1. Alien - 9/10
The album starts off with the long-awaited William Orbit produced track 'Alien'. Fans have wanted Britney to work with Orbit for years, and they have in the past, but Orbit's songs have never made the final cut. At long last Brit's management team were smart and gave us what we've been waiting for. The eerie opener takes us into the depths of space where we feel isolated as Britney sings about how lonely the world of pop superstardom makes her feel. It's a reflection of her life in the public eye, and it's one of the most beautiful songs on the album. The sonically strange tune gives us our first glimpse into Britney's personal life, and it's what we've waited years to hear.
2. Work Bitch - 7/10
The lead single from the album is something that never really hit the mark when it was initially released. Fans were expecting their queen's "most personal album" and then were given a song that is meant to be her song for all the gay boys out there. It's a banger of a tune with a sick video, but it was just not the right choice to kick off the era. There are so many other songs that were more worthy of being the lead single on Britney Jean. That being said, my love of 'Work Bitch' is still as big as ever and it's such a fun one.
3. Perfume - 6/10
'Perfume' is the Sia-penned track that was teased for a while and eventually became the second single. Again, I think it was the wrong choice, but this song really shows off how strong Brit's vocals are. She's clearly been working on them recently, and it really aids in getting the emotion across. Compared to the rest of the album's mid-tempos it's quite underwhelming, and will.i.am's nonsense production completely ruins it.
Basically 'Scream & Shout' 2.0, will.i.am just couldn't resist tainting Britney's record with this one. Will crafted a club banger that is actually quite good and the EDM sound is actually awesome, but the amount of processing he put Brit's vocals through is completely unnecessary. Her voice is so distorted it's ridiculous. And also, will.i.am sings so much on this song that you'd think it was his. The track could have been amazing, but of course Will took it too far like he usually does.
5. Tik Tik Boom (feat. T.I.) - 9/10
And thus begins the Holy Trinity of bangerz. Think of 'Tik Tik Boom' as '(I Got That) Boom Boom' from In The Zone's more mature sister. The song is this great urban track that has Britney singing about the countdown to her orgasm. Yep, this song is all about sex and it's as hot as you would expect. Plus, T.I. completely slays his verse and makes the song so very dirty. At the end she does a vocal run that sounds like it came straight off of the Oops!...I Did It Again album which is just beyond impressive. It's a highlight of the album and could easily be the third single,
6. Body Ache - 10/10
The David Guetta-produced 'Body Ache' is just so damn good. It was originally a mid-tempo but the fans were clamoring for more up-tempos so the producers swapped it, and I'm actually glad they did. It's a total club jam, and it's all about Britney dancing so long and hard that her body begins aching. What I love most about this song, though, is how strong her vocals are. Vocally, she goes hard on this song, and at the end she does a vocal run that sounds like it came straight off of the Oops!...I Did It Again album. This is everything done right.
7. Til It's Gone - 10/10
Did you ever think she could craft a song as good as 'Toxic' or 'Gimme More' again? Well, neither did I, but 'Til It's Gone' is easily the best song she has released since the Blackout era. It is a massive EDM/trap-infused tune that features this incredible hyperbolic beat that gets the blood pumping and the heart racing. It's out of this world, and the song just keeps propelling forward. Britney slows things down during the bridge with some of her signature "oohs," but then under her command the beat escalates once again finishing the song in a speed-induced rush that leaves you breathless and utterly exhausted but in the best way possible. If this isn't released as a single then Team Britney will have made their biggest mistake ever.
This is one of the few tracks that leaked ahead of release, but I'm glad it did because Diplo's production easily makes it one of my favorite tracks on the album. It marks a departure in Britney's sound because it's clear that this has a deep spiritual meaning, and being penned by Katy Perry (hence the religious undertones) and Sia, the song veers into pop-rock territory that Britney originally wanted to be in when she began her career over 15 years ago. It features fantastic lyrics, a beautiful sound and gorgeous vocals on Brit's part. If anyone doubted Britney's vocals, just have them listen to the song and they'll eat their words.
9. Chillin' With You (feat. Jamie Lynn Spears) - 8/10
If there has been any duet that Britney fans have waiting their entire lives to hear, it's the one with her little sister Jamie Lynn, and that's what we have finally been treated to. Upon first listen I was very confused. The song starts off with guitar so I thought it was going to be country, but then it went very adult contemporary pop before turning into an R&B/hip-hop tune during the chorus. The song alternates between these three sounds in a very bizarre manner, but in some weird way it all works. Jamie's vocals on this song are fantastic, and I actually might say that she outshines her big sis. Their vocals mesh well and the song is so beautiful and heartfelt because it's a great sibling love fest. How can you not fall in love with this song?
10. Don't Cry - 9/10
Rounding out the very short album is the ballad 'Don't Cry' that is probably the most raw and personal we have heard Britney in years. The emotion in this song actually brings tears to my ears but also warms my heart in the best way possible. It's everything and more that I could have wished to hear from my childhood idol. I also think it rounds out the album perfectly because it shows off her strong vocals, the raw emotion and the beautiful pop melody that slightly morphs into the pop-rock sound she has toyed with. It's Britney at her best, and if she performs this at her Piece of Me show I may turn into a puddle of mush.
Tracks to Check Out: 'Alien', 'Tik Tik Boom', 'Body Ache', 'Til It's Gone', 'Passenger', 'Don't Cry'
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
