Album of the Day

Twenty years in the entertainment industry and such cataclysmic events as 9/11 and the Iraq War had given Madonna a new perspective on materialism by the time of AMERICAN LIFE. “I do think that we've become completely consumed with being rich and famous, our society has,” she noted. “Take it from me, I have all those things and none of them ever brought me one minute of happiness.” A concept album of sorts, the Maverick collection's social commentary is balanced by a striking fusion of acoustic and electronic music with the help of French producer Mirwais Ahmadzaï. Singles from the set included the title track, “Hollywood” and James Bond theme “Die Another Day” (which broke The Beatles' record for most Top 10 hits on this day in 2003). The Platinum-certified AMERICAN LIFE earned a pair of Grammy nominations and remains one of the more rewarding entries in Madonna's discography.