I wouldn't describe "Toxic" as overstuffed...I've always heard it as one clever idea. You have these three different cinematic string sounds (the psycho murder scene, the barren saloon showdown, and the sci-fi battle), and each one recalls some sort of physical struggle. That's what Britney's lyrics revolve around, and that's why the song works as well as it does.
― Tape Store, Sunday, 21 October 2007 18:03 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't get the love for "Toxic" at all...It's like dance-pop produced by John Zorn
― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 21 October 2007 18:25 (sixteen years ago) link
Phil has made his disdain for Zorn pretty noisy.
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Sunday, 21 October 2007 20:59 (sixteen years ago) link
"Which makes me think that the Kylie album will absolutely trounce Blackout (even if the single is a bit rub) and surely no one thinks that will be full of introspective songs about coming to terms with cancer."
Well, Kylie is also on a hot streak (3 great albums and countless good b-sides), while Britney's recent material has been pretty lame. I would not put it past Kylie to pull off a song about coming to terms with cancer.
― Matt Armstrong, Sunday, 21 October 2007 23:54 (sixteen years ago) link
Surely there will be just one song on the next Kylie album about the cancer - perhaps a duet with Olivia Newton-John?
Britney's last album was slightly better than Kylie's last album FWIW.
― Tim F, Monday, 22 October 2007 00:11 (sixteen years ago) link
to quote alex in nyc: britney spears is incapable of making any music of quality and distinction.
Which is why she has never made any music either. If the people using her as a marionette has made something sounding like Depeche Mode, Human League or Knife it may be worth a listen. It isn't like untalented Britney should be given any credit for it being good if it is though.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 22 October 2007 10:22 (sixteen years ago) link
OK now it's the worst thread ever.
― Matt DC, Monday, 22 October 2007 10:26 (sixteen years ago) link
NOW it's the worst thread ever!?
― I know, right?, Monday, 22 October 2007 11:39 (sixteen years ago) link
i think this reviews nails it:
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/10/22/2007-10-22_studio_tricks_make_britneys_new_cd_sound.html
even if the headline and byline photo look like something out of the onion
he makes a good point about the weird disconnect between britney's musical image as a in-control master of erotic longing and her celebrity image as off-the-rails sad case
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 22 October 2007 12:41 (sixteen years ago) link
WAIT GUYS GEIR LIKES THE KNIFE
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 22 October 2007 15:42 (sixteen years ago) link
If you think about it too much, it's hard not to see her as that old Saturday Night Live "drunk girl" character, the sad lush pawing men at a party.
iiiiiiiii'm like a biiiiiiiiiird goooooonna fly awaaaaaaaay
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 22 October 2007 15:45 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, I think whats interesting about what I've heard is how britney seems to ride the margins. She's more of a texture and an idea than an actual presence. It really sounds like it could have been made in the future without her. Its a really interesting record.
― I know, right?, Monday, 22 October 2007 16:11 (sixteen years ago) link
Also its funny how that bassline in Piece of me seems designed for the patented Britney neckswervejerk dance move.
― I know, right?, Monday, 22 October 2007 16:14 (sixteen years ago) link
the patented Britney neckswervejerk dance move
?
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 22 October 2007 16:34 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/10/22/amd_britney-art.jpg
ยบ_o
― r|t|c, Monday, 22 October 2007 17:06 (sixteen years ago) link
taking sides: k-fed vs k-punk
― r|t|c, Monday, 22 October 2007 17:08 (sixteen years ago) link
Leaked.
― Turangalila, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 06:30 (sixteen years ago) link
It's awesome.
― Melissa W, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 06:40 (sixteen years ago) link
can I get a witness?
― Turangalila, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 07:44 (sixteen years ago) link
the new single is brilliant.
― Ronan, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 10:44 (sixteen years ago) link
Is it Piece of me?
― I know, right?, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 11:22 (sixteen years ago) link
No "Gimme More"...sorry it's not "new" I guess.
― Ronan, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 11:51 (sixteen years ago) link
Alright, I'll confess that I didn't mind "Toxic," but I get the feeling she had as much to do with the greatness of that track as fuckin' I did. Her voice is fucking NOTHING. Her producers deserve the credit on that one.
― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 13:52 (sixteen years ago) link
Piece of Me is fantastic, and does Radar samples Tainted Love -seems risky after Rihanna's S.O.S. but I like Britney's beats better.. I agree with whoever upthread said this had a kind of dirty 80s/Human League vibe. Her songwriters have come out with some pretty fun stuff, probably inspired by the fact that Umbrella was (I heard) offered to Britney and turned down
― Finefinemusic, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 14:17 (sixteen years ago) link
cor is that danja singing on 'get naked'! what a big hammy old queen.
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 17:33 (sixteen years ago) link
yes yes yes i'm so excited
have we alread talked about how toxic borrows from an old sample? some old indian song or something
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 17:43 (sixteen years ago) link
Her problem is not being a money-generating machine since she was a child, her problem is that she's just not that bright. By contrast, Natalie Portman and Jodie Foster, who have been money-generators since they were kids, seem well-adjusted. But then again, their IQs are above 60.
― dally, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 17:47 (sixteen years ago) link
umm
i don't think any of us REALLY know how bright any of those ppl are?
natalie portman has my cell phone number cuz she's comin to a show here soon ;-)
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Jodie Foster's just remade Death Wish and is roaming the world doing interviews where she bigs up vigilantes. Real bright.
― Noodle Vague, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 17:55 (sixteen years ago) link
Jamie Pressly seemed sharp as a tack when she was on Loveline.
― Eazy, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 18:16 (sixteen years ago) link
hey this is good. smart.
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:42 (sixteen years ago) link
GREAT ALBUM. Developed thoughts later...
― Tape Store, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:58 (sixteen years ago) link
can't imagine her doing any promo beyond court appearances.
― o-ess, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 16:57 (sixteen years ago) link
MTV, the new OiNK?
http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/britney_spears/blackout/
― StanM, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 16:58 (sixteen years ago) link
-- o-ess, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:57 PM
misread this.
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:20 (sixteen years ago) link
"Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" is one of the best song titles of recent memory.
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:47 (sixteen years ago) link
-- StanM, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:58 PM (50 minutes ago) Bookmark Link
you realize that MTV has been streaming new albums on a website feature called "The Leak" for like 3 years now, right?
― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
yep :-)
A pretty impressive list of collaborators, by the way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_%28Britney_Spears_album%29#Tracklisting
― StanM, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:54 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah, you'll never see those guys on anyone else's album this year.
(btw haha i love the fact that apparently this album of all robo-albums is the one where t-pain produces but is banned from jumping on the vocoder himself)
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 18:07 (sixteen years ago) link
No Timbaland? Who's going to do the "baby girl" parts then?
― StanM, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 18:14 (sixteen years ago) link
I like "Heaven on Earth"
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 22:15 (sixteen years ago) link
"Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" is a monster club jam -- it almost sounds like a remix of "Gimme More"
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 22:17 (sixteen years ago) link
In general though MATT DC OTM about the electrosquelch sound seeming a little 2002. Even if I do like that sound. They all sound like Ewan Pearson has already remixed them.
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 22:26 (sixteen years ago) link
'toy soldier' is kinda ok with its jaxxy ways
and a well deployed trite pharrell song for a change
otherwise charmless
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 22:27 (sixteen years ago) link
you are mad this whole album is great.
― The Brainwasher, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 22:42 (sixteen years ago) link
the album is totally mediocre
― Dandy Don Weiner, Thursday, 25 October 2007 00:41 (sixteen years ago) link
Blackout: The Ys of the New Era
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Thursday, 25 October 2007 01:21 (sixteen years ago) link
HAHAHA
― Turangalila, Thursday, 25 October 2007 02:04 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm really liking what I'm hearing, but I just really wish that wasn't the actual album cover what with the pink flamingo skirt and Croc Dundee hat. Of course the outfit does seem a perfect depiction of the train wreck that her life is portrayed as. To be honest, I'm really pretty amazed she was able to get in the studio and get something this impressive put together in what was seemingly a pretty short time. Should I not believe the press that all she really does is drink Sbux, be a bad mama, shave her head, drive poorly, and flash her cooch?
― matt2, Thursday, 25 October 2007 02:50 (sixteen years ago) link
The album is her most consistent yet, but there's no real high point, and the sounds/beats are a bit too consistent throughout. I really love Get Naked (I Got A Plan). I suppose the darker, grittier sound is a reflection of her growth as an artist/person (hold your laughter, etc) but I miss unapologetically poppy Britney...Brave New Girl, Cinderella, Bombastic Love. And where's the requisite terrible ballad? That Neptunes song will have to do, I suppose.
― musically, Thursday, 25 October 2007 03:58 (sixteen years ago) link