Britney Spears - In The Zone
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Music Reviews of In The Zone
Music Review: The Transition and The Downfall
Rating: 4 Stars
In the Zone marks a breakthrough in pop music as the bubblegum pop trend of the late 90s began to transition into electro-hip hop-(bubblegum)-pop. Britney Spears, N'Sync, and Christina Aguilera were all growing up and ready to break out into new areas of the pop landscape.
In the Zone represents Britney Spears transition into adulthood. It's a mistake to think the lyrics would be any less sexualized, this is pop music we are talking about. But Britney has grown as an artist. Her third album, Britney, is a pinnacle of the bubblegum pop movement, one of the most coherent bubblegum albums with minimal filler. For In the Zone, she took a step away from being manufactured by stepping into the executive producer's chair and working with a revolving door of producers from R. Kelly to Moby plus a bevy of lesser known producers popular on the club circuit. The result: Britney expanding her vocal versatility as she explores different pop sounds.
The strongest songs are when she moves towards electro-pop trance. The pairings of Breathe on Me and Touch of My Hand puts her in Kylie Minogue land, and puts her breathy and husky vocals in a context that feels truly artistic. They maximize the potential of her voice. The stripped down ballad, Everytime, dares to put her vocals in a showcase, and it works, revealing an aching vulnerability. Britney never may have had pitch range, but her voice strikes an emotional chord that not even the screaming Aguilera can GENUINELY reach.
The electro-pop reaches its peak with Toxic. The acid violins on that song are now iconic and instantly recognizeble. Even the video, an artistically campy tribute to Jennifer Garner's Alias, is a work of art.
The trifecta of Outrageous, Showdown, and I've Got that (Boom Boom) exemplify pop's infusion with hip hop to abandon its goody goody bubble gum roots. The Outrageous Tribal Remix is better than the original but its fun. Showdown reaches back to the Breathe Heavy Sing-Talk of Boys, and Boom Boom with the Ying Yang twins is a great club song with its thumping base. However, Brave New Girl recalls the bubblegum of the Britney album, a fun upbeat song about fresh starts.
When the album came out, it was criticized for not being a coherent sounding album. It wasn't supposed to be. The acoustic Me Against the Music, dance Breathe on Me, and others proved that the album was about Britney exploring the sonic landscape. At the time it was new for mainstream pop to go this direction. Now, everyone accepts it. Beyonce, Usher, and Adam Lambert have utilized the same cover-all-genres approaches.
Unfortunately, this is also the phase of Britney's life where she began to downfall--K Fed, shaved head, and all. Britney was beginning to finally take the dance music that were just bonus tracks or B-Sides (I highly recommend Before the Goodbye, When I found You, I Run Away) into the main tracks of her album and hence push it more into the mainstream. Unfortunately, with her breakdown, the people around her once again took full control of her career, which was probably also aided by weak album sales, and Britney lost her Exec Producer credit on Blackout.
I love Blackout, and Circus is a return to a "Britney" sound, but I can't help but wonder what would have happened if In the Zone had gone well and Britney was allowed even more freedom post-In the Zone. But I just might found out. Reports suggest that Britney will be seriously pushing the edges of pop on her next album (thank you for the push Lady Gaga). Although, Britney shouldn't have needed the advent of Gaga to make her label finally take a chance on artistry, because Britney always had the goods to deliver--In the Zone proved that.
Music Review: Bring Back The Old Britney
Rating: 3 Stars
Britney's fourth CD is BY FAR her worst CD to date. Instead of getting better, she keeps getting worse. I only like about half, if that many, of the songs on here. Here is a review of the songs:
1. "Me Against The Music" - I love this song! It is one of my favorites! The beat is fun, its fun to sing along to, and its fun to dance to.
2. "(I Got That) Boom Boom" - Not one of the best but still okay. The beginning with the Ying Yang Twins before it gets to the main part of the song is SO annoying; I really wish that part had never been put in it. Otherwise, this song is just alright, nothing overly special.
3. "Showdown" - This also is not one of my favorites. It is too racy and gross: "Never thought I'd see you like this/You're lookin' good when you're half dressed/Just let me give you one last test/Is that a sin? No//I don't really wanna be a tease/But would you undo my zipper please/Uh uh, please don't talk/Listen/I'll let you touch me if you want/I see your body rise, rise". This is one of the most disgusting songs she's ever sung.
4. "Breathe On Me" - Another bad song and too sexual. I hate that mostly all she does now is really overtly sexual songs. "And boy, don't stop 'cause I'm halfway there/...Two bodies synchronising/...Breathe on me, yeah, oh/Baby, just breathe on me".
5. "Early Mornin'" - This song is okay. It is not too overly sexual, but it is still not that great. It's about a girl out clubbing and then hooking up with a guy and staying with him until the early morning. Nothing that special.
6. "Toxic" - Finally, another good song on this CD!! LOVE this song. Most people have heard this song! A girl so in love with a guy that she's addicted to him.
7. "Outrageous" - This song is okay but all the times "outrageous" is said gets a little too annoying. The chorus is a little long and every other word is "outrageous". Nothing special.
8. "Touch Of My Hand" - HATE, HATE, HATE this song! It is WAY TOO DISGUSTING!!! "Another day without a lover/The more I come to understand/The touch of my hand...I'm all in my skin, and I'm not gonna wait/I'm into myself in the most precious way...I shut myself out from the world so I/Can draw the blinds, and I'll teach myself to fly". Definitely skip-worthy.
9. "The Hook Up" - This song is another just okay song. Nothing that special. Just people hooking up.
10. "Shadow" - Another good song finally. One of my favorites. A girl misses her boyfriend and thinks she keeps seeing him, but it is always only his shadow.
11. "Brave New Girl" - Another good song! It's about a girl finally being brave enough to move outside of her "comfort zone" and chase after what she wants. Good message about being brave.
12. "Everytime" - Another good song! Great choice for a single! Nice and slow and very good! It's about a girl wanting her boyfriend back with her and feeling bad without him. "Everytime I try to fly I fall/Without my wings/I feel so small/I guess I need you, baby/And everytime I see you in my dreams/I see your face, it's haunting me/I guess I need you baby". Very sweet and wonderful!
13. "Me Against The Music (Remix)" - Good song! The beat is a little different, and it is just as good as the original!
Overall, this is an ok song with almost all the good and non-sexual songs at the end. I wish the good songs were more spread out, and I also wish that there were more of the better songs on here. Avoid the songs like "Touch Of My Hand" and "Showdown". The best songs and good songs are "Me Against The Music" (Original and Remix), "Toxic", "The Hook Up", "Shadow", "Brave New Girl", and "Everytime".
Music Review: Britney's Best Album - More Mature Than Ever
Rating: 4 Stars
I'll admit, I am a hardcore Britney fan. I love her, and her music.. just like... almost an obsession.. But when she decided to take her hiatus, which really for her, wasn't a break... I was kind of skeptical on how she might be able to return back into the music scene. Sure, Britney gets a lot of publicity - but not for her music. Even though I own all her previous albums, I think they're not really that good. 'Britney' was the best, and that's not saying much. So literally, I counted down the days until 'In The Zone' came out, and I got it the day after. I was totally blown away by this more mature Britney! Her lyrics are better, the music is better, and even though her vocals are computerized on most of the songs, they're not as computerized as much as you think. 'In The Zone' exceeded my expectations, and for the first time in a long time, I am not ashamed to say I'm a hardcore Britney fan!1.Me Against the Music - if you judged how you thought Brit's album would sound by this song as the first single, you really should take more time to hear her album. The other songs are way better than this. Good effort from Brit and Madge tho.
2.(I Got That) Boom Boom - Great song, definitely catchy. It's great that Britney worked with the Ying Yang Twins. Cool 'crunk' (southern-hip-hop) beat!
3.Showdown - I'm still debating on whether I really really like the song, or if it's just ok. The lyrics are really cool though.
4.Breathe On Me - GREAT song. Very sensual. Britney pulls it off well.
5.Early Mornin' - Britney's track with Moby. The song's cool, and Britney convinces you that she's had bad experiences with hangovers, lol.
6.Toxic - I LOVE this song! It's 'intoxicating'. lol. Definitely a good track.
7.Outrageous - Ah, here's the song R. Kelly wrote. Got kind of an Arabic sound/feel to it. The lyrics are a little repetitive, but other than that, it's cool.
8.Touch Of My Hand - This is definitely Britney's most mature track on the album. She talks about 'indulging in herself', and the music just sets everything right. GREAT GREAT song.
9.The Hook Up - I don't really like this song. I tolerate it, and I'll listen to it, but you know. The lyrics aren't that great either. Britney can do way better, and her songwriting on other tracks prove that.
10.Shadow - I didn't like this song at first... I love it now. Britney's lyrical talent really shines on this track.
11.Brave New Girl - Bits and pieces of this song remind me of Madonna's 'Ray Of Light'. The beginning sounds like 'Material Girl.' But hey, more power to Brit for that, right? I like this song, it's a feel good and fun song.
12.Everytime - One word: Haunting. This is definitely one of the best tracks Britney has ever written, ever sung, and one of the the best slow songs she's ever had on an album. Everyone says it's a response to Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me a River', but I have JT's album, and on his track, 'Never Again', he says "and all you had to do was apologize..." On Britney's track, it says, "and this song is my sorry..." So read into however you like. I love this song.
13.Me Against the Music (Remix) - I like this better than the original 'Me Against the Music.' Not much is different except the music, but I like it!
'In The Zone' is Britney's best album yet. She shines on this album, and is more mature and in control of her musical direction than ever. I think she could pick up a new wave of fans, older fans, if they'd just take the time out to listen to her music and what she has to say. As for me, I'm gonna be with her until the end. And with this album, Britney proves that she's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Go out and buy 'In The Zone.' It'll definitely be worth it!
Music Review: ''In the zone'' is...Good. - -*3.5 stars*- -
Rating: 4 Stars
I really give this album 3.5 stars (3 in a half stars) because like any other cd, it has it's ups & downs, but most of the songs are okay, or pretty good, while there is only two 'excellent' songs on the album,but, hey! It's still buyable. It's just the songs aren't 'down right good.' You'll still like it, though.Me against the music-Evrybody knows & loves this song, although, when I first heard it, I was like...''What the F**k? This song SUCKXXXS!!!!!'' But now, I like the song. I usually listen to this song in the middle, since I do greatest to least. 4/5
I got that (Boom Boom)- While others hate this song, I 'kind of' like this song, but the Ying Yang Twins holler to much, & You don't get to hear Britney that much, because Ying Yang Twins are hollering! But still, I like the song. I like the beat, & the lyrics, therefor it get's a pretty good score. 3.5/5
Showdown- I enjoy this song, mostly because of the lyrics, which is...''wow.'' I couldn't believe she was actually saying ''You're looking good when you're half dressed.'' I was shocked by that, but they said that ''In the Zone'' was going to be full of surprises.4/5
Breathe on me- What can I say about this song? I don't like that much, probably beacause it sounds like that Kylie Minouge (or however you spell her last name, I don't know) music. I mean, I like some of her (Kylie) music, but not so much that I would go out & buy her album. So, anyway, if you like Kylie's music, you'll like this.3/5
Early mourin'- I LOVE THIS SONG! THIS IS THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM! Moby was a genius when he wrote this, because it's great! What I don't get is why everyone hates this song. The beats cool, & the lyrics are awesome! ''I was shaking my ass in the streets this mourin', just walked in & it's early mourin.' Bump, bump till the break of dawn, & it don't stop till the early mourin.''' Love that part! And let me tell you something funny, I thought this would be the worst song on the album, but it was the best!... She should make a video to this song.6/5
Toxic-The song is pretty good, but the video is better. It's really cool (the video). I like the beat of the song, & the lyrics are okay. There really isn't much more to say about this song, except it's better than 'M.A.T.M'. 4/5
Outragous-The song that I thought was gonna blow me away, because it was produced by R.Kelly, who made 'ignition.' But, it turns out that your thoughts can be wrong, & so it says...the song sucks! Sucks! I wonder what happened while he was writing this. Something must have went wrong! 2/5
Touch of my hand-...We all know what this song is about, & that's nasty! But other than the concept, the song is pretty good. I like the lyrics, & the beat, which sounds like your in some asian kung fu movie, especially when it begins. It gets a good score.4/5
The hook up- My second fav. song!!! I love this song, 'cause, well, because I like! I have hundreds of favorite parts in this Jamaican-type song. The lyrics, beat, & her voice are good in this song. She sounds really good when she's singing in the ''Jamaican-type'' voice.5/5
Showdow- It I hate this song! 1/5
Brave new girl- Good song, pretty much. She sounds like a computer when she raps, but it's pretty good! I like the lyrics & the beat.It's single-material.4/5
Everytime-I don't listen to this song very much, but it's okay. But I think someone who can sing better than her would have made this song a little bit more intersting. But, it's good...slow song.3/5
M.A.T.M. (remix)- I love the remix! It's better than the orginal, but that's why people make remixes. For it to be better than the orginal!4.5/5
Good job, making the cd!
Music Review: WOW...MY FAVOURITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME.
Rating: 5 Stars
Britney has recorded the album of her career. Britney has transformed her self from a sexy school girl to a provocative young sexy woman. This album swings from genre to genre, with every song being unique1. Me Against The Music - This is my fav track on the album. It was the collaboration that made my dreams come true. The song is an up-beat club track that is very catchy and makes you come back for more. 10/10
2. (I Got That) Boom Boom - This is my third fav track on the album. This is the most Hip-hop track on the record. Ying Yang Twins feature in this song giving it a dirrty ghetto sound too it. This song very club orientated and very upbeat. 10/10
3. Showdown - This song is a reat dance song and very sexy which is produced by Bloodshy & Avant. 9/10
4. Breathe On Me - This is my FAV song on the album, and also my all time favourite song of all time. This song is very club-savvy orienated and is one of the most sensual track on the album. The song is upbeat and is very unique. This song will go straight to #1 in europe if it is released as a single. 10/10
5. Early Mornin - The second this track commences you automatically know it is Moby produced. The is very sexy and has a very trancy vibe to it. Very different for Britney. 8.5/10
6. Toxic - The second single from the album which is produced by Bloodshy & Avant once again. This song is HOT. This song could be used as the theme song to Alias or the next bond movie. This song is my 5th fav on the album. It is very sexy and is probably the most upbeat song on the album. This song is also very original and also very clubby. 10/10
7. Outrageous - The second this song commences you automatically know it is R.Kelly produced. It is an R&B uptempo club track that is very sexy and catchy. 10/10
8. Touch Of My Hand - This is the most sensual song on the album. This song is Britney's most mature song to date. This song has a very cool vibe to it and is my third fav on the album. 10/10
9. The Hook-up - I'm not crazy on this song, but i still think it is ok. It has a Reggee R&B feel to it. This is a song i always skip BUT I DON'T HATE IT. 6/10
10. Shadow - This song shows Britney's vocals at her best. This has to be one of my Favourtie Britney ballads to date. The song is very fresh although it does sound alot like Avril Lavigne's I'm With You. 10/10
11. Brave New Girl - The only thing i can say about this song is that it is one of the worst songs i have ever heard in my life. 0/10
12. Everytime - This is a very nice song. This song reminds me of the days britney was innocent. Her vocals aren't very strong in this song but goes well with the mood of the song. I Still love this song. 10/10
13. Me Against the Music (Remix) - I Love this remix. It has a very indian vibe to it and is very clubby and upbeat. Rishi Rich did an excellent job. 10/10
14. The Answer - This is one of the Australian bonus tracks and is produced by P.Diddy. This song has a very R&B feel to it is very P Diddish. I loved this song although when i heard the idea of Britney & P.Diddy working together i was expecting more, even though i still love this song. 9/10
15. Don't Hang Up - This is another Australian bonus track. This song is very mid tempo. I think this song and Brave New Girl are the only songs on this cd i don't like. By The way They are both produced by Brian & Josh. I think on her next album she should stay away from these producers. 3/10
ALL IN ALL I LOVE THIS CD AND I DON'T THINK IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN MUCH BETTER. THIS SHOWS ALBUM SHOWS WHAT BRITNEY IS BEST AT. THIS ALBUM DESERVES TO BE HER HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM OF HER CARREER. OVERALL I GIVE THIS ALBUM A 10/10 AND I WISH HER NEXT ALBUM IS JUST AS GOOD.