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The aftermath of Britney Spears’ 2007 freak-out and Blackout wound up with her ceding control of her personal and professional life to her father and producers, respectively, leaving her as no more than a figurehead of an enterprise. Of course, Brit Brit had essentially been the face of a carefully calibrated pop machine for years, but every element of that contraption hinged on her persona, the songs and the sound fitting her evolution. Starting with Blackout, Britney started to slip into the background on her own records, a progression that continued unabated on Circus and finds some kind of culmination on 2011’s Femme Fatale. Essentially a cleaner, classier remake of the gaudily dark Blackout, Femme Fatale is a producer’s paradise, each cut decked out with stretched vocals, glassy keyboards, and insistent beats, all coming together in hyperactive arrangements that shift every five seconds. Sonically, it has everything except hooks, either in the rhythm or the melody; it’s all surface style, driven by sound and given shape by hypersexual lyrics Britney sings listlessly. Her name and face are on the cover but she is not at the album’s center; she is nowhere to be found amidst the clamor created by Dr. Luke, will.i.am, Bloodshy, Shellback, and Max Martin; she’s a black hole of charisma sucking everything in. Britney dutifully steps through the paces, singing enough of the words so they can be tweaked in the computer, never quite investing anything with emotion, never getting in the way of the producers, who deliver a showcase somewhat less captivating than Blackout. Surely, there are moments, sometimes stretched over a full song, that are compelling, but even these can’t erase the feeling that Britney no longer has a real, tangible personality. She’s now a reliable brand selling high-class productions designed to last not one minute longer than their season of release.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Alexander Kronlund, Composer - Alexander Kronlund, Lyricist - Aniela Gottwald, 2nd Engineer - Billboard, Performer - Billboard, Producer - Billboard, Programmer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Britney Spears, Performer - Dr. Luke, Background Vocal - Dr. Luke, Performer - Dr. Luke, Producer - Dr. Luke, Programmer - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Producer - John Hanes, Engineer - Kesha Sebert, Composer - Kesha Sebert, Lyricist - Lukasz Gottwald, Composer - Lukasz Gottwald, Lyricist - Max Martin, Background Vocal - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Performer - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Programmer - Myah Marie, Background Vocal - Patrizia Rogosch, Background Vocal - Sam Holland, Background Vocal - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Stacey Barnett, Background Vocal - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer - Vezna Gottwald, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billboard, Performer - Billboard, Producer - Billboard, Programmer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Bonnie McKee, Composer - Bonnie McKee, Lyricist - Britney Spears, Performer - Dr. Luke, Performer - Dr. Luke, Producer - Dr. Luke, Programmer - Emily Wright, Engineer - John Hanes, Engineer - Lukasz Gottwald, Composer - Lukasz Gottwald, Lyricist - Mathieu Jomphe, Composer - Mathieu Jomphe, Lyricist - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Performer - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Programmer - Myah Marie, Background Vocal - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer - Vezna Gottwald, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billboard, Performer - Billboard, Producer - Billboard, Programmer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Bonnie McKee, Composer - Bonnie McKee, Lyricist - Britney Spears, Performer - Dr. Luke, Performer - Dr. Luke, Producer - Dr. Luke, Programmer - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Misc. Prod. - Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Composer - Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Lyricist - John Hanes, Engineer - Lukasz Gottwald, Composer - Lukasz Gottwald, Lyricist - Mathieu Jomphe, Composer - Mathieu Jomphe, Lyricist - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Performer - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Programmer - Myah Marie, Background Vocal - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Tatiana Gottwald, 2nd Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Britney Spears, Performer - Chau Phan, Background Vocal - John Hanes, Engineer - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Keyboards - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Recording Engineer - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Shellback, Bass - Shellback, Composer - Shellback, Guitar - Shellback, Keyboards - Shellback, Lyricist - Shellback, Producer - Shellback, Recording Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bloodshy, Misc. Prod. - Bloodshy, Performer - Bloodshy, Producer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Bonnie McKee, Composer - Bonnie McKee, Lyricist - Britney Spears, Performer - Christian Karlsson, Composer - Christian Karlsson, Lyricist - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Misc. Prod. - Eric Eylands, 2nd Engineer - Henrik Jonback, Composer - Henrik Jonback, Lyricist - Henrik Jonback, Misc. Prod. - Henrik Jonback, Performer - Henrik Jonback, Producer - John Hanes, Engineer - Magnus, Misc. Prod. - Magnus, Performer - Magnus, Producer - Magnus Lidehäll, Composer - Magnus Lidehäll, Lyricist - Nicole Morier, Background Vocal - Nicole Morier, Composer - Nicole Morier, Lyricist - Pontus Winnberg, Composer - Pontus Winnberg, Lyricist - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ammo, Background Vocal - Ammo, Performer - Ammo, Producer - Ammo, Programmer - Benjamin Levin, Composer - Benjamin Levin, Lyricist - Benny Blanco, Performer - Benny Blanco, Producer - Benny Blanco, Programmer - Billboard, Performer - Billboard, Producer - Billboard, Programmer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Britney Spears feat. Sabi, Performer - Crystal Johnson, Background Vocal - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Misc. Prod. - Eric Eylands, 2nd Engineer - Esther Dean, Background Vocal - Esther Dean, Composer - Esther Dean, Lyricist - J Mike, Performer - J Mike, Producer - J Mike, Programmer - Jeremy Coleman, Composer - Jeremy Coleman, Lyricist - Jeremy Levin, 2nd Engineer - John Hanes, Engineer - Joshua Coleman, Composer - Joshua Coleman, Lyricist - Mathieu Jomphe, Composer - Mathieu Jomphe, Lyricist - Myah Marie, Background Vocal - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Billboard, Programmer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Bonnie McKee, Composer - Bonnie McKee, Lyricist - Britney Spears, Performer - Dr. Luke, Performer - Dr. Luke, Producer - Dr. Luke, Programmer - Dream Machine, Performer - Dream Machine, Producer - Dream Machine, Programmer - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Misc. Prod. - Henry Walter, Composer - Henry Walter, Lyricist - John Hanes, Engineer - Lukasz Gottwald, Composer - Lukasz Gottwald, Lyricist - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Performer - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Programmer - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sophia Black, Background Vocal - Tatiana Gottwald, 2nd Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Britney Spears feat. will.i.am, Performer - DJ Ammo, Programmer - DJ Ammo, Synthesizer - Dylan Dresdow, Mixing Engineer - Padraic Kerin, Engineer - Padraic Kerin, Recording Engineer - will.i.am, Composer - will.i.am, Engineer - will.i.am, Lyricist - will.i.am, Piano - will.i.am, Producer - will.i.am, Programmer - will.i.am, Recording Engineer - will.i.am, Synthesizer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ashton Foster, Background Vocal - Beatriz Artola, Recording Engineer - Britney Spears, Performer - Eric Eylands, 2nd Engineer - Fraser Smith, Keyboards - Fraser Smith, Producer - Fraser Smith, Programmer - Fraser T. Smith, Composer - Fraser T. Smith, Lyricist - Heather Bright, Background Vocal - Heather Bright, Composer - Heather Bright, Lyricist - John Hanes, Engineer - Livvi Franc, Background Vocal - Livvi Franc, Composer - Livvi Franc, Lyricist - Myah Marie, Background Vocal - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bloodshy, Misc. Prod. - Bloodshy, Performer - Bloodshy, Producer - Bloodshy, Programmer - Britney Spears, Performer - Chris O'Ryan, Engineer - Christian Karlsson, Composer - Christian Karlsson, Lyricist - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Misc. Prod. - Eric Eylands, 2nd Engineer - Henrik Jonback, Composer - Henrik Jonback, Lyricist - Henrik Jonback, Misc. Prod. - Henrik Jonback, Performer - Henrik Jonback, Producer - Henrik Jonback, Programmer - John Hanes, Engineer - Magnus, Misc. Prod. - Magnus, Performer - Magnus, Producer - Magnus, Programmer - Magnus Lidehäll, Composer - Magnus Lidehäll, Lyricist - Nicole Morier, Background Vocal - Nicole Morier, Composer - Nicole Morier, Lyricist - Pontus Winnberg, Composer - Pontus Winnberg, Lyricist - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sophie Stern, Composer - Sophie Stern, Lyricist - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Aniela Gottwald, 2nd Engineer - Benjamin Levin, Composer - Benjamin Levin, Lyricist - Benny Blanco, Performer - Benny Blanco, Producer - Benny Blanco, Programmer - Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Bonnie McKee, Composer - Bonnie McKee, Lyricist - Britney Spears, Performer - Claude Kelly, Background Vocal - Claude Kelly, Composer - Claude Kelly, Lyricist - Dr. Luke, Performer - Dr. Luke, Producer - Dr. Luke, Programmer - Emily Wright, Composer - Emily Wright, Engineer - Emily Wright, Lyricist - Emily Wright, Misc. Prod. - Eric Eylands, 2nd Engineer - Jeremy Levin, 2nd Engineer - John Hanes, Engineer - Lukasz Gottwald, Composer - Lukasz Gottwald, Lyricist - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Programmer - Myah Marie, Background Vocal - Rob Murray, 2nd Engineer - Sam Holland, Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sophia Black, Background Vocal - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Britney Spears, Performer - Chau Phan, Background Vocal - John Hanes, Engineer - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Keyboards - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Recording Engineer - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Shellback, Composer - Shellback, Guitar - Shellback, Keyboards - Shellback, Lyricist - Shellback, Producer - Shellback, Recording Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bonnie McKee, Background Vocal - Britney Spears, Performer - Emily Wright, Engineer - John Hanes, Engineer - Max Martin, Composer - Max Martin, Lyricist - Max Martin, Producer - Max Martin, Recording Engineer - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Shellback, Composer - Shellback, Lyricist - Shellback, Producer - Shellback, Recording Engineer - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2011 JIVE Records, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Brent Paschke, Guitar - Britney Spears, Background Vocal - Britney Spears, Performer - Eric Weaver, 2nd Engineer - Ina Wroldsen, Background Vocal - Ina Wroldsen, Composer - Ina Wroldsen, Lyricist - John Hanes, Engineer - Michaela Shiloh, Background Vocal - Mike Donaldson, Recording Engineer - Orlando Vitto, Recording Engineer - Rodney Jerkins, Composer - Rodney Jerkins, Lyricist - Rodney Jerkins, Misc. Prod. - Rodney Jerkins, Mixing Engineer - Rodney Jerkins, Performer - Rodney Jerkins, Producer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Tom Roberts, 2nd Engineer - Tony Mardini, Recording Engineer
(P) 2011 JIVE Records, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Britney Spears, Performer - Esther Dean, Composer - Esther Dean, Lyricist - Jeanette Olsson, Background Vocal - John Hanes, Engineer - Josh Gudwin, Recording Engineer - Kuk Harrell, Producer - Kuk Harrell, Recording Engineer - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Composer - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Lyricist - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Performer - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Recording Engineer - Miles Walker, Recording Engineer - Sandy Vee, Performer - Sandy Vee, Producer - Sandy Vee, Recording Engineer - Sandy Wilhelm, Composer - Sandy Wilhelm, Lyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Stargate, Producer - Thaddis Harrell, Background Vocal - Tim Roberts, 2nd Engineer - Tor Erik Hermansen, Composer - Tor Erik Hermansen, Lyricist - Tor Erik Hermansen, Performer - Traci Hale, Composer - Traci Hale, Lyricist
(P) 2011 JIVE Records, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Brent Paschke, Guitar - Britney Spears, Background Vocal - Britney Spears, Performer - John Hanes, Engineer - Michaela Shiloh, Background Vocal - Michaela Shiloh, Composer - Michaela Shiloh, Lyricist - Mike Donaldson, Recording Engineer - Orlando Vitto, Recording Engineer - Rodney Jerkins, Composer - Rodney Jerkins, Lyricist - Rodney Jerkins, Misc. Prod. - Rodney Jerkins, Mixing Engineer - Rodney Jerkins, Performer - Rodney Jerkins, Producer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Thaddaeus Tribbett, Bass - Thomas Lumpkins, Composer - Thomas Lumpkins, Lyricist - Tom Roberts, 2nd Engineer - Tony Mardini, Recording Engineer - Travis Barker, Drums
(P) 2011 JIVE Records, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
The aftermath of Britney Spears’ 2007 freak-out and Blackout wound up with her ceding control of her personal and professional life to her father and producers, respectively, leaving her as no more than a figurehead of an enterprise. Of course, Brit Brit had essentially been the face of a carefully calibrated pop machine for years, but every element of that contraption hinged on her persona, the songs and the sound fitting her evolution. Starting with Blackout, Britney started to slip into the background on her own records, a progression that continued unabated on Circus and finds some kind of culmination on 2011’s Femme Fatale. Essentially a cleaner, classier remake of the gaudily dark Blackout, Femme Fatale is a producer’s paradise, each cut decked out with stretched vocals, glassy keyboards, and insistent beats, all coming together in hyperactive arrangements that shift every five seconds. Sonically, it has everything except hooks, either in the rhythm or the melody; it’s all surface style, driven by sound and given shape by hypersexual lyrics Britney sings listlessly. Her name and face are on the cover but she is not at the album’s center; she is nowhere to be found amidst the clamor created by Dr. Luke, will.i.am, Bloodshy, Shellback, and Max Martin; she’s a black hole of charisma sucking everything in. Britney dutifully steps through the paces, singing enough of the words so they can be tweaked in the computer, never quite investing anything with emotion, never getting in the way of the producers, who deliver a showcase somewhat less captivating than Blackout. Surely, there are moments, sometimes stretched over a full song, that are compelling, but even these can’t erase the feeling that Britney no longer has a real, tangible personality. She’s now a reliable brand selling high-class productions designed to last not one minute longer than their season of release.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:58:36
- Main artists: Britney Spears
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Jive
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(P) 2011 JIVE Records, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
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