Circus - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Squint at the cover of Circus and it's easy to mistake Britney Spears for the flow-haired Jessica Simpson--an indication that the bold come-ons of 2007's Blackout, a commercial success but a critical letdown, may have given way to something softer and prettier. Don’t be fooled. Circus differs from Blackout in a number of ways, the most important being that 1) it keeps its ringmasters--i.e., its producers--in check instead of allowing them to run an overly sleek show, and 2) Brit brings it vocally here in a way she hasn’t since 2003’s In the Zone (check "Kill the Lights," on which she channels her mentor Madonna and the liquid-y "Blur"). Beyond that, Circus is, as its title promises, a Blackout-like spectacle. Which is not to say the songs being made under this particular big top aren't top quality. Those who pine for the pre-trainwreck Britney will warm to the suggestive but not outright slutty "Mmm Papi," and anyone who can't get enough of the embattled publicity magnet will eat up "Womanizer" and the title track. Spears--let's be honest--lacks acrobatic grace, at least under tabloid scrutiny. What's great about Circus is it proves she's still willing to jump through hoops to make likable, stylish music. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description
Circus is the seventh album by Britney Spears. It rolls into town on the heels of an MTV VMA awards sweep, where Britney walked away with three Moonmen awards for 'Video of the Year', 'Best Female' and 'Best Pop Video' for 'Piece Of Me'. Circus is the follow up to her critically well received album, Blackout, just in in time for her 27th birthday. The lead single, 'Womanizer' (produced by the up and coming Atlanta production team The Outsyders) has already created a frenzy amongst Britney fantaics, radio and the media alike-underscoring Britney's continued reign as one of the Queens of Pop.

Customer Reviews: Read 110 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Grab Yourself a Ringside Seat December 2, 2008
31 out of 38 found this review helpful

Last year's "Blackout" was a strong pop record that sold well, peaking at #2 on the Billboard charts and yielding a handful of hit singles. "Circus," therefore, represents more of a personal than musical comeback for Spears.

The good sense to release "Womanizer" - a chugging, energetic slice of guilty pleasure dance/pop with no self-conscious lyrical connection to Spears' personal life - as the lead single for the album - her second #1 single and first of the late 2000s - has certainly paid off.

"Circus" contains many potential smashes, suggesting it may have a shelf life of significant length. The naughty "If U Seek Amy" is all sass and swagger, and the title track percolates and bubbles with hyperactive energy. "Lace and Leather" is spare, sexy sensuality with its downbeat tempo and spacey synths, and "Kill the Lights" is an out-the-ballpark smash with its frothy tempo changes and matter-of-fact, detached vocal delivery.

It may take a few plays for the hooks to settle in, but these are songs are not Disney radio-fodder pop machinizations to be forgotten by next week. These hooks are contagious and, most importantly, completely fun.

Spears again attempts light, melancholy balladry in the vein of "Sometimes" and "Everytime (sp: Every Time)" after last year's "Blackout" was wall-to-wall sexual energy and party jams. "Unusual You" is a new variation on "Everytime" with a cushier, more understated hook that could spell surprise mega-smash, although such could also happen for full-throttle breakup ballad "Out From Under," even if its lyrics lean toward the overly literal. The soft, devotional "My Baby" provides a strong, unexpected conclusion.

Surprisingly, "Circus" is not a pure cotton candy/crackerjack sugar rush. Such a description is truer of "Blackout," which was unpretentious fun from top to bottom. Rather, it is "Circus" that is the more ambitious, mixed record, and, most importantly, it works where it should.

4 out of 5 stars

Britney Makes All The Right Moves On Circus December 2, 2008
19 out of 26 found this review helpful

While Britney Spears has made more than her share of wrong moves personally and publicly, Spears & Company appear to have made all the right ones with "Circus", her sixth studio album. As presentation, performance, videos and visual appeal have always played a major part in the success of the pop music icon, Spears appears in much better shape, both literally and figuratively, to handle and promote this record. The smart moves made by the decision-makers-that-be include:

-Pre-releasing the album in high quality sound online. No worries about crappy-sounding leaks that can give a false, bad impression of the actual product. And, it gives a chance for 'non-fans' like me to hear that this record is surprisingly good. Also, it gets all of the contagious hooks into people's heads so they can't help but buy upon release.

-Taming the content a bit and 'changing things up' with song selection. There isn't anything outlandish here...yes, the special effects are all over the dance tracks as one would expect, but they generally seem to fit well...there are only a couple of songs that are a little over-the-top for me ("Mmm Papi", "Mannequin"). The heavy bass guitar groove on "Lace And Leather" had me hopping, and I generally don't even like Dance-Pop! The song "Circus" is perhaps the best dance track; everything about it works perfectly, and it's a very creative, original song.

But what really makes this album stand out from my perspective is how they change the mood with songs like "Unusual You", "Blur", "Out From Under" and "My Baby"...and the best word I can think of to describe them is 'refreshing'...we haven't heard anything like these from Britney in quite some time, if at all.

I believe that Britney sounds best when using the lower registers of her voice, and we get to hear that on "Blur", and to a lesser extent, "Unusual You". The slower "Out From Under" is eerily beautiful and the type of song I knew should could pull off, which she does convincingly. And while I admit her vocal performance on "My Baby" leaves a bit to be desired, I applaud her for what she's trying to do.

-Having Britney collaborate with the writers more on this album, and bringing back Max Martin (writer of "Baby One More Time") to help 'right the ship'. Whether she's singing to get back at those who seem to find 'pleasure in her pain', or trying to tantalize us with her sex appeal, or attempting to connect with us on an emotional level and tug at our heart-strings, it comes across more genuine and sincere...she sounds invested in these songs; like they're her 'babies'.

"Circus" is the culmination of quite the wild ride for Britney Spears, and by the sound of things, it may have been worth it.

1 out of 5 stars

The Devil Returns!! More Mindless Dreck... December 4, 2008
16 out of 38 found this review helpful

Just when I though the music industry was improving a little - we get this mess. People: Really? Brit. Spears music?? Really??? I was right - Spears is'nt a servant of the Devil, she is the Devil!! Its the only thing that explains this CD. Only the Devil could abuse babies in public, act the fool on camera, publically marry then divorce a loud-mouthed fool, and STILL be able to get another album made! Devillll...

The same screechy,cat-being-buzz-sawed voice. The same bad lyrics. The same laughable PR campaign. She was far more interesting when she went nuts; she probably listened to her own music without ear plugs - that would drive anyone crazy. Why would anyone, including a brain-dead teen, would want to listen to this mess when there are so many good,creative female musicians out there (Feist,Dido,Angela McCluskey,Louise Rhodes,Bjork to name a few)?

Don't encourage this creature to churn out more musical waste products like this. We have enough of this detritus clogging up the music industry.

1 out of 5 stars

THE GREATEST, I MEAN WORST SHOW IN TOWN! December 5, 2008
15 out of 29 found this review helpful

I bought this CD for my sister who has always been a Britney fan, she was so excited I gave it to her before Christmas and we both gave it a listen. I think the looks on our faces said it all. The tracks are heavily synthetic and the voice on pretty much all the songs is electronic. I don't think Britney Spears was ever in the running for best voice of her generation especially with Beyonce and Christina around, but this almost blatantly says "I can't really sing so i'm going to distract you with a computer altered voice and really good beats". You would think after all this time with no real material released and this huge supposed media comeback this CD would be awesome...it's not! It shows no growth, yes it's a part CD that will surely make most true Britney fans happy but once again...no growth. It sounds like the stuff she was doing 5 years ago. There's nothing very personal just heavy beats and a computerized voice. Save your money and don't believe the hype this circus is going down in flames.

1 out of 5 stars

Suzy Creamcheese Returns December 3, 2008
13 out of 32 found this review helpful

I suspect that if I earned my living swinging from a pole this trailer park techno-bash would be a very welcome relief from my usual suspect performance list of Motley Crue and AC/DC. However, since my paycheck is not denominated in dollar bills, all this irritating and irrelevant release really accomplishes is confirming that yes, Virginia, 2008 can get even more depressing.

Circus is staggeringly mindless on every level, offering nothing more than a synthetic download of derivative celebrity confection that is neither interesting or new. While I have little doubt they'll love it in Berlin and Tallahassee, if there was ever a more compelling argument that the music business has officially jumped the shark and is now clinically brain dead, I cordially nominate Ms. Spears Circus Minimus as People's Exhibit Number One.

Finally, isn't there a rule somewhere that the signature talent is actually supposed to perform on the record - between the overdubs and voice alterations there appears to be more spontaneous vibe from the animatronic jam band at Chuck E. Cheese then anything on this horrific waste of time. Junk!

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