The next two albums I’m reviewing had to be purchased because I’m flew back to L.A. yesterday day and wasn’t able to get to the library. The first of these is Madonna’s 1989 classic Like a Prayer. Believe it or not behind all of the Pepsi commercial controversy (look it up kids) and hoopla there is actually an interesting album to be heard here. The first track and the only one I even knew, was the most popular single, Like a Prayer. I have always liked this song and think that in a way it is indicative of the rest of the album. By that I mean it shows off Madonna’s newfound maturity both musically as well as lyrically. I was anxious to hear the rest of the album since I had heard great things about it but was only familiar with this song. Highly rated albums that are largely or entirely unknown to me are always exciting! The second track definitely takes a turn towards the more popular. Also, I noticed on the production side of things how seemingly ‘flat’ the album sounded. This is not a critique of the album itself as much as an observation on how tastes a have changed in the last 22 years (with a current favorability towards as much bass as possible). The third track was more interesting though I had hoped for more from a Prince collaboration. Most intriguing however, is that the track is called Love Song but in the chorus the she sings the contradictory words “this is not a love song” (*cough* Sara Bareilles 18 years later *cough*). Track four sees the mood change again. This is always refreshing as compared to albums in which every song is in the exact same style (Greenday I’m lookin’ at you). What I found fascinating about this particular song was the way in which the somber lyrics concerning abuse, contradicted the happy, bouncy melody that accompanied them. Top it of with a title of “Till Death do us Part” and the listener is presented with more than enough to think about. Track six begins with an Elton John-type piano intro. Titled “Promise to Try”, it deals with how she tried to cope with the loss of her mother (to whom the album is dedicated). This is the first truly personal song on the album and as with Like a Prayer, shows a new level of depth from Madonna.
Following this was the second most popular song from the album, Cherish. I might have heard this song once or twice, but don’t care for it. For one, the 80’s pop bass line sounds a bit dated now. Though it was a popular single, compared to the gravity of some of her other work on this album, I consider this to be filler. (Funny how that happens) At this point, I felt the emergence of a pattern of alternating happier, lighter, songs with, deeper, darker ones. The next track confirmed this. Its unexpected, orchestral introduction gave way to some of the most bizarre lyrics on the album. What the song is about I can’t quite discern, but I thoroughly enjoyed the music with its studio trickery and attention grabbing arrangements. At one point the music sounds more like it had come from a progressive rock album rather than something from a pop singer. Track eight sees her again becoming more introspective. Titled “Oh Father”, the lyrics are purposefully ambiguous. Is she talking about her own father? A priest from her catholic upbringing? Both? It’s hard to tell and that is exactly the point. One thing became crystal clear as I got to the fallowing lines, “Maybe someday when I look back I'll be able to say you didn't mean to be cruel somebody hurt you too” this ain’t Material Girl. Continuing the pattern of eclecticism the next song sounds like it could have come from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. Lyrically, however, I don’t find this track to be all that interesting. The following tracks lyrics come off as an atypical love song. Musically is has a strong Latin flavor apropos of the song’s title “Spanish Eyes”. The last song on the album is the most experimental. Acting as a kind of postlude, it begins with Madonna reciting prayers before fast, crunching, electrical guitars take over. Including everything from what sounds like backwards choir vocals from the first track to almost rhythmic-like chanting, the song acts as a condensed finale with a collage of different chaotic sounds lasting less than 2 minutes and twenty seconds.
Overall I would definitely say I enjoyed this album. Is it one of the greatest pop albums of all time? No, but it’s more than an enjoyable listen. It’s one of the fundamental transition points that catapults Madonna from Like a Virgin to Ray of Light.
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