• 2xLP pressed on 180g Black Vinyl
• Housed in a Gatefold Jacket

Personnel: Madonna (vocals); Mirawais Ahmadzai (guitar, programming, background vocals); Stuart Price (piano); Nicky Brown Choir, London Community Gospel Choir.

Producers: Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzai, Missy Elliot, Nisan Stewart, Craig X. Brockman.

Re-teaming with French electro-pop producer Mirwais (who also lent his talents to 2000's MUSIC), Madonna uses her perspective as a globally famous ex-pat living in England to comment on the USA's spiritual state throughout AMERICAN LIFE. Prominently featuring plenty of acoustic guitar among the synth-soaked swooshes and Euro-disco beats, the Material Girl ends up going for a more stripped-down sound. This technique works particularly well on the opening title cut, which finds Ms. Ciccone rapping about bodyguards, soy lattes, gardeners, and other upper-class perks that don't seem to make the spiritual side of life any better.

"Hollywood" does an even better job addressing the downside of fame while pumping in a few more hooks. Faith in family fuels the lush "Nothing Fails," with its unexpected gospel-chorus outro, while amore inspires the light and tight "Love Profusion," and insecurity plagues the solo-acoustic "X-Static Process." Of course, all these songs of self-discovery and spirituality didn't stop Madonna from including "Die Another Day," the Euro-techno title song from the James Bond film of the same name.