:: Britney Spears - Circus

Britney Spears

Her life has showed traces of a graceful trapeze artist, yet also of a tragic clown; never anything in between. Britney‘s very public breakdown was of a starlet succumbing under the spotlight and the paparazzi chomping at her. Such now, that her comeback album is titled 'Circus’ and, as a presentation, contains something refreshing, whimsical, and ironic. It‘s about bringing back mainstream pop. I don't think Britney's fans will be disappointed in this set. There is less candy-pop dance grooves, rather more of an 80s meets 70s inspired set of tunes. Some standouts include 'Lace and Leather’, one of her trademark, pulse racing dance songs that is sure to be part of a dance segment, ‘Mannequin’, one of the really good tracks, though indicating a sense of entrapment with her persona, displays a haunting vocal chorus and looks set to be a club favourite, and ‘Rock Me In’, another likely radio pick with its driving sound. The album could be seen as Britney showing evidence of self-pity. Her torment and strained public standing actually makes the album an interesting listen; to gauge her indifference to the recent past and how she wishes to be convincing. The pop grooves are nimble, the ballads are touching, the electro-pop ambience is modern and the cheeky packaging. Perhaps listeners might be seeking something edgier. But Britney has been through a recent dark past and is aiming for something lighter and theatrical.