I haven’t posted very recently – in fact, I guess it has been a really long time since I’ve created a new episode. Life just got so busy.

And now there’s a new problem: I recently got a new computer, and unfortunately I had to get Windows Vista. One of many programs that doesn’t work with Vista: Audacity, the program I used to create these podcasts. Without Audacity, I can’t record audio. I need to find another solution. (Any suggestions are welcome! Please!)

So, it will be awhile until the next edition. Sorry.

Ring My Bell – Reserving judgment at first. Weird use of the term “Ring My Bell” – including the use of the phrase “you’re appreciating my bell”. I totally don’t get it. Must be a Myspace thing.

4 Minutes (Peter [Oakenfold] Saves NY Edit) – YAY! I am dancing. Soon I will vogue. Oh yes.

4 Minutes (Junkie XL Remix Edit) – Totally reminiscent of some other remix I can’t quite put my finger on. (Donovan, you are vindicated!) It almost sounds like someone threw some Britney vocals in there from “Stronger”! Song takes an interesting and cinematic turn. Nice.

Give It 2 Me (Oakenfold Remix Edit) – YAY! I am on the elliptical… in my head. Love what happens at 1:08. Now I step off the elliptical and just start dancing. Amazingly freaking good remix. Best to date. Thank you Oakenfold! Song gets even better at 4:01, as if that can be imagined. Awesome-o.

“4 Minutes” really took a long time to grow on me. At first, I thought it was almost unlistenable. But it did grow on me. However, I continued to find Timbaland’s signature style on the piece much too oppressive. And the “Madd-onn-a” refrain was more annoying than funny. I’m hoping the rest of Hard Candy is stronger than “4 Minutes.”

“Candy Shop” – eh, annoying. Signature Timba Pharrel licks. I think this song will be better remixed.

“4 Minutes” – you grew on me!!

“Give It 2 Me” – love it! Hook draws you in instantly. The beat really just flows. Love that 80’s-style Madonna bleat. Can’t wait to hear remixes of this one! Really catches fire at 1:16.

“Heartbeat” – I’m being patient. Can’t help but think this is reminiscent of Paris Hilton’s “Heartbeat” or whatever it was. Pass for now. 2:25 makes me sad. 2:34 restores my hope.

“Miles Away” – this isn’t a Winger cover, is it? Can’t help but feel like Timba is remixing “Power of Goodbye” with this one. I find myself wishing Stewart Price had touched this. Pretty chorus though. Thumbs up. This could be a great club anthem. It gets better as it plays.

“She’s Not Me” – didn’t Hilary or Britney do a song with this title? Kinda funky. I could see this video on roller skates more so than “Sorry”. I don’t know, something weird about Madonna singing about jealousies and teenage relationship dramas. I think 80’s Madonna could have really rocked this one, but now there’s too much Evita in ‘08 Madonna’s voice. Moving on…

“Incredible” – YUCK. Sounds like something Mariah would have done. Something weird happens at 2:30 but it feels forced. She started to channel “Like a Virgin” at 4:00. Then it gets psychedelic. Eh. It’s all really forced.

“Beat Goes On” – like the way it starts but hate the grunts and muttering. Interesting disco vibe. Wish Stewart Price was here! Or Mirwais!

“Dance 2Night” – Is that JT? I guess this is the album’s banger. The word “unabashed” comes to mind. And the lyrics are just rather pandering. Whatever. This will also be remixed really well.

“Spanish Lesson” – “La Isla Bonita” meets “Barracuda” meets that one JT song. Oh no, please no more bad Spanish Madonna. Yuck. Pass. Pass. Pass.

“Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You” – For some reason, Madonna songs since “Ray of Light” have regular pop hooks, but they’re a lot thinner than regular pop. Strange, atmospheric. OK, back to this song. Sounds like something Kelly Clarkson would have done. It’s not a bad song. I like it. “Even the devil wouldn’t recognize you but I do.” I like that lyric.

“Voices” – Hate the intro. Love the beat. I have high expectations :20s in. Not bad. Kind of a Depeche Mode thing going on. (A very loosely interpreted Depeche Mode, that is!) (Yeah, now I know why – “Let’s play Master and Servant” – not so subtle I guess!) Well this song never really seems to get going. Fast forward, and it ends the album on a pretty dramatic note. A note which seems completely out of place on this album.

Overall impressions: I’m sure this will take a few listens to grow on me. It’s nowhere near as good as Confessions, heck it’s not even as good – from a purely bangin’, groovin’ standpoint – as Blackout. Then again, I owe it a few more full listens. I just feel like Timba’s thing is on the downward escalator and I can’t help but feel like a few of these songs are already stale. We’ll see.

For those who have heard the album – what do you think?

Here’s the second of our two-part series on my favorite unofficial remixes from each song on Madonna’s Confessions on a Dancefloor album. This edition includes remixes from “Jump” to “Like It Or Not” in the order they appear on the album, and also includes the bonus tracks “Super Pop”, “History”, and “Fighting Spirit”.

I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I did!

Show Notes:

• The Dj Rufato’s Rework Mix of “Jump” is also called Rufato’s Powerfull Club Anthem.

Episode

Featured:

Jump (Junior Sanchez’s Misshapes Mix Edit) – Official
Jump (Cleo’s Robotic Fenix Club Mix)
Jump (Dj Rufato’s Rework Mix) aka Jump (Rufato’s Powerfull Club Anthem)
How High (Dj Denis Remix)
Isaac (Alexander & Mark VDH Eternity Remix)
Isaac (Vitalyk Push Mix)
Push (RMMC Push & Pull Mix)
Like It Or Not (Tidus Radio Mix)
Superpop (Idaho’s Icon Groovy Mix)
History (Cleo’s Hypnotized Electro Mix)
Fighting Spirit (Cleo’s Sparkles ‘N Tears Club Mix)

In this two-part series, I’m sharing my favorite unofficial remixes from each song on Madonna’s Confessions on a Dancefloor album. This edition includes remixes from “Hung Up” to “Forbidden Love” in the order they appear on the album.

Do you have any favorite remixes of Confessions songs that I didn’t include here? If so, let me know – I’m always looking for new great remixes!

Don’t forget to check the site again in a few days for part 2!

Show Notes:

• During the podcast, I inadvertently omitted the full name of Mike Danavan and Junior Cortez’s remix of “Sorry.” That remix is called “Shoot the Beats Before.” The full name is included in the featured remix list below.
• The song closing out this episode is Avox’s In the Club Remix of “Hung Up.” It’s a fabulous remix and is probably my second-favorite remix of the song! I wanted to find a way to include it in the podcast somehow… The song is listed in the show notes below.

Episode

Featured:

Hung Up (Stewart Price Extended Remix Dub) – Official
Hung Up (Blueyender Tech Remix)
Hung Up (LukeSilver Full Remix)
Get Together (Sikk vs. Madonna)
Get Together (DJ Kor’s Depraved Dub)
Sorry (Mike Danavan & Junior Cortez Shoot the Beats Before)
Sorry (Avox DuB HIT!!! Remix)
Future Lovers (Idaho’s Big City Edit)
I Love New York (Idaho’s Urban Mix)
Let It Will Be (Madonna-Addiction Dub-Out Fame Mix)
Let It Will Be (Zaga Dub)
Forbidden Love (Skin Bruno’s Extended Profusion Rmx)
Hung Up (Avox In The Club Remix)

The gallery is entitled “Queen Madonna” and it includes some very interesting images.
Check out the post on The Madonna Tribe here. (Registration may be required to view the post.)

“Music” is one of my all-time favorite songs. I’ve picked out a few of the best unofficial remixes that take an inventive and clever approach to reinventing “Music.” Which are your favorites?

Episode

Show notes:

Featured:

Music (HQ2 Radio Mix) – Official
Music (Manu Inferno)
Music (Junior Jaxx 2004 Up-Sided Discomix)
Music (Madonna-Addiction Overdrive Mix)
Music (Daft Punk Remix)
Music [samuel future symphony mix]
Music (Arabian Music Adventure)
Music (Acoustic Remix)
Music (Cleo with Guitar Chillout Mix)
Music (Dismantled Remix)
Music (Dj CeD FastBeat Mix)
Music (Laurent Wolf Remix)
Music (Dave Aude Rubber Combo Mix)

Life has been keeping me super busy, and I had several hundred new remixes to download and sort through… wow! The next episode is in development, and hopefully will be up and ready by the end of the month.

There are a lot of remixes of “American Life” out there. Some of them borrow very heavily from the original, while some are extremely imaginative, and very clever. I’ve picked out a few of the very best out there to share with you. Let me know what you think.

Episode

Show notes:

Featured:

American Life (Headcleanr Rock) – Official
American Life [Lady M Show Remix]
American Life (Saint Ken’s Classic 7 Inch Remix)*
American Life (Johny Mix)*
American Life (Junior Jaxx Reworked Dance Mix)
American Life (brucken easy ride dub sample mix)*
American Life (Raphael Gomes Mix)*
American Life (Idaho’s Silicone-Pop Edit)
American Life (Samuel Extreme Point Of Mix)
American Life (ultra396 dubtronics mix)*
American Life (DJ Matt Maddy’s Gone Tipsy Mix)*
American Life (Her Life Mix)
American Life (Junior Vasquez Mix)

Songs marked with * are available on the fantastic double album American Life, full of great unofficial remixes.

Just a few details about the Madonna Odyssey Podcast and Blog… let’s hope this works!

Episode

Show notes:

• In future episodes, I’ll reference the mixes I play by name. Sorry about any confusion. The songs are posted in the order in which they appear in the ‘cast.

Featured:

Get Together (Jacques LuCont Mix) – Official
Into the Groove (Avox Invention Remix 2006)
Mother and Father (Ornique edit)
Music (Versus’s Tamarro Radio Mix)