Like a Prayer

I think this is her most artistic album to date. She really proved that she was a true artist with this album and not just a pop tart, and probably shut a lot of people up in the process. I was only three years old when this came out, so I do not remember this era at the time but I discovered this about 6 years ago, and I'm glad I did.

It's a very personal, confessional album and I like that it uses almost all real instruments. It gives it more of an organic sound, which fits with the rawness of the lyrical content. My favourite songs are the title track, 'Express Yourself', 'Keep It Together', 'Dear Jessie' and 'Til Death Do Us Part'. (The Shep Pettibone remixes of the first three songs mentioned are also great. I recommend them as well as checking out the import release 'Remixed Prayers').

All-in-all, a fantastic release and definitely one of her best albums. Every Madonna fan should have this.
1. LIKE A PRAYER (#1 US / #1 UK)
2. EXPRESS YOURSELF (#2 US / #5 UK)
3. LOVE SONG (WITH PRINCE)
4. TILL DEATH DUE US PART
5. PROMISE TO TRY
6. CHERISH (#2 US / #3 UK)
7. DEAR JESSIE (#5 UK)
8. OH FATHER (#2O US / #16 UK)
9. KEEP IT TOGETHER (#8 US)
10. PRAY FOR SPANISH EYES
11. ACT OF CONTRITION

I Don't know who Jason is but probably a false review since the same posting is on all the Madonna Re-releases. I was dubious from the outset on these since they were re-issues not remastered. So anyway it sounds very close to the original copy I have so unless you need a new copy to be quieter than your original release there is no improvement to the original copy. There still is a lack of bass and no improvement on dynamic range therefor I will not be purchasing any other Madonna re-releases until they are remastered because they are great records only mastered bright like most music issued in the 80's.

It's been over twenty years since I've listened to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" album and I've always been baffled by those who regarded it as one of her best works. At the time of its' release I failed to be as instantly captivated by this effort as I had been by "Madonna" and "Like a Virgin". Back in '89, I was expecting some bouncy, get-up-on-the-dance-floor fare like "Spotlight" or "Causing a Commotion" and what I got were Disney-esque fairy tales about pink elephants and lemonade, and sombre odes to Spanish soldiers. Needless to say, after a few spins I was not pleased and tucked this one away for decades. In the wake of the disappointing "MDNA", I have been revisiting Lady M's back catalogue, and in hindsight "Like a Prayer" is a darn good album and the first point in her career where Madonna truly showed growth and maturity. Most of the album feels like a personal catharsis for Madonna as she draws on her own human experience to craft personal, heartfelt, poignant yet catchy songs inspired by the loss of her mother, her father's indifference and a turbulent marriage, as well as her conflicting feelings about religion.

The original versions of "Express Yourself" and "Keep It Together" are textbook examples of how to make dance music the old-fashioned way without synths or technical assistance. "Keep" comes off especially funky here compared to the "Soul II Soul"-radio remix that came later. "Express Yourself" still sounds great though I do admit to loving the bass-driven dance version found on "The Immaculate Collection" most of all. The percolating keyboards that appeared on "Live to Tell" are sped-up to underscore the boppy yet moody spousal-abuse tale "Til Death Do Us Part" and the hypnotic beats of the Prince duet "Love Song" will ricochet off your brain. "Dear Jessie" ALMOST veers into Kate Bush territory had the lyrics been less saccharine, and "Cherish" is just a breezy take on the '60s girl-group sound that continues where "True Blue" (the single) left off. The most haunting and powerful moments, of course come in a pair of introspective piano cuts dealing with Madonna's feelings of loss, denial then acceptance and empowerment regarding her parents in "Promise to Try" and "Oh Father"--definitely her most raw and personal material to date. The feedback-laden "Act of Contrition" is an annoying throwaway that should have been scrapped and included only as the B-Side of one of the many 12" singles.

Like a Prayer 5/5
Express Yourself 5/5
Love Song 4/5
Til Death Do Us Part 5/5
Promise To Try 5/5
Cherish 4/5
Dear Jessie 4/5
Oh Father 5/5
Pray For Spanish Eyes 3/5
Act of Contrition 1/5

Of Madonna's '80s output, "Like a Prayer" seems to have aged the best, though "Like a Virgin" is still my favorite album of hers from that decade. If you dismissed this album years ago as I did, try listening to it from a fresh perspective--you'll hear what you may have missed the first time--one of Madonna's most honest and personal contributions to her huge legacy.