Product 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.

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: #2631 in Music
• Released on: 1998-03-02
• Number of discs: 1

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

Customer Reviews

Madge exploits Giorgio and us once more - YAWN!
How amazing! How out there! How fab is the ever reinventive Mrs Ritchie? Well, actually no, she is none of these things!! She of the Minnie Mouse vocal chords and limited musical talent (if she has any at all, lets face it!) has discovered that 20 years after the fact the general public have forgotten late 1970s Italian disco producer Girogio Moroder and so the exploitative witch beautiffully rips him and we the masses right off - AGAIN! The Empress' new clothes horse is also all Eastern Mystic here, how quaint? Quite gross really! 'cos you know she don't mean it! Someone put this manipulative old cow to sleep, please!

Frozen on The Ray Of Light
Bedtime Stories was a mellow album by Maddie and Ray of Light just kicks it up a few notches by creating a different feel of tune and a very creative formation of songs.
i personally feel that this is a very good album and love the majority of the songs on offer here,but there are other albums that beat it(see Music,Like a prayer,Erotica,True Blue,Confessions,Hard Candy,and American Life)but that doesn't mean this album isn't good it just means there are albums i prefer to this...i see why loads find this album to be one of her best...it is one of her best,having become a mother and reached 40 she matured and delivered some more touching and deep songs (deeper and more hard hitting than bedtime stories)while not becoming traditional ballads.
by collaborating with other producers,it gives Ray of Light the feel it should have,some dance,some ballads,and some deep tracks that interlude into each other(a similar technique is used with Confessions).
the tracklist-
Drowned world/substitute for love-4/5-very good track that lures listners in.
Swim-5/5-powerful and very meaningful song with great lyrics.
Ray of Light-4/5-made a great single and good for dancing to.
Candy perfume girl-3/5-an unusual track but blends in nicely.
Skin-4/5-another unusual track that combines meaningful tunes with a dance orientated feel.
Nothing really matters-5/5-based on a character from a story Madge read about...and the music video showed the confused mood created,great track.
Sky fits Heaven-4/5-enjoyable.
Shanti/Ashtangi-5/5-great lyrics and makes a change...it's written in a completely different language,while consists a great beat.
Frozen-5/5-her first single from the album and a very deep moving track it is too.
The Power of goodbye-4/5-very meaningful and very moving lyrics making it a fabulous ballad(brings a tear).
to have and not to hold-4/5-great vocals.
little star-3/5-"never forget who you are,little star."very good and symbolizes Madge's motherhood.
Mer girl-3/5-strange and haunting closure to the album.
as you can see it is very enjoyable and if you don't own it already i recommend it to you along with the astounding-Music,Like a prayer,Erotica,True Blue,Confessions on a dance floor,Hard Candy,and American Life,also Bedtime Stories is a soothing album that is equally as enjoyable as Ray of Light.

Bad Girl...
...Spiritualized!

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

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
This is an album that you dream of finding, beautiful beats, brilliant lyrics and interestingly put instruments. Have it, you won't be dissapointed!!!