Circus - Britney Spears

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*02, CIRCUS (3.12) - 3 STARS
*Spotlight on me and I'm ready to break.

I've got to admit that I'm not as crazy about 'Circus' as I was when I first heard it. Thankfully, the track does seem a bit more chilled out than the track previous, although it does still have that same fighting in the lyrics. I can understand why Britney named the album what she did, but this namesake doesn't seem to have much of a purpose ...
...audience, playing the role of the ringleader. As I mentioned when I first heard the track, there are aspects of the song that are made for a club remix. I expect when this track is released as the second single, those remixes shall follow suit.

*03, OUT FROM UNDER (3.54) - 2 STARS
*I don't want to feel the pain. What good will it do me now?

Now we have been introduced to the album, it seems as though 'Out From ... more

Who is Britney Spears?

Seriously? You mean.. you don't know?

Britney change the music industry when she hit the big time at the closing end of 1990's, with her hugely successful single 'Baby One More Time' and debut album of the same title. Since then, we have been obsessed with the child star who has grown up to have a controversial lifestyle that even Amy Winehouse would be proud of. After deciding to let her hair down, Britney has; divorced twice, flashed her parts with Paris Hilton, and most shockingly shaved her head bald. Whilst last year Britney was expected to make her triumphant comeback with the album 'Blackout', twelve months just seemed too early for her and despite praise from the critics, a lack of any promotion trail left the album relatively unknown (by Britney Spears standards). Now with a full head of her own hair, it looks as though Britney is preparing to throw herself into the mix once again. And a new custody battle with K-Fed over something one of her songs might have ingested isn't going to be enough to stop her with sixth studio album, 'Circus'.

Roll up... Roll up.

Many were likely left disappointment with Britney's part in the MTV Awards this year were honestly just an appearance, and acceptance of two awards. Fixed? It appears the people behind the women were not going to allow another diaster such as that of the panned 'Gimme More' performance. Instead, Britney built up mommentum by looking the picture of innocence. Yeah, because that's really what we expect from our female solo artists. 'Circus' is clearly Britney both poking fun at herself as well as the hysteria that has surrounded every move she makes. I believe 'Womanizer' is a strong hint as well as what the sound of the album shall be, and it generally points me in the direction of this being 'Blackout - Part 2'. Although the album shall not be on sale until early December 2009 (coinciding with Britney's 27th birthday), critical reception has been positive with Womanizer becoming Britney's first Billboard #1 in almost a decade. This leads me to believe that not only is Britney still relevant to the market, but that people are genuinely happy to see things are beginning to come together for her again.

Initial Impressions, AKA The LeakJust as with any new album, 'Circus' is slowly finding its way on to the internet;

• Womanizer
• Circus
• Out From Under
• Kill The Lights
• If U Seek Amy
• Unusual You

Whilst the masses will have already heard 'Womanizer', it was interesting to finally hear the namesake track of the album. 'Circus' is produced by the team behind the hugely successful Katy Perry track, 'I Kissed A Girl'. Already announced to be the second single, 'Circus' is very different to 'Womanizer' although it seems as though it has been perfectly made for future club remixes. 'Out From Under' is a softly sung ballad, although unfortunately does not seem to be in the same league as 2004s 'Everytime'. A producer named Danja was the force behind making Justin Timberlake the R&B artist he now is, and with 'Kill The Lights' he is doing the same for Britney. 'Lights' and 'Circus' are 'Piece of Me' broken down into two tracks. 'If U Seek Amy' is my favourite track from the album thus far, and it's strange considering I had no idea what the title even meant. I was told that if you say the title aloud it makes sense, but not until I heard the track did it click. If you seek Amy becomes F-*-C-K M-E. I would not be surprised if this track becomes the biggest on the entire album, and it's no surprise that it was produced by the same guy behind 'Baby One More Time' and 'Oops... I Did It Again'. With so much going on, it would be easy to forget 'Unusual You'. It sounds as though it is made to be a filler track, although with the standard of these six tracks I wouldn't describe any as filler.

What do I expect from Circus?

Shockingly, Britney has never had a #1 in the UK -- and although the release of 'Circus' shall apparently go head-to-head with Take That's new album of the new name -- I see no reason why this shouldn't be a first for Britney. Not to mention her performance on X-Factor is sure to create a lot of exposure, as it is expected to be her first live performance in over a year. Aren't we lucky to have a creative genius like Simon Cowell to organise this entertainment for us. On the other hands, I do not expect album sales to be where the biggest success for 'Circus' comes from -- a huge concert tour in 2009 should sell out instantly. On the subject of the American reception, 'Blackout' is the only album that Britney has ever released and not gone to the top of the Billboard. I would expect 'Blackout' to remain the only blemish on Britney's sales history. Although I am yet to hear the rest of the album, and the novelty of 'Womanizer' has already worn off, you can expect me to be one of the first with the full review of Britney Spears' Circus. 'Tracks

• 01, WOMANIZER (3.43) - 2 STARS
• I know what you are. What you are, baby.

http://cd.ciao.co.uk/Womanizer_Britney_Spears__Review_5792715For my full take on the first single to be taken from 'Circus', visit the above link. If you're looking for 'Womanizer' in a nutshell, it shall forever be known as Britney's comeback single that gave her career its first Billboard #1 in over a decade. Whilst at first it seemed like your usual infectuous Britney Spears track, its repetitiveness soon went on to be the downfall of the track. I can understand why they thought that beginning the album with this track that shall be familiar to her fanbase would be a good idea.

• 02, CIRCUS (3.12) - 3 STARS
• Spotlight on me and I'm ready to break.

I've got to admit that I'm not as crazy about 'Circus' as I was when I first heard it. Thankfully, the track does seem a bit more chilled out than the track previous, although it does still have that same fighting in the lyrics. I can understand why Britney named the album what she did, but this namesake doesn't seem to have much of a purpose except to imagine Britney pacing around infront of a circus audience, playing the role of the ringleader. As I mentioned when I first heard the track, there are aspects of the song that are made for a club remix. I expect when this track is released as the second single, those remixes shall follow suit.

• 03, OUT FROM UNDER (3.54) - 2 STARS
• I don't want to feel the pain. What good will it do me now?

Now we have been introduced to the album, it seems as though 'Out From Under' comes at exactly the right time to stop everyone drawing comparisons between this album and her 2007 effort. This ballad stops any momentum the album was building in the dance genre, although unfortunately it also reminds us just how much of an average singer Britney is. The track has been produced by Guy Sigworth, the same guy who was behind 'Everytime' and 'Someday (I Will Understand)' yet the track pales in comparison.

• 04, KILL THE LIGHTS (3.59) - 4 STARS
• Mr Photographer. I think I'm ready for my close-up.

With the break from the album being so loud and in your face, its a perfect time for Britney to try her hand at a more R&B track, and for 'Kill The Lights' she works with the same team that were behind 'Gimme More' (which was her best track from 'Blackout'). Although there is not one outstanding moment on the track, it is a more grown up sound that makes everything previous sound like the bubble gum pop she produced in the early Noughties.

• 05, SHATTERED GLASS (2.53) - 4 STARS
• Was it really worth it? Was she everything that you were looking for?

This is the first track on the full version of the album that I haven't gone into with preconceptions due to the previews I have heard over the past few weeks. 'Shattered Glass' has came as one of the biggest surprises, as although short in length seems to be one of the most exciting efforts. There is a mixture of the more refined sound we heard on 'Lights' previously, yet it brings into play that 'Womanizer' attitude that set the tone for the album at the very beginning. If you love the way that Britney sings the word 'glass' as much as me, you're likely to be enjoying this album so much at this point that you will have completely forgotten Britney even brought out an album just twelve months ago. Because the sounds sure don't sound alike.

• 06, IF U SEEK AMY (3.37) - 4 STARS
• Have you seen Amy tonight? Is she in the bathroom?

'If U Seek Amy' has now had its crown stolen as my favourite track on the album, although the nostalgia aspect of Britney singing 'Oh baby, baby' at the beginning does slightly make me question my decision. As I said in the preview, Britney is singing in code for her younger fans, yet for those that have grown up listening to Britney her message shall be as clear as day. Lets just hope her next album doesn't feature the hit track, 'C U Next Tuesday'.

• 07, UNUSUAL YOU (4.23) - 4 STARS
• Didn't anyone tell you, you're supposed to break my heart.

As far as ballads go, so far the album has been slightly disappointing. 'Unusual You' on the other hand brings together the combination of dance as well as Britney pouring out her heart. I am unsure how to sum up just how great this song is, although I will tell you that Avant -- the guy who produced 'Toxic' and 'Piece of Me' -- is behind the effort. But it's completely different to those tracks, so it doesn't really give you much of an idea. Sorry.

• 08, BLUR (3.09) - 4 STARS
• Turn the lights out. This sh*t is way too f***ing bright.

'Blur' is the last of the tracks on the album produced by Danja, and it is immediately clear who is behind the track when you listen to the lyrics. There are certain teams that Britney seems to work with where she is free to express how she truly feels, rather than when she is restricted by the teams she works with to create what do end up being her biggest hits. When listening to the track, that describes the night previously being a blur, it reminds me of all those headlines we saw when she was out hitting the town with Paris Hilton -- flashing herself as she got out of low cars in high dresses. Not her greatest image.

• 09, MMM PAPI (3.22) - 2 STARS
• Things get rough and there's no doubt. You will always be there for me.

There are certain song titles I hear, and I automatically don't give the track any hope. 'Mmm Papi' was one of these, and thankfully that meant I wasn't too disappointed. The track is the first time on the entire project that I have felt slightly let down, and is a totally different league to the past five tracks that had been consistantly good. The track is more of that bubblegum I was talking about, and I wonder if the lyrics have any connection to when her father took control of her estate as she suffered a breakdown in the midst of her custody war with K-Fed. I think this track could perhaps be the proof of a reconcilliation with her family, and a modern day 'Papa Don't Preach'. On the plus side, at least this track sounds as though she means what she says.

• 10, MANNEQUIN (4.06) - 1 STAR
• Many face like a mannequin. Watch me. Watch me. Watch me.

When you look at the track listing, there is actually a lot of track titles that I didn't have much hope for. I guess this is another case of Beyonce-syndrome, who had a lot of strangely titled tracks on her latest album. 'Mannequin' is produced by a team that has never had any major success, and I do not know what they are doing on this project.

• 11, LACE AND LEATHER (2.48) - 3 STARS
• Heels six-inch. Makes a boy want to bite his lip.

This is the final track on the album produced by those behind 'Circus' and 'Shattered Glass', which are two of the shining moments of the entire album. 'Lace & Leather' does not disappoint too much when you take this into account, however I do not thnik it helps that it comes at a point on the album where things appear to be drifting off a bit. With lyrics about cotton candy kisses, it does feel as though this track has been stripped straight off Katy Perry's album.

• 12, MY BABY (3.20) - 1 STAR
• Tiny hands. Yes that's you.

Closing out the album is Britney's tribute to her two children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Although some maybe able to use the track to relate to other situations, I feel that Britney would have been better off not sharing this track with us, however beautiful it may sound to her. Bonus

• 13, Radar (3.49), 4*
• 14, Rock Me In (3.17), 2*
• 15, Phonography (3.35), 3*
• 16, Quicksand (4.05), 2*
• 17, Amnesia (3.57), 4*
• 18, Trouble (3.35), 4*
• 19, Rock Boy (3.22), 3*

Depending on which country you live in, there is a variety of bonus tracks on offer to the listener. 'Radar' is a slightly altered version of the track that featured on Britney's last album, although I feel the decision to include it again was likely taken due to it originally being planned as a single. It doesn't sound as fresh as it did twelve months ago however. 'Rock Me In' is slightly fun, but everyone knows the closest Britney has ever came to heavy metal is her 'I Love Rock'n'Roll' cover. 'Phonography' reminds me eerily of Beyonce again, who's latest album had a track titled 'Camera Phone'. Britney is oddly actually very sincere, and probably the dirtiest her lyrics have ever gotten. Lets face it, lyrically she has always been quite innocent. 'Quicksand' took me surprise when the track was actually a slow pace, and not the really fast affair I was expecting. 'Amnesia' should have made it on to the full album, but I feel it was likely left out due to the content being similar to 'Blur'. I think this is likely to be the surprise hit of the 'Circus' project, even if the production does make her sound like Gwen Stefani. "I forgot my name, I forgot my telephone number." At the start of 'Trouble' I thought I must be listening to the wrong track, as it sounds like something straight out of the clubs at Ibiza. With the exception of 'Womanizer', Britney has done quite a good job at staying away from the special vocoder effects that are becoming ever so popular for sings. With 'Trouble' she seems to decide that effects are a good route to go down, and comes out sounding like Cassie. This is another track that should have clearly made the album though, although isn't as good as 'Amnesia'. They are completely different sounding tracks. 'Rock Boy' completes the set of bonus tracks, Britney could have made a whole new album with these.

What is the final verdict?'

Surprisingly, I am not as disappointed as I thought I would be that Britney Spears once again delivers an album that doesn't really fit her into one genre but loads of little ones. Whilst I am not crazy about everything on 'Circus', I have to admit that it is so much better than her 2007 effort. If she can create an album of this quality when she is not even 100% fit, I hate to think what [the production team behind] Britney can do when she is at full fitness. I am a little concerned with her from a personal standpoint though, with her apparently feeling more trapped than ever -- a comment that she has reportedly made very recently. Could her return all be a front, and we are just setting ourselves up for another fall, and ultimately another comeback in 2009?

'Womanizer' was a bit of a red herring really, in that nothing else on the album sounds remotely close to it. Most of what is on the album is a lot better. I am a little disappointed that I didn't get to reward any track with a five-star rating, but on it's day there are a lot of tracks that deserve that rating. 'Circus' is without a doubt one of the best albums of the year, and clearly THE artist of the year by a solo female artist. Beyonce's new album was dull, and whilst Mariah Carey's new album had a lot more of an R&B infulence, it was all too similar to her previous effort. I would recommend that everyone goes out and buys 'Circus' upon its release. 

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