Jun 2007

Britney Spears is well and truly back! Arguably the most famous woman in the world right now, Britney returns with 'Blackout', a comeback record that is bound to provoke a full spectrum of reactions from fans and critics alike. The lead single, 'Gimme More' is everything you’d want and expect: hot, sexy, catchy, upbeat and easily one of the singles of the year.

Having worked with everyone from Pharrell, Timbaland's proteges Danja and Keri Hilson, Jonathan Rotem, Sean Garret and Ne-Yo, the comeback of the year has begun!

• Entertainment Weekly (p.62) - "BLACKOUT -- a collection of well-produced, thoroughly enjoyable dance songs -- may just put this once-celebrated pop star back on top." -- Grade: B+

'Blackout' is the fifth studio album by pop superstar Britney Spears. A sassy selection of upbeat electro-tinged pop classics-in-the-making, this album tips it's hat to acts such as Mantronix and Girls Aloud whilst not alienating Spears' core fanbase. Includes the single 'Gimme More'.

Personnel: T-Pain (vocals); Bloodshy, Avant (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, programming); Fredwreck (guitar, keyboards); Erick Coomes (guitar, bass guitar); Henrik Jonback (guitar); Klas Ahlund (bass guitar); Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica, Mango (programming); Candice Nelson, Jim Beanz, Ezekiel Lewis, Robyn Carlsson, Corte "The Author" Ellis, Kara Dioguardi, Pharrell Williams, Sean Garrett, Keri Hilson (background vocals).

In the late 1990s, Madonna had long since become a mature artist, turning her back on the carefree dance-pop of her early days. Teenage singer Britney Spears picked up on this specific Madonna era, albeit with a more girl-next-door approach. Her coy mix of innocence and sensuality (and infectious songs) made her a superstar, and helped inspire the teen-pop phenomenon that soon dominated pop music. By the early '00s, Spears was casting about for a more adult image, and remade herself into a vixen, experimented with acting and reality TV, and had two children with the controversial wannabe rap star Kevin Federline. While her personal life preempted her musical output for a while, she seemed on the road to artistic recovery after the 2006 birth of her second child. A critically lambasted appearance on the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and a very public custody battle with Federline worked against her, but her concurrent album release BLACKOUT bought her some credibility with the fickle music press.