Madonna's brand of Dance Pop began as the purest of Bubblegum but has become increasingly sophisticated during the course of a career now in its third decade. Her influence has lessened a bit since the multimedia dynasty she lorded over in the 1980s and early '90s, partly because she's been busy raising a child and partly because the focus of dance-oriented music has radically shifted in the years between Bedtime Stories (1994) and Ray of Light (1998). Her newest material explores the constantly expanding universe of electronica and reflects the work of some of the very artists she influenced previously. A benefit of this rarely occurring phenomenon is the absence of the brash self-confidence characteristic of the megastar -- in its place is a humility and hesitancy that's never been a part of her image. And maybe that's why her new stuff is so interesting: the image is gone and the emphasis is now on innovation. To the benefit of her fans, as well as the casual listener, Madonna is working harder than ever to capture the fancy of a younger audience who may not be all that interested in the controversy once generated by her pointy bras and public love life.
