Track Listing

1. Drowned World (Substitute For Love)
2. Swim
3. Ray Of Light
4. Candy Perfume Girl
5. Skin
6. Nothing Really Matters
7. Sky Fits Heaven
8. Shanti/Ashtangi
9. Frozen
10. Power Of Goodbye
11. To Have And Not To Hold
12. Little Star
13. Mer Girl

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13016 in Music
• Released on: 1998-03-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
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-centred pat on the back that belies her claim to a newly found 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 centre of our spiritual world too. --Roni Sarig

CD Description
'Ray Of Light' was produced by the ambient pioneer William Orbit. Michigan-born Madonna started work on this album following her involvement in a film production of 'Evita'. The no.1 singles 'Frozen' and 'Ray Of Light' are included.

Customer Reviews

You Know She's The Best
Madonna is more than a pop singer. She's an artist. This album proves that. As part of her ever-increasing canvas 'Ray Of Light' silenced her critics back in 1998. Talk of her being washed up and past it was completely silenced when a gothic video featuring a lady in black heralded The Return of the Queen. Trading fame for love was the best move Madonna ever made because through discovering unconditional love and enlightenment she allowed herself to be free and just sing and write about the things she wanted to. From soul-searching in 'Drowned World' to letting rip on 'Ray of Light', Madonna runs the full gammut of emotions on this album. Her voice sounds absolutely gorgeous on some of the tracks, especially 'Frozen' (which she can sing just as good live) and the opening line of 'Skin' (which will send shivers down your spine). This is her second best album after Like A Prayer, and beneath all the elctronica and vocal manipulations you'll find Madonna at her most intimate. Witness the haunting 'Mer Girl' which explores her fear of, and fascination with, death and transition. Listen to this song closely and don't be put off by the nightmarish imagery. It's one of the best things she's ever done. Even the songs that don't grab you are growers. There's not a bad song on this album. Yeah, it's not perfect. 'Swim' can be preachy. 'Shanti/Ashtangi' is completely out there. And the trilogy of 'Frozen', 'Power of Goodbye' and 'To Have And Not To Hold' repeat the same message, but you'll enjoy every minute. This album boasts some of her best songs in her 20 year career. You should also see them performed live, it adds a whole new perspective (especially 'Candy Perfume Girl' - much better when performed by the lady herself on electric guitar). If you want spirituality, thoughtfulness, catchy pop, something to make you dance, something to make you cry - you can find it all on one album. God save the Queen.

Well-Titled Defining Moment for Madonna (and her audience)
Nearly flawless statement of maturity, humility and little-known musicality from agit-popstress turned diva ("little star" would have shined as a B-side, but mars the flow of this otherwise exquisite masterpiece). Noteworthy is William Orbit's visionary use of pysychedelic guitar technique, which adds counterpoint to the techno and production-driven ambience. Orbit's guitars are "traveling" through the mix as if the "spirit guide" to Madonna's vocal on her journey of awareness. I quickly found that any three songs in a row here constitute a seamless "suite" that works musically as well as lyrically without force.

This album is one of two utterly enexpected and exquisite examples of 80*s females offering doubtless proof of worth in the 90*s; the other being Sade's sublime 1992 'Love Deluxe". In both cases, the artist successfully adapted her persona to an unexpected and well-delivered soundscape.

"Frozen" was reportedly chosen by M's rabbi to spearhead the album's single releases. I wish i had that Rabbi to pick my lotto numbers! I honestly think this one would have flopped without that not-so-enigmatic statement to disarm her audience and critics. "Frozen", like many Madonna singles, posseses a singular and evocative introduction (think "Vogue") which transports the listener into M's "parlour" before she sings a single note. Upon repeated listenings, the "intro" makes one salivate in anticipation. Ever savvy (and coy...), M knows this is the stuff classic singles are made of.

"The Power of Goodbye" is my all-time fave, and the only time M's voice has ever given me chills! "To Have and Not to Hold" is utterly sublime, evoking Spanish as well as "ambient" music , while seeing M deliver a world-class understatement (and I mean "deliberate" on that) in her vocal. "Swim" is ambrosia for audiophiles, and sounds amazing on all systems!

I'm a strong proponent for 5.1 mixes on classic releases, hopefully Mr. Orbit will oblige on this release, which is surely deserving of the treatment. Please ignore all references made to Orbit's "blips and beeps" in other reviews of this project (there are some trademark Orbit atmospherics, incidental in nature). Such narrow minded focus is unbelievable in the face of his skilled guitarmanship and visionary arranging.

When I first heard "Frozen" in '97, I said "Yes! Finally!". There's a reason Madonna got Grammy nods in spite of much sentiment against her persona. Truly breathtaking and possesing great artistic merit, this one deserves to be heard!

SURPRISINGLY BRILLIANT
If somone had told me in 1984 that the cheeky, Minnie Mouse-esque vocalist, who writhed around on a gondola in the Like A Virgin video, that she would make my all-time favourite album, I would have perhaps died of shock. But alas, that vocalist did. Ray Of Light is genius from start to finish.

DROWNED WORLD / SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE - An initially subdued, heartfelt opener, which morphs into an angry melange of guitar and electronica, to stunning effect. 5/5

SWIM - Another guitar-driven track, Swim's ethereal qualities resurface later on in the album. 4/5

RAY OF LIGHT - The title track builds on a simple guitar line, eventually mixing rock, pop and dance resulting in a full-on rave anthem. 5/5

CANDY PERFUME GIRL - Grunge meets sex on this mellow rock-based track. 2.5/5

SKIN - Ray Of Light's deepest dance cut, Swim mixes dub, Asian and pop to form a potent concoction. 4/5

NOTHING REALLY MATTERS - Undoubtedly the most commercial offering, Nothing Really Matters, lyrically follows on from Drowned World. 4/5

SKY FITS HEAVEN - Twisted drum beats, and bizarre production alters this tune from a simple pop song into something altogether different. 4.5/5

SHANTI / ASTANGI - Despite being written totally in Sanskrit, Shanti strangely manages to remain both interesting and catchy. 3/5

FROZEN - A beautiful mixture of strings and electronica create an atmospheric, ethereal soundscape, reminscant of Portishead's Roads. 5/5

THE POWER OF GOODBYE - The simplest song of the set, The Power Of Goodbye utilises an acoustic guitar, strings and Madonna's mournful vocals to full effect. 5/5

TO HAVE & NOT TO HOLD - Perhaps the saddest song on Ray Of Light, To Have & Not To Hold is not melodically as strong as it's to preceeding tracks, but is thematically moreso. 5/5

LITTLE STAR - Charming tune dedicated to daughter Lourdes, Madonna's maternal vocals come to the forefront on Ray Of Light's penultimate track. 3.5/5

MER GIRL - Simply the most bizarre track Madonna has ever recorded; over a sparse soundscape, she tells of her nightmare, in which she is haunted by her dead mother. Disturbingly wonderful. 5/5