Madonna to release new album "Hard Candy" in April

[Brian Damage]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Madonna has dubbed her final album of new material for her longtime Warner Bros. label "Hard Candy," and will release it on April 29, her publicist confirmed on Tuesday.

The album, which features such songs as "Candy Store" and the first single "Four Minutes," is the follow-up to "Confessions on a Dance Floor," which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart in November 2005.

The title and release date were first reported by Entertainment Weekly's Web site (http://www.ew.com), and the details were confirmed by Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg. Entertainment Weekly quoted Rosenberg as saying the 49-year-old singer "loves candy."

"Hard Candy" will be Madonna's last studio release for Warner Bros. before she begins a wide-ranging 10-year recording, touring and merchandising deal with Artist Nation, a new initiative launched by concert promoter Live Nation. Warner Bros., a unit of Warner Music Group Corp will also release a hits collection.

[Dean Winchester]

I'll get it but this is probably my least anticipated Madonna album so far. I just have to be realistic that a 49 year old working with Justin Timberlake, etc.... sounds sketchy at best. I like JT and Timbaland and thought they've done good with Nelly Furtado and Bjork and the sort, but it seems like a huge step backwards for Madonna and a last ditch effort to get some airplay in America that she'll never get because of her age.

[eltonfan80]

i can't wait it's going to be released on my birthday yeaparty:

[Superstar]

Hard Candy? Oooh Madonna, you're so edgy :)

[Dean Winchester]

I usually am excited when M has a new cd coming out, but in this case, I'm not expecting much. It's contract filler. When an artist knows it's their last album from a company they've been with for years, the results usually aren't great (Janet/20YO, Mariah/Rainbow, MJ/Invincible, Prince/Chaos And Disorder, etc...). I'll buy it regardless but I'm not expecting a great album

[SBTB Geek]

I worry that the album will sound completely dated (circa 2006.) The JT/Tim/Danja sound is so played out... Bjork, Justin, Nelly F., Omarion, Rihanna, Danity Kane, Diddy, Duran Duran, Ashlee Simpson, Flo Rida, etc. It's been done already.

Plus it sounds like the main producers are Nate "Danja" Hills, and Pharrell... didn't they come up with Blackout's hip-hop/pop/electronica sound?

[Dean Winchester]

^ the album keeps getting pushed back too, which doesn't help. It was supposed to be out last fall, "The Beat Goes On" and "Candy Shop" leaked on the internet around August. Yet by now the album will probably be dated. But at the same time, Erotica was kind of dated when it came out in late 1992 (the house sound was peaking in 91/early 92), and while the album wasn't the biggest, there's some great material on it.

[Dean Winchester]

4 Minutes leaked in a really distorted French radio rip with an annoying DJ talking over it (so it's hardly like downloading the song and burning it because who'd want to listen to this quality on a cd or ipod?) http://www.zshare.net/download/8282352e8dbef7

my friend DJ and I are both huge fans but we're talking about how it's one of the worst things she's ever recorded. Maybe when a High Quality mp3 leaks, my opinion will change. But this mix just sounds like noise, and Justin seems to be a bigger presence on the song than Madonna.

What a bad way to mark her 50th year, 25th year since her debut and induction into the Hall Of Fame.

However, I do think the sound will make it a hit, but amongst her fanbase, this is already splitting opinions worse than American Life did when that came out, and we remember how "successful" that project was.

[coffield3]

I enjoyed her last album, i saw her in concert in 2006 the confessions tour, it was amazing.
So i'm looking foward to this one.

[Dean Winchester]

I enjoyed her last album, i saw her in concert in 2006 the confessions tour, it was amazing.
So i'm looking foward to this one.
were you at the show filmed for DVD?

[SBTB Geek]

Holy ****ing ****. "4 Minutes to Save the World" is absolutely TERRIBLE, and the potential second single "Beat Goes On" is even worse! How could she go from Confessions on a Dance Floor to this?! And I seriously thought "Touch My Body" was bad? After this and Mariah's weak single, Janet should truly cherish the moment and make sure Discipline evolves into a hit.

Lastly... Britney needs to get her ass in check, because the "Queen of Pop" title is hers to take.

[Dean Winchester]

Holy ****ing ****. "4 Minutes to Save the World" is absolutely TERRIBLE, and the potential second single "Beat Goes On" is even worse! How could she go from Confessions on a Dance Floor to this?! And I seriously thought "Touch My Body" was bad? After this and Mariah's weak single, Janet should truly cherish the moment and make sure Discipline evolves into a hit.

I agree, this is one of her worst singles ever. I know people hated "American Life" but that song is "Frozen" compared to this

[SBTB Geek]

Let's not forget the response "Die Another Day" received either.

Off-topic: Have you heard Blackout? I seriously want to hear your opinion about that album.

[Dean Winchester]

Off-topic: Have you heard Blackout? I seriously want to hear your opinion about that album.

I used to like Britney when she started out up through the In The Zone period, but ever since K. Fed and everything since, I've been so turned off by her that I've had no desire to listen to her music. I have heard good things about the album though.

[SBTB Geek]

Her personal life is definitely a turn off, but that shouldn't hinder your opinion about her music. For some reason I think you'll really like it. I'll try to find a link for you.

Or if you want to search some clips on YouTube... some highlights are:
"Piece of Me"
"Radar"
"Heaven on Earth"
"Break the Ice"
"Freakshow"
"Ooh Ooh Baby"

[SBTB Geek]

This should still be active:
http://www.badongo.com/it/file/4816615

[coffield3]

were you at the show filmed for DVD?

No, not the show i went to.