Oh, what a glorious day. Britney Spears has finally dropped the long awaited Glory. This is the album she first began talking about in 2015, but apparently scrapped parts of in the spring of this year in order to be "more hands-on with this one," as she told V magazine. She wasn't kidding around. Spears has co-writing credits on five of the album's tracks, including its infectious first single, "Make Me..."
When debuting the album art on Twitter, Spears called Glory "the beginning of a new era." Musically and thematically, it's not, but there are a few exceptions. Spears is intent on being hands-on, helping shape her music from writing to song selection, with a depth she hasn't attempted before. She tries on many styles of music here, including her interpretation of an authentic Mexican song, a little French lullabye, and a lot of pop. She leans heavily on sex in the album's opening tracks, but puts her often mocked voice to work in the unexpected "What You Need" and tries on the woman scorned in "Liar." Amid the tracks that were clearly added with her Vegas show in mind are some genuine pop gems.
Click on to read our analysis of what works, what doesn't, and what is so Britney on Glory.
"Invitation"
It's a classic late '90s/early '00s pop move to open your album with a song that sets the tone, revealing the themes of the work. "Invitation" is exactly that, inviting the listener in and letting us know that vocally, this will not be the average Britney album. She goes into her signature singing voice on the bridge, as it repeats through the song, but reaches for a higher register for much of the track. Does the effect and that ethereal music remind you a little of Selena Gomez's latest album? That's probably thanks to producer Nick Monson. Spears also worked with vocal producer Mischke (Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Little Mix), whose influence seems to be moving her away from that signature vocal-fry sound she's leaned on for years.
Photo: Courtesy of RCA Records."Make Me... (Ft. G-Eazy)"
If this song sounds a little familiar, that might be because it was crafted by Mattman & Robin, the producers behind much of the sound of 2016 so far — they also did Nick Jonas's "Close," Gwen Stefani's "Make Me Like You," Selena Gomez's "Hands To Myself," and DNCE's "Cake By The Ocean." Given the prevailing winds of pop and their clear Swedish-born sound, this song was a smash before we even heard it.
"Private Show"
This is a striptease of a song, as fit for the Pussycat Dolls in their heyday as it is for Britney Spears to weave into her Vegas review. The double entendre ("Slide down my pole, watch me spin it and twerk it") are cheeky and childish, make this one of the album's most impersonal tracks. It's not quite a throwaway, because it's catchy enough to stick with you, but it's not going into constant rotation either.
Photo by Randee St. Nicholas.
"Man On The Moon"
Lyrically, this is the most confounding song on Glory. Right out of the gate, Britney sings, "I can't compete with the stars in the sky / I'm invisible, invisible," which is just about the last thing anyone would ever say about her...or expect to hear her say about herself. She does have a history of these "normal girl" songs (see: "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know" and "Brave New Girl") but overall this track seems like a misstep. It makes us feel so far away from who Britney is, like maybe it was picked up from a slush pile and thrown on because someone liked the jist of it, but it doesn't fit in.
Photo by Randee St. Nicholas.
"Just Luv Me"
It's a modern love song: the narrator knows she worthy, is an independent woman, doesn't need you but wants you to love her. This Cashmere Cat (Kanye West, Miguel) production is musically one of the standouts on the album. It's slinky and sexy, and the kind of Britney we want to hear.
Photo: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock.
"Clumsy"
To call this song cheesy beyond belief is being generous. The handclaps make it one of those silly songs that stick with you, but the lyrics nearly ruin it (that "oops!" is genuinely irritating) and the EDM-inspired backbone of the track sounds dated.
Photo: Brian To/Shutterstock/REX/Shutterstock.
"Do You Wanna Come Over?"
It's another appearance for Mattman & Robin, producing the clear second single from Glory, and dropping their not quite correct English into the lyrics ("Say you feel alone, that your day was the baddest" is the new "cake by the ocean" means sex on the beach). Spears clipped delivery on the track, that dips into a chorus of singers yelling "whatever you want!" is actually a genius vocal trick.
Photo: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock.
"Slumber Party"
Y'all, it took 17 years and 10 albums, but Britney Spears finally sings fuck in a song. It's this song and she hits it on every chorus. It's magical. It's everything we ever wanted. We anoint this track with the title "Most Sing-Along-Able."
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
"Just Like Me"
This is an interesting song choice, given that Britney's ex Justin Timberlake shouted her cheating out with a guy who looks reasonably like him back in the day. It's such a personal, specific song, that it's hard to imagine it has any relevance to Britney.
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
"Love Me Down"
Insert a perfectly serviceable, kind of generic pop song with staccato drums and fairly unimaginative vocal runs into this slot. You could skip this track and not miss a thing.
Photo: John Salangsang/BFA/REX/Shutterstock.
"Hard To Forget Ya"
Now this is a banger. Easily the most high-energy track on the album, Britney trills through the song, speak-singing the lyrics and not tripping over a Beyoncé ("your love got me faded") reference right into a Gaga ref ("baby so much for my poker face"). Call it an homage, maybe these are the people she finds it hard to forget.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock.
"What You Need"
If you wanted something new and different from Britney, here it is. This song, from tone to delivery, is way more Xtina than the princess of pop, but it sounds like Spears was ready to prove to us all she can sing -- no, make that wail -- with the best of the divas.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock.
"Better"
Britney cooing into your ear to "open up" because "it feels much better" is the sexiest thing this side of Britney cooing into your ear about being a "slave for you." Except this one is a love song for grown-ups.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock.
"Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)"
Do you hear that? It's a steel guitar playing a flamenco beat. And yes, those are steel drums that come in at the chorus. Whoever slipped this one into Britney's inbox gets a gold star.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock.
"Liar"
Hello, woman scorned. On paper, the sequencing of this western-esque, bass-heavy track after the flamenco jam makes sense but it's a bit rocky to the ears. It is nice to hear Brit get her rage on though, even if it's undercut a bit by the high register she keeps reaching for.
Photo: KCR/REX/Shutterstock.
"If I'm Dancing"
This legit sounds like something Ciara already recorded with a chorus dropped in from a 1980s track by Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark. What a fascinating mash-up of a song. Worth at least a few listens, even if only to figure out how this even came together as one song.
Photo: Willi Schneider/REX/Shutterstock.
"Coupure Electrique"
Britney sings in French, y'all. Her pronunciation is on point too. In some way, Giorgio Moroder has to be responsible for this song.
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