Circus

iTunes Review

After the stylistic detours of In the Zone and the halfhearted comeback of Blackout, Circus refocuses Britney Spears’ energies on what she does best: sexy, icy dance music. Though sometimes positioned as the successor to Madonna, Britney has always been more of an American answer to Kylie Minogue. Her voice doesn’t have the flexibility necessary to play among Madonna’s myriad musical styles, but when it comes to the throbbing pulse of “Circus,” “Shattered Glass,” and “Radar,” Britney’s cat-like come-ons work wonders. While Blackout gave the impression that Britney’s heart wasn’t entirely in it, she now sounds like she’s having a blast. Every trance-inducing dancefloor beat invites its eager listeners to design their own choreography routine. She even manages to put a twist on the same old sound with the futuristic disco funk of “Lace and Leather.” While not all of Circus offers the head rush of the whip-cracking “Womanizer,” Britney’s fifth album shows the reigning superstarlet getting her groove back.