Ray Of Light

03/03/1998 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Bill Holdship

Now that she's let the world know she's keeping her baby via another phenomenal media blitz, it's time for Ms. Ciccone to put her money where her mouth's been (no pun intentional) and deliver the latest reinvented goods. And, by gosh, perhaps more than ever, she passes with flying colors this time out. Ray Of Light could well be one of THE revolutionary LPs of the '90s--this from someone who never thought he'd write a Madonna review, let alone a positive one.

Pundits have been predicting the advent of techno-based electronica music as a dominant force since the advent of the '90s, but just at a time when same pundits are writing "it ain't gonna happen," Madonna makes the sound especially palatable for mainstream modern pop audiences. She recruits techno wizard William Orbit to man the production controls here, but his rhythms are mixed with some genuinely pretty pop melodies (actually, on countless tunes among the album's 13) and all kindsa styles from both Madonna's past and beyond. The title track genuinely rocks--I kid you not--and some of the gimmicks, ranging from Philly soul borrowings to the genuinely ethereal, can best be described as "psychedelic." On top of that, being a mom agrees very well with Madonna, since the recent persona revealed--both lyrically (kick off an album with the line "I traded fame for love.." and ya know this is high concept stuff) and interviewically--actually comes across as quite classy.

A Sgt. Pepper for electronica? Well, let's just say Madonna's best album since her earliest ones--and I bet the bank it'll hold up better than those do today.