Will Madonna ever cop on and start making hits again? JIM CAROLLon music
OH MADONNA, how did it come to this? There are those who would argue that you were always a bit of a chancer, a woman who put more effort into generating controversy than into your music. But we were fond of your various pop reinventions over the years, admired your dash and chutzpah and especially loved tunes such as Ray of Light.
Even die-hard fans, though, will sigh at the latest publicity stunts Madge has undertaken to show she still has game. Strokes such as last weekend’s to-do in Paris, where she screened a shot of French right-wing politician Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead.
Of course we expect her to do this kind of thing and, like an audience watching a performing seal, we’d be disappointed if she didn’t. The problem is that in order to flog tickets, promote her new releases and show that she’s still relevant, Madonna has resorted to look-at-me ruses which only serve to remind us that we haven’t heard a decent new tune from her in years.
These antics grab headlines and let people know that she’s still around (and has something to flog), but nothing more than that. There are still tickets on sale for her Dublin show next week, for example, and you’re more likely to hear one of her greatest hits on the radio than anything from the current album. Madonna has become Meh-donna.
There are probably some in Team Madge who know that they have to get her producing great, audacious tunes again. They’re the ones who know she still has some creative currency, even if she’s spending it like a drunken sailor.
The big question, though, is whether Madonna herself has any interest in doing that or if she’s merely content to keep acting the eejit.
NEW MUSIC
CHAMPS
Three-piece band from the Isle Of Wight playing their first ever live show in Dublin on Saturday night when they support Lisa Hannigan, Other Lives and Cathy Davey at the Iveagh Gardens.
Their debut single, St Peters, is a beautiful slice of pastoral, folky pop. Champsofficial.tumblr.com
DEAP VALLY
It took about four seconds for us to go “yes, yes, yes” at Gonna Make My Own Money, the debut single from this Californian duo. Lindsey Troy (vocal/guitar) and Julie Edwards (drums) make a fascinating, riff-
heavy racket where the blues and punk rock come crashing together. Twitter.com/deapvally
MISUN
Misun are from Washington DC, and their debut EP, The Sea, is a fair leap away from the club music which band lynchpin Nacey is associated with via his club nights and productions for TA. Misun's experimental indie and beach-bum soulful pop sounds mighty fine to us. twitter.com/misunband
NOW PLAYING
I:Cube 'M' Megamix(Versatile) 24 short, snappy, bright and breathless house and techno cuts from Parisian producer Nicolas Chaix to leave you wanting more.
Neneh Cherry The Thing Cherry Thing(Smalltown Supersound) Cherry's fantastic new album, her first new release in 16 years, sees her flying off on an interstellar space-jazz voyage with The Thing.
Delilah From the Roots Up(Atlantic) Atmospheric pop, spine-tingling dubstep and slow-motion drum'n'bass from Paloma "Delilah" Stoeker on her ace debut album.
Happa Boss(White) Fifteen-year-old Leeds producer Samir Alikhanizadeh comes up trumps with this booming bass freak-out.
Various Shaolin Soul(Hostile) Two volumes of soul and funk rare grooves as sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan.
For more see irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord
