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album review
With its title, Circus nods knowingly at the madhouse that is Britney Spears' life, acknowledging that things got a little rough after the release of 2007's Blackout. It's no secret that Blackout's launch didn't go as planned: the furor surrounding her stumbling VMA lip-sync of "Gimme More" was eclipsed by her institutionalization -- a drama played out live on TV, as so much of her life is -- and the loss of custody of her two young boys to ex-husband Kevin Federline, all of which pushed Blackout far, far to the background. Britney herself didn't exactly seem engaged on Blackout -- it was a club album, a producer's showcase, so it didn't matter if Spears didn't give herself over completely as the behind-the-boards team carried her through. That distance combined with her troubles did give Britney the appearance of losing control completely, and the best way for a pop star to right herself is through image -- hence Circus, a friendly remake of the hedonistic Blackout that posits that all is better with Brit-Brit now, thank you. If Blackout was a producers' album, Circus is a handlers' album, intent on sweeping away any recent unpleasantness -- the only acknowledgement is that title -- and acting like nothing ever happened, imagining that this is still a world where Britney remains envied and desired, where she can be dolled up as a gauzy Farrah Fawcett pinup on her album cover, where she can sing a drippy ballad about "My Baby" and have nobody raise an eyebrow. She can get away with the former with a bit more ease than the latter if only because all the time, effort, and money is poured into the club tracks, such as the thumping, stuttering first single "Womanizer" and its better, the relentless "Kill the Lights," so sleek and sexy it winds up diminishing the rest of the record.
"Kill the Lights" may be exceptional, one of Britney's best-ever singles, but it also doesn't have much competition here: it's one of a handful of tracks that follow through on Blackout, while the rest of Circus plays it safe, never hitting the beats hard enough to alienate a pop audience but perhaps layering on a bit too much saccharine for dance fans. It's careful and considered, right down to the single-entendre "If U Seek Amy," a Katy Perry-styled exercise in crass commercial carnality that is at once the best and worst song here. Best because Max Martin once again works his undeniable pop magic, turning this into a trashy stomper that feels inevitable and eternal, working against any sense of taste or decorum, something that the lyrics work overtime to undercut as they insist that all the boys and all the girls still want to F, U...well, spell it and you'll get the picture, and if you don't, Britney's elocution will paint it for you. This sexy strut doesn't work not because Spears' desirability took a nosedive in the five years since In the Zone -- although it did -- but because Britney's sexiness never was this explicit; she teased and hinted, at least in her music, and it feels wrong to have her be so nakedly vulgar here. Still, it was a necessary move, a way to stir up headlines and perhaps snatch the tabloid tiara from Katy's head, but the rest of the record doesn't follow through as it resorts Spears' standard formula: a couple of great dance singles, a couple of pretty good chill-out cuts (best being Bloodshy & Avant's "Unusual You"), a couple of not-good-at-all ballads, and a whole bunch of stuff in the middle. If she feels marginally more connected here than she did on Blackout, it's a Pyrrhic victory, as Circus never feels as sleek or addictive as its predecessor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
"Kill the Lights" may be exceptional, one of Britney's best-ever singles, but it also doesn't have much competition here: it's one of a handful of tracks that follow through on Blackout, while the rest of Circus plays it safe, never hitting the beats hard enough to alienate a pop audience but perhaps layering on a bit too much saccharine for dance fans. It's careful and considered, right down to the single-entendre "If U Seek Amy," a Katy Perry-styled exercise in crass commercial carnality that is at once the best and worst song here. Best because Max Martin once again works his undeniable pop magic, turning this into a trashy stomper that feels inevitable and eternal, working against any sense of taste or decorum, something that the lyrics work overtime to undercut as they insist that all the boys and all the girls still want to F, U...well, spell it and you'll get the picture, and if you don't, Britney's elocution will paint it for you. This sexy strut doesn't work not because Spears' desirability took a nosedive in the five years since In the Zone -- although it did -- but because Britney's sexiness never was this explicit; she teased and hinted, at least in her music, and it feels wrong to have her be so nakedly vulgar here. Still, it was a necessary move, a way to stir up headlines and perhaps snatch the tabloid tiara from Katy's head, but the rest of the record doesn't follow through as it resorts Spears' standard formula: a couple of great dance singles, a couple of pretty good chill-out cuts (best being Bloodshy & Avant's "Unusual You"), a couple of not-good-at-all ballads, and a whole bunch of stuff in the middle. If she feels marginally more connected here than she did on Blackout, it's a Pyrrhic victory, as Circus never feels as sleek or addictive as its predecessor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- Blackout
- Released 2007
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- Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
- Released 2004
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- Circus (Deluxe Version)
- Released 2009
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- ...Baby One More Time
- Released 1999
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listener reviews
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The simple things...
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- By donjigga
- 6/11/2009 20:13:40
- There are a literally a handful of things in life simpler than 'Britney's' "Circus"...and while some good, even great things are sometimes simple (i.e. The paper clip), the reverse is seldom true. Budding artists take note: 'Circus' is what happens when one is excessively fascinated by their own reflection. Stripped of all the production and promotion, the vestigial remnants of circus is nothing but the whine of an aging 'has-been'.
- 2 out of 4 people
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Britney is coming back
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- By Anub1s Menph1s
- 3/19/2009 01:20:33
- This new cd, let us know that she still got the talent, and I hope she continues going on.
- 3 out of 5 people
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Great album
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- By flautist8
- 3/14/2009 23:03:37
- I really enjoy this one, some really great dance tracks. Along with Blackout, I think this is one of her best ones. :)
- 2 out of 4 people
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Unusual You!!! PERFECT!!!
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- By VictorHugo444
- 3/9/2009 18:53:26
- I Really Love Her New Album and "Unusual You" Is Such An Awesome Song!
~~Victor Hugo~~ - 2 out of 4 people
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better
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- By Glitter Outlaw
- 2/5/2009 21:15:05
- so much better then Crappy Blackout.Britney stick to the good stuff lol.
if your songs get made into club songs that ok but dont TRY and make a club record.Stick to stuff like your old stuff and Circus. - 2 out of 5 people
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Brit's Back on Top
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- By feltom22
- 12/26/2008 22:26:52
- This Albums a great comeback album. All the songs are great to listen to. The albums a great buy. Britney's back on top with Circus and Blackout, Two Great albums. If anyone had any questions about how the rest of her career would turn out or if Britney was back for good in the music business I think these albums answered it
- 4 out of 6 people
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YEA BABY
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- By missjaimie05
- 12/25/2008 16:24:39
- this cd is HOTT..love it
- 4 out of 8 people
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Britney's Back
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- By jahmee72990
- 12/21/2008 02:12:12
- Best album by her so far. Every song can be a single.
- 4 out of 7 people
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Platinum Baby.
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- By ExhaleBreathe
- 12/20/2008 04:15:11
- This album will definitely go Platinum by the end of 2008. It's sold 900k at this point, and that's one hell of a Comeback!
Gratz Britney! - 5 out of 7 people
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Best Britney Album
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- By bignick874
- 12/8/2008 05:00:42
- Its so cool love it its diverse and u cant get bored cant wait for the show!
- 4 out of 6 people
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- 1 - 10 / 11
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