Britney Spears - Blackout

I wouldn't describe "Toxic" as overstuffed...I've always heard it as one clever idea. You have these three different cinematic string sounds (the psycho murder scene, the barren saloon showdown, and the sci-fi battle), and each one recalls some sort of physical struggle. That's what Britney's lyrics revolve around, and that's why the song works as well as it does.

I don't get the love for "Toxic" at all...It's like dance-pop produced by John Zorn

Phil has made his disdain for Zorn pretty noisy.

"Which makes me think that the Kylie album will absolutely trounce Blackout (even if the single is a bit rub) and surely no one thinks that will be full of introspective songs about coming to terms with cancer."

Well, Kylie is also on a hot streak (3 great albums and countless good b-sides), while Britney's recent material has been pretty lame. I would not put it past Kylie to pull off a song about coming to terms with cancer.

Surely there will be just one song on the next Kylie album about the cancer - perhaps a duet with Olivia Newton-John?

Britney's last album was slightly better than Kylie's last album FWIW.

to quote alex in nyc: britney spears is incapable of making any music of quality and distinction.

Which is why she has never made any music either. If the people using her as a marionette has made something sounding like Depeche Mode, Human League or Knife it may be worth a listen. It isn't like untalented Britney should be given any credit for it being good if it is though.

OK now it's the worst thread ever.

NOW it's the worst thread ever!?

i think this reviews nails it:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/10/22/2007-10-22_studio_tricks_make_britneys_new_cd_sound.html

even if the headline and byline photo look like something out of the onion

he makes a good point about the weird disconnect between britney's musical image as a in-control master of erotic longing and her celebrity image as off-the-rails sad case

WAIT GUYS GEIR LIKES THE KNIFE

If you think about it too much, it's hard not to see her as that old Saturday Night Live "drunk girl" character, the sad lush pawing men at a party.

iiiiiiiii'm like a biiiiiiiiiird goooooonna fly awaaaaaaaay

Yeah, I think whats interesting about what I've heard is how britney seems to ride the margins. She's more of a texture and an idea than an actual presence. It really sounds like it could have been made in the future without her. Its a really interesting record.

Also its funny how that bassline in Piece of me seems designed for the patented Britney neckswervejerk dance move.

the patented Britney neckswervejerk dance move

?

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/10/22/amd_britney-art.jpg

º_o

taking sides: k-fed vs k-punk

Leaked.

It's awesome.

can I get a witness?

the new single is brilliant.

Is it Piece of me?

No "Gimme More"...sorry it's not "new" I guess.

Alright, I'll confess that I didn't mind "Toxic," but I get the feeling she had as much to do with the greatness of that track as fuckin' I did. Her voice is fucking NOTHING. Her producers deserve the credit on that one.

Piece of Me is fantastic, and does Radar samples Tainted Love -seems risky after Rihanna's S.O.S. but I like Britney's beats better.. I agree with whoever upthread said this had a kind of dirty 80s/Human League vibe. Her songwriters have come out with some pretty fun stuff, probably inspired by the fact that Umbrella was (I heard) offered to Britney and turned down

cor is that danja singing on 'get naked'! what a big hammy old queen.

yes yes yes i'm so excited

have we alread talked about how toxic borrows from an old sample? some old indian song or something

Her problem is not being a money-generating machine since she was a child, her problem is that she's just not that bright. By contrast, Natalie Portman and Jodie Foster, who have been money-generators since they were kids, seem well-adjusted. But then again, their IQs are above 60.

umm

i don't think any of us REALLY know how bright any of those ppl are?

natalie portman has my cell phone number cuz she's comin to a show here soon ;-)

Jodie Foster's just remade Death Wish and is roaming the world doing interviews where she bigs up vigilantes. Real bright.

Jamie Pressly seemed sharp as a tack when she was on Loveline.

hey this is good. smart.

GREAT ALBUM. Developed thoughts later...

can't imagine her doing any promo beyond court appearances.

MTV, the new OiNK?

http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/britney_spears/blackout/

can't imagine her doing any promo beyond court appearances.

-- o-ess, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:57 PM

misread this.

"Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" is one of the best song titles of recent memory.

MTV, the new OiNK?

http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/britney_spears/blackout/

-- StanM, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:58 PM (50 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

you realize that MTV has been streaming new albums on a website feature called "The Leak" for like 3 years now, right?

yep :-)

A pretty impressive list of collaborators, by the way:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_%28Britney_Spears_album%29#Tracklisting

yeah, you'll never see those guys on anyone else's album this year.

(btw haha i love the fact that apparently this album of all robo-albums is the one where t-pain produces but is banned from jumping on the vocoder himself)

No Timbaland? Who's going to do the "baby girl" parts then?

I like "Heaven on Earth"

"Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" is a monster club jam -- it almost sounds like a remix of "Gimme More"

In general though MATT DC OTM about the electrosquelch sound seeming a little 2002. Even if I do like that sound. They all sound like Ewan Pearson has already remixed them.

'toy soldier' is kinda ok with its jaxxy ways

and a well deployed trite pharrell song for a change

otherwise charmless

you are mad this whole album is great.

the album is totally mediocre

Blackout: The Ys of the New Era

HAHAHA

I'm really liking what I'm hearing, but I just really wish that wasn't the actual album cover what with the pink flamingo skirt and Croc Dundee hat. Of course the outfit does seem a perfect depiction of the train wreck that her life is portrayed as. To be honest, I'm really pretty amazed she was able to get in the studio and get something this impressive put together in what was seemingly a pretty short time. Should I not believe the press that all she really does is drink Sbux, be a bad mama, shave her head, drive poorly, and flash her cooch?

The album is her most consistent yet, but there's no real high point, and the sounds/beats are a bit too consistent throughout. I really love Get Naked (I Got A Plan). I suppose the darker, grittier sound is a reflection of her growth as an artist/person (hold your laughter, etc) but I miss unapologetically poppy Britney...Brave New Girl, Cinderella, Bombastic Love. And where's the requisite terrible ballad? That Neptunes song will have to do, I suppose.