Madonna “Hard Candy”
Standout tracks: “4 Minutes,” “Miles Away,” “Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You”

I never would have put my money on Madonna making it this far, but then again, sex never goes out of style. And her new album is covered in it. In her last contractual appearance for Warner Brothers, Madonna delivers an album’s worth of beat-driven club music with an all-Star lineup that includes Kanye West and Justin Timberlake (Pharrell Williams and Timbaland produce). Ultimately though, Madonna’s heart doesn’t seem to be in this one, which is evident in the rushed feel of the album.