Madonna - Hard Candy

Madonna's latest album Hard Candy satisfies the sweetest sweet-tooth, writes Fran Pemberton.

She may be approaching her 50th birthday, but the original Material Girl is sounding better than ever with her eleventh studio offering. 

The queen of re-invention, whose latest persona is that of a raunchy confectioner running a sweet shop, has teamed up with a song writing team of hit making royalty - The Neptunes, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake.   
And the result is a tasty, hip-hop inspired delicacy.

First single 4 Minutes, a collaboration with JT, sets the tone with its horn-fuelled grooves.
Beat Goes on, another collaboration, this time with Kanye West, is a slinky dance floor affair that is sure to push the Queen of Pop back up on to her throne.

But unlike Madonna's youthful looks the sugar high doesn't last forever.  

Spanish Lesson, a number harking back to Madge's La Isla Bonita days, is more sickly than sweet, and leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. 

But on the whole this is exactly like a lollipop: sugary, sweet, and just a little sticky.