Britney Spears/In The Zone -- slice and dice here

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I really wasn't looking forward to this one, considering its awful cover artwork and the fact that even Madonna couldn't save "Me Against The Music" from my wrath, but there are nice things in there, like "Toxic," "Early Mornin'," "The Hook Up," and "Brave New Girl", with a lot of synth effects that give it a nice touch.

Best track: "Breathe On Me," hands down. Probably because it's essentially like a Kylie song. Actually, it sounds similar to "Come Into My World," but sexier. Very good.

The last track is a remix of "Me Against The Music," that comes off way better than the original, but nothing spectacular.

All in all, a nice mixture of rhythms and textures with a couple standard Britney ballads to fill in space. I noticed there are a lot of middle east touches scattered here and there through the record as well, but the album as a whole sounds better than I thought. That said, has Britney always sounded this nasal all the time?

Anyway. Download, take a listen and tell me what you think.

― Miggie (Miggie), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

most disappointing album cover ever

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

it looks like some locally produced cassingle from 1991

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

blount otm. is the album completely pharellified or more diverse?

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Madonna's performance in the video for "Me Against the Music" actually made me sorta sad. It just seemed so oddly desperate and awkward.

Why do people care about Britney Spears? I sincerely don't understand it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

TS:

vs.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

haha - Amateur!st so OTM..

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, the madonna part was uncalled for and kinda desperate. what a weak track, too.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

britney has ALWAYS had bad albums covers though!!

― goato mountington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

sho'nuff, but you can dream, can't you?

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

...or could it be that the '91 New Jack aesthetics revival starts HERE?!

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

That said, has Britney always sounded this nasal all the time?

!!!! Dude WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Save my pennies for the Greatest Hits, then. Can't be that far away.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

baaderist is right! the next brandy cover will be styled like this (we hope):
http://www.posterplanet.net/pictures/images/Jj2c1.jpg

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, what's up with the varrying pronunciations of the word "dance" in that single?

When Britney (backed by a choir of studio fabricated replicants) sings the hook, "LET ME SEE YOU DANCE", it sounds a bit like "DUNCE," whereas when Madonna reprises the chorus, she pronounces it "dance", ala "France", "pants" and "chance"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

you're getting pretty detailed in your critique, alex. not that you didn't make me laugh, though.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

What good is a critique if it doesn't pour over minutia?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

cover of first album wasnt bad?

― charltonlido (gareth), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

my thoughts exactly, charlton.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

The glimmering artificial "we are dance robots come to shimmy on your soul" quality of "Me Against The Music" is precisely what makes it work so well. No one does sexy dancing android better than Britney.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I think music in general at the moment could do with far fewer androids and far more humanity.

― Ian MacDonald Jr, Monday, 10 November 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Unless we're discussing.....

http://www.clubdevo.com/images/devophoto2Small.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

what are you going to be pouring over the minutiae?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

if it's butterscotch i am so there

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Artists emulating androids make all of my favorite music (with the notable exceptions of the post-punkers and Prince).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Bach, op. 412 Robotic Offering

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I am aware that I am gradually turning into the Melanie Phillips of ILx.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Bach's genius lies in his mastery of counterpoint; his stuff is DEEPLY logical once you wallow around in his language for a while.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I prefer illogical music.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Such as...?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

(This is the point in the thread where Dan asserts that 99% of all music is logical.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

logical yes but robots a bit anachronistic no?

still point taken

yes music is math basically

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Too many examples to list. I want to hear music which isn't afraid to change its mind halfway through, music which is uncertain and vulnerable. Music which can touch me and embrace me, rather than just stare at me coldly as if I'm not rich enough to come into the shop. The appeal of the alien/android/untouchable/indestructible pop star has waned for me. It worked last year but not now. Too damned sure of itself.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

amateurist - that argument is exactly the one Kant used to support his claim that music is the lesser of all the arts. do you agree?

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

no it is the greatest of the arts

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

is kant one of the producers on britney's new lp?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

What do you think of Mr. Bungle, Marcello?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i dont think any of the qualities marcello describes mitigate against music being fundamentally logical

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

ama> i'm afraid not, even though it would undoubtedly have been an interesting meeting between the two.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the problem here is that, far from being a big step forward artistically, which is clearly what Ms Spears is trying for, this album sounds confused, and Britney doesn't seem very confident. Why else would she call on Madonna to prop up an already quite good song?

Her last album was far better - it stands up quite well as a collection of pop songs of mostly the same variety with enough stylistic diversions to be entertaining all the way through - my own quibbles about leaving two of the project's best songs off the album aside.

This one feels like a scatterbrained each-way bet. A little here and there, but not everything sticks.

Having said that, "Outrageous" and "Breathe On Me" are very good. "I Got That (Boom Boom)" is terrible, and her having some buffoons yelp over it doesn't help at all.

I listen to Britney Spears because I like her voice when she sings pop songs. It's a nice voice for pop. She's forgotten that, she's trying to wave a magic wand that will turn her into some kind of genre-straddling collossus, doubtlessly inspired (jealousy?) by Christina, but at no point on this album, other than "Breathe On Me" does she sound comfortable. Some of the tracks that are good, like "Touch Of My Hand" and "Everytime" really could have been fantastic. I can't work out what's missing, but it feels unsatisfying, though at least it does remind me that her last album (or rather, the copy I made which substitutes "When I Found You" for "I'm Not A Girl" and "I Run Away" for "I Love Rock N Roll") is actually quite wonderful, and as an album, far better than any Madonna record.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a very good point to be made juxtaposing the logic of a chord progression against the illogic of throwing disjunct musical styles together in one song, whiplashing between tempos/volumes/textures/what have you.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The appeal of the alien/android/untouchable/indestructible pop star has waned for me. It worked last year but not now.

Hurrah! It's a bit tired anyway y now, with even Liberty X doin' it, but it's never been cogently explained to me why this was such a good thing anyway. Which doesn't make me a rockist, and I hope doesn't make MC I-Mac Jr (not that I dislike I-Mac, but it's a bit of a mantle).

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I have listened to this record and I can't detect within it any compelling reason why it had to be made, no palpable emotion or feeling which had to be expressed via this record, other than to allow Britney Spears to continue being "Britney Spears" for another 18 months. I don't mind showbiz, but not showbiz alone.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

that's true

i guess it's a mixture

thus the appeal of vintage instruments with their faltering tonalities

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

x-post

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Marcello, what type of emotions are you looking for? Perhaps you and she aren't speaking the same empathic language.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

i ask again: who produced the record? is it in pharelloscope or is it a more diverse thing?

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

britney's abandoned track w/ the dfa is the best thing she's ever done -- they fucked up by not tossing it on this album (which is very disappointing, the album i mean).

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 10 November 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Have you heard it, Yance? Where???

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

(xpost)

Just evidence of any emotion whatsoever. I can't derive any emotion from her. I can't see that she's speaking any language other than what's been fed into her by her producers, Alphabetti Spaghetti style. I kept waiting for the facade to drop and for whatever the "real" Britney is to come forward and tell us what she really believes - or maybe she genuinely does believe that we should all Trust Our President Whatever He Decides To Do. Empathy with "the kids" perhaps - but only twice removed.

If I were really Ian MacDonald, of course, I'd argue that these days I just prefer listening to grown-up music, even if made by eighteen-year-olds (though IMac would never have added that last codicil).

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, i did hear it. got hooked up with a listening session for the thing. sounded like the neptunes producing "love to love you baby" -- her vocal work on the thing is fucking stunning. no chorus, just chants and pants and BREATH!

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

If Britney Spears were the Gary Numan of her time/place/context she really could rule the world. As it is, I'm beginning to think she's the Classix Nouveaux.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

another withering parry

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd love to hear Britney attempt "I Die: You Die"

I wonder if she'd mimic the Numanoid pronunciation: "High Dai, Hayoy Dai!"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

If Britney Spears were the Gary Numan of her time/place/context she really could rule the world

But wdn't this involve *not* sounding like Numan? To be the equiv figure cd mean anything.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i ask again: who produced the record? is it in pharelloscope or is it a more diverse thing?

With a Google search I found out that:

"Me Against The Music" was co-written by Britney Spears and produced by Redzone. Britney Spears co-wrote 7 of the 13 songs on the album. Some of the producers/writers on the album include Moby ("Early Mornin'"), Bloodshy & Avant ("Showdown"), Guy Sigsworth ("Everytime") and R. Kelly ("Outrageous").

There you go.

― Miggie (Miggie), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

But wdn't this involve *not* sounding like Numan? To be the equiv figure cd mean anything

The comparison suggests itself partially because Numan was the supposed robot pop star whose work actually contains a huge range of emotions delivered in almost cryptic fashion (conveyed in both musical and lyrical/delivery terms, I'd say). And IF Britney could do that then maybe I'd be more interested in her beyond a song or two (then again there's also the ridiculous overrating of most of her hits in the first place, but I've already delivered the "'Oops' trumps 'Baby' as a single eight million ways to Sunday" rant elsewhere).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Some people of course continue to hold on to the unfashionable notion that Numan was a monstrously overrated Tory-voting ambulance chaser who had the career Howard Devoto should have had.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

But it doesn't make it any more right, Ned!
("Stronger" trumps your "Oops..." anyway anyday.. )

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I don't think there's anyone alive who disagrees with the "'Oops' trumps 'Baby'" rant.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the joy and variety of critical response, good Marcello. :-)

Ned, I don't think there's anyone alive who disagrees with the "'Oops' trumps 'Baby'" rant.

Let me clarify -- "Baby One More Time" is a hookless piece of garbage that I can't believe was a hit anywhere for anyone.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

What was that tune Stargate did for Samantha Mumba? It trumps both of them!

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 16:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Back to In The Zone, wasn't Xenomania supposed to have done a track? None of these 12 sound like it, so is this another different-regions-get-different tracks dealie?

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned why do you just make these arbitrary, indefensible judgments and then weirdly stick with them forever?? Are you that afraid to let any tiny crack show in the monolithic Raggett facade?

― //, Monday, 10 November 2003 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Let me clarify -- "Baby One More Time" is a hookless piece of garbage that I can't believe was a hit anywhere for anyone.

The not-so-little-any-more girls understand

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

that second to last post sounds like me but isnt!

bizarre

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

haha if only you knew who it was

― goato mountington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have the cd with me, so don't kno the producer's name

But 'Silly Ho' by TLC is a mammoth record, but I don't have a clue what the producer has done apart from it -- help.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey at least Ned has opinions and stands by them! Not like gee whiz android sexy fuckah wiley is better than the beatles pudendum studia!

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 10 November 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned why do you just make these arbitrary, indefensible judgments and then weirdly stick with them forever??

Among other things because I'll post under my own name about my admittedly-singular-and-not-meant-to-be-dogma opinions rather than second-guessing the motives of others anonymously while assuming I'm objectively right. Why do you ask?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Can somebody tell me who produced/co-wrote "Toxic"?

I love that song.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the title and the pic of her on the poster.

The title made me think of Pynchon.

I am not sure why that should be a good thing.

― the pinefox, Monday, 10 November 2003 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Let me clarify -- "Baby One More Time" is a hookless piece of garbage that I can't believe was a hit anywhere for anyone.

this is the single most ridiculous thing i have ever read on ILM. 'Baby One More Time' is one of the very best pop tunes of the 1990ies. the impeccably pre-horny max martin production, the hookline, britney's longing vibrato voice, everything is perfect here. this song shits on everything she's made since (i admit that 'i'm a slave 4U' is pretty good, too, but that's more a neptunes song to me.

shame on you, ned!

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Big yawner through and through, sorry Jay Kid. That's why they're opinions and that's why they differ. Trying to 'shame' me into liking something is ridiculous and you know it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

What is a "longing vibrato voice"? A voice that desperately cries out for vibrato?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i was born to make you happy is still her best single

― charltonlido (gareth), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

i assumed you could see the tongue-in-cheek here. what i was trying to say was: i disagree very with you very radically. so, please enlighten me: which of her songs are better and why???

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i assumed you could see the tongue-in-cheek here

These days I can't be sure sometimes!

which of her songs are better and why???

To use the "Oops" example -- I always knew I liked it better partially for the chorus but Citizen Kate nailed it for me when she called attention to the bassline. Now them's good stuff. "Lucky" is a ridiculously-over-the-top-and-works hyperballad, "Slave" is one of the few times the Neptunes actually work for me, etc.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

(The hilarious thing is that "Oops" and "Baby" are pretty much the same song.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Slave" is one of the few times the Neptunes actually work for me

?!?!?!?!!!

― goato mountington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

ned, you never cease to amaze me

― goato mountington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Goato, when HAVEN'T I said that the Neptunes are overrated?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

b-but "slave"?!?!

― goato mountington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan OTM -- I thought that was what everyone said at the time.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

oops is baby done better though. baby is good of course. but oops transcends

― charltonlido (gareth), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"Slave" is one of the few times the Neptunes actually work for me

Apocalypse is clearly upon us.

― Miggie (Miggie), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

oops is baby done better though

OTM. Also the title "Oops! I Did It Again" is HUGE source of crass comedy.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

To use the "Oops" example -- I always knew I liked it better partially for the chorus but Citizen Kate nailed it for me when she called attention to the bassline.

That's funny, because to me, 'Baby One More Time' -> 'Crazy' -> 'Oops' is one long and painful downward spiral, starting at the top and ending at the joyless and tired. i'm thinking of both the production and the playfulness of the lyrics here.

the bassline on 'oops' is fine, but that doesn't in my opinion make it up for that perfect pop song that 'Baby' is:
1) The chorus is just so universal and great, and it gets turned around in the end in a really simple though clever way ('oops tries to pull off the same stunt, btw, but this time, we'ew prepared and the effect is almost disappointing).
2) 'Hit Me Baby' - she is balancing very cleverly on the edge between hip hop street slang and S/M-references (in contrast to her schoolgirl image).
3) Her voice is really great here, deep in the breakdown and with a great, longing quality.
4) The Max Martin production is blatant and shameless - those keyboard SMASHES that introduce the chorus blow me away.
5) The whole song is such a great dementia of her public image as little miss prudence.

Well, I rest my case, just had to get it out.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

(The hilarious thing is that "Oops" and "Baby" are pretty much the same song.)

This is exactly why 'Baby' is the better of the two. The other is a mindless and disappointing copy.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Or a vast improvement on an indifferent template?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

You decide!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

'Baby' can't be improved. it is perfect as it is.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"Baby" would be improved if the vocal line was over the beat from Tricky's "Overcome".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

bootleg!

― goato mountington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

are you getting all academic on my ass here?
:-)

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

in "Me Against The Music," when she says "I wanna get in the zone", is she saying she wants to buy her own album?

― Al (sitcom), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I think she's saying she wants to play with her clitoris until she achieves orgasm.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Hehehehehehehehe ...

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

- that was directed at al. i'm no perv. at least not in public.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"i was born to make you happy is still her best single"

YES

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know if I've ever got Britney, I don't hate her or even dislike anything she's done but I find it hard to like also. Me Against The Music is ruined by the awful Madonna lines and also the way when she does the quickly rapped word part the way she says "zaaaaaaawone" instead of "zone" is awful and wrecks the most exciting part of the song for me. If she just said "zone", it would be cool.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Tim you will lovelovelove Everytime! Also probably "Breathe On Me" which has a lovely loping euro-trance thing.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Also "Showdown" is like a Jaxxx production circa Rooty.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Fuck it my "kooky" concept review is that this is entirely a Basement Jaxxx album, although one written for Mel. C.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

ok... pinefox OTM! yes the cover is 80s cassingle etc but like it's ok when it's luomo's 'strategy' yeah?

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 09:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Prima it's the font and colour that look cheap, not the shot itself.

Sterling I will look out for those tracks.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 09:48 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll cede it might go a bit too far and deaden the ambiguity and whatnot but it's not without value. this comeback ws prob always doomed and this kind of engages with it

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

oh i dunno. i never said i was subtle!

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 10:45 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

Toxic and I Got That (Boom Boom) are excellent.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Holy crap, I just downloaded a few of these songs *finally*... in 30 seconds "In the Zone" is my new favorite song. I can't believe it.

There's no hope for me now!

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 23:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok, the bridge is weak.

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

the way she says "zaaaaaawone" makes the song!

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 23:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"Toxic" is up next; jesus the Jeff Lynne gone demented strings! This one's pretty great too...

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Britney herself is making no impression, but christ the production!

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"In the Zone" kind of sounds inspired by Yello's "Bostitch" in the chorus.

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"In the Zone" is actually called "Me Against the Music", sorry.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 27 November 2003 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Where are the sitars, where are the guitars recorded backwards, where are the typical psychedelic backing vocals (you know, like the ones in "Magical Mystery Tour"), where are the lyrics about pink elephant flying through marshmallow skies? Where are the nursery-rhyme-like melodies? Where are the mellotrons?

― Geirvald Hongfjeld jr., Thursday, 27 November 2003 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

She's forgotten that, she's trying to wave a magic wand that will turn her into some kind of genre-straddling collossus, doubtlessly inspired (jealousy?) by Christina, but at no point on this album, other than "Breathe On Me" does she sound comfortable. Some of the tracks that are good, like "Touch Of My Hand" and "Everytime" really could have been fantastic. I can't work out what's missing, but it feels unsatisfying

Exactly... it's as if Britney desperately wants to become something IMPORTANT with this album (presumably after watching Xtina's multiple reinventions and subsequent success), but a) doesn't quite know what and b) doesn't quite know how. So she's snogged Madonna, got her on as a guest, and thinks that's enough.

Which is a pity, as almost all the songs are excellent - certainly there's a higher proportion of good pop here than on Stripped - but Britney's lack of confidence paralyses it. Nothing's quite as out-there as Xtina's "Make Over", or as shamelessly egotistic/real as "Beautiful". It's as if Xtina's stolen all the personalities a pop starlet can go through and there's nothing left for Britney.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 27 November 2003 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, I haven't heard this yet but anyone who says there isn't a large amount of good pop on_Stripped_ REALLY needs to listen to it again.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 28 November 2003 05:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i said that about 'stripped' and i haven't listened to it since!

'in the zone' may be britney under-achieving, or whatever - idunno really, i've only heard the singles from the other three albums - but it sounds a lot better to these ears than xtina's divaing.

or, uh, the pop on 'stripped' might be good but i can't get past the voice. i can appreciate her vocal range and all that, i just don't wanna hear it. so i'll choose little or no range on decent production every time. but i'm punk as fuck, so...y'know...blah...

what i mean is 'IN THE ZONE' ROOLZ!!!

― brian badword (badwords), Friday, 28 November 2003 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

There is a large amount of great pop on Stripped... just a lot of blah balladeering as well, which you don't get as much of on In The Zone. So proportionally there's more great pop on ITZ, but I think everything on it is trumped by "Make Over", "Dirrty", "Fighter", "Get Mine Get Yours", "Can't Hold Us Down" and "Beautiful".

Brian is right to an extent about Xtina's diva-ing, it's mighty impressive when it actually gels with the song but over 20 songs becomes a bit too overwhelming.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 28 November 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I still haven't heard _In The Zone_ yet but I have no problem believing Alex's analysis.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 28 November 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

What's worse, trying too hard and embarrassingly falling flat on your face (Christina) or not trying at all (Britney)? That's what 'it' (i.e. the Christina vs Britney matchup) ultimately boils down to. Me, I just prefer not to think about 'it'. I find it a lot easier to forget that these two lame-o's even exist and just revel in the natural charm of, say, Hilary Duff.

― Iam Anonentity, Friday, 28 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Hilary Duff? FOUL EVIL BEGONE FROM MY SIGHT!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 29 November 2003 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Hilary Duff has natural charm? Surely that would involve having a personality in the first place?

I don't think Xtina ever falls embarrassingly flat on her face... when Stripped stumbles it's never because it over-reaches (it's when she DOES over-reach - "Make Over", "Fighter" - that Xtina's at her best.)

I still don't understand why In The Zone underwhelms me when the songs are so good. I've just realised that "Outrageous" ("outrageous! my sex drive! outrageous! my shopping spree!") was written by R Kelly...

― The Lex (The Lex), Saturday, 29 November 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Can we get somemore "Everytime" love on this thread!? Its such an incredible heartbreak track.

I wanna cry everytime I hear it.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 29 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

The strings on "Toxic" are my sound effect of the month. I must have listened to this song 20 times already.

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 29 November 2003 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Hilary Duff has a distinctive personality for a teen idol. While she's bright, pretty and bubbly, she can also act a little goofy at times, and her goofiness doesn't grate because it doesn't seem phoney. Say what ye want, but Hilary is 'just being herself' way more than anyone else in pop right now.

What sort of a distinctive personality does Christina have anyway, apart from always acting in way that seems to say "Look at me! LOOK AT ME!!!"? Most pop stars have interchangeable personalities anyway. Pink is the same as Avril (faux rebellion), Christina is the same as Britney (faux sexual abandon & debauchery), etc ..

― Iam Anonentity, Saturday, 29 November 2003 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Notice me
Take my hand
Why are we?
Strangers when
Our love is strong
Why carry on without me?
Everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, it's haunting me
I guess I need you baby
I make believe
That you are here
It's the only way
I see clear
What have I done
You seem to move on easy
And Everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, your haunting me
I guess I need you baby
I may have made it rain
Please forgive me
My weakness caused you pain
And this song is my sorry
At night I pray
That soon your face
Will fade away

And everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, your haunting me
I guess I need you baby

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 29 November 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Pedophiles.

― Whatever, Sunday, 30 November 2003 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

THe only pedophile is the Hillary Duff fan, and that's assuming he/she is over 17 AND we're all perving nonstop, which to my knowledge hasn't happened on this thread (I make no claims for other threads).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 30 November 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Xtina has multiple personalities! As shown in each of her last five videos! And only one of them involves debauched skanked-up ho-ness, and the best thing about 'Dirrty' of course was that it may well have been the most authentic thing she'd one at that point.

If we were paedophiles (or indeed lusting over Britney), "Touch Of My Hand" (aka The One About Wanking) would've been mentioned sooner... but it is definitely a high point of In The Zone, if only because it's so BLATANT about it all.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 1 December 2003 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

http://villagevoice.com/issues/0349/clover.php

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Brave New Girl is much better than Breathe On Me.

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

ok sterl, i'm getting it tonight.

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 03:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, that review sold me. I'm gonna pick it up.

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 03:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I just realized why I like "Brave New Girl" so much: It's a lot like Vitamin C's "She Talks About Love"

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I hope Toxic is a single. (because I would love to see what they do for that video)

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 06:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I bought the album, and I'm so glad I did; there's some great stuff on here. The Matrix produced track is the worst one I think, but that's just after one play. "Me Against the Music" may still be my favorite; it flopped, didn't it? But she's no Madonna, not that anyone would confuse the two. Even when Madge played disco dolly she was all overwhelming personality; even at her best (and Britney is competent throughout) Brit only sounds like a robot, albeit a sexy one that dances well.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 11 December 2003 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"Toxic" is fantastic. However, the version I downloaded seems to start in media res -- is this how it is on the album, or did I get a wonky version?

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 11 December 2003 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

TOXIC is my favorite song of the moment, it's a hit of ecstacy.

― reo, Tuesday, 6 January 2004 06:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I still don't know the answer to my question.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 06:37 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

the one I downloaded is only mono, and Yay the video is great!
Thanks Joseph Kahn!

― A Nairn (moretap), Saturday, 31 January 2004 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Sterling was right: "Breathe On Me" and "Everything" are my favourite tracks. "Brave New Girl" is v. good but the idea of Madonna circa "Material Girl" and Madonna circa "Music" getting together to cover that Cowgirl song from a few years ago kinda unnerves me.

I really like "The Hook Up" too! "Showdown" could do with a bigger chorus but is also very nice.

What's the current single?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 20 May 2004 08:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The current single is "Everytime". I'm convinced that not releasing "Brave New Girl" as a single is a big mistake - I played it in the (student newspaper) office, and while normally everyone does their best to ignore my music, this got a sterling reaction - the best I've seen since I played "Toxic" at the start of the year, certainly. I like "Breathe On Me", but it doesn't have that novelty what-the-fuck factor that "Brave New Girl" does.

Madonna circa "Material Girl" and Madonna circa "Music" covering "Legend Of A Cowgirl" THEN TURNING INTO DAFT PUNK ROBOTS!

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah but there's that law about third singles being ballads. "Brave New Girl" should be fourth single, split with "Shadow" for maximum law-abiding points.

I really like "Don't Hang Up" too. Guy Sigsworth is a good pop producer I think - he plugs into that post-William Orbit mould really well. (hey does anyone know if that Frou Frou album was good?)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:41 (twenty-one years ago)

This is sounding much better now it's HOT.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a six-track promo of that Frou Frou album, it was decent enough but I haven't listened to it since. Imogen Heap's voice grates after a while. But now it's summer, so I'll dig it out after the exams.

I totally planned out the perfect singles schedule for In The Zone: "Toxic", "Outrageous", "Everytime", "Brave New Girl", "Touch Of My Hand" - the last one just in time to be Xmas No 1 in the UK.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha I used to own and enjoy the Imogen Heap *solo album* (I think I still have it somewhere actually). How odd.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm really getting her confused with Amanda Ghost now. I can't remember which (if either) of them was good. I'm sure one of them had at least one superlative song.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Imogen's singles were "Getting Scared" and "Come Here Boy". Actually she had this amazing self-produced and largely instrumental b-side called "Wireless" that was kinda halfway between Tori's "Datura" and, I dunno, DJ Shadow's "Blood on the Motorway" or something.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 20 May 2004 09:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Instrumental Imogen would be GREAT. "Datura" = most underrated Tori Amos song ever, in a parallel universe it would've become a cult ILM favourite - the SYNTHS in the chorus!

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah I really like "Datura". But "Wireless" is even better. It kinda made me sad to see that she was becoming a vocalist in a trip-hop duo. Like wtf that ain't your talent girl.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha Alex half the threads I'm posting to on ILM these days are private conversations with you.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, ditto, you are single-handedly managing to destroy my revision schedule (a good thing obv). (And the temptation to post sarky comments about the new Streets album isn't helping!)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

(also - feel free to email etc, though replies may be sporadic at best for the next week)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 20 May 2004 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

the album is good but i dont listen to it as much as i shd because i bought it on cassette just cos cassette goes so perfectly with the album art :/

― jeremy jordan (cruisy), Thursday, 20 May 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw a video from this album on TRL (channel surfing) and I couldn't bring myself to watch it because:

- it sounded like it was going to be a shitty balad
- the video had the terrible cliche of her getting out of limo and walking past fans

― 24 hours with the King of Snake. (SNAKE!) (ex machina), Thursday, 20 May 2004 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Well she isn't going to be driving over her fans in a Humvee or anything, is she?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 May 2004 11:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I own that Frou Frou album, but I have no idea where it is, and apart from a vague recollection that I sort of liked it, I can't recall what it sounds like at all.

― minolta (minolta), Thursday, 20 May 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I kept getting asked by various people 2 summers back if I'd heard Frou Frou, like it mattered. Either way, they never sounded too great.

I think Imogen is vaguely affiliated with an electro-pop band started by one of my best mate's bro and his friend right now.

― Barima (Barima), Friday, 21 May 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Is "Toxic" indication of a new melodicism in pop music?

I mean this at least half seriously. It seems a little more involved, melodically, than most of the Top 40/chart pop commonly embraced here.

(Granted, any time I comment on current pop music, there's a chance I am speaking utter nonsense, due to inadequate familiarity, but I thought I'd give this a try anyway.)

And I'm not saying that's the songs only strength. Yes, it has rhythmic and timbrel (sp?) strengths as well.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 23 June 2004 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

six months pass...

Ha I used to own and enjoy the Imogen Heap *solo album* (I think I still have it somewhere actually). How odd.

I just heard a demo from her forthcoming solo record. "Hide and Seek" is basically a vocoderpella ballad! beautiful. I was wondering if it was the new Daft Punk til I called the radio station.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 15 January 2005 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Spencer I always say this but you should try to track down this instrumental b-side she did called "Wireless", which is like one of the better moments from the second DJ Shadow album, really amazing intense stuff.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 15 January 2005 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

what's that in english ?
is it ironic her initials are b.s. and so is her music.

― the 3rd ying yang twin, Sunday, 16 January 2005 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, that is very ironic.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 16 January 2005 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Who produced Breathe On Me and Toxic?

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 01:14 (twenty-one years ago)

"Breathe On Me" was produced by Mark Taylor (don't know who he is - ace track though!). "Toxic" was done by Bloodshy & Avant (who also did Christina Milian's "AM to PM" and "When You Look At Me"), but co-written by Cathy Dennis, who also co-wrote "Can't Get You Out Of My Head".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.