Review Summary: Britney's 7th album is definiteley her best, because she is finally comfortable being the kind of artist she wants to be.
It may have taken her four records, but 2003's "In the Zone" found Britney Spears coming into her own as a sexy adult that fused dance-pop, urban, and techno to be taken seriously. Although it worked, as it is one of the best Pop albums of the decade, the two follow-ups- the overwhelmingly deep, dark, "Blackout," and the sweet yet unconvincing "Circus" failed to focus on such an artistic vision. Then came "Femme Fatale;" like Madonna, Btritney is a club-pop diva that overindulges on lust, and it works. The opener "Till the World Ends," is electro-pop at its best with simple yet sexy lyrics. Unlike previous albums that blended within themselves, Britney now has enough authority to get a little weird on Femme Fatale. "How I Roll" pops as the electronics mingle with Britney's distorted voice a la Dr. Luke. "I Wanna Go" is arguably the greatest proclaim of hedonism in pop music history. The best tracks have the biggest club beats, like the #1 hit "Hold It Agsinst Me" that climaxes with a cool rave scene from 1997. "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" brings Dubstep music into the Pop mainstream. "Inside Out, "Gasoline" and "Seal It With A Kiss" may not be as strong, but they definitely are not filler. They have the same pop production and electronic dance experimentation to make sure they fit on the album. "Trip To Your Heart" is easily the best song, mixing the sweet bubbly dance-pop style of 1999 (epitomized by Britney) and lyrically exploring every part of a lover's body in a way "Toxic" did not. The album comes to a surprisingly sensitive end with "Criminal", the real-life story of how Britney fell in love with a bad boy, and it's just as sexy as any other track here. Femme Fatale truly is a work of pop perfection, and the best part is, Britney is making fine entertainment no matter what anyone thinks.
