Madonna is Multifaceted on New Album ‘Rebel Heart’

Stephanie Hernandez

Madonna has enjoyed a music career spanning over three decades. She is not merely a pop star, but a fashion and cultural icon. The Material Girl is known the world over, not just for her catchy melodies and infectious lyrics, but also for her iconic style and allure. With the release of her thirteenth studio album Rebel Heart we can officially call the pop singer a legend. The album itself gives the listener a taste of everything Madonna can do, and is both varied and coherent at the same time. A fourteen-song journey through the mind of a sonic visionary, Rebel Heart may be one of Madonna’s most memorable works, proving that some things get better with time.

Rebel Heart is primarily a pop and dance record, a label not meant to decrease its value or significance but instead to ensure you know what you’re getting into. Its opening track and lead single, “Living for Love” puts Madonna’s vocal chops and lyricism on full display. It opens with a gospel-esque house melody, backed by pounding percussion and steady bass. The sure-to-be dance floor anthem features candid lyrics about hope, while making classic Madge religious references and bringing back her punchy use of piano we’ve come to love from tracks like “Express Yourself.” She keeps the party going straight into track two, “Devil Pray.” Lyrically, the song deals with themes of salvation, drug abuse, and inspiration. Madonna made full use of producers, Falk and Avicii. You can hear their influence throughout “Devil Pray” as the light guitar track builds upon itself into the electro-pop frenzy it eventually becomes. The religious themes and expressed desire for a higher consciousness is continued into track three, “Ghosttown.”  Seemingly dark subject matter, a la Armageddon and world destruction is countered by Madonna’s piercing vocals and is then beautifully transformed into something of a power ballad. “Ghosttown” gives you a moment to breathe and serves as a strong reminder that Madonna is so much more than just fast-paced singles.

The journey continues with the aptly named, “Unapologetic Bitch.” It mixes both reggae and dubstep in a way you’ll have to blast to fully appreciate. The subject matter is nothing revolutionary, negative remarks on a past love, but what makes this track great is Madonna’s ability to be candid without being vulgar, and all to a ska melody. We can call this one a winner. The controversy continues in true Madge fashion with “Illuminati.” Conspiracy or not the almost robotic sound is sure to catch and keep your attention. Madonna proclaims, “It’s like everybody in this party is shining like Illuminati.” Yes, Madonna, we know exactly how you feel. “Illuminati” hits just before the middle of the album and creates the perfect opening to “Bitch I’m Madonna” featuring an especially punchy Nicki Minaj. This track is unadulterated fun, with lines like “go hard or go home” and “I just want to have fun tonight, I wanna blow up this house tonight.” The Diplo produced song sounds like Madonna spent a weekend in the Bay and came out its new hero. It shows off her ability to effectively collaborate with genre-bending artists. The smoother “Hold Tight” is held together by melodic vocals and a consistent drumline beat that keeps the dance theme going without forcing a faster tempo on to the listener.  We continue with “Joan of Arc,” the album’s second ballad, and most reflective track is next. The slowed down tempo gives weight to the lyrics and adds a level of poignancy to the record. Madonna refers to the media scrutiny and lack of privacy she has experienced, in a way that is more insightful than dramatic. This paired with the use of strings and acoustic instruments add another layer of depth in just the right spot.

The second half of the album is brought to us by the indie-electro sounding track, “Iconic.”  Featuring the vocal stylings of Chance the Rapper and, for added surprise, Mike Tyson. We get to hear Madonna own her own iconic aura, and she isn’t shy about her status. Instead, she owns it and makes you want to do the same thing. “HeartBreakCity” is next in the queue, and takes us from confident Madonna to insightful Madge. The piano ballad focuses in on themes of lost love and is accented by a softer Madonna, and allows us to relish her lower register vocals. The song jars you, but in a good way. As “HeartBreakCity” fades out, synth, drums, and banjo fade in to reveal the “Body Shop.” The almost tribal sounding tune provides a gentle transition and balance between the faster dance tracks and the more introspective ballads. “Holy Water” starts with “Bitch get off my pole,” and you know you’re in for a ride. Mixing the best of 1980’s Madonna tongue and cheek references and 2000’s Madonna snarky delivery, “Holy Water” may just be your new favorite track. “Inside Out” then takes the reins and lays out the sweeping piano melody and haunting elongated vocals, a radio-appropriate track we suspect will become the next hit from the album.

The last track on the standard version of Rebel Heart, “Wash All Over Me” closes out the show.  Madonna takes the opportunity to once again feature baroque style piano while blending in a sharp staccato military drumbeat that makes a strong impact. You feel as though you are marching out hand in hand with the queen herself. The perfect winds down to an album of such caliber, the lyrics tell the tale of an ever-changing world and the need to accept its fluidity. Perhaps Madonna is really talking about herself, in the last three decades she has been ever changing. Anything but stagnant, through ups and downs, there is one thing we know for sure, Madonna will be there. If Rebel Heart is any indication of the changes Madonna is talking about in this final song, all we can say is, we like where it’s going.

Rebel Heart is available on iTunes March 10.