Madonna’s latest CD, Confessions on a Dance Floor, has been called a return to form by some. While nothing on the CD reaches the peaks of some of her best work, it’s good enough to be a guilty pleasure for electronic dance fans.

Madonna’s lyrics seem a little worn out on Confessions, rehashing ideas that were fresher the first time around:

Don’t explain yourself ’cause talk is cheap
There’s more important things than hearing you speak
You stayed because I made it so convenient
Don’t explain yourself, you’ll never see

I don’t wanna hear, I don’t wanna know
Please don’t say you’re sorry
I’ve heard it all before
And I can take care of myself
I don’t wanna hear, I don’t wanna know
Please don’t say ‘Forgive me’
I’ve seen it all before
And I can’t take it anymore

The production is great on the CD, though, so it all comes out as convincing retro-disco, a little bit Daft Punk, a little bit Moroder, and a little Mirwais.

Future Lover is one of the highlights of the CD, a modern take on the Moroder/Donna Summer sound of I Feel Love. Other good tracks include Hung Up and Like it or Not.

There’s also some drivel on the CD, though, including the forgettable I Love New York:

If you don’t like my attitude, then you can F-off
Just go to Texas, isn’t that where they golf?
New York is not for little pussies who scream
If you can’t stand the heat, then get off my street

Other cities always make me mad
Other places always make me sad
No other city ever made me glad
Except New York
I love New York
I love New York
I love New York

Frank Sinatra doesn’t need to worry about losing his place as the New York theme song crooner.

Confessions on a Dance Floor doesn’t have anything that matches her best tracks, but it’s a fairly solid release, nevertheless. It’s fairly consistent throughout, without any clunky ballads to destroy the dance momentum. Not a must-have, but dance electronica fans will want to check it out.

Tracks:

• Hung Up
• Get Together
• Sorry
• Future Lovers
• I Love New York
• Let It Will Be
• Forbidden Love
• Jump
• How High
• Isaac
• Push
• Like It Or Not