Blackout

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Agreeing with Alexis Petridis' Britney review is surprise enough - but I'm even more amazed that the Guardian has devoted an ACTUAL LEADER COLUMN to go on about how good Blackout is!

In fact, even speaking as someone who really likes the record - the Guardian is overstating things a lot: this is really good, up-to-date, dance-pop and it'll appeal to Europeans more than Americans I guess because of that, but it's not an outrageous sideways step for pop or anything. It's no MORE fresh sounding than Madonna's Music or the first Girls Aloud album or Rachel Stevens' second one were when they came out - coherent, consistent, filler-free pop albums have been a regular feature of this decade, if anything Britney's catching onto that a bit late.*

(I don't necessarily want this to be a big Blackout thread tho cos lots of people haven't heard it yet)

*this is unfair - her last one was pretty consistently good but less coherent I think. Anyway Blackout is better.

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I just downloaded the first zipfile Google threw at me which claimed to be Blackout - am getting sent a copy but won't get it until Monday night! But I can't listen to it because of illness, everything sounds underwater right now :( Am really looking forward to it though.

The dance-pop direction might impress USians MORE than Europeans as something they haven't heard done by GA, R Stevens et al for years now. And it's not as if the USA is kneejerk anti-electro sounds - it just takes an artist of sufficient stature (eg Madonna, Kanye; not eg Hilarity) to make them pay attention.

AP's review did make me realise that both Justin and Xtina's last albums, while I enjoyed them at the time, just haven't stood up to repeated listens in the way that Britney's last two have.

How much tabloidy meta humour is there on the album? The more the better for me obv, which is why I luv luv luv 'Hot As Ice'.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Petridis is right basically: it's absolutely all about shagging except for "Piece Of Me" which is a dark electro paranoia song about the paparazzi (self-indulgent but also quite funny).

Funniest title of the year: "Get Naked (I Have A Plan)"

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

I thought it was "Get YOU Naked (I Have A Plan)" but either way yes shared roffles all round. Haven't heard it obv.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I just googled blackout site:zshare.net and lo and behold there it was.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Clearly "Get Naked (I Has A Plan)" would be better!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

There's something v defiantly shameless about someone whose looks have been pilloried for two years and counting devoting an entire album to how hott and sexxxy she is!

[celentari.livejournal.com]

YES! Aside from the pop, this is why I love her, the brazen minx.

(Although I don't love her enough to pay for delivery, thus Amazon cheap-skate rates will see me listening to this no sooner than Wednesday 31st.)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think the angle is more "I really like fucking" than "Look I'm hott and sexy" - I haven't really homed in on the lyrics tho cos they don't leap out at you much and I've only listened twice. I have never been remotely convinced by breathy sexy Britney before though and this is definitely a step up.

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

I do love that title.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Arrg god if anyone compares this negatively to Justin's album I'll be annoyed. Not cos JT's album was bad - it wasn't at all - but compared to Blackout it's so earnest and eager to please.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

OK I have just popped triple the dose of cold medicine and I am listening to it and OMG PIECE OF ME OMG

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

My very favourite thing about Piece Of Me is the noise at the start that sounds like someone strangling a pteranodon.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

fwiw so far (I'm on 'Freakshow' which has a DUBSTEP BASSLINE) I think this album is sonically far more out there than any pop item since 'Die Another Day'...this is incredible.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Maybe I've just been listening to too much shonky electro bloghouse remixes and have deluded myself that all pop sounds like them now!

"Freakshow" is pretty great. The last few tracks slip from my brain a bit so I'm interested in what you make of them.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Haha they've completely re-recorded the 'Hot As Ice' vocal! OK THEY HAD BETTER NOT CENSOR ANY OF HER SWEARS (3!) ON THE CD.

The martial beat on 'Toy Soldiers' is siiiiiick. NU BRITNEY IS ON A MISSION!

Every song so far has had at least one moment where I've gone OMGWTF.

[koganbot]

OK THEY HAD BETTER NOT CENSOR ANY OF HER SWEARS (3!) ON THE CD.

They had better not engage in such fuckery.