Hard Candy (by Madonna, Pop)

On her 11th and final studio album for Warner Bros., Madonna's HARD CANDY proves why this cultural icon's 25-year career has been successful. With the help of heavy hitmakers Timbaland, The Neptunes, Justin Timberlake, Nate "Danja" Hills, and Kanye West, Madge continues to stretch her brand with uptempo club beats mixed with hip-hop and R&B grooves.

She may be pushing 50, but the Material Girl is still hot and hit-worthy. Packed with techno-savvy club grinds like much of Confessions on a Dance Floor, most of the songs on Hard Candy will definitely make you want to shake your booty -- albeit without much originality. Although there's no question of the production talents of Timbaland and The Neptunes, they have produced for just about everyone in the biz from Gwen Stefani to Nelly Furtado. Still, Hard Candy gives a funky blend of retro-disco and synth-beats that call us to the dance floor. Timberlake adds the right mix of youth, sexual appeal, and vocals to make it all even better. There are a few darker tracks that show a vulnerable side, like "Miles Away" and "Voices," and West's little ditty on the disco-pop "Beat Goes On" is fun, but nothing special. Madonna, once again, proves that she still rules the dance floor -- and the yoga studio for that matter -- even if she almost qualifies for AARP.

Released on: April 25, 2008
Label: Warner Brothers
Genre: Pop