American Life

This album is a bit of a departure from Madonna's usual dance and ballad style. It's definitely reflective of the times in music. Best described as "Electronic Folk". She and Mirwais wrote and produced this album. They worked before on some of the songs from MUSIC album, so you get an indication from listening to that album, Madonna was going this direction. The album lyrics are quite personal and reflective of whom she is at the time. Maybe even more on point than the lyrics for Ray of Light album which has been dubbed as her "spiritual awakening" album. Unfortunately, this album got panned for what it really wasn't. The album artwork and the original music video for the title track, gave the impression the album was "anti-American" when it was the furthest from that. Both the title track and Hollywood simply reflected on how she consumed American Life and being a star. It was more about who she was before and after coming to the conclusion that the life she was leading wasn't all that is cracked up to be. To me, this is definitely one of her underrated albums along with her Bedtime Stories album. Bedtime Stories probably more because it's been long forgotten and didn't get a lot of attention it deserved even though it managed to score her one of her biggest #1 hits. Anyway, American Life is a very good album. It's not your typical dance record from her, but it's very mature and really stands on its own as a solid album.When playing the Vinyl, I was a bit baffled by the fact that the first disc plays at normal album speed, but the second disc plays at 45. There is no indication on the album that this is supposed to be this way. Other than that, the album is definitely one of her best when it comes to writing and production. Though, I recognize this is probably not an album for fans who are looking for dance or 80's/90's production. It's quite serious in nature and very reflective of whom she was at the time. She was married to Guy Ritchie and was living the "English" lifestyle and while she still was pushing buttons, you can tell she was trying to live a more conservative style that really does ring true to she really is these days and fore being married to Guy. I don't believe she was faking it, but I think it was a evolution period for her that seemed a bit too stuffy for a woman who has been known for saying and doing some pretty brash and outlandish things.

I know many people claim that the album they are reviewing happens to be their favorite album by that artist. I've written reviews before, but this truly IS my favorite release from Madonna.No Human being has ever seen the true meaning of socialism or communism, nor has anything close been attempted. Neither can be "attempted" as its a slow natural psychological growth of society. Madonna portrays herself as a "Marxist" and reflects on her growing up in the United States, the heart of global Capitalism. To those who spend forever studying this philosophy, you can hear the lyrics and know EXACTLY what she is referencing. To the average listener, the meanings of certain songs will never penetrate their brain. Perhaps Madonna made a mistake and forgot that many Americans don't have enough wisdom to understand something complex. This album shows how human we must become, less selfish, less narcissistic or else we are going to literally destroy each other.The song, I'm So Stupid talks about how she is no longer brainwashed by the Capitalist propaganda, and how she used to live in the bubble of illusion. As for the title track, she clearly is using sarcasm to say she has a butler, nanny, bodyguards, as an example to show how greedy and spoiled people can be and still will never be happy. Hollywood is a song of artificial beauty and the average superficial pathology in our current society. Love Profusion was placed in the album as a sweet break from all the serious concepts contained on the record. (I Own this on Vinyl besides Cd) Though I have no source to support this, but I personally feel Love Profusion was about her stance on gay marriage. She wants a "Celebration" because one should not have to worry about what others think if love is true. The gay marriage debate was circulating the American media at the time of the album's and single's release. Nobody knows me indicates that in society most people lack a true understanding of their identity, let alone a true understanding of each other as human beings. She doesn't listen to the media, she doesn't watch TV, she wants people to know who she is. In our materialistic society people compete against each other for survival leading to incivility. The meaning to the album is so complex, I'd be typing for hours.Grab this album, you don't have to be a socialist or agree with the philosophy, but Madonna does speak truth when she confronts MAJOR social problems in today's capitalist world.