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These are tricky times for Madonna, after being at the top of her game for well over two decades – and seeing off countless pretenders to her crown, along comes Gaga and totally blows everything out of the water.

Whatever your opinion of either artists, there’s no denying Madonna’s track record. She’s released countless albums, has a peerless catalogue of hit singles and has famously stayed ahead by constantly reinventing herself.

2005’s ‘Confessions On a Dance Floor‘ saw her back on form with a fresh, bang on the money, electro-infused dance pop classic, however by her last album, ‘Hard Candy‘ in 2008, the words mid-life crises were starting to form on everyone’s lips.

So has she succeeded in reclaiming her crown with ‘MDNA‘, her first album for new label Interscope, on which she has hooked up with a variety of producers including man of the moment Martin Solveig, dance maestro Benny Benassi, and her old collaborator from the landmark album Ray of Light – William Orbit?

Girl Gone Wild

The album opens with the second single, with its generic of the moment frantic Benassi dance beats it feels like it could be sung by any number of current female singers. The lyrics, in which Madonna sings all about being crazy girl and having a good time, are beyond cliché, and this a long way from the classics like Vogue or even Hung-Up. Nevertheless it does grow on you; it’s disposable fun and will probably do the job on a dance floor.

Gang Bang

Nice to hear a bit of attitude and grit back on this one, the dark electro has an edge that is perhaps lacking elsewhere. The punky vocals on the verse – which don’t actually sound like Madonna, underscored with a bassy electro/rave styled backing, give this track an element of danger that we haven’t heard from her in some time. Aggressive lyrics like ‘I’m going straight to hell, and I’ve got a lot of friends there’ recall Erotica/Human Nature era Madonna.

I’m Addicted.

Continuing from the previous track, this is another track hard-wired for the dance floor. With a spiralling acid house groove combined with a euro feel, it sounds musically quite fresh but is let down by tired lyrics about being love being like a ‘drug’ and ‘fitting like a glove’.

Turn Up Radio

One of the most obviously commercial moments of the album, Turn up Radio really could be a Kylie single. It’s one of a number of tracks where Madonna genuinely does manage to sound girlish and young, with its sweetly melodic verses. The chorus is kind of disappointing though as it doesn’t really seem to go where you feel it needs to. Lyrically again unimaginative and cliché, this is nevertheless very ‘radio’ friendly and could be a grower.

Give me all your luvin

The first single which was probably the biggest flop Madonna has ever had. Perky and kind of fun for a few listens, this is let down by lacklustre vocals and trite lyrics. GMAYL sounds more like an Avril Lavigne song and is so lightweight and throwaway – it just isn’t up to Madonna’s usual standards. As on a number of moments on the album, here she is trying embarrassingly hard to sound like a young poppet rather than the experienced performer and woman of the world she is.

Some Girls

Some Girls really does sound like a track from the first Gaga album, with its Red One-style electro groove. The queen should not be imitating the imitator. It’s a fun track nevertheless with a compulsive hook. Madonna is though beginning to look like somewhat desperate by continually referring to herself a ‘girl’ at the age of 53.

Superstar

One of a handful of standout tracks, and probably the album’s most commercial moment – this is simple, catchy and joyfully uplifting. It’s a sweet love song and will make you want to dance and totally screams summer hit. There’s nothing earth shatteringly new about it and it doesn’t push any envelopes, but it’s a solid pop song.

I don’t give a..

90’s style mid-tempo dance, which feels like it could come from her maligned but underrated Erotica album. Not a bad tune but the rapped type vocals about the demands of being a single mother, which recall American Life do sound rather clumsy, and The Nicky Minaj rap break just feels like an unnecessary attempt to stay relevant.

I’m a Sinner

With its Beatles-esque psychedelic sounds, this song has an ok tune and is enjoyable enough, but the whole ‘I’m a Sinner’ vibe just feels like something Madonna did to the hilt years ago.

Love Spent

Madonna is at her best when she gets personal with her lyrics. This is one of several songs on the album clearly ab the pain of divorce, where Madge bitingly refers to her money being ‘spent’ – “now you have your flash cars women and bars, its gone to your head”, and a lack of love recieved in return. You certainly wonder what Guy Ritchie will make of this one. It’s one of the strongest tracks here, with an Abba-esque melody and 80’s synths. The vocals are gorgeous, so smooth and pure. Classic Madonna.

Masterpiece

The Oscar-winning theme song from the Madonna directed Wallis Simpson biopic – ‘W.E’. This is a low key but elegant and enjoyable ballad, the kind Madonna has always done well. It sounds a little dated but it has a touch of class and honesty that has perhaps been lacking from a lot of Madonna’s recent work.

Falling Free

Another ballad, simple, sad and beautiful – Falling free seems again to be about the end of her marriage. It has a lovely melody and some of the best vocals heard from Madonna in a long time.

Beautiful Killer

Another solid pop song and album highlight, ‘Beautiful Killer’ is smooth and has a kick. With its snappy hook, nice strings, and catchy melody, this is the kind of pure pop that Madonna has always done well.

I fucked up

The crass title and hook is a little off putting, that aside this has a nice melody, sweet vocals, and builds to a lovely swirling crescendo. It features brutally honest lyrics about the break-up with Guy Ritchie, and is touchingly sad and regretful.

B day Song

This track, featuring M.I.A is probably best skipped. It features the frankly beyond embarrassing lyric ‘I need a spanking’, she did all that a long time ago and it just sounds a bit ridiculous now.

Best Friend

With its r ‘n’b infused electronic groove, this recalls some of the better moments on the patchy last album ‘Hard Candy’. More emotionally frank lyrics about her divorce “every man that comes through that door, will be compared with your forevermore”, ‘Best Friend’ is a moving and compelling album closer.

‘MDNA‘ is a strange concoction, it’s somewhat all over the place from techno through pure pop, via old fashioned ballads and 90’s dance – and it completely lacks the cohesive identity of ‘Ray of Light’ or ‘Confession of the Dance Floor’. There are times when Madonna seems lost for direction and inspiration, with predictable lyrics and generic sounds but nevertheless there are still some decent pop songs here and it’s a not a total disaster of an album. She’s at her best when she’s being herself not looking over her shoulder at younger rivals. However, whether the queen still has her crown is yet to be decided at this moment.

‘MDNA‘ is released on Monday 26th March.