Ray of Light

Ray of Light was both a comeback for Madonna and a sign of dance music’s impending claim to the pop throne. Her voice is impeccable throughout, but it's the album's slinky, rich dance-floor atmospherics that really set things in a new direction, with producer William Orbit giving the trip-hoppy “Frozen” a lush, dramatic feel and the title track its giddy euphoria. There's also a prevalent hypnotic and spiritual vibe—owing to Madonna's turn to Kabbalah—that helps make it one of the superstar's most exciting albums in years.