American Life
by Madonna
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 483 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 425 out of 483
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 483
  3. Negative: 28 out of 483

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  1. ChairwomanMadge
    Apr 25, 2003
    10
    This is an ace CD and the best song (my song of the year so far) is "Nothing Fails" - infinitely moving. Mirwais' production is top-notch, there's something different in each, and while "Mother and Father" can be a bit cringeworthy at times ("I had a mother/It was *nice*), the album as a whole is outstanding and not the sonic monstrostity most reviewers would have you believe. BUY IT!
  2. nonenone
    Sep 20, 2007
    10
    Excellent album.
  3. VictorC.
    Apr 5, 2009
    10
    An excellent Madonna album. Songs such as "Intervention," "Nothing Fails," and "X-Static Process" really pull this album together.
  4. BillC.
    Aug 2, 2010
    10
    Awesome.
  5. BillC.
    Apr 24, 2003
    10
    Awesome.
  6. Fabio
    Jun 12, 2004
    10
    Genius!
  7. TRhgfegdsghs
    Jan 9, 2005
    10
    Great!
  8. JoaoJoao
    Aug 5, 2005
    10
    It's different but worth listening to. It grows on you.
  9. LevanA
    Oct 14, 2006
    10
    Her best. Critics don´t know shit.
  10. seanf
    Mar 26, 2006
    10
    don't believe the negative reviews
  11. DejanSt.
    Apr 8, 2008
    10
    Her best album. Take a bow! She is master!
  12. ClifC
    Jun 23, 2008
    10
    That's why I hate American music critics: they are all offended when we talk badly about American government! So they give bad reviews and grades. This is one of her best albums (for me, it's her best), and nobody can't deny. I see also another solution: Bush paid them to underrate this masterpiece.
  13. JensO
    Aug 1, 2009
    10
    Her most underrated album by far-- those who doubt that Madonna is a musician should listen to this album.
  14. LouisP.
    Apr 22, 2003
    10
    Critics are afraid of what they don't understand; some will hate this album because it dares to be different. It's an original LP. I really like it a lot! The best songs are Nothing Fails, Hollywood, Mother & Father and Intervention.
  15. AlexanderH
    May 30, 2003
    10
    It's perfect. Although Ray of Light is better, this album is about her and it haven't got a comercial prospect, like other albums of other artist.
  16. MattM
    Jun 16, 2003
    10
    Despite receiving heavily mixed reviews and a poor reception on the album charts, any music aficionado with a true appreciation of Madonna's work will see that "American Life" is easily her best album to date - Yes, it's even better than "Ray Of Light"! Lyrically, it's the most personal stuff Madge has ever written; and musically, it's even better. It's back to Despite receiving heavily mixed reviews and a poor reception on the album charts, any music aficionado with a true appreciation of Madonna's work will see that "American Life" is easily her best album to date - Yes, it's even better than "Ray Of Light"! Lyrically, it's the most personal stuff Madge has ever written; and musically, it's even better. It's back to basic acoustics on the beautiful "X-Static Process," while "Nothing Fails" is easily one of the best songs Madonna has ever produced. Mirwais's electronic touch is present on the title track and "Nobody Knows Me," while Michel Colombier's sensational string arrangements are featured in "Die Another Day" and "Easy Ride". Madonna's "American Life", to reiterate, is her best album ever as well as the best album of 2003.… Expand
  17. RodB.
    Jul 2, 2003
    10
    One of Madonna's best CDs and probably her most personal one. It's very enjoyable with the exception of a couple of songs. Track ratings: American Life- B- Hollywood- C+ I'm So Stupid- D Love Profusion- A+ Nobody Knows Me- A Nothing Fails- A Intervention- A X-Static Process- A- Mother & Father- A+ Die Another Day- B+ Easy Ride- A+
  18. PaulPaul
    May 26, 2005
    10
    This is her best album I just can't believe, that SHE had this produced. Better then "Ray of Light"
  19. MichealT
    Sep 23, 2006
    10
    I love this record...
  20. GusT
    Jun 11, 2003
    10
    While "Ray of Light" is her best work, this is truly a successful progression from that CD and from "Music." I play the CD everyday and must tell you that the more you listen to it, the more you will like it. It does not immediately grab you, but rather sneaks up on you. Do you really want another "Immaculate Collection?" C'mon! It's 2003 and Madonna is still innovative and While "Ray of Light" is her best work, this is truly a successful progression from that CD and from "Music." I play the CD everyday and must tell you that the more you listen to it, the more you will like it. It does not immediately grab you, but rather sneaks up on you. Do you really want another "Immaculate Collection?" C'mon! It's 2003 and Madonna is still innovative and fresh. What else do you have to ask for?… Expand
  21. yorid
    Aug 12, 2003
    10
    beautiful album.why does feeling love and sharing it,make her boring?i prefer when she disturbs the norm but can appreciate this album,the message and mood.the first single was more a political statement than anything else,but once you forgive that.....it soars. "and i know that love will change us forever...." indeed.
  22. James
    Nov 10, 2006
    10
    Beautiful music
  23. EduardoM.
    Dec 24, 2006
    10
    Stop the criticism the album is great songs like nothing fails,mother and father,x-tactic process stand out....weak songs are American life and i'm so stupid.
  24. EdijsG.
    Feb 23, 2009
    10
    I have to give a credit for this album, because i didn't like it when i heard it first time .. i still remember and that it just stayed there for fue weeks, and than i started to listen again and this is the best album still for me, love all the songs. This is better than MUSIC, Ray of light or Confessions, at least for me. Thy lyrics are good and the feeling that this cd gives is I have to give a credit for this album, because i didn't like it when i heard it first time .. i still remember and that it just stayed there for fue weeks, and than i started to listen again and this is the best album still for me, love all the songs. This is better than MUSIC, Ray of light or Confessions, at least for me. Thy lyrics are good and the feeling that this cd gives is undescribable - magic happens.… Expand
  25. gagaforever
    Apr 12, 2012
    10
    Very underrated. People, including critics, seem to only be judging the pop tracks and not really listening to the ballads which really showcase Madonna's vocals. Excellent album, terrible critical response
  26. CyyChi
    Jul 21, 2012
    10
    This album is a masterpiece. Really! I simply think that people really did not understand it. She criticizes a lot of aspect of the modern american society.---
    The album opens with American Life, a song that reflects how people are satisfied with their lives with very insignificant thing (listen to the rap (my favorite part of it): I'm diggin' on the isotopes/This metaphysics **** is    This album is a masterpiece. Really! I simply think that people really did not understand it. She criticizes a lot of aspect of the modern american society.---
    The album opens with American Life, a song that reflects how people are satisfied with their lives with very insignificant thing (listen to the rap (my favorite part of it): I'm diggin' on the isotopes/This metaphysics **** is dope/And if all this can give me hope/You know I'm satisfied). ---
    Hollywood is a song expressing how everyone wants to be a star because of what they see in movies, in interviews, etc. And she says how everyone's opinion of Hollywood is wrong. And how shallow Hollywood is too.---
    I'm So Stupid declares how everyone who's comparing themselves to others, always trying to be someone else are stupid because there is nothing for you when you are not yourself.---
    Love Profusion, I think, is a very heavy song, but what I understood from it is that love is so important in people's mind (because we hear of it in every movies, songs, etc.), that they don't take the time to understand the whys and hows of the world. And when you get rid of the illusion that love is the most important thing, you start to make your own happiness and find the real answers (There are too many questions/There is not one solution /There is no resurrection /There is so much confusion [...] I have lost my illusions /What I want is an explanation )---
    Nobody Knows Me is probably the best song! The key word that makes it the most mindblowing song for me is "No one's telling you how to live your life/But it's a setup until you're fed up". She really explores how people think they are free and made their choices in life, but really, they have been pushed by the elites who controlled the TV channels, the radios, the journals, magazines; in the end you have been SOOO influenced that she says that even if nobody tells you how to life your life, you are not really free of doing what you want, and I would even say that people probably don't even know what they would have wanted if they have not been influenced all their lives by the media.---
    Nothing Fails, the way I see it, show how flawless religion is. Myself, I have been a believer all my life until recently and believe it or not, this song persuaded me to walk away from my religion. It shows that when you feel like you are losing Faith, you immediately makes you want to pray. When a dear one dies, instead of questionning God's existence, the first thing we do is pray. And it is true for every event that should make you question God (war, death,catastrophes, mass shootings, rapes, etc.)---
    The rest of the album is beauty. She leaves the strong messages to turn to very beautiful songs (Intervention, X-Static Process, Easy Ride) or more dancey (Mother And Father, Die Another Day) without loosing quality.Madonna is a complete artist. She is a very deep pop artist and very talented.    … Expand
  27. SergiusXP
    Apr 8, 2011
    10
    Absolutely perfect. The most fantastic album ever made by a singer. The triumph of perfection, sounds and feels.
    From "Hung Up" to "Let it will be", every single song is mixed perfectly!
  28. TommyA
    Mar 26, 2012
    10
    American Life is Madonna's most underrated album. You can tell from reviews all around the web that it's a love it or hate it album. It's definitely not in-your-face pop, so I would avoid this one if you're just looking for radio-friendly material. On this album, we see Madonna at her most vulnerable. From the cynical American Life to the touching Mother and Father, Madonna takes us on aAmerican Life is Madonna's most underrated album. You can tell from reviews all around the web that it's a love it or hate it album. It's definitely not in-your-face pop, so I would avoid this one if you're just looking for radio-friendly material. On this album, we see Madonna at her most vulnerable. From the cynical American Life to the touching Mother and Father, Madonna takes us on a tour of her world. I applaud her guts, especially for the American Life video, which raised controversy like never before. Notable tracks: American Life, Love Profusion, Nothing Fails, X-Static Process.… Expand
  29. DJ_Roddy
    Apr 3, 2012
    10
    The perfect example of a misundertood album concept... American life in spite of what people may think is not about war and politics criticism... It's Madonna being creative in a unusual pop way a synth-acoustic-pop with AMAZING lyrics where she tells about her life in the US, about her relationship, about her kids and life experiences in general. There are songs there that are GENIUS. andThe perfect example of a misundertood album concept... American life in spite of what people may think is not about war and politics criticism... It's Madonna being creative in a unusual pop way a synth-acoustic-pop with AMAZING lyrics where she tells about her life in the US, about her relationship, about her kids and life experiences in general. There are songs there that are GENIUS. and for me a Madonna Top 5 Album!… Expand
  30. Visser
    Nov 11, 2013
    10
    Great album. It's so sad that AL is so underrated. It's full of flawless lyrics and songs.
    She also proves once again, that she is actually a really good singer.
    One of my favourites from The Queen of POP.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2003
10
#10 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 17
  3. Negative: 3 out of 17
  1. Playlouder
    40
    This album, if it came from a newcomer, could kill a career stone dead.
    Read full review
  2. Vibe
    80
    This may be the first time Madonna hasn't pushed herself to explore new ground, but at least she's chosen a good place to rest. [June 2003, p.155]
  3. Stylus Magazine
    36
    For once, Madonna has stumbled not because she reached too far, but because she didn't reach far enough.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »