Top 20 Albums Of 2013: 18-17

18. Britney Spears - Britney Jean



It’s amazing that, after all these years, I can still feature a Britney Spears album on my countdown. While she’s never reached the artistic highs of some other pop divas, she’s remained remarkably consistent in delivering high wattage sugar rushes. Sure, I guess you could call this album more “personal,” but it’s the big pop moments that really stand out for me. And the best part is that instead of hitting you immediately and quickly wearing out their welcome, I found that the album was actually a grower.

17. Hedley - Wild Life



Canada’s best (only?) Idol-spawned rock band came back this year with a bid for the pop charts, offering a grab bag of expertly delivered sounds of the moment, from neo-disco to folk to plain old pop punk. It’s not always original, but it’s certainly never boring. More than anything, though, it’s a blast to hear an established, tight band like this loosening up and playing around with some new sounds.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 50-46

50. Studio Killers - All Men Are Pigs



Like a cheeky playground taunt, this breezy pop song quickly cements itself in your brain.

49. CL - The Baddest Female



2NE1 leader goes solo, offering a playful swagger that's more like a nursery rhyme than a pop song.

48. Blitzkids Mvt - Heart On The Line



Smooth, funky and undeniably cool. Kind of like what Madonna would sound like if she'd go a bit indie.

47. PSY - Gentleman 



The follow-up was never going to be another Gangnam Style level success, but it's another superbly produced party track to add to his impressive catalogue.

46. Britney Spears - Work Bitch 



Surprisingly campy effort from a pop princess that seems to finally embrace her inherent silliness. The throbbing dance beat doesn't hurt either.

Britney Spears - 'Til It's Gone

"You never know what you got 'til it's gone"

Let's just pause a moment and remark on the fact that Britney Spears remains a viable pop star fourteen years after bursting on the scene with Baby One More Time. It's really pretty amazing that she's managed to outlast so many others, especially since her vocals are not known to be spectacular. What she's done so successfully, though, is become a muse for fantastic pop producers. More often than not (especially in her more recent songs), she sounds like the guest on her own tracks, her vocals shifted and sliced and caressed to fit whatever awesome production her collaborators have given her. And while she does a lot more "singing" on her new album, it's still those massive productions that are the standouts. Nothing's bigger than 'Til It's Gone, with its huge sledgehammer beat and ultra processed vocals. It's an awesome example of Britpop (and not the UK version) at its best.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Top Ten Singles By... Britney Spears

Now that Britney's a judge on X-Factor USA (which you should be watching, by the way), I thought it would be a fitting time to look back at her surprisingly extensive catalogue. I'm not sure I'd ever point to her as being a real musical "artist," but that doesn't mean that she hasn't released some excellent pop music in the last thirteen years.

10. Overprotected (2002) - From my personal favorite album of hers (and the most overlooked), this re-calibrated the Max Martin sound just enough to stand out as an edgier, more urban direction for her.

9. Everytime (2004) - My favorite Spears ballad. The spare, haunting piano draws you in even before the melody starts. It's restrained, sad, and very memorable.

8. Born To Make You Happy (1999) - One of the many pure pop moments on her debut, this was only released as a single internationally. It's a pity. Even though the lyrics are cringeworthy, the glossy melody is sonic bliss.

7. I Wanna Go (2011) - It's the damned whistles! I loved this from the moment I heard it. So catchy, yet it doesn't try too hard. This is a producer's showcase, but the production is ace.

6. Piece Of Me (2007) - Released during her... troubled years... this was co-written by none other than Klas Åhlund, famous for his work with Swedish pop legend Robyn. In fact, Robyn even provided backing vocals. That explains why it's so smart and engaging.

5. Oops!... I Did It Again (2000) - After ...Baby One More Time, Britney had to release something just as huge in order to stay relevant. This wasn't quite up to par--being much more novelty in nature--but it still stands as one of her indelible classics, delivering a one two punch when combined with the aforementioned Time.

4. Toxic (2004) - A much needed sonic change for her. At the time, the combination of surf guitars and glossy pop sounded practically revolutionary. It still holds up well today.

3. Sometimes (1999) - So. Freaking. Cheesy. But you know what? You just can't deny that melody. It's pop that doesn't care about being cool or reinventing the wheel. Instead, it focuses on being relentlessly singalong and one of the sweetest, least-calculated moments in her career.

2. I'm A Slave 4 U (2001) - Her first major reinvention, and it was a slam dunk. This time, Britney took inspiration from one of her idols, Janet Jackson, and went for an edgier, more urban sound that was at once more subtle and much more mature. This still sounds amazing in 2012.

1. ...Baby One More Time (1998) - Her first, and still her best. I mean, come on! How can you argue against something like this. It's turned from song to statement to the stuff of cheesy pop legends.

So there you go! But here's the thing, no list is complete without hearing what you think! Leave your top ten Britney Spears songs in the comments!

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 40-36

40. Jedward - Lipstick



Jedward in the top 50? Yep, they finally released a song worthy of their bonkers brilliance. If only it had won Eurovision.

39. Britney Spears - I Wanna Go



When we're talking pop music, there's no denying the little earworms in this song. Honestly, it's less about Britney and more about the brilliant production.

38. Lady Gaga - Marry The Night



A triumphant dance track that brings Gaga's latest album full circle. It's one of her best videos, too.

37. Nero - Promises



Dubstep gone mainstream, with a wonderful La Roux-esque melody. An unexpected, deserved hit this summer.

36. Mika - Elle Me Dit



The first French track ever on one of my countdowns. It doesn't matter what the language is, though, when the melody is so persistent and uplifting.

Track-by-Track: Britney Spears - Femme Fatale

It's pretty useless to review a Britney Spears album for its artistic merits. Like so many pop singers before and after her, Spears is better looked upon as a muse for some of the best commercial songwriters and producers of her time. Lucky for me, many of those behind-the-scenes folks are working in Sweden. And from that standpoint, the album's best tracks all sound like standouts from four different Swedish bands/artists (namely Alcazar, Robyn, the Tough Alliance and Tove Styrke). This alone makes the album a pleasant surprise.

1. Till The World Ends - I really blasted this song a couple weeks ago, but I've gotta admit that somehow it's grown on me. Some tracks just take longer. Still nowhere near the best songs on here, but it's a nice opener. The chants remain the standout. 8/10

2. Hold It Against Me - It's the exact opposite with this one. The more I hear it, the more I tire of it, which ends up bringing it about level with the first track, rating-wise. It doesn't have quite enough melody to give it staying power. 8/10

3. Inside Out - This one just isn't hitting me. I appreciate the sound that they're going for, but the melody's completely underwhelming and the production plodding. 6/10

4. I Wanna Go - Now THIS is more like it. This is hands down, no question, the album highlight and could be a monster single for her. Like Madonna's Hung Up a few years ago, it harnesses a flawless, swirling dance beat. (for those keeping track, it's also the "Alcazar" song of the four standouts) 10/10

5. How I Roll - Stupid title, but another standout. It's got the kind of quirky electro attitude that you'd expect from an artist like Robyn. And although Robyn does this kind of stuff so much better, this is quite enjoyable in its own right. 9/10

6. (Drop Dead) Beautiful (ft. Sabi) - This is very much a filler track. Everything, from the heavily processed vocals to the dull production/melody is pretty shallow and forgettable. Not horrible by any means, but it doesn't leave any impression. 6/10

7. Seal It With A Kiss - And we're back to interesting territory. There are parts of the chorus (the background vocals) that sound like the Tough Alliance (a Swedish indie-electro band). It gives this song a really cool vibe. Couple that with a great melody and hook and you've got something very special. 10/10

8. Big Fat Bass (ft. Will.i.am) - Ugh. Every time Will.i.am features on/produces a track for another artist it's guaranteed to be one of the weaker/trendier/more derivative songs on the album. This is actually more interesting than I expected, but too repetitive and obnoxious to warrant too many repeat listens. 6/10

9. Trouble For Me - I can't begin to describe how much I'm sick of the David Guetta-esque beats that open this track. It's so overdone and ruins what could be a decent song. It's not a very pleasant listen. 6/10

10. Trip To Your Heart - This shows off the potential of what this album could have been. It's lush, mature and endlessly melodic. It reminds of of the experimental tracks that Spears recorded with BT for her third album (though they never actually made it onto the cd). By far the prettiest song on the album. I wish she'd record more like this instead of chasing trends. This is something I'd imagine Tove Styrke singing. 9/10

11. Gasoline - This is probably the poppiest song on here and the most like her previous work. Luckily, it's a great example of that classic Spears sound that so many people grew up with. This would have fit perfectly on her second or third album. 8/10

12. Criminal - An odd flute-assisted track with a slower tempo, bubblegum melody and rebellious lyrics. It's one of the standouts, though it doesn't necessarily fit with the tracks that come before it. 9/10

Album Grade: 7.9/10

Pop Blitz 3/8/11 - Diva Edition

Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
What an odd career path this girl's had. And who, honestly, thought she'd be around this long? This dials down the snottiness of Girlfriend and seems to be a natural transition. Catchy chorus, but the whole thing's definitely lightweight. B

Nicole Scherzinger - Don't Hold Your Breath
Her best single to date, by a mile. Though it remains to be seen whether or not this will get a big push in the US, it's a strong pop song with a great beat. Nicole should stick to this poppier sound. It suits her voice better than the slinky r&b they're trying to market her with. A

Keri Hilson - Pretty Girl Rock
Not bad. It's silly and a little stupid, but good fun at the same time. And that slow-burning hook really gets under your skin. B+

Britney Spears - 'Till The World Ends
It's not a good sign when the best part is the Britney-less chant that makes up the chorus. It reminds me of Deep Forest (anyone?). The rest is just not that good. The song could have been special with warmer, less synthetic vocals. C+

Rihanna - S&M
I used to like Rihanna, but this is just stupid. She should take cues from Janet's The Velvet Rope on how to tackle this subject in a more subtle, artistic way. The vocals grate and the lyrics are pretty cringe-worthy. C-

Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
I didn't expect to like this, but I see now why it's become the worldwide hit it is. She's cleverly mixed about every trend in dance/pop that she could find, and it actually works. There's something very European about the sound. A-

Ke$ha - Blow
I've made my distaste for Ke$ha known on this blog several times, but I'm always willing to give new singles a chance because I've been surprised before. This sounds like a worse version of the Britney song. I just can't wait until we don't have to hear this voice anymore. D

Pop Blitz 2/1/11

Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me
As this single's quick chart ascension proves, it's an instantly catchy dance track. What it doesn't seem to have, though, is a lot of staying power. Right now I'm rating it as "just fine." Certainly not bad, but nothing all that special, either. B

Jessie J - Price Tag
While I can see a glimmer of the "next-big-thing" hype she's getting, neither her last song nor this one has got me all that excited. It's kind of boring, honestly. C+

Chris Brown - Yeah 3X
After everything that happened, I'm honestly surprised that this comeback is happening. Especially with such a derivative, sounds-like-everything-else track. Taio Cruz does this much better, but I do have to admit that the chorus is pretty strong. B-

Pink - F**kin' Perfect
Sorry, Pink. I'm a fan, but this is such a lazy song. Boring melody, sappy sentiment and dull production. I don't see why it's such a huge hit. It's the same problem I've had with a lot of her more recent stuff. She's coasting. There's none of that spark of her first three albums. C

Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Amazing. This is an example of an artist improving on her debut with a single that pushes forward, rather than setting the auto-pilot and reaping the rewards of an already established career. A-

Train - Marry Me
Is there anyone alive that still likes Hey, Soul Sister? It may have been the most overplayed song of all time. Let's HOPE this doesn't follow the same path. This is a neutered band, producing Hallmark card songs at the whim of conservative radio playlisters. Blech. F

Wretch 32 - Tractor
I'm probably not the target audience for this, but as far as UK rap singles go, I find this relatively forgettable. I like the production, but the hook's not strong enough to make much of an impact. C-