What is Britney like. She had everything to play for. Starting out as media darling and pop queen - something that most other little starlets would have killed for. Her killer band of electro-pop ensured massive sales and hit single after hit single in the late 90s and early 00s. But recently, she seemed to have gone a bit mad. And the papparazzi dont really do her any favours. Turning up on a jaunt to catch her every stupid move. So it was with a bit of reservation that I checked out this album.

I half expected Blackout to be a disaster. After all, she seems to have lost all reality recently. And then before I'd even heard lead single "Gimme More" last year, the MTV fiasco hit the headlines and it seemed that she had finally killed her career. So who would have guessed that the lead single would have been another hooky slice of electro pop with a killer chorus that would have us all hitting the dance floor. The seedy pole-dancing video was nowhere near as tacky as you would think, and despite having no hair for a while, she actually looked pretty good.

Britney generally sticks to one or two sounds, and it can make for a repetivive album. Blackout is no different. But what she gets right is the strength of the songs. And to say that some must be a bit auto-biographical is an understatement. But kudos to Britney for getting it right where it matters - in her music. The rest shouldn't matter. Unfortunately, when she seems to expose her personal life all over the shop, its pretty difficult not to give the media something to report. And when we're all ready to soak up the tragic events of every mega-star through the media, we cant really complain when we get it. But somebody really needs to take her by the hand, and give her a good talking to.

For the rest of the album's part, it does exactly what it should. Hitting all the right pop notes, and touching on an urban sound here and there. New single "Piece Of Me" is a bit more cutting edge than the last single, but nowhere near as catchy. Its a strange choice for the follow up single, as there are far catchier and stronger numbers to have. Toy Soldier and Radar are terrific R&B flavoured pop, and Perfect Lover is a fitting close to the album. Dismiss the drab Why Should I Be Sad, and Heaven On Earth, and its as near a perfect pop album as we've had recently. And whereas the self-referential lyrics should have been nauseating, they actually give you some insight into the mind of one of pop's most troubled stars.