Blackout

Britney Spears

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 30, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 30, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jive Records
• ASIN: B000WQ9UA8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (413 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,010 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
She may be bald, and her parenting skills may be more backwoods than the celebrity-obsessed would prefer, but when it comes to her profession (singing pop songs, for those who have forgotten) you've got to give Brit a break. Not because her previous records have been flawless--for all its first-listen appeal, Oops! I Did It Again will drive even the most tolerant pop fiend bats after two repeats, and it's hard for long-term fans to overlook the unfortunate "I Love Rock N Roll" off 2001's Britney--but because, despite all the personal tumult, she's feeling the music like never before. Blackout is not a brilliant record for its vocals, though they're good in the cooing, sex-kittenish way we've come to expect (check first single "Gimme More," a monstrously catchy dance-pop number, for the requisite moans and sighs). But it is brilliant. And though the Neptunes, Bloodshy & Avant, and Nate "Danja" Hills do their trippy, thumpy, raved-up thing successfully enough to make you think so, the brilliance isn't in the production only. The crackling "Radar" gets under your skin not just because of its club-ready beat, a familiar element on this disc, but also from Britney's deliberate vocal haze; here she is interpreting how she ought to sound against the heat of this track, and pretty skillfully--she goes for pure vibe, and she gets it. And while the words to the seemingly autobiographical "Piece of Me" are enough to pull you in themselves--here we get to hear Britney refer to herself as "Miss Bad Media Karma"--they get a little something extra from our girl's newly awakened sense of what makes a song flow; she has the good sense to squeal. Is she a credible role model? Certainly not. Is her music worth hitting, as the old song goes, one more time? Absolutely. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description
Japanese pressing of the 2007 release from the outrageous Pop diva features four bonus tracks: 'Outta This World', 'Everybody', 'Get Back' and 'Gimme More' (Paul Oakenfold Remix). Britney has earned every global award possible, made every major TV appearance, appeared on every magazine cover and truly defines Pop stardom. After an absence of four years, she is back doing what she does best...making great Pop music. Oh, and she's pretty controversial, too! Features 16 new Britney boombastic bombshells including the first single 'Gimme More'. Jive. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Britney's done it again!, October 30, 2007

By	Dan :) - See all my reviews

As a huge Britney fan, I waited a very long time for her to release a new CD, and I have to say that the wait was well worth it. "Blackout" is just as good as any other record by Britney (even when I do think that there will never be a CD as good as "In the Zone").

Every single song has a great beat and amazing lyrics, and I couldn't find a single song in the whole cd that I disliked. All of them are simply great! I specially liked the songs "Piece of Me", "Radar", "Break the Ice" and "Ooh Ooh Baby".

I also noticed, while listening to it, that "Blackout" is pretty much about 'going back like nothing happened'; Britney is trying to show us with this record that she is the same amazing performer she was a few years ago even with all the scandal that has been going around her lately, and that parenthood doesn't stop her from still being sexy and sing about anything she wants to, just like she says in the song "Piece of Me": 'I can't see no harm in working and being a mama'

So I'd just like to recommend this CD to everyone so that you all go and buy it, and please don't listen to anyone who says that this is a bad CD, because that's not true, this is some of Britney's best work and anyone who liked her previous cd's will not be disappointed.

And, well, what else can I say?... (as Britney says herself in the first song of the CD): "It's Britney, b!tch"

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprise, it's rather good!, November 3, 2007

By	Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I've never owned any album by Britney Spears, and had downloaded the odd track I liked in the past; "Toxic" and "Slave 4 u", and things would have stayed pretty much that way, if I hadn't read rave reviews from critics whose opinion I respect. I decided to give it a try, and surprise, I quite like it.

Yes, it may be largely down to the assembled team of super producers, and their studio trickery (it features quite a bit of vocoder and vocal distortion), rather than Ms Spears' vocal prowess, but the result is rather pleasant, and guaranteed to get your feet moving.

Opening is the smash hit single "Gimme more", a bouncy synth driven song with a technoi-ish sound in the chorus, and those famous opening words, "It's Britney b***". It is so catchy, I keep listening to it over and over.

Other standouts are "Ooh ooh baby" (nice guitars) which is vaguely remniscent of "Toxic", the quirky Pharrell penned/produced "Why should I be sad", which is the closest thing to a ballad, "Get naked (I got a plan)", and the brilliant eurodisco stomper "Heaven on earth" which would make Giorgio Moroder smile.

Some of the lyrics attempt to touch on parts on her life; "Piece of me" deals with the media obsession with her, "I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous / You want a piece of me / I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's Shameless / You want a piece of me / I'm Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in / You want a piece of me", while on the skeletal marching groove of the Gwen Stefani-ish "Toy soldiers" she seems to diss her ex, stating that "This time she needs a real soldier, and she's sick and tired of toy soldiers" (in a cartoon-ish voice).

If she keeps releasing music this good, she just might succeed in blacking out all the negative press! A fun record which succeeds.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, I'm not feeling it. , November 15, 2007

By	Shyla "Shyla" (MT) - See all my reviews

People have been talking like this CD is Mozart.

All the songs sound very much the same, and have a similar beat all-around. All the songs sound like they could be part of one long on-going club mix. By Britney's normal standards, I guess it's a little better than usual, but next to the likes of other artists, Blackout is weak.

No vocals, as usual. Electronic phony garbage for the music, with KIND OF a catchy beat.

Depends what you like, I guess. I much prefer vocals, a REAL drum kit, some real SOUL.

I don't think enough attention is paid to the Amy Winehouse's and Christina Aguilera's of the world.

Sales speak louder than words. Overall, this album is No Big Deal. It's the kind of album, that you download. I cannot see spending hard-earned cash for this stuff. She didn't even write most of the songs.