From the
outside looking in, it’s easy to assume that “Circus” is a back-to-the-basics
move of sorts. After a critical and commercial stumble with 2007’s “Blackout”,
it looks like Britney Spears is returning to the breezy teen pop that made her
a star. She’s traded in the gaudy dark hair for her signature blonde waves, and
while the cover of “Blackout” looked like a girl ready to cut loose and dance
dirty, we now see a perfectly poised Britney on the cover of “Circus”,
indicating that everything’s just fine with her now, thank you. Although, it’s
hard to believe considering earlier this year she was still making headlines
after losing her two kids. Releasing an album so quickly after this event would
also make one assume that it was rushed in the fourth quarter of 2008 not only
to recover her faltering sales, but to make the public completely forget that
just a year ago, she was marching on the VMA stage completely disconnected and
drained of all energy. All of these factors set “Circus” up to fail; which is a
major problem considering that it has to do what “Blackout” didn’t: create a solid
comeback.
However,
out of all the preceding assumptions, you’d be wrong in pretty much all of them
because in actuality, “Circus” is an improvement over its predecessor. Just
look at the lead single, “Womanizer”. It became her biggest hit in nine years
and its music video showed a Britney filled with confidence and sex appeal, two
qualities that she’s been horribly lacking since “In the Zone”. It’s not
surprising, though, it’s dance-pop blend is her standard, safe formula, so she’s
very comfortable delivering it in a way that makes you overlook her recent
personal strife. And in essence, that’s what “Circus” really is: it’s not
nearly as wild and as effervescent as it should be, but it’s material that
Britney knows how to perform. Best of
all, she might be returning to her safer, more personality-free roots, but “Circus”
still doesn’t play it completely safe. Say “If U Seek Amy” real fast, and then
shape it into a pure piece of dance-pop. The title track is another dance track
that sees Britney with a sincere urge to perform like her old self again, while
also inflating her ego a bit. Then there’s “Mmm Papi”, it’s an embarrassment to
be sure, as it creepily re-defines the Elektra complex, but it’s also for that
same reason that it’s an interesting song all the same. “Circus” definitely
works overtime to bring Britney’s sexuality to the forefront and once again
make her the fantasy of all men (and the envy of women) everywhere. But try as
it might, all this innuendo is great for a couple tracks, but becomes very
alienating by the time you reach “My Baby”, another embarrassment that’s among
her worst ballads of all time. Britney’s charisma has always hinged on her
coyly sexual persona, she just teases and hints, but never goes full throttle,
and “Blackout” and now “Circus” explain exactly why. She loses a lot of her
appeal when she bares it all, and since her vocals are still not as convincing
as they should be either, she eventually gets washed up in another producer’s
showcase. “Circus” definitely captures Britney at her best moment in years, but
it still lacks a tangible persona. “Womanizer”, “If U Seek Amy”, “Circus”, and “Lace
and Leather” already make this album one of the best dance-pop records of 2008,
but you can’t help but feel that Britney could’ve taken even more risks and
truly emulate a circus. Unfortunately, after her bizarre behavior of the past
two years, she’s been forced to take the backseat, and she’s basically a part
of the circus that is her life, she’s no longer in charge of it. “Circus” has plenty of good moments to
solidify a true comeback, but it’s victory is a Pyrrhic one, as it’s more of a
collection of singles and so-so filler, rather than a cohesive set.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Womanzier 2.
Circus 3. Out from Under
4. Kill
the Lights 5. Shattered Glass 6.
If U Seek Amy
7.
Unusual You 8. Blur 9. Mmm Papi
10.
Mannequin 11. Lace and Leather 12. My Baby
13. Radar
No comments:
Post a Comment