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

OK, finished listening to it now

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

That was SENSATIONAL. Well done Britney! Album of year, popstar of year, rockstar of year, media presence of year, person of year. Round of applause!

And now I am going to listen to it all over again.

Re: OK, finished listening to it now

[koganbot]

I think it flags a bit towards the end, though that's hardly a big problem; given that I always end up reordering and choosing what I play from albums. Insomniatic is still easily in my top spot (and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend number two, but I haven't listened in several months). I still don't own the Tisdale - I remember it as very uneven from the AOL listening party back in February, but having two of the great singles of the year certainly puts it in contention, even if she isn't remotely as interesting as Britney. (Depending what they choose next, Britney too could have two of the great singles of the year.) Also, surprisingly good new Veronicas album has just leaked, with only one bad song at the most, though ultimately I'll probably find them too shallow to compete with Britsky or A&A.

Re: OK, finished listening to it now

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

I didn't much care for it on first listen, Piece of Me is fantastic but I can't help but find the whole album a bit one-paced.