Listen: Circus

After a rough year of custody battles, trouble with the law and moments of just pure craziness, many had doubts of what the future held for pop princess Britney Spears. Her sixth studio album “Circus,” however, gives hope that the recovering star will be able to revive her fallen career.

"I'm like a fire cracker, I make it hot when I put on a show," Spears sings on title track "Circus" on the new album. Not only does the song have an infectious beat, but the lyrics ring true. "Circus" possesses a gold mine of potential hit singles, proving that Spears has still got it despite her past troubles.

While Spears has never been known for her vocal abilities, she does know how to make irresistible dance tracks. Most songs found on the CD, such as lead single "Womanizer," are good examples of this.

On the contrary, a few tracks like the touching ballad "My Baby" showcase Spears' softer side.

Lyrically the album hits its highs and lows. The chorus of "Blur" tends to feel too repetitive and the lyrics found in "Mmm Papi" are just plain silly. Hot club beats tend to make up for any falling short in the lyrics department though. 

This is not to say that album completely lacks creative lyrics. "If You Seek Amy" clearly has some encoded messages as Spears sings, "All the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy." Read it out loud slowly.

In addition to “Womanizer” and “Circus,” the song “Kill the Lights” is another stand out track that is sure to please listeners. Similar to her previous album’s hit “Piece of Me,” the song details the love hate relationship between Spears and the paparazzi. Speaking of her previous album, “Radar” makes a surprise reappearance on “Circus.”

All in all, Spears has done a job well done. Although her 2007 release “Blackout” did not do terribly, she obviously wasn’t ready to take on her superstar role just yet. With the recent MTV documentary "Britney Spears: For the Record" and her satisfying performances overseas, Spears shows promise and improvement. She just might be successful in her second attempt at a comeback. "Circus" is a definiate step in the right direction.

Grade: B+