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Madonna, “Hard Candy” (Warner Bros.)
All flash and no substance, Madge’s “Hard Candy” lets us down again by trying too hard to sound sexy and relevant. Whatever happened to “Ray of Light”?
Portishead, “Third” (Mercury/Island)
Many tried but few have succeeded in approaching this U.K. band’s mysterious cool. This long-awaited third album spit-shines Portishead’s brilliance while expanding its sound.
Steve Winwood, “Nine Lives” (Columbia)
Winwood proves his longevity by shying from the pop that typified earlier solo work and sticking to a stripped-down, natural aesthetic.
