Madonna followed up what I consider her worst album so far, 2008’s Hard Candy, with 2012’s MDNA, an electronic pop album informed by her divorce from filmmaker Guy Ritchie several years earlier.

After the lackluster results from the star-studded producer lineup of her previous effort, Madonna enlisted a host of lesser-known producers for this album. Most notably, she brought back William Orbit, who helped deliver one of her best albums in Ray of Light. Orbit’s contributions to MDNA are by far its best tracks.

This record marks Madonna’s first collaboration with women artists, fascinating given her status as a feminist icon for 25 years. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. feature on first single ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ and Minaj returns on the deep cut ‘I Don’t Give A.’

MDNA is a mixed bag, reflective of the large number of producers and seeming lack of a consistent vision. It is probably best remembered for its controversial title, a play on both Madonna’s name and the drug MDMA (better known as ecstasy). Anti-drug organizations accused her of glamorizing the substance.

My favorite tracks on MDNA come at the end, where the album slows down to make room for a trio of thoughtful ballads.

Today’s track, ‘Masterpiece,’ was written for the film W/E, a British historical romance directed and co-written by Madonna. Like most of her cinematic endeavors, the movie bombed with critics, but the song did win a Golden Globe.

In her awkward acceptance speech, Madonna slipped in and out of a British accent, elicited a steely stare from fellow nominee and occasional nemesis Elton John, and praised Harvey Weinstein.

MDNA gave Madonna her fifth straight #1 album on the Billboard 200, but sales quickly dropped off. It still limped its way to 2 million copies sold worldwide.