So I let the album sink in a bit (and the initial disappointment wear off), and I've come to the conclusion that Britney Jean isn't a bad album. However, it is no where near being a standout in her discography
The worst thing about the album is it lacks any truly standout moments. Also, like others have said, it doesn't have that special 'oomph' that makes a Britney album feel like a Britney album. In my opinion, with better sequencing and switching a few tracks on the standard and the deluxe (namely replacing all of the borderline filler tracks like "Body Ache" and "Don't Cry" with all the tracks on the deluxe), the album would've flowed much better..
- Work Bitch is still the best song on the album It's unfortunate it flopped because it may be up there with some of Brit's best singles in a few years time.
- Alien is another highlight, and a definite future single choice! Love the mid-tempo, mysterious vibe it gives me.
- Tik Tik Boom is another future single choice, although it can be kinda annoying and skippable to me at times. Still.. I really like the urban vibe of it, and her ad-libs and T.I.'s verse are Could definitely see this bringing Brit more urban airplay if released as a single, a la DWUW for Gaga.
- Surprisingly, It Should Be Easy is my favorite track, and the best uptempo on the album (other than Work Bitch and Now That I Found You on the deluxe) by a long shot. The production and song itself have the 'catchiness' factor that the other uptempos on the album seem to lack. The unfortunate case with this one being the uptempo with the most hit potential is that will.i.am had to do the absolute most with the vocoder effect on Britney vocals. I don't mind it that much (I hope there is some good explanation as to why will made Brit into Robotney ), but if it was ever released as a single, Britney would get TORE DOWNEEE by the general public saying she had to "use autotune to mask the fact that she can't sing" ...*le sigh* What a unfortunate case for this one
- Passenger is cute with good vocals. Also, the intro on it is pretty cool. That's all I have to say about that one..
- Another surprise to me, I actually really like Chillin' With You and it's probably my favorite along with ISBE It's a cute little ditty between Brit and Jamie Lynn that gives me 'urban BOMT album' teas However, this song should never see the light of day as a single. It'd be just as tragic as Brit releasing Soda Pop as a single from BOMT Still this country bumpkin BOP is my guilty pleasure
All in all..
Standouts
1. Work Bitch
2. It Should Be Easy
3. Now That I Found You or Chillin' With You
Borderline-Fillers
1. Body Ache (so disappointed with this one
)
2. Don't Cry
3. Tik Tik Boom (not really a filler, I just don't like it much
)