Rebel Heart

I came late to the music of Madonna. Obviously, I was well aware of her in the 1980s and I really appreciated Material Girl, Express Yourself and a handful of others, but it wasn't until my friend Rhian introduced me to I'm Breathless that I actually began to admire the performer for her diversity, humour and sensibilities. The 1990s were, for me, Madonna's best decade. I think Erotica is an incredibly brave (and sexy) album, Bedtime Stories is near-perfect but horrendously under-rated, and Ray of Light is a masterpiece.

In the 21st Century, I felt a little let down with Music and American Life but in later years, I have become fonder of them and gained an appreciation of them both. Confessions on a Dance Floor is a terrific concept album and Hard Candy is unfairly criticised but it is a below-par effort on Madonna's part. Only about 50 % of the tracks are actually worthy of her talent.

Then, MDNA came along. I found it hard to listen to. It reeked of desperation in places and the over use of the deeply irritating Nicki Minaj makes me want to pour burning fat into my ears. The album had a handful of terrific tracks (Falling Free and I'm Addicted spring to mind) but as a whole, I found it barely tolerable.

For 2015, we have a superb return-to-form in Rebel Heart. We witness again the maturity we experienced in Ray of Light and a wide range of songs that often (deliberately) hark back to earlier eras of her career. Sure, the grating electric nymph that is Nicki Minaj does make a fleeting appearance, but it's not as nerve-jangling as in Give Me All Your Luvin' *shudder* I can't help thinking that Ms Minaj must have something over Madge, otherwise why would she allow the untalented gaudy imp into her recording studios? Luckily, she doesn't ruin the fun of Bitch I'm Madonna.

Rebel Heart is provocative, eclectic and thoroughly enjoyable album and it shows a very focussed artist behind the scenes. Madonna is also not afraid to bring her religious beliefs into her lyrics, but it never feels heavy-handed, just honest and thoughtfully formulated.

The first official release form the album is Living For Love and it feels like real Madonna. The video, where she plays a bullfighter amongst her (continually impressive) back-up dancers dressed as bulls, is a simplistic yet beautiful piece with stunning choreography and perfect direction and editing.

Other stand-out tracks include Devil Pray, Iconic, Body Shop, Holy Water and Wash All Over Me; but, frankly, there is barely a mis-step throughout. On the "Deluxe Edition" there is another cracker of a song entitled Veni Vidi Vici which details the rise of her career and the obstacles she overcame to become the superstar she is today. Oddly, it's on the deluxe edition that you will also find the album's title track, Rebel Heart, and - once again - it has a very autobiographical feel to it. Admittedly, this is what Madonna is incredibly good at and the result is a touching number with great integrity.

Ghosttown is destined to become an instant classic as it is hauntingly beautiful (pardon the pun!) and, even though Unapologetic Bitch irked me upon first hearing, it has grown on me immensely and I find it great fun

Joan of Arc is also a stunningly beautiful number. It is songs like this that make me want Madonna to release another ballad compilation similar to Something to Remember.

You may be aware of a number of 'demo' tracks that have been leaked and these too are stunningly good. There are over 30 tracks out in the ether associated with these recording sessions and, frankly, Madonna could have released everything as a full-on double album (like Rufus Wainwright did with Want). One of the tracks that sadly missed the final cut of the album is, perhaps, the best of the lot. Beautiful Scars is a raw song of love and acceptance. It speaks so deeply about how we view ourselves in the eyes of others and offers little apology for it. The song reminds me of her brutal honesty she displayed in the classic Human Nature but, this time, in the form of a superb melody with touching lyrics.

I could go on about all the tracks, but I think you get that I am slightly in love with this album. I haven't felt so obsessed with an album since Kirsty MacColl's Tropical Brainstorm or Madge's own Ray of Light - it took 15 years, but I'm back in the groove!

So, in conclusion, I thank Madonna for taking the time to focus. THIS is the sort of music that made us fans in the first place. If she never made another album again, we would be safe in the knowledge that she left the industry on a high note.