Next in line in Madonna’s albums is Erotica.  It is next to last, in my opinion, in quality.

It has a few standout tracks:  “Rain” and “Deeper and Deeper.”  “Rain” is one of Madonna’s best ballads and has a gorgeous video.  “Deeper and Deeper” is one of my favorite dance songs in Madonna’s oeuvre.

I also have a fondness for Madonna’s disco version of Peggy Lee’s classic “Fever.”

Most of the rest of the album is dreary.  The songs are overly long and boring.

So what makes this one better than “Hard Candy”?  It comes down to two things:  The strength of “Rain” and that I wasn’t disappointed by it the way I was “Hard Candy.”  I had low expectations for this album, and so therefore I wasn’t let down.