By Jared Murray

Madonna’s twelth studio album may not be what everyone expects from the 53-year-old material girl. After delving into every genre of pop one could think, MDNA finds Madonna fully committed to the genre of danceable synth-pop, like her 2005 release Confessions on a Dance Floor. Despite this sonic territory being occupied by much younger, more relevant pop stars, the queen of pop manages to sound just as youthful as her competition, while adding the wisdom of a pop music veteran.

MDNA wastes no time getting into club mode; album opener “Girl Gone Wild” opens with a spoken word verse where Madonna speaks of regretting her sins, all backed by synthetic strings. Once finished, the song morphs into a throbbing, synth-heavy anthem calling out to girls to have some fun in the club. The lyrics may not be stimulating, but the music more than makes up for it.

Sadly, the bulk of the album rarely strays from any combination of characteristics found in “Girl Gone Wild”: playful bass lines, cliché lyrics and sedated vocals are the foundation of the album. However, Madonna and her producers are smart enough to know when this gets to repetitive; for every trite verse she sings there is an equally exciting synth flourish or guest verse; for every repetitive chorus, an interesting break down or middle eight verse comes to save the track from becoming monotonous.

Lyrically, however, the album falls short on multiple levels. One would think that after multiple decades in the business, Madonna could pen more stimulating or original lyrics. There are moments where her lyrics do shine, such as track “Falling Free” and the spoken verse found in “Girl Gone Wild,” but the majority of the tracks are subject to overdone and even reductive lyrics about love. It seems though that the material girl is more concerned with getting back into the game rather than reinventing it as she has done so many times before.

In spite of this, the final two tracks of the album are where Madonna really shines, lyrically and sonically. The first song, entitled “Masterpiece,” is a somber, midi-tempo ballad about being in love with a seemingly perfect person you can only look at. The minimalist production serves as the perfect contrast to the first part of the album, and makes the track both refreshing and enjoyable. Album closer “Falling Free” is another mid-tempo track full of refined string accents and vocal harmonies. Madonna’s vocals are light and pristine, and the lyrics are an age appropriate take on a relationship that just didn’t work. Both “Falling Free” and “Masterpiece” add much needed lyrical and emotional maturity to the album, and prevent it from becoming a generic pop album.

While not as revolutionary as one would hope, MDNA is most definitely a solid effort from an icon who certainly knows how to stay relevant.

Download: “Girl Gone Wild” “Gang Bang” “Masterpiece” “Falling Free”