Ray of Light
| Ray of Light | ||||
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| Studio album by Madonna | ||||
| Released | February 22, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | June–November 1997 | |||
| Venue | Larrabee North Studio (North Hollywood, California, U.S.) |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 66:52 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Madonna chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ray of Light | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Blender |  |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Entertainment Weekly | A– |
| The Guardian | |
| NME | 8/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| USA Today | |
Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer Madonna. It was released on February 22, 1998 by Maverick and Warner Bros. Records. After giving birth to her first child, Madonna started working on the album with producers Babyface and Patrick Leonard. Following failed sessions with them, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer William Orbit. The recording took place over four months and experienced problems with Orbit's hardware arrangement, which would break down, and recording would have to be delayed until they could be repaired.
A departure from her previous work, Ray of Light is an electronica, dance and techno-pop album which incorporates several genres, including ambient, trip hop and house music. Vocally, the album saw Madonna sing with greater breadth and a fuller tone. Mystical themes are also strongly present in both the music and lyrics, as a result of Madonna embracing Kabbalah, her study of Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as her daily practice of Hatha Yoga.
The album received universal acclaim with reviews commending the singer's new musical direction. Called her "most adventurous" record, Ray of Light has been noted for its mature, restrained nature; reviewers also praised Madonna's vocals. Ray of Light won four Grammy Awards from a total of six nominations. Commercially, the album peaked at number one in many countries, such as Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. On the US Billboard 200, the album debuted and peaked at number two, with the biggest first week sales by a female artist at the time. Ray of Light has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.
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