this album really isn't that bad.
I reviewed it on my blog...
http://jesuswasabaritone.blogspot.com/Soooo the other day on a whim i decided to download (illegally that is) , gulp, the new Britney Spears album. The reason for the download was 1) something to laugh at. 2.) overall curiosity if it actually would be any good.
After one time or so through the album, unfortunately i have to say, its not a bad album. In fact for a pop record its pretty solid ( not that i have a lot of top 40 albums or anything) but I must say recently I've grown quite enamored with club music and this album has quite a few club bangers. This obviously is probably more indicative of the producers Britney chose to work with ( Heaven on Earth in particular has an amazing music backing, its very much closer to the New Order/LCD Soundsystem side of dance music as opposed to what you would normally hear on the radio, while "Piece of Me" is vaguely reminiscent of Electro-house giants Justice or even electro dance-rock outfits like Goose and the Presets ). That said she really doesn't hurt the music either. The sexy style of her singing is a good compliment to the music. She knows her limits (sharing the same octave range with a Tickle-Me-Elmo doll being one of these ), and her strengths (sexy sultry cooing) as a singer and as a result doesn't try to do to much.
Lyrically it isn't really much to write home about, although its not atrocious by any sort of the imagination. But not much club based music (beyond M.I.A or James Murphy related projects) have much depth anyway.
Overall i must say I'm shockingly impressed. Its not going to win album of the year by any means, (Best Dance Grammy isn't out of the question though) but considering the train wreck she's been the past couple of years, this is definitely a pleasant surprise. And finally she's made a record that can stand up to the surprisingly solid pop maker/ ex-beau Justin Timberlake.
In the end will this album be universally praised, like for example the latest Radiohead LP? Hell no. Will it find a following even among the snobbish indie kids? If they like to dance, then I say yes.