Funhouse (Deluxe Version)

iTunes Review

It comes as no shock that a post-divorce P!nk would be out for vengeance on 2008’s Funhouse, her first album since her breakup with bike racer Carey Hart. Fans eager to hear her dish the dirt will gobble up tracks like “So What” and “It’s All Your Fault,” savoring each defiant line. But what’s surprising is the amount of vulnerability and regret P!nk displays in these tracks. She invites comparisons with Jewel and the softer side of Gwen Stefani on the sorrowful “I Don’t Believe You” and the subdued “Crystal Ball.” Somewhere in between the album’s brassy anthems and sensitive ruminations are the bluesy, angst-ridden “Mean” and the sultry, slippery “One Foot Wrong.” An assortment of producers (including reliable popmeister Max Martin) help P!nk explore a range of sounds, including ’60-esque teen pop (“Please Don’t Leave Me”), Nile Rodgers-style funk (the title tune), and elegant torch balladry (“Glitter In the Air”). True, a P!nk aficionado might want a few more hellacious numbers à la “Trouble” or “U+Ur Hand.” But keeping the bitterness quotient low makes Funhouse ultimately a more satisfying ride.