REVIEWSBritney Spears, ‘Femme Fatale’

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• SPIN Rating:7 of 10

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Release Date: March 29, 2011
Label: Jive

Britney Spears' seventh album starts with the Ke$ha-cowritten disco banger "Till the World Ends," her first truly synapse-sizzling single since "Toxic." And producers Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Bloodshy & Avant keep their synth patches set on stun for a barrage of club jams about wild nights (that the singer apparently can't enjoy anymore). A few adventurous loops and gauzy midtempo moments stand out -- the dubstep meltdown on "Hold It Against Me," will.i.am's wackadoo beatfest "Big Fat Bass." But ignore the lyrics, Spears sounds even more like a programmed Britbot than on 2007's Blackout.