Hard Candy
by Madonna
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 562 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 398 out of 562
  2. Mixed: 89 out of 562
  3. Negative: 75 out of 562

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. BitBurn
    Apr 29, 2008
    5
    Madonna & hip-hop was never a very successful marriage. And, stubborn as she is, she had to go back again on that road that leads nowhere. When will she ever learn that her niche is, and always was, dance music? And that is why this album compared to her previous masterpiece "Confessions On A Dance Floor", is quite forgettable and bleak.
  2. MaryannW.
    Apr 30, 2008
    10
    love it!
  3. JosephM.
    Apr 30, 2008
    9
    Fantastic album. She sounds absolutely rejuvenated. It's refreshing to hear THIS Madonna again after all these years.
  4. MarkW.
    Apr 30, 2008
    10
    this album is off the hook! it's madonna being just down right fun again! i love it!
  5. CraigSa.
    Apr 30, 2008
    3
    Such an ordinary album. She uses the same lame gimmicks such as Timberland as a producer, that everyone uses. If those gimmicks had any real talent we might get a good album, instead we get the same mediocre music that floods our bland airwaves and dance floors the last couple years.
  6. CarlosA.
    Apr 30, 2008
    10
    It's a very cool just dance and enjoy album, no pretentious kaballah stuff, etc.
  7. JamesM.
    Apr 30, 2008
    10
    Hard Candy is an awesome, eclectic edition of R and B pop fusion. Several of the tracks are irresistible and make you want to dance. Give it To Me alone is worth the album purchase. For Madonna fans everywhere and for those who loved Confessions on a Dance Floor.
  8. MiloszP.
    Apr 30, 2008
    10
    Brilliant!
  9. LeonardH.
    May 11, 2008
    9
    A great companion to CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR! Don't believe the urban slant--this is just great, classic Madonna wrapped in heavier, modern beats. Almost each track is single worthy on this pop album; Madonna should be very proud to have delivered one of her best albums 25 years into her career!
  10. BrandonS.
    May 1, 2008
    4
    Madonna's worst. Nowhere near as good as Confessions. Whereas Erotica was a brilliant critique/response to modern repressive sexuality, this cd is the singer as a horny old lady, with Justin Timberlake as her studly poolboy. To be blunt, like the pictures in the liner notes, it's kind of gross. Some of the songs are pretty good, rhythmic and funky - but the overall disgusting Madonna's worst. Nowhere near as good as Confessions. Whereas Erotica was a brilliant critique/response to modern repressive sexuality, this cd is the singer as a horny old lady, with Justin Timberlake as her studly poolboy. To be blunt, like the pictures in the liner notes, it's kind of gross. Some of the songs are pretty good, rhythmic and funky - but the overall disgusting tone drags the good stuff down.… Expand
  11. DomoR.
    May 1, 2008
    2
    Production values are superb but the music itself is oddly soulless and vapid. Madonna at 50 is sounding like a 14 year old squeeze box boy toy wannabe, with her nasally register spewing really bad lyrics full of adolescent motivation. Hey, Madonna, grow up already. Cut a record with your brother in law Joe Henry and cut back on all the attempts to be trendy. This album is already 18 Production values are superb but the music itself is oddly soulless and vapid. Madonna at 50 is sounding like a 14 year old squeeze box boy toy wannabe, with her nasally register spewing really bad lyrics full of adolescent motivation. Hey, Madonna, grow up already. Cut a record with your brother in law Joe Henry and cut back on all the attempts to be trendy. This album is already 18 years old, sounding ever so much like a downgrade of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation. Sure, some of it is danceable but once the music ends, and believe it's ended on this disc, there's nothing but the sound of a vacuous cash register.… Expand
  12. DanTheMan
    May 1, 2008
    4
    Huge disappointment after the highly enjoyable Confessions.... Madonna is capable of far better than this unoriginal and repetitive drek.
  13. LukeR.
    May 19, 2008
    1
    Not impressed- she can do much better than that.
  14. LouisP.
    May 2, 2008
    10
    An amazing album with only a few flaws. Spanish Lesson is trite and Candy Shop should have been MIA because it doesn't it isn't as fresh as the rest of the album; some of us have had the track since last summer. LOVE Give It 2 Me and Dance 2night.
  15. AngeloB.
    May 2, 2008
    10
    I love it.
  16. ZaneS.
    May 3, 2008
    5
    What happened Madonna? How could you write songs like "Candy Shop," "Incredible" and "Spanish Lesson"? How can you stump to the Justin-clone "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You"? All this sounds so dated and it's all been done in 2006. You're no longer the leader of the pack.
  17. B
    May 3, 2008
    3
    One word - ew.
  18. GinaB.
    May 3, 2008
    1
    I'm a big Madonna fan, but this cd is truly disappointing. Somehow I feel like this cd should have been called, "How Madonna Lost Her Groove". Her voice was emotionless throughout, and appeared drowned by the overproduced tracks. I'm hoping that with her next cd, Madonna will do Madonna.
  19. GiuGiuFrickey
    May 4, 2008
    9
    It's quite good actually. It can't be compare with the other albums but sounds very commercial. The lyrics can be very childish ->see "Spanish lesson" but there are also some good tracks. A 9 for this album, I think it worths a 9.
  20. LuisG.
    May 4, 2008
    7
    how much more life is there for timbaland beats when will singers start using actual instruments in thier songs ? ... HARD CANDY is no different than Nelly Furtados " Loose" Justins " Future Sex Love Sounds" and Britneys " Blackout" which is no benefit to MADONNA " ConFessions..." was a masterpiece and HARD CANDY is just an atempt to capitalize on the whole urban sound on radio.. ist no how much more life is there for timbaland beats when will singers start using actual instruments in thier songs ? ... HARD CANDY is no different than Nelly Furtados " Loose" Justins " Future Sex Love Sounds" and Britneys " Blackout" which is no benefit to MADONNA " ConFessions..." was a masterpiece and HARD CANDY is just an atempt to capitalize on the whole urban sound on radio.. ist no disaster just not very original.... UK diva Kylie Minogue " X" had more funk and flare check that out...… Expand
  21. T.
    May 4, 2008
    10
    Very smart album, lot of hits, US-oriented, hope it will work there.
  22. robertb.
    May 4, 2008
    10
    I'm a fan, but i tend to be critic of Madonna. In this album she manages to balance it all, catching up with today's music, being more mainstreem, and still be herself and delivering to her hardcore fans. The greatest thing is she's having fun and being the feisty Madonna we lost track of for many years!
  23. djv
    May 4, 2008
    9
    It's very catchy, vocally she hasn't sounded this good since Ray of Light. It's not anything new, but it's certainly isn't bad.
  24. PetrS.
    May 5, 2008
    10
    absolutely amazing album. It's better than Confessions, American Life, Music!
  25. Craig
    May 5, 2008
    9
    solid, fun summer album. get off your lazy and cynical arses and enjoy it. probably the most straight-up fun album she's put out since Like A Virgin.
  26. OwenM
    May 6, 2008
    6
    Not bad, the last one was better.
  27. NunoM.
    May 8, 2008
    7
    It's an ok album with some great tracks, not a great album. Nice for the summer.
  28. mr
    May 9, 2008
    9
    As one who ignored the panning of American Life (which was so incredibly underrated) and appreciates the chances Madonna takes (much of Erotica is also incredibly underrated), I approached this album with enthusiasm and trepidation. First two listens, I wasn't quite sure. After that, total bliss. Are you freakin' kidding me? This is the sweetest album we've had on constant As one who ignored the panning of American Life (which was so incredibly underrated) and appreciates the chances Madonna takes (much of Erotica is also incredibly underrated), I approached this album with enthusiasm and trepidation. First two listens, I wasn't quite sure. After that, total bliss. Are you freakin' kidding me? This is the sweetest album we've had on constant play in our cars. So many albums are reconsidered in hindsight, and I'm sure this will be one that ends up on future critics' lists as a great fusion of the sounds, musicians and producers of a certain time period mixed with an artistic icon who actually is a major part of the creative process. And those same critics will claim that they loved it at the time. Kudos to everyone involved.… Expand
  29. AnthonyF.
    Jun 17, 2008
    10
    I have been a fan of Madonna for her entire career. As a teen in the 80s she was the soundtrack to my life. I think this album is great with one exception. Spanish Lesson. If it is a lesson shouldn't you be telling me the actual meanings of the words instead of kinda what you think they mean.
  30. J
    Jul 14, 2008
    9
    There are some jams on this album.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2008
31
#31 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Blender
    80
    It's fun to hear here negotiate the contours of Top 40 pop for the first time since "Like A Prayer," without any European house music hose-head gumming up the pleasure and catharsis with mediative schmaltz. [May 2008, p.73]
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Candy finds her dropping her Kabbalah string on the dance floor and readopting an American accent to offer up an unpretentious, nonstop dance party.
    Read full review
  3. Observer Music Monthly
    80
    Whenever Hard Candy threatens to get boring, something always happens to recapture your interest, but the three songs in which Madonna actually seems to forge a genuine connection with her musical helpmeet leave the rest of the album in the shade.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »