Listened it to the leak twice already. My take:
Till The World Ends (3 out of 5)--I think this song gets more flack than it deserves, partly because of Ke$ha's involvement. Very Ke$ha sounding, but I still think Britney manages to make the song her own with her unique "come hither" school-girl vocals that she's perfected over the years. TTWE has arguably the most danceable chorus on the album...if a bit repetitive for obvious reasons. In my opinion, this is the most obvious meant-for-radio song on Femme Fatale, and really doesn't try to break new ground like its sister tracks, instead choosing to stick to the Pop formula that worked most of 2010.
Hold It Against Me (3 out of 5)--It's funny how this song was hailed as pop innovation when it was first released, but in the context of the rest of the album it sounds stale. Testament to the overall strength of this album. Undeniable radio smash though, and I've always liked how meticulously the flow of the song was controlled, leading to a build-up that you rarely see in a song meant for the Top 40.
Inside Out (5 out of 5)-- Really the standout track of the album for me. I've always loved when Britney dabbled a bit in urban beats ("Slave 4 U" is still one of my favorite Godney tracks), and "Inside Out" is easily the song most likely to get some Urban radio love from FF. The "farewell fuck" is a very hot and relatable subject. I can see a remix with Ludacris or Drake contributing a male-response verse making this an Urban smash and, really, it should be the next single. The beat grinds and pulses in a very sexy way. Love this track.
I Wanna Go (5 out of 5)-- Another dance standard. Love the constant pulse of this song, and the bridge is absolutely brilliant -- love the innocent whistle effect when she's claiming naivety at being a wanton slut. The bridge is hotter than the chorus.
How I Roll (4 out of 5)-- Easily the most experimental track on the album. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's got the bubble-gum pop aspect about it that reminds me a lot of her earlier work, and yet it seems years ahead of what any other pop act in the US is doing right now. I'm not sure if it really gets where it's trying to go, though. It's lacking in a way I can't describe.
(Drop Dead) Beautiful feat. Sabi (3 out 5)-- Sounds like a leftover from Circus, and the Sabi feature really added nothing to the song. Britney could have done that rap herself. The breakdown at the end was hot, though.
Seal It With a Kiss (3 out of 5)-- Not a bad track - no track on this album is really BAD - but the closest we get to filler. Just mediocre. I feel like they were going for a play on cheese...but just came off as cheesy. Something about this song is giving me Kylie Minogue vibes, and Kylie is best left to Kylie.
The Best Fat Bass (2 out of 5)--Is Will.I.Am.'s time in the producer spotlight over yet? I am so done with his production style it's not even funny. This song sounds like a leftover from The End...in fact, at certain points he makes Godney sound like the infinitely lesser Fergie, which only makes me want to throw my laptop at the wall. I'm sick of Will.I.Am's production, and I'm even sicker of his weak rapping. Everything about this track is just so damn repetitive and stale. Liked the piano use, and that's it.
Trouble For Me (4 out of 5)-- Every album has that song that's absolutely amazing within the context of the album, but probably wouldn't fare well as a stand-alone single, and for me this song is it. Another song where the bridge absolutely makes the track. The transition is amazing, and I can already tell that "You know I can make your night, you wanna get it" is gonna be in my vernacular for the rest of the year. Also, it's worth noting the this song contains Britney's most impressive vocal showing on the album. Even through all the vocal distortions, her voice shines through. Vocally, it reminds me of her earlier work, when she was still a young pop act with something to prove and producers weren't afraid to be hard on her.
Trip To Your Heart (4 out of 5)--Another song that gives me Kylie vibes - specifically, something that would have been on her "X" album - but unlike "Seal It With a Kiss" the track is strong enough for that similarity to not be annoying. Very dreamy mid-tempo pop.
Gasoline (3 out of 5)-- Very middle of the road for me. Still good, better than your faves, just not remarkable in the context of the rest of this great album.
Criminal (5 out of 5)-- Another standout. Agree 100% with everyone who compared this with Britney's earlier work. Vocally, this is up there with "Trouble for Me" for strongest on the album, and has her reverting to a vocal style (her famous high-pitched warble) that she hasn't really used since "In The Zone." This song is classic Britney, and harkens back to a more innocent time in her career. Ends this album on a very strong note.
Overall, this album is easily one of Britney's best. Fan opinion seems to be that it wrestles with Blackout for the title of THE best, but both albums are good for different reasons. Femme Fatale is definitely a more cohesive and thought-out album than Blackout was. However, FF's highs don't really meet the genius that was Blackout's good moments. "Gimme More", "(Get Naked) I Gotta Plan", "Freakshow", and "Radar" all pretty much meet or beat the best of Femme Fatale. Blackout, however, did have some stinkers in "Hot as Ice", "Ooh Ooh Baby", and "Toy Soldier", whereas I feel Femme Fatales low moments aren't quite as bad, and definitely fit the album.
We won't even get into Circus.
Definitely the best Pop album of the year so far, and I think that only Gaga has a chance of really topping her (which I don't think will happen). Hell, I'll say Femme Fatale shits on every Pop album released LAST year.
I wish Britney was in a better place to give the album the promotion it deserves, but vocally it's a return to form for her. An extremely cohesive album, and at a time with most pop acts build their albums out of potential #1's, it's refreshing to see the biggest pop star of them all going down a different path and giving us a complete, cohesive effort.
(4 1/2 out of 5)
), Showdown, Oh Oh Baby, etc etc etc. I don't know how to describe them, really. But I got ultimately (and infinitely) hooked from the first listen. Femme Fatale doesn't have a lot of these tracks. I'd put Inside Out and Criminal among them. They're like a hybrid mysterious/melancholic tunes.