Like her life,
her latest album, Blackout, is far from fresh
but never fails to entertain.
Britney Spears's
life might be playing out like a disaster movie, but her
fifth studio album is far from the train wreck folks were
expecting. She certainly doesn't sound like a woman
coming unglued. In fact, despite boasting a plethora
of outside producers and songwriters, Blackout is
startlingly consistent. Almost to a fault. Almost.
"Gimme More," the
album's lead track and first single, sets the template
for what follows. Sleazy keyboards, mechanized hand claps,
and oscillating bass frequencies dominate. Madonna and
Kylie Minogue have already strip-mined '80s nostalgia,
but that doesn't deter Britney and her coconspirators.
Even with help from Nate "Danjahandz" Hills as well
as Bloodshy and Avant (the duo behind "Toxic")
nothing here breaks new ground; with its acoustic guitar
licks and stomping glam-rock rhythm bed, "Ooh Ooh
Baby" is basically a second-rate Goldfrapp knockoff.
And, like most of the record, what it lacks in
mystique it compensates for with myriad sonic hooks,
deployed with the precision of a military -- or
advertising -- campaign.
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 2