Madonna

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Confessions II by Madonna (July 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Tracklist: I Feel So Free; Good For The Soul; One Step Away; Bring Your Love; Danceteria; Read My Lips; Everything; Love Sensation; Love Without Words; Bizarre; School; Fragile; My Sins Are My Saviour; Betrayal; The Test; L.E.S Girl

Confessions II is the mostly misleading title for this album which isn’t Madonna’s best album for the 21 years since Confessions On A Dancefloor but her best … ever.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best album of 2026 so far
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Danceteria by Soft Cell (July 2026)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Danceteria is the name of the New York nightclub where Soft Cell‘s young Marc Almond and Dave Ball would party until the small hours after recording sessions for their 1981 debut LP Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

  • Read on for reasons including Almond’s thoughts on the upcoming final album and its Madonna link
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for July 2026 starring Ben Platt at the Menier

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Ben Platt in Midnight At The Never Get

Platt (The Last Five Years, London Palladium) stars in this story about Trevor Copeland and Arthur Brightman who perform love songs in 1965 New York at a time when their love is against the law. Runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory 11 July through 12 September 2026. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Cats, Confessions II and Rosie Sheehy in The Oresteia
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SONG OF THE MONTH: I Feel So Free by Madonna (April 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Madonna (Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona) chooses not to ape Hung Up, the all-conquering, chart-topping, ABBA-sampling banger that launched album Confessions On A Dancefloor 21 years ago.

  • Read on for reasons including how Madonna is perpetuating her career by growing old both joyously and disgracefully and we wouldn’t have it any other way
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2025 so far (Part 2 of 2)

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You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2025.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2025 so far
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Sound & Light by Alison Goldfrapp (July 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

We’re writing this from a holiday in Iceland where we’re planning a visit to Norway to see the Northern Lights and this 1st track written for Alison Goldfrapp’s 2nd album Flux couldn’t be more pertinent.

  • Read on for reasons including why Flux is 1 of the most eagerly awaited albums of the summer
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: A Complicated Woman by Self Esteem (May 2025)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

Tracklist: I Do And I Don’t Care; Focus Is Power; Mother; The Curse; Logic, Bitch; Cheers To Me; If Not Now, It’s Soon; In Plain Sight; Lies; 69; What Now; The Deep Blue Okay

There’s a thematic through-line to this album with the final track’s title being referenced in its opening song as Self Esteem sings: ‘We’re not chasing happiness anymore, girls. We’re chasing nothing, the great big still, the deep blue okay – and we’re okay today.’

  • Read on for reasons including how Madonna was in the audience for Self Esteem
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Gig of 2023

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It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2023? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

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GIG REVIEW: Madonna at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***** RUNTIME: 120 minutes without interval

WHEN?: Thursday 2 November, tour runs through 24 April 2024

SETLIST: Nothing Really Matters; Everybody; Into The Groove; Burning Up; Open Your Heart; Holiday; Live To Tell; Like A Prayer; Erotica; Justify Your Love; Hung Up; Bad Girl; Vogue; Human Nature; Crazy For You; Die Another Day; Don’t Tell Me; Mother And Father; I Will Survive; La Isla Bonita; Don’t Cry For Me Argentina; Bedtime Story; Ray Of Light; Rain; Like A Virgin; Bitch I’m Madonna; Celebration

Madonna brings her director’s eye, her actress’s understanding of drama and her musician’s intimacy with her 40-year treasure trove of hits and deep cuts to tell the story of her life – and it’s everything we’ve always wanted from her and the best gig we’ve ever seen.

  • Read on for reasons including how this gig features the most devastating coup de théâtre we’ve ever seen
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