Britney Spears - In The Zone Review

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Tracklist:
1. Me Against The Music (featuring Madonna)
2. (I Got That) Boom Boom (featuring the Ying Yang Twins)
3. Showdown
4. Breathe On Me
5. Early Mornin'
6. Toxic
7. Outrageous
8. Touch Of My Hand
9. The Hook Up
10. Shadow
11. Brave New Girl
12. Everytime

Release Date: 2003

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2.8
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On 2 Lists

3.0
good

Dave de Sylvia STAFF (188 Reviews)

2005-11-11 | 99 comments | 5,641 views

There's a school of thought that suggests Britney Spears married Kevin Federline purely because she knew how untalented he was and she was pregnant and she's an idiot. It's probably partly speculation or libel, but it's worth thinking about. No it's not.

In late 2003, Ms. Spears released her fourth album, entitled In The Zone, to a great deal more critical acclaim than her previous releases, i.e. not much. The album marked a significant achievement for her as she co-wrote seven of the album's thirteen tracks. It also features duets with Madonna and the Ying Yang Twins (who I was disturbed to find out are male), as well as production from Moby and R. Kelly, among others.

Four singles were culled from the album: Me Against The Music (featuring Madonna), Toxic, Everytime and the R. Kelly written & produced Outrageous. Aside from Toxic, the singles seem tailor-made, written to ensure the album had singles.

Yeah, a Britney Spears album is short on singles.

Yeah.

The album kicks off with the aforementioned Madonna duet, for which a really bad video was made, and from which the album's title is derived. Aside from numerous rather awful name-dropping passages and a disappointing chorus, the track is an ideal way to open the album. It's an up-tempo dance track with a big name attached; what else could you ask for? Britney even schools her ugly heroin-fiend husband in how to rap without sacrificing one's dignity. But he didn't listen. He's just Snoop minus the talent aka Snoop in 2005.

(I Got That) Boom Boom is funny until you realise that's it's not Ja Rule shouting in the background. I started this review in August, and only now have I come to terms with the prospect that he's multiplying. Err' Showdown is an obvious dig at ex Justin Timberlake in the vein of past hit 'I'm A Slave 4 U' ' bizarrely, for a revenge song, she expresses her desire to grind on random men. Way to go.

Breathe On Me is the album's surprise. Britney performs a trance track and comes out on top, literally. Like every one of her songs, the theme is [action] on [subject]. This time she wants her man to breathe on her. Sexy. Oh, but don't criticise ' it's a fantastic Madonna track, one of her best. See what I did there?

Moby produces Early Mornin', a track which lifts the vocal melody and lyrics from Sean Paul's only good song, 'Get Busy', seemingly without any credit or retribution. She told us she was a badd girl, but I didn't think she meant it. It's a very well-recorded track: polished, clean, a potential single. I like the instrumentation here, the flute in the background combines wonderfully with the Timberlakealike backing vocals.

Toxic was the album's big hit, and her first real crossover track since 'Baby One More Time'. The track has been embraced by rock & metal fans, with a particularly brilliant cover by grunge-throwbacks Local H. The song hinges on a quick, Middle Eastern-tinged melody and a wonderful flowing chorus.

With a taste of your lips, I'm on a ride/You're toxic; I'm slipping under/With a taste of poison paradise/I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic?

Good question Britney!

Anyway, we continue with forgettable but nonetheless catchy single Outrageous, Madonna track Touch Of My Hand (brought to you by the lyricist responsible for "with a taste of your lips...") and a reggae-tinged dance tune The Hook Up, which strongly recalls the aforementioned Sean Paul. I guess he was big in 2003. Vitamin C big. Britney gets into the Jamaican spirit by slurring her words and making a conscious effort to be completely incomprehensible. More power to her.

The album's best tracks, luckily, fall back-to-back at the end. Brave New Girl is a Madonna/Kylie-style pop track which recalls her previous efforts while simultaneously lacking any originality. Here Britney talks about how grown up she is and we all go awwwwwww' Everytime is the album's second strongest track and closes the album. The video sees Britney nude (she strips off in two of four clips from the album fyi), but real fun is the fun everyone can enjoy, the aural fun. It's a simple track, which wouldn't be unwelcome on Britney, featuring elegant classical piano and a simple, emotive vocal. Think 'Lucky'.

This album does have flaws: it would have benefited hugely from the Neptunes' presence, or even the inclusion of Neptunes-produced hit 'Boys'. Similarly, there are many positives to be derived ' the melodies are very strong and the production is almost uniformly excellent. She made sure she was in great company in the studio.

Britney Spears-Federline-Insertnexthusband'snamehere's third album is a hit and miss affair. The hits are of a surprisingly high standard though. FYI.

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