Rebel Heart
by Madonna
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 822 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 643 out of 822
  2. Mixed: 72 out of 822
  3. Negative: 107 out of 822
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  1. Flawlessasurnot
    May 11, 2019
    6
    In the majority of songs the lyrics are defiant, challenging and powerful as Madonna is considered. Nonetheless, some of them have no reason to be in this project: their lyrics are common, soulless and with no emotion. Madonna attempted to have a "updated" production but her mistake was the choosing of the producers because their sound don't suit the environment of what the lyrics try toIn the majority of songs the lyrics are defiant, challenging and powerful as Madonna is considered. Nonetheless, some of them have no reason to be in this project: their lyrics are common, soulless and with no emotion. Madonna attempted to have a "updated" production but her mistake was the choosing of the producers because their sound don't suit the environment of what the lyrics try to take the listener. 63/100… Expand
  2. Dartboard
    Mar 11, 2015
    4
    Paper-thin songwriting and "hip" production over solid lyrical content make this (mostly) a groan-inducing album. Yes, Madonna shares occasional introspection, but it is nothing insightful. Seems to coast off of the fact it's a Madonna album than anything else. The majority of songs are indistinguishable among the pop norm. That said, there are a few solid tracks that are worth a listen --Paper-thin songwriting and "hip" production over solid lyrical content make this (mostly) a groan-inducing album. Yes, Madonna shares occasional introspection, but it is nothing insightful. Seems to coast off of the fact it's a Madonna album than anything else. The majority of songs are indistinguishable among the pop norm. That said, there are a few solid tracks that are worth a listen -- you'll just have to trudge through the 21 (!!!) other songs to find them.… Expand
  3. JustJimbo
    Mar 25, 2015
    4
    A mediocre Madonna album - never thought I'd see the day. REBEL HEART zips through the pop icon's rich history but ultimately falls flat on its feet, trying to put them into too many shoes. This album is so all over the place, it's almost schizophrenic. LIVING FOR LOVE is the only thing resembling a single, and represents the record in all its flaws: a monotonous, repetitive collection ofA mediocre Madonna album - never thought I'd see the day. REBEL HEART zips through the pop icon's rich history but ultimately falls flat on its feet, trying to put them into too many shoes. This album is so all over the place, it's almost schizophrenic. LIVING FOR LOVE is the only thing resembling a single, and represents the record in all its flaws: a monotonous, repetitive collection of unremarkable, noisey-folksy-slow tunes that is really not up to speed with Madge's past masterpieces.
    Never have I been this bored by the Queen of Reinvention. I don't know how it happened (too much Diplo and not enough Avicii maybe ??) but RH sounds even less Madonna than its much loathed predecessor MDNA.
    There is no "iconic" moment (pun intended), no breakout song, no showstopper. GHOSTTOWN and JOAN OF ARC are the only above-average material, and the rest, this huge pile of songs-about-everything, is ok at best.
    MDNA, in all of its mediocrity, still had five/six fantastic songs, and an uplifting, happy air of abandon, as in "Join the party".
    REBEL HEART's main themes seem to be mostly about heartbreaks, lost love, and human vulnerability.
    A bit too negative, maybe ??    … Expand
  4. marcmyworks
    Mar 21, 2015
    5
    I'm not entirely sure why Madonna's latest concept album again has little to no concept. In "Rebel Heart" we see a mash-up of MDNA, Hard Candy and a string of her hits from the 80s. Despite some great producing, there is little to no originality, and far less interest.
  5. chidime
    Mar 10, 2015
    6
    While I agree this is her best album since COTDF, I feel she could have done better. Afterall, making an album better than those 2 isn't too big a task for her seeing as they were so sub-standard to begin with. Some songs on this album really impressed me and others really annoyed me... there is hardly any in-between. There is a sort-of opening up of the Madonna persona on this albumWhile I agree this is her best album since COTDF, I feel she could have done better. Afterall, making an album better than those 2 isn't too big a task for her seeing as they were so sub-standard to begin with. Some songs on this album really impressed me and others really annoyed me... there is hardly any in-between. There is a sort-of opening up of the Madonna persona on this album allowing you to see more of who she is and what she likes/represents. Even with the corny songs **** I'm Madonna, Holy Water, S.E.X) you can tell that it is just her being honest about who she is and what she represents. Also positively, the album incorporates a larger variety of original and innovative sounds than previously. I will give this nothing more than a 7.5 but metacritic won't let me so I'll settle for a 7. It would have been a big 8 if not for those 3 terrible songs I mentioned.

    BEST CUTS: Heartbreak City, Ghosttown, Body Shop, Best Night. (in that order)    … Expand
  6. Shot_of_jameoh
    Mar 10, 2015
    5
    The Diplo production is pretty stellar, but the fact that critics and fans are raving about this album is only further evidence of how delusional the world is getting. This woman is completely lost and she even says "but I'm in the dark" on 'Joan of Arc.' Madonna may have been great at one point, but she is now a former shadow of herself and no amount hot producers can hide the poor andThe Diplo production is pretty stellar, but the fact that critics and fans are raving about this album is only further evidence of how delusional the world is getting. This woman is completely lost and she even says "but I'm in the dark" on 'Joan of Arc.' Madonna may have been great at one point, but she is now a former shadow of herself and no amount hot producers can hide the poor and very sad state of her soul.… Expand
  7. Muddsjr
    Mar 11, 2015
    6
    So no, not particularly an amazing album, primarily due to the lyrics, regularly ridiculous "yeah we can do drugs and we can smoke weed and we can drink whiskey". Altogether though, Iconic and Joan of Arc better the album from MDNA at least.
  8. NickolasM
    Mar 16, 2015
    6
    "Rebel heart" is not a bad album. It's always better than "Hard candy" or "MDNA". But it could have been great if Madonna had not tried too much to reinvent herself with old tricks and old production. Listen to the second half of the project and then the first one and figure this out. It's like a greatest hits album with some additional new songs, which in this case sound better than the"Rebel heart" is not a bad album. It's always better than "Hard candy" or "MDNA". But it could have been great if Madonna had not tried too much to reinvent herself with old tricks and old production. Listen to the second half of the project and then the first one and figure this out. It's like a greatest hits album with some additional new songs, which in this case sound better than the old ones. Ok, I shut the **** up now. Mic dropping sound. Read the whole review here: http://www.anartcalled.blogspot.gr/2015/03/madonna-rebel-heart.html… Expand
  9. kevindouglas
    Feb 20, 2017
    5
    Um bom conceito desperdiçado por canções e produções genéricas. Madonna tentando se manter relevante na arte de fazer hits, porém soando como o que há de pior no Hot 100 da Billboard nos dias de hoje. Salvo raras exceções como "Body Shop" e "Messiah", este álbum é definitivamente uma tragédia na discografia de uma das artistas mais importantes da música pop.

    Living for Love: 4 Devil    Um bom conceito desperdiçado por canções e produções genéricas. Madonna tentando se manter relevante na arte de fazer hits, porém soando como o que há de pior no Hot 100 da Billboard nos dias de hoje. Salvo raras exceções como "Body Shop" e "Messiah", este álbum é definitivamente uma tragédia na discografia de uma das artistas mais importantes da música pop.

    Living for Love: 4
    Devil Pray: 3
    Ghosttown: 5
    Unapologetic B****: 4
    Illuminati: 7
    B**** I'm Madonna: 1
    Hold Tight: 7
    Joan of Arc: 4
    Iconic: 3
    HeartBreakCity: 7
    Body Shop: 9
    Holy Water: 5
    Inside Out: 4
    Wash All Over Me: 4
    Best Night: 5
    Veni Vidi Vici: 6
    S.E.X.: 3
    Messiah: 8
    Rebel Heart: 5
    Beautiful Scars: 8
    Borrowed Time: 4
    Addicted: 4
    Graffiti Heart: 5

    Total: 5    … Expand
  10. owenrw89
    Dec 10, 2016
    6
    If she'd have trimmed the track-list down to a short 10/11 song album, by removing the Urban moments (the terrible 'Unapologetic **** 'Illuminati' or 'Veni Vidi Vici') and keeping the mature moments (the fun but gorgeous 'Body Shop' or 'Devil Pray') she'd have given us her best album since 'Confessions'. Instead, she just couldn't help herself. She added "current" sounds that make herIf she'd have trimmed the track-list down to a short 10/11 song album, by removing the Urban moments (the terrible 'Unapologetic **** 'Illuminati' or 'Veni Vidi Vici') and keeping the mature moments (the fun but gorgeous 'Body Shop' or 'Devil Pray') she'd have given us her best album since 'Confessions'. Instead, she just couldn't help herself. She added "current" sounds that make her sound like she's just trying too hard.
    Until follow ups to 'Ray of Light' or 'Confessions' come out, this'll certainly do the trick.    … Expand
  11. LsSiel
    Apr 27, 2020
    5
    Es un buen album. A medias. Se queda corto en cuanto a propuestas y abusa de los ritmos genéricos. Le falta alma, en ese sentido, pero tiene ritmos que se pueden disfrutar sin problemas.
  12. Harurei
    Sep 18, 2015
    5
    Rebel Heart é um tiro no escuro, Na verdade, uma metralhada descarregada no escuro. O álbum aposta em diversas sonoridades diferentes e erra em todas. O disco parece mais uma coletânea de musicas vindas de diversos álbuns. Não tem uma marca, não segue um conceito honesto. O disco é apenas melhor que seus antecessores, mas isso não o faz um bom álbum. Não é segredo a ninguém que MadonnaRebel Heart é um tiro no escuro, Na verdade, uma metralhada descarregada no escuro. O álbum aposta em diversas sonoridades diferentes e erra em todas. O disco parece mais uma coletânea de musicas vindas de diversos álbuns. Não tem uma marca, não segue um conceito honesto. O disco é apenas melhor que seus antecessores, mas isso não o faz um bom álbum. Não é segredo a ninguém que Madonna sempre investe na sonoridade da vez para o lançamento de seus álbuns, uma aposta que não vem dando tão certo desde Hardy Candy. Em um cenário musical onde o Pop eletrônico, Hip-Hop, entre muitos outros estilos disputam o topo, em vez de madonna arriscar algo novo, ela apenas tenta agradar a todos, mas não foi dessa vez.… Expand
  13. Chump
    Oct 25, 2016
    5
    "Heart" sounds like a step ahead in a right direction for Madonna, but the singer seems to be lost between her desire to get back on the scene trying to work with trendy produced and the lyrical side of her nature. Overall it really sounds overproduced, you can clearly see some great-written songs hidden behind dance-club noises
  14. victorcarter
    Nov 21, 2016
    5
    Her latest offer to the pop world might seem justified and partly spiritual but it can't overcome its overall dryness.
    Best songs: living for love and joan of arc
  15. TheCriticReview
    Nov 17, 2017
    5
    Rebel Heart is the best of both Madonna worlds, the sexual persona and the true romantic at heart. A true return to form for Madonna. Long live the Queen of pop.
  16. MrFrench
    Aug 3, 2019
    6
    This album as half good and half not.

    Good songs: "Living for Love," "Devil Pray," "Ghosttown," "Joan of Arc," "Wash All Over Me," "Messiah," and "Rebel Heart."

    "Joan of Arc" and "Rebel Heart" are two of my favorite Madonna tracks.

    The rest is major MEHHHHH.
  17. fabsrocha
    Nov 27, 2019
    4
    Total souless album. Her voice here is weird and the songs are weak. Nothing like the queen use to do. Terrible and forgettable work. I would save from this ghosttown, rebel heart and **** I’m madonna. The rest is a bunch of crap music.
  18. jorsian
    Feb 13, 2023
    5
    Rebel Heart comes as a disappointment as someone who has adored specific eras from Madonna. Bafflingly it sounds almost unrecognizable to the Madonna of my most beloved eras. Understandably she was going for a new sound, but took some of the worst music trends of the 2010s and made some truly jarring with this record. The album feels clunky and misshapen in several parts. Some of theRebel Heart comes as a disappointment as someone who has adored specific eras from Madonna. Bafflingly it sounds almost unrecognizable to the Madonna of my most beloved eras. Understandably she was going for a new sound, but took some of the worst music trends of the 2010s and made some truly jarring with this record. The album feels clunky and misshapen in several parts. Some of the tracks are retrospective of her career and decisions she made earlier on. These were my favourite tracks as they feel heartfelt. Other tracks seem to be overtly sexual or loud and self-aggrandizing. Although Madonna has always been known for and has built an image as a sexual provocateur, these tracks sound cheap and overwrought. This album lacked polish and it does not measure up to her earlier work for me.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2015
28
#28 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Consequence
    Mar 26, 2015
    50
    Rebel Heart leans too steeply into too many trends at once, making it a scattered affair that flashes between drudgery and brilliance.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    Mar 19, 2015
    60
    Rebel Heart is the first Madonna album for a while that's at least as much for listeners as it is for dancers. Sometimes this shines too hard a light on what she has to say. [Apr 2015, p.88]
  3. Pitchfork
    Mar 13, 2015
    51
    Rebel Heart grows confusing and irreconcilably uneven as it progresses.
    Read full review
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