Record Review – a couple of roman candles

Britney Spears – Blackout LP (sonybmg)

Ms. Spears has made some poor decisions in the past year, the drink/drugs, the fanny-flashing (American visitors, read ‘cunt on show’) the MTV Awards and now the album cover. Look at it, surely a contender for worst picture ever to grace record stores since Hall and Oates. A fortnight ago, this album was set to mark another milestone in the decent of the pop starlet. Still only 25 years old and presumable seeking more control than ever over her life/career/children/status, Spears, it seems, has relinquished said control to the relevant parties.

It was expected that this would be too little too late for Spears; after a series of ropey releases and misjudged public performances her backers have fled (To imagine the recording studio resembling the dusty corn fields of her birthplace might not be a million miles away). Previous studio supervisor and current industry in-joke R Kelly is nowhere to be seen, any suggestions…? Gone too is Moby. Undoubtedly, these fickle entourages have previously helped her career but seemingly not their own. Comparatively Nate ‘Danja’ Hills has made his name – away from his mentor Timberland – as the finest producer at the controls, whilst providing Spears’ languishing career with a sharp shot of adrenaline.

Danja has driven the focus back to the robot-pop sought circa the release of her greatest hits. The beats are sleazy affairs; the absence of ballads allows the record to drive home the debauched sound and avoids any cringe worthy attempts to portray Spears as a mature version of the chaste sweetheart she initially set out to be.

With the exception of Pieces of Me the album is surprisingly un-egotistical. There have been musings this year that pop music needs to become fun again; Blackout accomplishes this without sanitising the subject or diluting the content.

Slow Club – Me and You 7″ (moshi moshi)

Sheffield based indie duo Slow Club play ditsy DIY to people who like knitwear. He is called Charles and she is called Rebecca, he plays thrift shop guitars whilst she stomps and whacks chairs and pots. Although they don’t date they are a perfect twee couple. This is their second single released by Moshi Moshi and they have an album due out in January. The sound is easy to digest and there aren’t many surprises. They’d be quite dull if it wasn’t for the novelty instruments, anyway they seem to do enough to keep the kids happy.

I’ve posted the video for the single, it was directed by a friend of mine, Nick Shaw – he is a nice man. My girlfriend wanted to be in this video as she was in the last one, unfortunately she can’t skate (or cycle for that matter), so she isn’t.