AMG Review of Hard Candy

All Music Guide

As with nearly everything she’s done, the groove-heavy Hard Candy is distinctly Madonna's own. The Material Girl sculpted her sound this time out by hiring some of the hottest producers on the scene, including Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell and the Neptunes. Cuts like the lead-off single, “4 Minutes” (a duet with Timberlake), and the thumping, sexy title track sparkle with a contemporary club feel. Yet Madonna’s classic pop sensibilities are far from lost in the mix. “Beat Goes On” recalls vintage singles like “Holiday”; “Heartbeat” is sleek, singalong Europop; and “Miles Away” is a love song that rides a sweet midtempo groove., Rovi