#I feel like. given the lyrics. & the intentional musical inconsistencies. & the vocal delivery that it has to be using mainstream musical

[musical-chick-13]

Oh...oh people didn't realize this song was sardonically complaining about going to the Club™. And thought it was a Club Song™. Oh no.

[wopcalmetacritic]

Rolling Stone Review: Bare by Britney Spears

90/100

It's Britney bitch! After what feels like an eternity, the Princess of Pop has returned with her new album Bare. Preceded by an intense promotional tour and two massively successful singles, the hype for the album reached fever pitch. Britney is known for making tight albums that feature outstanding production work. This album had a lot to live up to. Does it reach that level of hype?

Bare  8/10

Though it acts an introduction to the album, it's an insanely strong track. It is very modern and maybe even a little groundbreaking in it's production style. It blends electronic elements with more standard pop elements to create a hair raising introduction to the album. However it is an intro therefore is limited in it's content but it sets up the album well.

Welcome to Me  8/10

The first proper track is goosebump inducing. The production on the track is glorious. It sounds so clean and crisp. When it hits you, it delivers a big punch. Lyrically the song is very strong. Britney sets up her new style perfectly here and these lyrics show a lot of growth in her songwriting. The only down to hand this song is an inconsistent vocal performance from Britney. She isn't bad on the track, but it is a bit rough in places.

Strangest Love  10/10

Wow. This track is an absolute stunner from start to finish. The sound is sharp and very unique. It manages to sound clear and present but not overly produced. The atmosphere of the song is almost beyond description. There is something about how this song feels and oozes sexiness that cannot be put into words. The vocals on the song are also spot on and show off the strengths of Britney's voice.

Baby Boy  7/10

This is a misstep for the album. The song isn't bad by any means but it's just not very exciting. There's nothing that really begs you to listen on. Britney's vocals are not very strong on this track which hurts it. However, the production work, while sparse and maybe a little underdone, still features some interesting style choices. It's an alright song but not one that becomes a classic.

Peepshow  10/10

It's another track that's treated like an interlude, but it functions as a track and it is simply stunning. This track features some slick work on the guitar and it almost reminds you of Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You" which is absolutely genius. It's no secret that Britney came out of that relationship with a better music career and this shows that, even if it wasn't intentional. The vocals are fantastic and follow a very unique flow. Truly a standout track!

Money, Love & Happiness  10/10

Take not Miranda. This is how you do a track about being an icon. This track is a lot of fun and it has a beat that's impossible to not bop along to. It's laid out so well and every portion of the track, from the instrumentation to the vocals, is given room to breathe and show off. A real winner!

Look Who's Talking  10/10

The simply stunning lead single from the album still packs as much of a punch as it did upon it's original release. The production work on the song is nothing short of pop genius. The lyrics are strong and Britney's delivery really drives that woman in charge style the song follows. This is a clear and undeniable win of a track.

Ouch  8/10

The second single from the album is not as strong as the first but this song still is very well made. Britney's vocals are very good on this track. She sounds really connected with this song and it makes the listening experience all that much more entertaining. Production wise there are a couple of misses but not to the point where they derail the track.

Perfume  10/10

A little slice of brilliance here. This song is simply beautiful. The lyrics are a new and unique take on an old topic and really make you feel totally moved to Britney's narration. The vocals are haunting and matches the tone of the music perfectly. The production is clear and vivid. This is yet another stand out and perfect track.

Just Yesterday  8/10

This song is well put together and is very chill and relaxed. It's not demanding and it's a song that is easy to dig into. The vocals and production are both well managed. However, the song lacks lyrical depth due to a stunning lack of actual lyrics. It's imperfect, but still a very enjoyable track.

How to Disappear Completely  8/10

A cover of one of the best Radiohead songs, this is one of the last things that was expected to be present on the album. However, unlike some covers Britney has done in the past, this cover is very beautiful and simple. She doesn't try to hit the same marks Radiohead did which is a very good thing, no one can do Radiohead better than Radiohead. She made this her own. The downside is that the production is a little hollow and doesn't really add too much punch behind the haunting vocal but this is still another stunner.

Generous Palmstroke  7/10

Another and final interlude, this one is the weakest of them. It's not bad in any way, it's just very hollow. It's not supposed to be something big and bombastic but it still feels like there is more that could have come from this one.

Sugarfall (feat. Pharrell)  8/10

This song is stronger than thought (anything with Pharrell's name on it is a potential red flag). The production work is once more simply stunning. The lyrics are inventive and take on some new meanings to what could have been a retread of previous ground. Vocally the song is strong as well. The downside is that the song doesn't really move beyond it's initial sound and style, but it's a small price to pay.

Remembrance of Who I Am  6/10

This is no doubt the weakest song on the album. It's a very challenging listen and features a lot of excess noise that really distracts. This track has production laid on incredibly thick and it gets buried underneath it's own weight. This is the song that could have been left off with no arguments.

Rockstar  10/10

This is quite honestly the most fun track on the album. It's got a rocking style to it but still blends in some of that iconic pop that Britney has been a trailblazer in. This song is a fantastic one from top to bottom. Amazing production, fun and playful lyrics, and a strong vocal performance make this totally incredible!

911  8/10

This track is a really interesting one. It's got some really cool and unique elements that make it a song that's different from anything that's out right now. However, the song does falter a bit due to that. There are some production choices that don't add anything to the song but it's still an enjoyable track.

Let Go  7/10

This is a weaker song to end on. The song isn't bad but it's one of the few on the album that you can call boring. There's not much here to latch on to. But it's not awful.

This album is without a doubt Britney's absolute best. It's produced with mastery, executed with style and flair, and is unquestionably one of the freshest sounding albums that has been released as of late. There is not much on this album that can be called bad. It shows a lot of growth on Britney's part. Gone are those more cookie cutter pop tunes that she has attempted to hang onto through her career. No, here we have a strong and confident Britney who is here to prove why she wears the crown of Princess of Pop. This is, so far, the best album of the year!