Madonna's patchy 1989 LP. (Like A Prayer - Madonna)

Member Name: DanielKemp

Product:	Like A Prayer - Madonna
Date:	06/04/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A couple of great singles

Disadvantages: The entire album is surrounded by dire filler

Have you ever bought an album for one song and then discovered that the rest of the songs were difficult to fall for? We have all done it and I'm afraid that's how I feel about Like a Prayer.

Everybody knows the title track, what with the "controversial" music video that accompanied the single release. OH WATCH OUT - Jesus is black!

Thankfully, despite lynching the world's greatest man into the scheme of things, the song remains one of the best pop moments of the 1980's. Madonna's voice shines and the backing choir suits the style of song really well. The funky bass and party time drums remind me a little of Prince. Talking of Prince, he pops up to co-write and sing a duet on Love Song. You'd think that a Prince & Madonna duet would be a match made in heaven but this song is so incredibly middle of the road that it makes me want to weep for the opportunity missed here. Stylistically it sounds identical to what Prince had on his Signs O' the Times LP 2 years earlier, but for whatever reasons it just isn't as good as it should have been, both Prince and Madonna sounding as if they just couldn't be bothered.

Till Death Do Us Part wasn't released as a single and it should have been in my opinion. The melody and chorus here makes it far more memorable than either Dear Jessie or the awful Oh Father, which evokes little more than anger and boredom.

In total 6 songs were released as singles from this album - talk about milking it! But I guess this is what it is - a 1980's pop album designed to bother the top of the chart.

I have little patience for Spanish Eyes and the closing Act of Contrition, what with the latter's messy squall of noise making my speakers cry. Express Yourself is your typical womanly rant against men that continues to pollute the charts to this day. Can you think of more clichéd lyrics than "And when you're gone he might regret it, think about the love he once had, try to carry on, but he just won't get it, he'll be back on his knees". Poor show Madonna, poor show.

It's not all bad though, Cherish is a fine single that is almost as good as the opening Like a Prayer. A bouncy tempo and catchy chorus make sure that it's one of the tracks you remember after the LP stops spinning.

However, I've grown tired of talking about this album now. I hate few things more than fake, stylised emotion, unfortunately something that this album has in bucket loads.

Madonna is a great pop artist who has endured many years, and she continues to make (when she wants to) decent music, but I simply cannot recommend this album when taking into account all that it is - a group of singles ranging from excellent to distinctly average, surrounded by filler.

5.5/10

Daniel Kemp

Read more of my reviews at www.danielkemp.webs.com

Summary: Worth considering if you are a fan (for the singles) but otherwise, stay away!