Album of the Week
Britney Spears
“Britney Jean”
★
“Perfume” and “Work Bitch” were certainly bad enough, but those lead singles now sound like poetry composed by the gods compared to the banal rubbish that is crammed onto “Britney Jean.”
She was never much of a singer, but hearing Britney morphing herself into a horribly auto-tuned dance diva for her eighth album creates a bigger problem than the one she’s trying to solve. “It Should Be Easy” features the ever-awful will.i.am, and together, they warble robotically between bursts of lackluster EDM and a funk bass line that sounds like it was stolen from an ’80s video game. “Til It’s Gone” finds her repeating the main hook so many times, you can feel yourself getting dumber the longer you listen.
The album does hide a few passable features. “Passenger” is a striding and catchy track (thanks to writing contributions from Sia, Katy Perry and Diplo); opener “Alien” has an appealing, psychedelic-pop feel. And the fact that the whole album is only 36 minutes long has to count as a plus. At least the pain doesn’t last too long.
After being America’s sweetheart for so long, there’s still plenty of good will for Britney, but it won’t last long if “Britney Jean” is the best she can come up with.
Downloads of the Week
Beyoncé
“God Made You Beautiful”
★
If you have $15 that you’re looking to waste, buying a copy of Beyoncé’s HBO documentary “Life Is But a Dream” on DVD is one way to do it. As part of the deal, you’ll also get a download of this predictably sappy, piano-led ode to baby Blue Ivy. “When you were born/The angels sighed in delight” is just a snippet of the nauseating lines uttered in the song. We get it, Bey — you love your daughter. Now where’s that new album?
Jake Owen
“Days of Gold”
★
In recent interviews, Florida country star Jake Owen has mentioned his desire to write country songs that don’t all sound the same. On the strength of his fourth album, “Days of Gold” (and this title track in particular), that goal is still a long way off. An all-too-familiar twang and lyrics about beer and barbecue prevail. It’s not bad per se, just painfully clichéd.
Glen Hansard
“Drive All Night”
★★½
On recent tours, the Irish singer covered this Springsteen cut so successfully that it has earned its own release as the lead and title track of a new four-song EP. It’s the undoubted highlight thanks to subtle backing vocals from Eddie Vedder and yearning solos from E Street Band saxophonist Jake Clemons. The Springsteen fanboy inside Hansard serves him well here.
bEEdEEgEE
“(F.U.T.D.) Time of Waste”
★★★
The debut solo album “SUM/ONE” from bEEdEEgEE (a k a Brian DeGraw of Brooklyn trendsetters Gang Gang Dance) is an often-bewildering electronica experiment. But on this track, featuring Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor and CSS’ Lovefoxxx, it all makes sense. Squelchy beats and Taylor’s soothing croon build to create a slacker anthem powerful enough to move even the laziest of behinds.