin." The songs have a common theme: spirituality and self-discovery.

I urge you to purchase this incredible CD. And for all of you reluctant Madonna fans out there: Madonna is better than ever. Give this CD a whirl.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ray of Light truly is like a prayer August 26, 2007

By JGC

Format:Audio CD

This is Madonna's work of art. And this CD is the very best collection of any music she has ever produced since "Erotica." Madonna's lyrics are beautiful and strong because even after 9 years it still stands the test of time. It's completely impossible for this CD to be dated; with the electronica feel to it and fast moving dance numbers, such as the title-track this CD was way ahead of its time. Even in the double-00's "Ray of Light" is still very important as both a dance record and a record of reflection and interpersonal renewal.

Besides the song, "Ray of Light," I also adore "Frozen." This was the perfect song to be the lead-single because it mixed both the old and new Madonna into one. "Frozen" also helped resonate a steady flow of continuity.

I also love the song "Shanti/Ashtangi." In this song Madonna sings a very pretty melody in Sanskrit that is both unique and uplifting. I don't know what she's saying but I do know that I want to keep listening. I wish she would have done an entire CD like this (although she did release a similar song, "Music's" B-side, "Cyberraga" in 2000.)

Some of the other truly magical tracks on this CD are: "Swim" "Skin" and "Sky Fits Heaven." These songs are like pieces to an intricate quilt that come perfectly together. "Ray of Light" is almost like one big tune because all the songs on this CD live as one in perfect harmony.

Why is this CD so perfect? Because it mixes the old with the new. It includes a very young sound that still sounds familiar and welcoming. "Ray of Light" totally reminds me of Madonna's two other greatest masterpieces, "Erotica" and "Like A Prayer."

This is the Madonna that I truly love because this CD was so unique and artistic. She took a huge gamble with "Ray of Light" because she hadn't had a hit record in years and boy did it pay off. You cannot deny "Ray of Light" its place in music history as one of the greatest popular dance records of the 90's.

A reporter in Europe once asked Madonna what she liked the most about the "old Madonna" and she said something to the effect of, "both the old Madonna and new Madonna have a sense of humor about these sort of questions." I suppose she didn't want to spend her time talking about the "old Madonna." Instead she was more interested in the present. And that's what "Ray of Light" is about. It's like a day at the beach with someone you love. It's a reminder that even after the dark there is some light. It's like a sunny day when everything turns out great. In this crazy world, "Ray of Light" gives me hope that there is still some optimism out there. You are home with "Ray of Light."