Track Listing:

1. Me Against The Music (Feat. Madonna)
2. (I Got That) Boom Boom (Feat. Ying Yang Twins)
3. Showdown
4. Breathe On Me
5. Early Mornin'
6. Toxic
7. Outrageous
8. Touch Of My Hand
9. Hook Up
10. Shadow
11. Brave New Girl
12. Everytime
13. Me Against The Music (Feat. Madonna) (Richi Rich's Desi Kulcha Remix)
14. The Answer (Bonus Track)
15. Don't Hang Up (Bonus Track)

I was eagerly looking forward to "In the Zone" ever since Britney announced that she was taking a year long break from the music industry. I had a pre-release listen to "Me Against The Music" on AOL Music and felt disappointed - it seemed fairly insubstantial and airy. Madonna's impact on the song seemed limited and I thought it was a weak release for a single, especially since the first single from an album is usually the strongest.

However, "Me Against The Music" turned out to be a second "Slave 4 U" for me. When I first heard Slave 4 U, I absolutely hated it - probably since it was such a sudden and marked departure from the teen Britney, whose soft pop songs, "Sometimes", "Lucky" and "Oops, I Did It Again" were completely devoid of suggestion and displayed no overt display of her sexuality. Slave 4 U is easily my favourite Britney track, (although Toxic is a close contender) with Me Against the Music and perhaps to a greater degree, "(I Got That) Boom Boom featuring the Ying Yang twins having faint echoes of the Neptunes produced tracks from Britney's third self-titled album, "Britney".

Britney's latest offering certainly has a more eclectic range of songs, taking influences from around the globe, with almost as many producers as there are songs. "Showdown" has a sexy rhythm to it, with an r n' b inspired pop quality to it. The line, "I don't really mean to be a tease, but would you undo my zipper please?" would probably have most parents running for the stop button - this album is an extension of the sexy, mature Britney that has evolved since her third album. Devout fans of teen pop Britney from her first two albums who recoiled in horror at "Slave 4 U" and "Boys" will probably find little to satisfy them on "In The Zone".

Fourth track, "Breathe On Me" is definitely video and single worthy material, with a sultry heart-like beat pumping in the background. The whole song has a slower, pop base to it, with Britney sticking to her in-song exploration of her sexuality.

The Moby produced track, "Early Mornin'" is another track that took a few listens to get used to. There is a calm melodic quality to the song which seems to reflect Moby's involvement, although the song also has a constant drum beat to it that is in-keeping with Britney's faux r n' b songs of the past. Britney also indulges in a brief spat of rapping, which is mercifully suitable for the song and very understated.

"Toxic" is pure unadulterated pop, and bound to be a song that united both old and new Britney fans. A stand out track on the album, a video and cd single release was inevitable and is the current release from Britney. Written by Cathy Dennis, who was also part of the team behind writing "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" for Kylie Minogue, this has the same pure pop beat success stamped all over it. The delicious 70's twist to the song, which when coupled with the fantastic video (Where Britney goes through so many costume changes that Cher must be flushed with jealousy) makes "Toxic" definite Number 1 quality in the UK singles chart and is bound to help shift a lot of copies of the album.

The R Kelly produced "Outrageous" is for me a bit of a mixed bag. Perhaps this is my subconcious working again, but I'm not a fan of Mr Kelly's and I usually find myself skipping over this track. There's nothing inherently wrong with it at all, but the beat doesn't quite meld for me. Having R Kelly produce is definitely an eclectic string to Britney's bow on the album and should satisy those who are looking for a different sound from her.

I really like, "Touch Of My Hand" which is if weren't for the subject matter I would say would be worthy of a single release. The song is deceptively soft and gentle, with an almost spring like quality of growth and self-awareness about it. Perhaps that was the intention, since the song is essentially about masturbation. Of course Britney doesn't say the dreaded "M" word, but the overtones are far from subtle. It is soft and gentle and whilst I am certain that many people are going to be more than willing to play the outrage card, it is far from vulgar or obscene. This is, in fact, Britney at one of her least shocking and ovetly sexual.

"The Hook Up" is a fun Jamaican dance inspired tune. Probably more of a filler than an outstanding song in its own right, it helps highlight the worldwide influence of "In The Zone" It's hard to dislike the song and definitely summons an image of a beach party in the Caribbean. Or my twisted version of it anyway.

"Shadow" is one of the two ballad like tracks on the album and one of my favourites. I think it is definitely worth a single release, if not just to remind people that Britney can do slow, sweeping songs. I'll be the first to admit that Britney doesn't have the best voice in the world, but "Shadow" really does prove that she can do ballads and following the chart success of "Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" in the UK (It reached Number 2 in the singles chart, her highest chart placing for a song released on her "Britney" album) it would seem to make sense for her to release it. but then I thought she should release "Cinderella" and what happened with that? Sheesh.

"Brave New Girl" is functional pop and makes a nice addition to the album, although perhaps cutting it wouldn't be a tragedy. It's certainly not bad, but no so good that omitting it would be a crime. It's fun, happy pop - perhaps something for the younger Britney fans.

The second ballad on the album, "Everytime" doesn't have quite the same appeal as "Shadow". Britney squeals out the lines during the verses, although she does a sterling job when it comes to the chorus. The Justin references in the song might make it perfect mainstream fodder for a single release though.

The Richi Rich's Desi Kulcha Remix of, "Me Against The Music" is easily the best of the remixes that were released on single. It has a funky Indianesque beat to it, presumably added to further the global flavour of the album.

Since I have the British version of the album, I picked the imported version to review. (although they will doubtless become available on CD in the States sooner or later) The first of the bonus tracks, "The Answer" is easily the best and more than worthy of being a main track on the album. I was very disappointed by the weakness of the additional tracks on the Extended UK version of "Oops I Did It Again", but "The Answer is a very strong song, with a sultry clapping back beat and a calm conga drum like rhythm, with Britney rasping about the answer to, "who will hold me tight, keep me warm through the night, who will give me love 'till I'm satisfied". Britney really sizzles in this track and it's addition is a real plus for the album.

"Don't Hang Up" is pure filler material. On a fairly strong album this really sticks out as a weak track and feels like a detrimental step back for Britney. The lyrics are fairly weak and the bizarrely 80's zapping noises and monotonous music do no favours for the song. It will, no doubt, appeal to some and can definitely be said to be unique on the album.

Put it on again. At first listen this really is a mixed bag. Much like her previous album, I was a bit bewildered. "Toxic", "Breathe On Me" and "Me Against The Music" were stand out tracks from the word go, but the rest definitely took a few repeat listenings to. Britney is much more mature on this album and sounds much more settled in the songs that she sings. She may not have complete autonomy over the direction of her songs or career, but she clearly has more control now than ever.

Britney has come in for some harsh criticism, both over her career and her personal life. Perhaps the bizarrest criticism is that she is desperate to get her 'flagging' career going again by employing Madonna, mentioned by both a MSN reviewer and a TV presenter in the UK. Since she took a year off from music, she has little publicity and by definition, had no need to work on her career. A career is hardly flagging if someone takes a break that they have chosen from it.

Britney may be deserving of some of the flak that she gets, although she hardly courts media attention. Forget what you think you know of her, and give the album a listen in a nearby music store even if you don't end up buying it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

It's a grown up Britney. The hatred directed toward her because of her new direction is astounding; she has more websites dedicated to hating her than Saddam Hussein! Children bemoan that she is 'betraying' them with her racier image - although in short, her music is aging with her and attempting to appeal to the young twenty year olds that were in their teens when "Baby, One More Time" was released.

This is an eclectic album, although not so eclectic that it is just too busy. With different producers and writers and with Britney taking some writing credit herself for the first time, this is a must for any Britney fan and a good CD to add to any self-respecting pop fan's collection.

The bottom line is, if you're convinced you don't like Britney, you won't like this. It is a step forward from "Britney" with a more diverse sound, but if you didn't like Britney you might not go for "In The Zone". For all the girls out there who hate her because she is a 'whore' or a 'slut' - listen to the music, and not your own insecurities.

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Created Feb 27, 2004 at 3:06pm • Submit your own review...