Editing Like a Virgin (album) (section)

== Critical reception ==
{{Music ratings
| title = Professional reviews
| rev1 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Blender">{{cite web |last1=Power |first1=Tony |title=Madonna, ''Like a Virgin'' |url=http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_2353.html |work=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |access-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040818014448/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_2353.html |archive-date=August 18, 2004}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Earls|first=John|author-link=John Earls|title=Madonna: ''Madonna'' / ''Like a Virgin'' / ''True Blue'' / ''Who's That Girl'' (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|magazine=Classic Pop|location=Bath|issue=59|date=December 2019|page=85}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev3score = B<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christgau |first1=Robert |author1-link=Robert Christgau |title=Consumer Guide Album - Madonna: ''Like a Virgin'' [Sire, 1984] |url=https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2202 |work=[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s]] |access-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312050434/https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2202 |archive-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = A<ref name="EWReview">{{cite magazine |last1=Farber |first1=Jim |title=The girl material |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/07/27/girl-material/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102094147/https://ew.com/article/2001/07/27/girl-material/ |archive-date=November 2, 2015 |date=July 27, 2001}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Qmag" />
| rev6 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="RSReviewLAV" />
| rev7 = ''[[Slant Magazine]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="SlantLAV" />
}}

{{Music ratings
| title = Music guides
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusicLAV" />
| rev2      = ''[[MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|section=Madonna|isbn=1-57859-061-2|pages=704–706}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna: Album Guide |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/albumguide |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705190231/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/albumguide |archive-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev4score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-link=Eric Weisbard|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|chapter=Madonna|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide|publisher=[[Vintage Books]]|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=235–236}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull – on the Web]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating-Christgau|B+}} (**)<ref name="hull">{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=2022|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Madonna|title=Grade List: Madonna|publisher=Official Tom Hull website|access-date=February 16, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829164550/http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Madonna|archive-date=August 29, 2022}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Collin">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/virginencycloped0000unse_w9d5/page/246/mode/2up?q=You+Can+Dance|page=246|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|first=Colin|last=Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|access-date=February 16, 2025|date=2000|isbn=9780753504277 |via=Archive.org}}</ref>
}}
Reviews of ''Like a Virgin'' were mixed upon release.<ref name="ClassicPopMakingof" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Discography of Madonna |url=https://umusic.co.nz/moments/classic-pop/the-discography-of-madonna/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325155159/https://umusic.co.nz/moments/classic-pop/the-discography-of-madonna/ |archive-date=March 25, 2024 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |publisher=[[Universal Music New Zealand]] |quote=the album, although receiving mixed reviews}}</ref> From ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', Brian Chine called it a "fine" second album, even though Madonna "does no searching whatsoever in her singing [...] [She] hits her notes straight on, and with a pretty enough melody".<ref name="ChinReview">{{cite magazine |last1=Chin |first1=Brian |title=Dance Trax |magazine=Billboard |date=December 1, 1984 |volume=96 |issue=46 |page=62 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-12-01.pdf#page=60 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Also from ''Billboard'', Michael Paoletta praised Rodgers' "sleek but snewy rhythm arrangements".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Paoletta |first1=Michaele |title=Spotlight: Madonna, ''Like a Virgin'' |magazine=Billboard |date=November 24, 1984 |volume=96 |issue=47 |page=64 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-11-24.pdf#page=62 |access-date=April 7, 2024 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> From ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Stephen Holden]] was pleased with the "handsomely produced" record and the singer's voice, which he felt echoed the "rock-and-roll girl-group tradition that preceded [[the Beatles]]", but while these "worshipfully extolled their boyfriends' cars, haircuts and rebel poses, Madonna's point of view is decidedly more self-interested". "The words 'shiny and new' describe not only the way the love-smitten singer feels in the title song but the sound of the album", concluded Holden.<ref name="HoldenNYT">{{cite web |last1=Holden |first1=Stephen |author1-link=Stephen Holden |title=Madonna's siren song |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/06/arts/madonna-s-siren-song.html?&pagewanted=1 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113063015/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/06/arts/madonna-s-siren-song.html?&pagewanted=1 |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |date=January 6, 1985}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Debby Miller from ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' opined that, "[d]espite [Madonna's] little-girl voice, there's an undercurrent of ambition that makes her more than the latest [[Betty Boop]] [...] Her light voice bobs over the heavy rhythm and synth tracks like a kid on a carnival ride".<ref name="RSReviewLAV">{{cite magazine |last1=Miller |first1=Debby |title=Home > Music > Album Reviews > ''Like a Virgin'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/like-a-virgin-2-96081/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823073921/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/like-a-virgin-2-96081/ |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |date=January 17, 1985}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Author [[J. Randy Taraborrelli]] applauded Madonna's voice for being "reflectively sharper" than on her debut, and felt ''Like a Virgin'' reflected her as a "more versatile and artistic performer".<ref>{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=87}}</ref> From streaming service [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]], John Murph described the album as "far warmer, fuller and more soulful than the often cold and tinny synth sounds that typified a lot of underground dance music" of the time.<ref name="Tidal">{{cite web |last1=Murph |first1=John |title=Madonna's ''Like a Virgin'' turns 35 |url=https://tidal.com/magazine/article/madonnas-like-a-virgin-turns-35/1-57145 |publisher=[[Tidal (service)|Tidal]] |access-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723230618/https://tidal.com/magazine/article/madonnas-like-a-virgin-turns-35/1-57145 |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |date=November 12, 2019}}</ref>

The album was described as "smart, funny, sexy and irresistible" by ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine, while for ''[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]''{{'}}s Saeed Saeed, it is a "ruthlessly focused collection of pop songs [...] featuring at least three pop classics".<ref name="Qmag">{{cite magazine|last=Ross|first=Jonathan|title=Madonna: ''Like a Virgin''|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|issue=178|date=July 2001|page=131}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Saeed |first1=Saeed |title=All of Madonna's 14 solo albums ranked: from ''Madame X'' to ''Like A Prayer'' |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/2021/08/20/all-of-madonnas-14-solo-albums-ranked-from-madame-x-to-like-a-prayer/ |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |access-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820100626/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/2021/08/20/all-of-madonnas-14-solo-albums-ranked-from-madame-x-to-like-a-prayer/ |archive-date=August 20, 2021 |date=August 20, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Alexis Petridis referred to ''Like a Virgin'' as "provocative, fun, [and] witty [...] [It's also] the last album on which Madonna sounded like a product of the environment that birthed her".<ref name="GuardianRanked">{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |author1-link=Alexis Petridis |title=Get into the groove! Writers go head-to-head to declare Madonna's best album |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/09/get-into-the-groove-writers-go-head-to-head-to-declare-madonnas-best-album |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009142938/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/09/get-into-the-groove-writers-go-head-to-head-to-declare-madonnas-best-album |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |date=October 9, 2023}}</ref> It was deemed a "masterpiece" by Joseph Earp from Australian website [[Junkee]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Earp |first1=Joseph |title=Virgins, prayers and lots of sex: All 14 Madonna albums, ranked from worst to best |url=https://junkee.com/madonna-albums-ranked/250846 |publisher=[[Junkee]] |access-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427055407/https://junkee.com/madonna-albums-ranked/250846 |archive-date=April 27, 2020 |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> [[WhatCulture]]'s Reece Shrewsbury felt the songs on ''Like a Virgin'' are stronger than those on ''Madonna''.<ref name="WhatCulture">{{cite web |last1=Shrewsbury |first1=Reece |title=Ranking All 13 Madonna studio albums from worst to best: 6. ''Like a Virgin'' (1984) |url=https://whatculture.com/music/ranking-all-13-madonna-studio-albums-from-worst-to-best?page=8 |publisher=[[WhatCulture]] |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427103243/https://whatculture.com/music/ranking-all-13-madonna-studio-albums-from-worst-to-best?page=8 |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |date=August 27, 2018}}</ref> To Matthew Rettenmund, "[''Like a Virgin''] is not Madonna's strongest album, but its nine tracks feature [her] at her least self-conscious and most cleverly effervescent".<ref name="retLav">{{harvnb|Rettenmund|1995|pp=105–106}}</ref> Daryl Easlea praised Rodgers' production, but felt the album "tapers off, veering towards filler" on its second half.<ref name="Easlea2">{{harvnb|Easlea|2012|pp=32–34}}</ref> Despite being home to some of the "catchiest, not to mention most iconic tracks in pop music", ''Like a Virgin'' is made up of "mostly fillers", according to the staff of ''[[Instinct (magazine)|Instinct]]'' magazine.<ref name="Instinct">{{cite web |title=Madonna's 14 studio albums, including ''Madame X'', ranked. |url=https://instinctmagazine.com/madonnas-14-studio-albums-including-madame-x-ranked/ |work=[[Instinct (magazine)|Instinct]] |access-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925184246/https://instinctmagazine.com/madonnas-14-studio-albums-including-madame-x-ranked/ |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |date=August 17, 2018}}</ref>

Pete Bishop from ''[[The Pittsburgh Press]]'' wrote that in ''Like a Virgin'', Madonna "sort of hum-de-dums her way through [...] a lot of simple love lyrics over a lot of lightweight, pop-style fun-rock [...] sometimes sounding like a one-woman [[Pointer Sisters]] and sometimes like [[Cyndi Lauper]] with her nose pinched shut". Despite naming it "pleasant enough", Bishop concluded that its main "weakness" is that, "you could put these [songs] behind ''any'' decent-voiced singer. ''Like a Virgin'' does not establish Madonna as anything special".<ref name="Pittsburgh">{{cite news |last1=Bishop |first1=Pete |title=Madonna's ''Like a Virgin'' less naughy than nice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YuIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA42 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]] |date=December 30, 1984 |page=G5}}</ref> Taraborrelli added that, when compared to Madonna's subsequent records, ''Like a Virgin'' "does come across as a bit repetitious and immature".<ref name=Tara2018>{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2018}}</ref> Both Sal Cinquemani from ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' and Stephen Thomas Erlewine felt it is not as "innovative" as Madonna's first record, with the former adding: "[On the first album], she stunned with style and a certain joy. Here, the calculation is apparent, and while that's part of [her] essence - even something that makes her fun - it throws [''Like a Virgin'']'s balance off a little too much for it to be consistent".<ref name="SlantLAV" /><ref name="AllMusicLAV" /> This sentiment was echoed by Sam Damshenas and Daniel Megarry from ''[[Gay Times]]'', who wrote that, like ''Madonna'', ''Like a Virgin'' lacks the innovation of the singer's posterior works.<ref name=GayTimes>{{cite web |last1=Damshenas |first1=Sam |last2=Megarry |first2=Daniel |title=We ranked every single Madonna album from worst to best |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/we-ranked-every-single-madonna-album-from-worst-to-best/ |work=[[Gay Times]] |access-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813102642/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/we-ranked-every-single-madonna-album-from-worst-to-best/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> The staff of ''[[The Advocate (magazine)|The Advocate]]'' concluded that, "this could have been the best EP of the '80s, with generation-defining songs [...]  Instead it was a nine-song album with five great singles and four tracks that unbelievably escaped the cutting room floor".<ref name="Advocate">{{cite web |title=Madonna's 12 Studio albums ranked |url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/01/23/madonnas-12-studio-albums-ranked?page=0,1 |website=Thee Advocate |access-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125224745/http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/01/23/madonnas-12-studio-albums-ranked?page=0,1 |archive-date=January 25, 2015 |date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> In the same vein, Erlewine added that the singles "overshadow" the rest of the album, which "vacillates wildly in terms of quality".<ref name="AllMusicLAV" /> To Michael Paoletta from ''Billboard'', ''Like a Virgin'' hasn't aged as well as the singer's other works from the 1980s decade.<ref name="reissues2001" /> ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine dismissed the record as a "tolerable bit of fluff" with "primitive" lyrics.<ref>{{harvnb|Metz|Benson|1999|p=3}}</ref>