And the positive reviews just keep pouring in

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20153719,00.html

Music Review

Blackout

By Margeaux Watson

The nasty custody battle. The hair-razing meltdown. The trips to rehab. The abysmal VMAs performance. Shall we go on? All of 25-year-old Britney Spears' recent setbacks suggest that her fifth CD, ominously titled Blackout, would fan the flames of her hot mess of a year. Well, brace yourself for the biggest shock yet: Blackout — a collection of well-produced, thoroughly enjoyable dance songs — may just put this once-celebrated pop star back on top.

Spears has always been a performer who's valued image over creative output. It's interesting, then, that periods of introspection — albeit those penned primarily by hired hands — yield Blackout's finest moments. ''Piece of Me,'' produced by Bloodshy & Avant (''Toxic''), is a rump shaker that finds Spears venting: ''I'm Mrs. most likely to get on the TV for slippin' on the street when getting the groceries/Now, for real, are you kidding me?'' Later, on ''Toy Soldier'' — another fiery B&A creation, which echoes the sass and substance of ''Soldier'' by Destiny's Child — she blasts ''weak'' tomcats (like K-Fed?) to the beat of a lively military drumroll.

For the most part, Spears puts up a brave front by relishing her newfound independence. That is, until a chink in her armor appears on the heavy-hearted closer, ''Why Should I Be Sad.'' Produced by the Neptunes and written by Pharrell Williams for Spears, it's a deeply personal, midtempo groove — the closest thing to a ballad on Blackout — that unfolds like an open letter to her babies' daddy. ''I sent you to Vegas with a pocket full of paper and with no ultimatums on you/I thought, What could separate us,'' she sings. ''But it just seemed that Vegas only brought the playa out of you.''

Of course, we know all too well that Spears has a little playa in her, too. So it's no surprise that she flaunts her fondness for late-night carousing on fluffy dance tracks. Take the ubiquitous ''Gimme More'' or the shameless ''Freakshow'' (co-written by Spears), where she coos, ''I'm bout to shake my ass/Snatch that boy so fast/Make dem other bitches mad.'' Her seemingly insatiable libido is likewise the driving force behind Blackout's preponderance of breathy come-ons, such as ''Get Naked (I Got a Plan),'' ''Perfect Lover,'' and ''Ooh Ooh Baby,'' which she also helped to write.

Poetry it's not. Still, there is something delightfully escapist about Blackout, a perfectly serviceable dance album abundant in the kind of bouncy electro elements that buttressed her hottest hits (''I'm a Slave 4 U,'' ''Toxic''). Say what you will about Spears' personal life, but there's no denying that the girl knows how to have a good time. B+

WOOHOO! MORE LOVE FOR BRITNEY!

WOOHOO! MORE LOVE FOR BRITNEY!

So far a majority of the reviews are glowing. I'm ecstatic

wow... b+? damn... u go gurl!!

haters... screw em

Can't wait to download it next week.

Lol Toups, why wait until next week?

Lol Toups, why wait until next week?

I'm waiting for the "official" version. I don't want to d/l any leaked versions (in case it sounds bad). LOL

Lol, I wouldn't talk to you about bad stuff. I've had the HQ Retail version since Monday. So do Shawn, Venus and others thanks to me

i really wanna download... but id rather buy and support brit brit!!

i really wanna download... but id rather buy and support brit brit!!

I pre-ordered mine weeks ago baby!

I'm glad people are realizing it's a strong albuma nd that the production and writing (now that Britney can basically ask for the bestin the business) is so strong. People who complain about her vocals obviously don't get that Britney is an image--it's never been about her voice...

(and ya there's a high quality leake of it that's been VERY easy to find since Monday--for those who liek that kinda thing

That said as far as pop/dance albums of the Fall, my girl Kylie's one next month will run away with the prize

Edited October 25, 200718 yr by EricMontreal22

I miss the days of this:

I just heard the whole album. I give it an F. Gimme More is the best song on there. Oh boy!!

^wow, really?

cuz i feel Gimme More the weak track on the CD.

Rollingstone and People also gave a great review, as did the AP

GM, BTI, Radar and POM are the best songs off the album IMO. The album isn't bad at all it does have it's glitches though, I can't stand "Get Naked" and I think "Perfect Lover" is a pretty generic song but as far as quality, I think this album is awesome. I love almost every track.

She's supposed to sell around 340-350k this week.