Madonna

Instead of the Material Girl, Madonna's nickname should be Thoroughly Modern Millie, as the lady -- with the help of producer William Orbit -- has reinvented herself for the new millennium. Her flair for pop melodies and his cutting-edge approach to techno resulted in some of the most dynamic music Mads made in years.

She gets knocked up, but she gets down again: Meet the latest brand-new Madonna, the
Chemical Mother. Ray of Light is her maternity album as well as her avant-dance album,
riding the electronica wave with her new collaborator, U.K. beat master William Orbit.
She's not exactly subtle about it, either. In just the first song, "Drowned World/Substitute
for Love," Madonna throws in trip-hop drum loops, jungle snares, string samples... More >

Pretty sensual for pop enlightenment, thank God ("Skin," "Candy Perfume Girl"). (Grade - *)