The Queen Reclaimed

I tried.

Let me just start out with that phrase. I tried to think of a million reasons why I shouldn't like this album. She is a puppet. She can't really sing. She doesn't really have any real influence over her sound other than picking the men that make it happen. She doesn't even naturally own that head of hair that she is sporting. But...

This shit is crunchy, loud, and the best stuff she's put out since 2003's In the Zone. From the outset, you can already hear the difference between Blackout and Circus. Her vocals in "Womanizer" sound forceful and resoundingly clear. And if you read my review, I found the construction of that song absolutely amazing even though it was produced by industry newbies, The Outsyders. I find it no coincidence that it was the first single to top the Billboard Top 100 since "Baby, Hit Me One More Time" almost a decade previously.

She is realizing that she can't do this alone. And with the myriad of top-notch producers, she reinforces that statement fullboard. Dr. Luke, who also crafted "Toxic," is here for the searing, pop/electro/deathly-infectious pop smash "Circus." The bass-heavy diddy begs to played at full blast and while it feels that Britney has never moved away from her home base (at least lyrics-wise), it feels oddly different. These are the type singles that harken classic hits from ultra-divas Madonna and Miss Janet.

The highlights from this album reside in the two singles, "If You Seek Amy (sound it out and spell it out)," "Shattered Glass," "Unusual You," and "Lace and Leather." If there is one fault in this album is that Guy Sigsworth's immense talent was wasted on two of the three Britney ballads. The curse of her montonous voice is that her ballads really depend on the production for range since she has virtually none. Although she has had some successful songs in that category, "Out From Under" and "My Baby" fall dramatically short. She will forever be cast into the up-beat dance realm and I think that is fine with her. It should be. The major genre move to electro-pop/synth isn't just coordinating with the industry, but also helps mask the one true flaw in her game: her voice.

The one ballad that worked for me was "Unusual You." Also probably the most pure electronica-style song on the album, the breathy gasps combined with the brooding, aggressive drum track really shows a different side of Britney. The piano plots the structural outline of the song much like a pre-Vida Coldplay. More than anything, these producers definitely creating a higher form of artistic expression for Britney's usual thoughts on sex, boys, and relationships.

Throughout her successful career, this may be her best album to date musically. While it isn't revolutionary, it is a remarkable collection of infectious, energy-fueled pop hits that will undoubtedly prove their worth in 2009. She self-identifies herself as the Queen of Pop now claiming maturity. Time will only tell if she can escape the depression, mental fatigue, and drugs, but if this album is any forecaster -- she may have just turned the corner we were all waiting for.


Best Tracks - "Circus", "Womanizer", "Shattered Glass", "Unusual You", and "Lace and Leather"


7.5/10


This. Is. Truth.

Britney's Back....uhh Bitch.

It's no surprise to those of you who read this blog intently, I am a fan of Britney Spears. Realizing that she is a puppet of course, she is great because sometimes you forget to look for the strings. Always backed by some of the best producers and writers in the industry, her risks are small by comparison. However, Blackout just didn't feel organic. She still had her fair share of fans for the record, but essentially, there was no reason to feel that she gave any of herself to that album. In the midst of clinical treatments came Blackout, a record, that I'm sure she laid down the vocals for each track in a little under an hour. There was little hype like all her other albums. Her life was in pieces and there was no reason to celebrate.

Circus plans to be Britney's reintroduction to her vacant throne atop pop, which I think she will rightfully take back. As much as Britney needs the industry, the industry sorely SORELY needs her as well. She is the eighth highest female album seller in the history of the United States. Everyone is working overtime to sell Britney as whole and ready to dominate the charts again. Mtv will be airing an hour documentary two days before Circus drops.

Just think: through everything she's been through, she could be loved even more than she was the first go round. She has limited visiting rights to her children, she made Kevin Federline look like Corey Matthews, her mom has written a slam book against her, her sister is a baby-popping machine and Britney still stands poised to take her life back. I absolutely love it. America proves once again its love and obsession for the flawed human beings.

Of course, as much as we're waiting to embrace her with open arms, she has to offer up something viable as a product. The Outsyders have done an incredible job with the lead single, "Womanizer." She has taken the formula from Blackout and made it sultry and infectious. I dare you not to move your body to this track. Note: Danity Kane, this is how it is done. You want some sort of international pop landscape, this is your ideal terrain. Her voice sounds as restricted as usual, but she gets the most out of what she has. Instead of pointing fingers at the media and sounding fractured during the process, she's back to the introspective feminist character that suits her admirably well.

Ironically, using a lot Timbaland's tactics, this anthem is the anti-"Maneater." Will a lot of people hate this track because they hate Spears? No doubt. But that still doesn't take away the fact that this is the best Britney song in a long, long time. And that makes me really excited for December 2nd. The world needs more infectious, dance-producing pop tunes. Who to deliver them than the best herself. Miss Britney Spears.

Editor's Note: Is it just me or in the first ten seconds of the song, "Womanizer" do the synth drums sound eerily similar to those used in the beginning of the sitcom, "Family Matters?" Interesting...


Shit to Sweat:

The year 2000:

It's time for rap fans to bone up on their probably dusty collections. As winter approaches, some long dormant rappers will be making their long anticipated returns into the foray of their respective genre. Eminem with the appropriately titled, King Mathers and Dre with the most hyped rap album of all time, Detox. Go back and check out why these albums are so important to the genre. Eminem was just voted the best rapper in the world (According to VIBE magazine over Jay-Z) even though he hasn't released anything in terms of an album since 2004's Encore.

I say 2000 because the music scene is gonna feel like (my high school years) the end of the 90s and beginning of the 20th Century. Albums sales will led the way by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Britney Spears. All we need is Mtv to bring back TRL and I could self-medicate myself to the smooth sayings of Carson Daly. Oh Lord, maybe this time around things will be better for all.



This. Is. Truth.