Welcome to a new CDS Music Chart review! Today I am reviewing "Britney Jean" by Britney Spears. The album was released on December 3rd, 2013 in the United States. It is set to open with about 150,000 copies, down over 100,000 from the opening of her 7th studio album. The album was preceded by the promotional buzz single "Ooh La La" which failed to chart on CDS Music Chart and peaked at #56 on Billboard's Hot 100. It is not included on the album but serves as the main theme for the animated movie The Smurfs 2. The lead single "Work B**ch" peaked at #6 on CDS Music Chart and #12 on Billboard's Hot 100. The official second single, "Perfume" reached #45 on CDS Music Chart and #76 on Billboard's Hot 100. The deluxe album includes 14 tracks.
Is it really Britney's most personal to date?
1. "Ailen" Britney Spears, William Orbit, Dan Traynor, Ana Diaz, Anthony Preston
One of the best tracks included on the album. Saying that, it Britney repeats the phrase "not alone" too many times and it becomes slightly unbearable. It is not a bad album opener and could possibly be a potential single in the future. When compared to the opening track on Britney's previous album ("Till The World Ends") it falls completely flat, and is a big step downward for her.
2. "Work B**ch" Britney Spears William Adams, Otto Jettman, Sebastian Ingrosso, Anthony Preston, Ruth-Anne Cunningham
I'm not going to lie. Initially I heavily disliked this song. It eventually grew on me and the hook is amazingly addictive but the lyrical content is overly explicit. The bad language isn't needed on this track and makes it feel worse than it needs to be. Overall it was very risky of Britney to release this track but I do firmly believe it is a moderate hit.
3. "Perfume" Sia Furler, William Adams, Chris Braide, Keith Harris
I get a weird mix of emotions while listening to this track. It's a quick departure from the bold sounds included on "Work B**ch" but it is still a good song. The lyrical content doesn't really flow correctly but that is not the real problem. During the post-chorus there is a beep sound that sounds like a smoke alarm. It is extremely annoying and actually bothers me a lot.
4. "It Should Be Easy (feat. will.i.am)" Britney Spears, William Adams, David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Nick Rotteveel, Marcus van Wattum
Wow. This song is essentially "Big Fat Bass Part 2". will.i.am shouldn't be allowed to be a 'singer'. He really is an auto-tuned mess. I actually like this more than "Scream & Shout" but it has way more 'corn syrup' as I put it. By that I mean it is oozing with auto-tune and fake, robotic vocals. The instrumental by David Guetta is pretty solid. It seems like will.i.am is dragging Britney into the land of plastic, previously rejected, over-worked, waste. "I don't know who else to say it".
5. "Tik Tik Boom (feat. T.I.)" Britney Spears, Anthony Preston, Onique “Sparrow” Williams, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., Andre Lindal, Damien LeRoy, Joakim Haukass
Another EDM attempt. Better than the previous attempt but still off. Less auto-tune than "It Should Be Easy (feat. will.i.am)" but it also has problems. It was also a previous reject (Fifth Harmony) and several of the main lines sound extremely inappropriate, especially the line "Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, boom!". It features an unnecessary verse from another rapper, in a similar style to experimental tracks by Katy Perry and Lady Gaga that were released earlier this year ("Dark Horse" and "Jewels and Drugs" respectively).
6. "Body Ache" Britney Spears, David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Luciana Caporaso, Nick Clow, Myah Marie Langston, Anthony Preston, Richard Gonzalez, Jose Luna
A good song but it is compiled of too many elements. The instrumental is essentially a copy of the one included on "Scream & Shout", it includes lyrics similar to some songs included on her 7th studio album (mainly "Trip to Your Heart") and has some other thoughts from many other eras. Kind of a mixed bag. Over produced.
7. "Til It's Gone" Britney Spears, Jenson Vaughan, Rosette Sharma, Anthony Preston, Giorgio Tuinfort, David Guetta, William Adams
Perhaps the best song on the album and the best EDM song on the album. Overproduced but seems like a great track. It fits way better on "Femme Fatale" but may have been included on "Britney Jean" to breathe life into what is a very sad and disaster of an album. A stab at her previous husband and likely the most personal song on the album.
8. "Passanger" Britney Spears, Thomas Pentz, Sia Furler, Andrew Swanson, Katy Perry
Britney tries to deliver strong vocals, but it doesn't really work. She holds several notes that drown into the instrumental implying that she can't actually hold them. It is not as noisy as the past several tracks on the album and is kind of like the dying down of the party seen in the middle of the album. She tried.
9. "Chillin' With You (feat. Jamie Lynn)" Britney Spears, William Adams, Anthony Preston, Joshua Lopez
I was most looking forward to this song when the official track list came out. Unfortunately it is the biggest mess on the album and is completely pointless, dull and just plain terrible. I am completely shocked that this even made the album. Britney is trying WAY TOO HARD. The Jamie Lynn part is bad too (but better than the Britney part) and is just stupid in my opinion. The worst song included on the entire album.
10. "Don't Cry" Britney Spears, William Adams, Joshua Lopez, Richard Gonzalez
Simple and sweet. A good final song (for the regular edition). Not overproduced like most songs on the album and the addition of the whistle is an interesting touch that is nice and personal. Her vocals also sound raw and natural.
11. "Brightest Morning Star" Britney Spears, Lukasz Gottwald, Sia Furler, Henry Walter
A good bonus track. Like the "Diamonds" of the album. Soft and very personal. One of the few tracks that really matches the theme of the album that Britney described. Unfortunately it is only a bonus track. It would have served better as a regular edition track.
12. "Hold On Tight" Britney Spears, Allan P. Grigg
Another soft track that is pure and has an older Britney singing style. A great effort that seems to yet again match the theme of the album. It really helps fill the large whole left in the listener after the regular edition of the album.
13. "Now That I Found You" Britney Spears, Danny O’Donoghue, Giorgio Tuinfort, David Guetta, Frederic Riesterer
Probably the 4th or 5th best song included on the album. The instrumental sounds exactly like "Wake Me Up" by Swedish producer Avicii, which is the biggest downside of the track. Another pop gem that really deserves to be on the regular edition of the album.
14. "Perfume (Dreaming Mix)" Sia Furler, William Adams, Chris Braide, Keith Harris
The 'Dreaming Mix' is not a remix despite the title (typical). It is essentially an even more stripped version of the initial single. It actually is an improvement over the original. It eliminates the awful beep sound and brings in a more interesting instrumental under a slightly more raw vocal. Should replace the original.
Overall Stats and Thoughts
Best Songs: "Perfume (Dreaming Mix)", "Til It's Gone", "Now That I Found You", and "Work B**ch"
Worst Songs: "Chillin' With You (feat. Jamie Lynn)", "It Should Be Easy (feat. will.i.am)", "Tik Tik Boom (feat. T.I.)", and "Perfume"
Thoughts: Scratch will.i.am's phone number from your contacts list. Let listeners listen to your actual voice, not a 'corn syrup' mess. Don't pretend you released a personal album, call it what it actually is: one of your worst to date. Don't copy instrumentals and hope nobody notices! Tell Sia Furler to stop writing about stars! Continue experimental work. Continue with your older styles; its what you are good at and what sells. Don't put your sister on a song and call it 'personal'.
Rating: 5.5/10 (F)
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