“Hard Candy” is Madonna’s 12th  studio album of original material, but it sounds more like the featured artists’ latest disc — a Justin Timberlake album backed by Timbaland.

Madonna has always been the master of trend hopping, but “Hard Candy” feels like she’s forcing herself into the new hip-hop/club dance culture that has sprung up on the pop charts.

While Madonna has never been the strongest vocalist, she can claim to have the strongest personality in the genre. Yet “Hard Candy” hardly has any personality.

The lyrics are also some of her most banal, with “Give it 2 Me,” reaching new lows during the breakdown as she tells everyone to “Get Stupid.”

Luckily, there are moments where Madonna shines through. “Miles Away” strips down the hip-hop and lets the song sound like a classic Madonna tune.

Still, if fans are looking for a non-stop Madonna dance party, stick to Madge’s last album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor.”

"Hard Candy" by Madonna received two out of four stars.