McFess

Beat Goes On is my choice as well. It's infectious & catchy & it's such a great song to dance too. Very club-friendly.

You guys can hear it here : yYyOwXblVqI

Nope, i'm not talking about Oh Father or Dear Jessie or Mother & Father. Dear Father is a song that didn't make it into the Erotica album. Have u guys heard it already? Good or bad? Love to know ur opinions...

That unreleased track from Erotica sessions which has just emerged all over the internet called Dear Father. Not a very good track. No wonder it didn't make the album!

Even more seriously fabulous art from the series : http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/cd083e287c.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/8aff920ee8.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/79bddf3929.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/bad317d74f.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d6eb5a9c90.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/a0fd5026ba.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/b0ded2f670.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/b95b34cca6.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/05a0b88863.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/ef6a24eeae.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/c16c671311.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/06814da63d.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/cc5db57261.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/96027283ad.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/1b97d27edf.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/09adb89a5b.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/b4f78b3c27.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f4ba02a887.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d97d0347a1.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/c417554128.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/e499d72027.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/7ab9ae410c.jpg http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/c6dbeffba0.jpg I prefer these art works too Shaun! And u're right Glyn, I think they tie in better with the champion boxer fighter b**ch image she's portraying. But of course she's all about paradoxes & juxtapositions, I guess that's why she chose Hard Candy as title & background.

Excellent club track! 8/10!

From MadgeTribe : These are the real (tagged) cover and promo photos for Madonna's latest CD from the days, when it was still named Give It 2 Me. Since the album was later re-named, it also got a new candy background : http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa17/sirsurf/OriginalMadonnaAlbumCover2.jpg http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa17/sirsurf/OriginalMadonnaAlbumCover1.jpg =================================================== I really like them! Really classy work!

Very cool! She looks like a harlequin ballerina. Funky hat too!

Does anybody know where I can find more photos of Gwen in this frock? Any help appreciated! http://en.avoreg.ru/images/fa4f338f31894ef5e626ee0548a07f77.jpg

:lol: I noticed that too. It makes her look like a chicken without wings!

Miles Away is also use as the theme song on Fuji TV's series 'Change'. The song's been edited a lil tho. Here are some links on You Tube : Miles Away on "Change".

8/10. Love it! Even the rap part!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/Shaunay/38846572jc3.jpg

It's practically a fashion shoot session put to music. Bit disappointing really. She looks great but I think Pharell is so much cooler here.

cazioC14C_I

I love that talking bit on White Heat. I thinks it's very cool! And on the True Blue album, there is not one song that I don't like. I even love Jimmy Jimmy! Love Song - well u either hate it, love it or u hate & love it at the same time. Like I do! :lol: With Into The Groove, 90% of the time I don't care for it, but there are days when it actually gets me into the groove! I like Little Star, it's a pleasant song. And I like I'd Rather Be Your Lover, the rap by Meshell Ndegeocello is way cool & the songs is way better than the bland Survival imo. Songs I don't quite like : Shoo Be Doo (LAV) Can't Stop (WTG Ost) Don't Stop, Forbidden Love (BS) Mer Girl (ROL) Runaway Lover (Music) Spanish Lesson (HC)

1 JOHNSON*JACK SLEEP THROUGH THE STATIC 1,130,426 2 KEYS*ALICIA AS I AM 909,795 3 CAREY*MARIAH E=MC2 828,576 4 JUNO SOUNDTRACK 686,819 5 SWIFT*TAYLOR TAYLOR SWIFT 660,340 6 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC VOL. 27-NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL 644,320 7 BLIGE*MARY J. GROWING PAINS 626,414 8 LEWIS*LEONA SPIRIT 555,467 9 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS SOUNDTRACK 555,256 10 JACKSON*MICHAEL THRILLER 542,770 11 HANNAH MONTANA 2: MEET MILEY C SOUNDTRACK 541,397 12 BAREILLES*SARA LITTLE VOICE 532,816 13 ROSS*RICK TRILLA 501,556 14 WINEHOUSE*AMY BACK TO BLACK 500,765 15 RADIOHEAD IN RAINBOWS 494,024 16 DANITY KANE WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE 464,505 17 BROWN*CHRIS EXCLUSIVE 461,321 18 CAILLAT*COLBIE COCO 457,787 19 COLE*KEYSHIA JUST LIKE YOU 441,853 20 DAUGHTRY DAUGHTRY 426,323 21 JONAS BROTHERS JONAS BROTHERS 416,607 22 BROOKS*GARTH ULTIMATE HITS 407,092 23 VARIOUS NOW 26 392,671 24 UNDERWOOD*CARRIE CARNIVAL RIDE 385,874 25 JACKSON*JANET DISCIPLINE 380,691 26 MADONNA HARD CANDY 374,450 27 EAGLES LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN 351,890 28 JACKSON*ALAN GOOD TIME 345,953 29 STRAIT*GEORGE TROUBADOUR 343,685 30 SUGARLAND ENJOY THE RIDE 337,985 31 ONEREPUBLIC DREAMING OUT LOUD 337,059 32 SPARKS*JORDIN JORDIN SPARKS 333,191 33 FERGIE DUTCHESS 329,340 34 ONCE SOUNDTRACK 318,279 35 RASCAL FLATTS STILL FEELS GOOD 316,559 36 CROW*SHERYL DETOURS 314,831 37 PLANT/KRAUSS RAISING SAND 312,062 38 SNOOP DOGG EGO TRIPPIN' 310,255 39 DAY 26 DAY 26 308,105 40 LINKIN PARK MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT 294,086 41 BADU*ERYKAH NEW AMERYKAH PART ONE (4TH WOR 288,669 42 FIASCO*LUPE LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL 283,014 43 BUBLE*MICHAEL CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE 272,572 44 NICKELBACK ALL THE RIGHT REASONS 272,328 45 PARAMORE RIOT! 269,779 46 GRAMMY NOMINEES 2008 GRAMMY NOMINEES 267,655 47 THE-DREAM LOVEHATE 260,018 48 PANIC AT THE DISCO PRETTY ODD 256,441 49 MONTANA*HANNAH/CYRUS*MILEY BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT 256,422 50 BUCKCHERRY 15 251,201 51 RIHANNA GOOD GIRL GONE BAD 251,066 52 VARIOUS I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 250,258 53 JAHEIM MAKINGS OF A MAN 248,410 54 MAROON 5 IT WON'T BE SOON BEFORE LONG 246,391 55 ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (DLX) SOUNDTRACK 244,708 56 SOUNDTRACKS STEP UP 2: THE STREETS 244,658 57 R.E.M. ACCELERATE 242,343 58 SOULJA BOY TELL'EM SOULJABOYTELLEM.COM 237,281 59 CHESNEY*KENNY JUST WHO I AM: POETS & PIRATES 235,602 60 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 SOUNDTRACK 234,892 61 KID ROCK ROCK N ROLL JESUS 231,126 62 LED ZEPPELIN MOTHERSHIP 229,683 63 UNDERWOOD*CARRIE SOME HEARTS 225,990 64 FLO RIDA MAIL ON SUNDAY 224,686 65 COUNTING CROWS SATURDAY NIGHTS & SUNDAY MORNI 224,437 66 BEDINGFIELD*NATASHA POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE 220,023 67 ADKINS*TRACE AMERICAN MAN GREATEST HITS... 209,958 68 VAMPIRE WEEKEND VAMPIRE WEEKEND 209,025 69 WEST*KANYE GRADUATION 206,171 70 DEVAUGHN*RAHEEM LOVE BEHIND THE MELODY 204,255 71 RADIO DISNEY VOL. 10-KIDS JAMS 202,518 72 J. HOLIDAY BACK OF MY LAC' 201,989 73 KRAVITZ*LENNY IT IS TIME FOR A LOVE REVOLUTI 201,525 74 MARLEY*BOB & THE WAILERS LEGEND 200,788 75 HANNAH MONTANA SOUNDTRACK 199,653 76 GUNS N'ROSES GREATEST HITS 198,782 77 HANNAH MONTANA 2-NON-STOP DANC SOUNDTRACK 198,382 78 FOO FIGHTERS ECHOES SILENCE PATIENCE & GRAC 196,669 79 SPEARS*BRITNEY BLACKOUT 190,334 80 DION*CELINE TAKING CHANCES 186,637 81 JAY-Z AMERICAN GANGSTER 183,963 82 SWEENY TODD THE DEMON BARBER O SOUNDTRACK 182,202 83 WEBBIE VOL. 2-SAVAGE LIFE 180,098 84 PAISLEY*BRAD 5TH GEAR 178,406 85 KIDZ BOP KIDS KIDZ BOP 13 178,348 86 LEGEND*JOHN LIVE FROM PHILADELPHIA 177,464 87 HANCOCK*HERBIE RIVER: JONI LETTERS 176,816 88 BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE SCREAM AIM FIRE 175,428 89 SEETHER FINDING BEAUTY IN NEGATIVE SPA 171,913 90 PETTY*TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS GREATEST HITS 171,606 91 THREE DAYS GRACE ONE-X 167,323 92 MCENTIRE*REBA REBA DUETS 163,753 93 SAPP*MARVIN THIRSTY 160,509 94 BIRDMAN 5 STUNNA 158,917 95 URBAN*KEITH GREATEST HITS 158,721 96 MARIO GO! 155,070 97 BOCELLI*ANDREA VIVERE LIVE IN TUSCANY 153,865 98 GNARLS BARKLEY ODD COUPLE 152,216 99 BUBLE*MICHAEL IT'S TIME 152,051 100 FRANKLIN*KIRK FIGHT OF MY LIFE 151,944 101 OTTO*JAMES SUNSET MAN 151,369 102 JOURNEY GREATEST HITS 151,268 103 LANG*K.D. WATERSHED 149,717 104 DIAMOND*NEIL HOME BEFORE DARK 146,150 105 MATCHBOX TWENTY EXILE ON MAINSTREAM 145,711 106 BRIGHTMAN*SARAH SYMPHONY 145,403 107 FLYLEAF FLYLEAF 145,000 108 RACONTEURS CONSOLERS OF THE LONELY 143,829 109 VOEGELE*KATE DON'T LOOK AWAY 143,149 110 FINGER ELEVEN THEM VS. YOU VS. ME 142,597 111 KENNY G RHYTHM & ROMANCE 142,345 112 BOCELLI*ANDREA BEST OF ANDREA BOCELLI-VIVERE 141,041 113 TIMBERLAKE*JUSTIN FUTURESEX/LOVE SOUNDS 140,759 114 TIMBALAND TIMBALAND PRESENTS SHOCK VALUE 136,585 115 VEDDER*EDDIE MUSIC FOR THE MOTION PICTURE I 135,536 116 JACKSON*MICHAEL NUMBER ONES 134,596 117 AUGUST RUSH SOUNDTRACK 130,974 118 ENCHANTED SOUNDTRACK 127,929 119 FEIST REMINDER 126,461 120 VARIOUS ARTISTS 80'S: NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL M 126,448 121 LIFEHOUSE WHO WE ARE 125,058 122 STRAIT*GEORGE 22 MORE HITS 123,689 123 SANTANA ULTIMATE SANTANA 123,450 124 PUDDLE OF MUDD FAMOUS 123,153 125 MAYER*JOHN CONTINUUM 123,055 126 FLOGGING MOLLY FLOAT 122,844 127 COOK*DANE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES-LIVE FR 122,746 128 ACROSS THE UNIVERSE SOUNDTRACK 121,944 129 BON JOVI CROSS ROAD 121,554 130 FLEX TE QUIERO 120,667 131 MICHAELSON*INGRID GIRLS & BOYS 120,307 132 MARS VOLTA BEDLAM IN GOLIATH 119,403 133 ALLAN*GARY LIVING HARD 118,733 134 HAIRSPRAY SOUNDTRACK 118,242 135 GODSMACK GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES: TEN YEAR 117,080 136 BEATLES BEATLES 1 116,723 137 VARIOUS WOW GOSPEL 2008 116,492 138 MORGAN*CRAIG LITTLE BIT OF LIFE 115,920 139 AVENGED SEVENFOLD AVENGED SEVENFOLD 115,872 140 FERNANDEZ*VICENTE PARA SIEMPRE VICENTE FERNANDEZ 115,798 141 QUEEN GREATEST HITS 113,964 142 BLACK CROWES WARPAINT 113,588 143 ATKINS*RODNEY IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HELL 112,715 144 KINGSTON*SEAN SEAN KINGSTON 112,394 145 JENNINGS*LYFE LYFE CHANGE 112,123 146 TURNER*JOSH EVERYTHING IS FINE 111,590 147 BOYS LIKE GIRLS BOYS LIKE GIRLS 111,224 148 BOW WOW & OMARION FACE OFF 110,055 149 HENDRIX*JIMI EXPERIENCE HENDRIX-BEST OF JIM 109,140 150 SCOTT*JILL REAL THING: WORDS & SOUNDS V3 108,672 151 BON JOVI LOST HIGHWAY 108,550 152 MCGRAW*TIM LET IT GO 108,280 153 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL SOUNDTRACK 107,928 154 CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL VOL. 1-CHRONICLE-20 GREATEST H 107,361 155 SIMPLE PLAN SIMPLE PLAN 107,060 156 SIXX:A.M. HEROIN DIARIES SOUNDTRACK 106,099 157 JERSEY BOYS SOUNDTRACK 105,905 158 WICKED ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING 105,400 159 SHAWTY LO UNITS IN THE CITY 104,769 160 SEGER*BOB GREATEST HITS 104,063 161 LAMBERT*MIRANDA CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND 103,233 162 KEITH*TOBY TOBY KEITH 35 BIGGEST HITS 103,166 163 NASH*KATE MADE OF BRICKS 103,118 164 SPRINGSTEEN*BRUCE MAGIC 102,954 165 CAGLE*CHRIS MY LIFE'S BEEN A COUNTRY SONG 102,815 166 TRINA STILL DA BADDEST 102,740 167 DEF LEPPARD VAULT-GREATEST HITS 100,958 168 RASCAL FLATTS ME AND MY GANG 100,332 169 PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 98,737 170 PARTON*DOLLY BACKWOODS BARBIE 97,979 171 CAT POWER JUKEBOX 97,534 172 DION*CELINE ALL THE WAY-A DECADE OF SONG 96,243 173 SIA SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS 95,938 174 LAVIGNE*AVRIL BEST DAMN THING 95,674 175 LADY ANTEBELLUM LADY ANTEBELLUM 95,443 176 PLIES REAL TESTAMENT 94,747 177 PRESLEY*ELVIS ELVIS 30 NO. 1 HITS 94,229 178 BEATLES LOVE 94,222 179 AIKEN*CLAY ON MY WAY HERE 94,121 180 MICHELE*CHRISETTE I AM 93,541 181 CAMILA TODO CAMBIO 93,533 182 LYNYRD SKYNYRD ALL TIME GREATEST HITS 92,341 183 GOO GOO DOLLS VOL. 1-GREATEST HITS 91,629 184 50 CENT CURTIS 91,073 185 IGLESIAS*ENRIQUE 95/08 EXITOS 91,002 186 WINEHOUSE*AMY FRANK 89,724 187 JOHNSON*JACK IN BETWEEN DREAMS 89,358 188 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2: NON-STO SOUNDTRACK 89,116 189 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS 89,069 190 BUBLE*MICHAEL MICHAEL BUBLE 88,820 191 MURRAY*ANNE DUETS : FRIENDS & LEGENDS 88,582 192 FAT JOE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM 88,303 193 SOLIS*MARCO ANTONIO LA MEJOR COLECCION 88,201 194 BOTTI*CHRIS ITALIA 87,937 195 AC/DC BACK IN BLACK 87,887 196 GROBAN*JOSH CLOSER 87,412 197 VARIOUS SONGS 4 WORSHIP: COUNTRY 87,121 198 JEAN*WYCLEF CARNIVAL 2: MEMOIRS OF AN IMMI 87,005 199 WISIN Y YANDEL WISIN VS YANDEL 'LOS EXTRATERR 86,706 200 VARIOUS GRAMMYS 50TH ANNIV COLLECTION 86,335

From CONTACTMUSIC.COM : MADONNA has been denied the chance to see five of her LPs in the U.K. album chart at the same time, after the country's Official Chart Company (OCC) deemed details surrounding their sales unfair. The Material Girl star was set to score a chart quintuple last week (ends10May08) after British supermarket giant Tesco offered consumers a free copy of one of four previous Madonna albums when they purchased her latest release Hard Candy. The offer allowed fans to buy the LP for $18 (GBP9), and claim a copy of either The Immaculate Collection, Ray Of Light, Music or Confessions On A Dancefloor for free. And the promotion gave the star's earlier albums a significant boost in the British mid-week charts; The Immaculate Collection shot to number 28, Confessions On A Dancefloor sat at 48, Music at 95, and Ray Of Light at 110. But the U.K. chart's governing body, the OCC, have excluded the albums from being counted in last week's rundown, insisting the offer didn't comply with its stance on chart rules. The move meant only Hard Candy's sales were counted, which gave the singer her 10th number one album in the U.K. and U.S. charts earlier this month (May08). OCC managing director Martin Talbot explains the decision: "It is quite a core chart rule that we only count sales, and the marketing of this particular initiative is clear - if you buy Hard Candy through Tesco you can have one of these albums free of charge." He adds, "We will be monitoring these kinds of offers to assess whether current rules cover what is becoming an increasingly common occurrence. We need to ensure it doesn't undermine the authority of the charts, which are there to measure sales." =================================================================== Bummer! But then again, free is definitely not sales!

Not exactly the easiest thing to do but I gave it a go anyway. Not in any particular order tho : Burning Up Gambler Papa Don't Preach La Isla Bonita Like A Prayer Express Yourself Erotica Deeper & Deeper Secret You'll See I Want You Frozen Nothing Really Matters Sky Fits Heaven Impressive Instant American Life Love Profusion Hung Up Sorry Give It 2 Me

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/79fb390532.jpg So she loves Speakerphone by Kylie! Great choice M!

01. Candy Shop I loved it when it leaked & then it started to sound bland. But I fell in love with it again when she performed it at Roseland. I find the best way to enjoy this track is to really listen to it loud & drink in that sexy minimal beat! It's actually freaking hot. And like I've said b4, very carnal & primal, like cavemen orgy! 8/10 02. 4 Minutes This one is made to be a global smash! It's everywhere, it's epic, it's drama, it's a mega-thumper & god do I love the blaring horns! Justin sang better here & got the best lines imo but at least Madonna got that "tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock" part which is intense & infectious as hell! 9/10 03. Give It 2 Me When I heard the clip, I thought wow, this is so old-skool Madonna! Couldn't wait to hear the whole version & when I finally did, I fell in love with it instantly. This to me is pure Madonna unlike 4 Minutes which sounds more like A Timbo track featuring Madonna. I don't understand why some don't like this either but it does seem like more & more people are warming up to it. My favourite track of the lot this is. 12/10 04. Heartbeat Every time I hear this Olivia Newton John & Stacey Q pops into my head. Why is that? I guess, there's something very nostalgic about the song. Anyhow, I love the easy slow-bounce of the melody. & I am totally into the "You can really pop it now, Drop it now, Ain’t no stopping now, Are you watching now" part! Lovely pop song, with a dash of the 80s & some squeaky Madonna! 9/10 05. Miles Away Love it but it's becoming quite a bore after repeated listenings. Good melody, very Madonna but a tad repetitive. Shortening the song might help. 8/10 06. She's Not Me I took to this song quickly but just like Miles Away, it's starting to bore me a lil. 8/10 07. Incredible Didn't like this at first but now, I find it refreshing & exciting. Pharrell went to town on this one. So many layers, so many textures & a gamut of emotions! Excellent how the beat changes as if emerging from the depths of hell to escalate to the high heavens while visiting everything else in between, if that makes sense. It's an eclectic joint this one. Not for everyone. 7/10 08. Beat Goes On Totally reworked but I think it's as good as the leaked version if not better. It's super-polished & Some think that Kanye butchered the song with the rap but personally, I love it. Fit's nicely imo. Could become a dance classic this one. Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat! 8/10 09. Dance 2Night Another one that I didn't care for at first but I'm truly loving it now. This made me think of Rock Your Body by JT & Canned Heat by Jamiroquai. It's one of those songs that keeps u shuffling your feet & swaying your hips & feeling good at the clubs. U want it to go on & on & on. Clubbers will eat this up. 7/10 10. Spanish Lesson Every album has a WTF song & this is it for me. It's grown on me but by no means is it a favourite. Some parts are more digestible than others. Still, one of her worst ever in my opinion. 4/10 11. Devil Wouldn't Recognize You Many say it sounds like What Goes Around/Cry Me A River by JT but to me it's way better than those 2 songs. It's one of the best ballad Madonna has done in her career. Timbo & Timber did great here! 10/10 12. Voices Excellent album closer! Love her deep vocals, love the lyrics, love the melody (a bit like Like It Or Not on COADF) but what I love the best is how the song seems to shake ur whole room if u turn it up loud! It's crazy, like some reverberation is goin on! It messes with ur head this one! But as much as I love it, I don't see it as single-worthy. I just don't see it working on the charts be it in the US or Europe. 8/10

Madonna's new studio album 'Hard Candy' has topped the charts all around the world (in more than 30 countries). She has broken her own record, set back in 2005 (Confessions on a Dance Floor debuted at number one in 29 countries). This is (again) a world record for a solo artist. The leading single '4 Mintes' still tops the charts all around the world and also spends it's fourth week in a row on the top of United World Chart. This is an incredible success, so congratulations, Madonna - we knew you can do it! List of the countries, where 'Hard Candy' has debuted at number one: Australia Mexico Argentina Brazil Japan Canada United States United Kingdom France Belgium Germany Austria Ireland Italy Swizterland The Netherlands Sweden Danemark Finland Spain Portugal Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Slovenia Israel Chile Hong Kong Singapore Taiwan South Korea South Africa U.A.E. =========== That's like no.1 in 33 countries! Whoo-hoo!

Who is the androgynous minx that she's exchanging saliva with???

Gosh, a 4th week at the top wud be sweet!

From Drowned Madonna : OFFICIAL Billboard Figures for HARD CANDY'S # 1 DEBUT!! Category: . Here's an amazing analysis from BILLBOARD of M's incredible debut in the U.S. ! Madonna's "Hard Candy" album makes a sweet entrance at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 280,000, giving the diva her seventh chart-topper and the third biggest sales week of the year. A whopping 26% of the album's first week sales were downloads sold through digital retailers ... Other high debuts this week come from Lyfe Jennings, the Roots, Def Leppard, Portishead, Mudcrutch and Tim McGraw ... In Progress Reports, we've got news on Coldplay, James Otto and Weezer. FLASH POINTS • Madonna's "Hard Candy" takes its expected bow atop the Billboard 200 albums chart, giving the queen of pop her seventh No. 1 -- the second-most among all female artists. Only Barbra Streisand, with eight, has more. "Candy" earns the third biggest sales week of the year as well, with 280,000 sold in its first week. That's a bigger number than the 225,000-250,000 range that Billboard projected last week based on the set's first-day sales figures. (Digital downloads accounted for a whopping 26% -- 73,000 -- of the album's overall first-week, easily making it No. 1 the Top Digital Albums chart.) • Madonna's last studio effort, 2005's "Confessions on a Dance Floor" started with 350,000 when it bowed at No. 1. However, that discofied album was released on Nov. 15, just as the Christmas shopping season was kicking into high gear, which partially explains its bigger opening. Each of the top seven albums that week on the Billboard 200 sold more than 100,000. Even the No. 2 album, the debuting "Some Hearts" by Carrie Underwood, started with more than 300,000. • So far in 2008, there has yet to be a week that busy. The last time the chart housed seven or more albums that each sold at least 100,000 was -- no surprise -- the sales week ending Dec. 23, 2007, when the top 23 all did more than 100,000. Ho, ho, ho! • For those chart watchers (and diva enthusiasts) who are trying to draw comparisons between "Hard Candy's" 280,000 bow and Mariah Carey's 463,000 start with her new "E=MC2," hold your horses. During "E=MC2's" release week, Carey pulled out all the stops and performed on "American Idol," "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Good Morning America." During "Hard Candy's" release week, Madonna did not perform on TV. In fact, she has yet to perform on American TV to promote this album. Last week, the only chat show she visited was BET's "106 and Park" (May 2). • Madonna did, however, stage a well-publicized club show at the Roseland Ballroom in New York on April 30, which was streamed online via MSN. But a club show -- no matter how hot -- can't compare with the impact "American Idol" and Oprah Winfrey has. And, keep in mind that Carey was returning with her first album since her comeback set, "The Emancipation of Mimi," which also happens to be the biggest selling album of 2005. • Besides, with an album loaded with singles that seem ripe for American radio, "Hard Candy" may have a healthy shelf life. The set was led by the unqualified hit single "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake). It's her biggest radio hit since 2001's "Don't Tell Me" and it spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Digital Songs chart. Madonna's had a tough time getting her new music heard on U.S. radio in the past six or so years, so securing American airplay with "4 Minutes" was key in the promotion of "Hard Candy." The diva is in Europe now, focusing on the promotion of the album there. Last night (May 6) she staged her second club show supporting the album, this time at the Olympia Hall in Paris. ============================================= Excellent read!