BADONNA: Reuters performs the fine service of compiling many of the negative reviews for Madonna's AMERICAN LIFE. My favorite quote is from Tom O'Neil, an oddly-credentialed writer ("author of a book on the Grammy music awards and owner of showbiz web site GoldDerby.com" -- huh?) the story quotes as a sort of Madonna apologist:

"She is the pop music equivalent of a vampire -- she just can’t be killed. She seems to transcend bad reviews and predictions that her career is over."

Here's hoping the double-whammy of her latest failed film and disc exiles her to Michael Jackson territory -- inexplicably beloved by pre-teen Europeans and Asians but regarded as little more than tabloid fodder here in the States.