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Anonymous Said,
August 27th, 2010 @11:28 am  

Review by for Time Out with Britney Spears
Rating:
This video is, of course, the newest from Brit. It includes: -All 3 music videos…complete. -Behind the scenes of the making of those videos -Extensive behind the scenes of ‘Sometimes’ -Preview video of ‘Born to make you happy’ video (the next one coming in December). -Quite a bit of interviews with the Britster. -A tape (cassette) that includes 2 answering machine announcement by britney, Crazy (The stop remix)…cool!, and previews of other artists.It had everything I was looking for…the videos and not to mention Crazy (TSR) on cassette so I can listen to it in my car…

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miramaxfan Said,
August 27th, 2010 @11:57 am  

Review by miramaxfan for Time Out with Britney Spears
Rating:
Liking Britney Spears is something that you don’t admit to, or at least most don’t. My view of her is a matter of “if it’s on the radio, it’s actually kinda catchy. I’m not buying the album or anything, but the music is pretty decent.” (half my readers are now laughing at me.) Imagine my suprise when I turned on this DVD and was really very impressed with the quality of the presentation.First thing I took a look at were the music videos. “Drive Me Crazy”, “Baby, One More Time” and “Sometimes” are all presented in full-screen and look quite good, with impressive clarity and razor sharp images without any problems. What is really nice though on the music videos, was that you’re offered the choice in terms of sound of either 2.0 or the full 5.1. 5.1, especially on “Baby, One More Time”, sounded really quite excellent. All of the songs really sound crisp, clear, rich and carry a very nice amount of bass.When I first was looking around on this DVD, I thought it was simply a compilation of various tidbits(videos, notes, etc), but I realized that the main feature on this DVD is actually a 55 minute documentary on the history of the singer. The documentary is fairly interesting, with Spears talking about the documentary footage or various photos that are shown. Everything is split into chapters, with a look at the making of the 3 music videos; recording the album; a look at some concert footage and more. The last part is footage from Spears’s Disney Channel concert. This can also be viewed separately. Chapter selection for the documentary is also fully animated.Onto everything else; there is a 15 minute “behind-the-scenes” look with interviews with Spears and a look at her recording in the studio. The documentary also gives a very nice look in-depth at the making of two of Spears’s music videos(“Sometimes” and “Drive Me Crazy”.). Also included are a photo gallery, biography(text) and trivia game(which I failed, I think.). During all of the videos and performances, viewers have the option of the lyrics as subtitles. The DVD also offers web links for DVD-rom users.Even the menus are really nice, with full animation on all menus and when you’re in the music video menu, all of the videos play in the video selection menu. “Drive Me Crazy” also plays in the background of the menus. Amazingly, there’s also a really nice “help” feature that literally takes you through the entire disc. Fans of the singer will probably go nuts for this disc.Yeah, the music is not really my kind of music or anything but I really was able to appreciate the quality of this whole package. It’s not one of those things where a few music videos are thrown together with basic menus; I think that there’s a very nice effort put into this DVD and I was really pleasantly suprised.Grade:B+

commenter
TT Said,
August 27th, 2010 @12:13 pm  

Review by TT for Time Out with Britney Spears
Rating:
Musical tastes aside, if you like Britney Spears, then you will most likely enjoy this DVD. Britney talks A LOT in this video about how she started in the pop music industry and what it was like to make her videos–with behind-the-scenes footage. If you can’t stand to listen to her talk, you can always skip to the three music videos “… Baby One More Time”, “Sometimes”, and “(You Drive Me) Crazy” (Stop Re-mix). The music videos are mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. The music video audio mixes really threw my ears the first time I heard them because they do some extreme panning and circle the room with with the sound. For example, they isolate the mix in one channel and skip around the room during certain musical breaks. The end result sounds like they crammed the entire mix into a single channel. I think it would have sounded smoother and less abrupt if they isolated a few vocal or effects tracks and moved those around the room instead of the entire mix. Doing this would probably require more extensive remixing of the original tracks. But it’s nice of the DVD producers to try to do something cool with the capabilities of Dolby Digital Surround.There are also some in-concert performances from the Disney Channel. These performances are both ballads and do not showcase–what I think is–Britney’s better talent: dancing. Her vocal and even the backup vocal performances are not anything to praise in these clips. (If you listen carefully, you can hear her live vocal performance off-key with her pre-recorded vocal double.) During “Born to Make You Happy”, Britney sings to a kid who was invited on stage; the kid looks either so in shock or scared to death as Britney sings to him.There’s also a bonus interview with Mrs. Spears (Britney’s mom) after the trivia game. I thought it was rather pointless, was not worth the effort to play the trivia game, and should have been “left on the cutting room floor.”Overall, there are a lot of materials available on this DVD that you wouldn’t normally find on similar types of music DVD’s. Britney fans will enjoy this DVD regardless of minor technical shortcomings.

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Anonymous Said,
August 27th, 2010 @1:11 pm  

Review by for Time Out with Britney Spears
Rating:
If you are a fan of Britney Spears you should get this video! It has all her music videos except From the Bottom of My Broken Heart. The interviews are good and they show her on the Disney concert.

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Sean Mann Said,
August 27th, 2010 @1:16 pm  

Review by Sean Mann for Time Out with Britney Spears
Rating:
This DVD is a must for any Britney fan. I have around 5 DVD’s that are about music from other artists (Mariah Carey, Alanis Morissette etc.) and this is the best. As on the video you will see the 50 minute show with (in order of showing) Britney growing up, her recording her first album (you also get to see the making of her song “I Will Be There”) then comes the making and viewing of her first three videos and after that you get to see what she thinks about going on tour. After that you see 10 minutes of her performance on Disney’s “In Concert” special with her performing “Born To Make You Happy” and “From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart”. For those who have a VCR AND a DVD Player YOU SHOULD GET THE DVD! The thing is instead of watching the whole DVD you not only get scene selections (like every DVD does) you also get to see each music video individually (without having to watch the 25-minute behind-the-scenes chapter) and you get to also to go to a special section to just watch the Disney Live songs insted of watching the special too. Other things ONLY available on DVD are a biography, a photo gallery of about 15-20 pictures, a DVD-Rom web link, and a trivia game which if you win you get a secret video. Every Britney fan with a DVD player should buy this.P.S. If anyone knows some answers to the trivia game I really would like to know as I’ve tried about more than 20 times (I even recorder my answers to avoid answering them in the same pattern) and I’m only positive to knowing at least 4 or 5.

commenter
Nse Ette Said,
August 27th, 2010 @1:27 pm  

Review by Nse Ette for Blackout
Rating:
I’ve never owned any album by Britney Spears, and had downloaded the odd track I liked in the past; “Toxic” and “Slave 4 u”, and things would have stayed pretty much that way, if I hadn’t read rave reviews from critics whose opinion I respect. I decided to give it a try, and surprise, I quite like it.

Yes, it may be largely down to the assembled team of super producers, and their studio trickery (it features quite a bit of vocoder and vocal distortion), rather than Ms Spears’ vocal prowess, but the result is rather pleasant, and guaranteed to get your feet moving.

Opening is the smash hit single “Gimme more”, a bouncy synth driven song with a technoi-ish sound in the chorus, and those famous opening words, “It’s Britney b***”. It is so catchy, I keep listening to it over and over.

Other standouts are “Ooh ooh baby” (nice guitars) which is vaguely remniscent of “Toxic”, the quirky Pharrell penned/produced “Why should I be sad”, which is the closest thing to a ballad, “Get naked (I got a plan)”, and the brilliant eurodisco stomper “Heaven on earth” which would make Giorgio Moroder smile.

Some of the lyrics attempt to touch on parts on her life; “Piece of me” deals with the media obsession with her, “I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous / You want a piece of me / I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless / You want a piece of me / I’m Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in / You want a piece of me”, while on the skeletal marching groove of the Gwen Stefani-ish “Toy soldiers” she seems to diss her ex, stating that “This time she needs a real soldier, and she’s sick and tired of toy soldiers” (in a cartoon-ish voice).

If she keeps releasing music this good, she just might succeed in blacking out all the negative press! A fun record which succeeds.

commenter
Dorrie Wheeler Said,
August 27th, 2010 @1:44 pm  

Review by Dorrie Wheeler for Blackout
Rating:
It’s been 4 years since pop tabloid sensation Britney Spears has released a solo CD. “Blackout” marks Britney’s return to the pop music world. The first single released from “Blackout,” was the club friendly track “Gimme More.” Radio loves the single and it’s proof that Britney is definitely back in the music industry. “Blackout” is a mix of electronica, R&B and club tracks. On the song, “Piece of Me,” Britney declares that she has been the American Dream since she was 17. The song could easily be a radio single as Britney fights back at the tabloids.

“Break The Ice,” is a melodic club friendly song that will strike a chord with Britney’s audience. Fans of her third album, “In The Zone,” will appreciate this song about meeting a new love interest. “Heaven On Earth,” is an electronica inspired fast paced song.

Britney, who is now 25 years old, definitely shows off her adult side on “Blackout.” Song’s on the songs “Get Naked,” and “Freakshow.”

The songs on “Blackout,” have powerful tracks and Britney’s vocals are very melodic and sometimes hypnotic. People who thought Britney might come back with a sad CD because she just went through a divorce are all wrong.

Britney addresses her personal life on the Neptune’s produced song “Why Should I Be Sad.” Britney is a survivor and isn’t letting her personal life or the tabloid drama that follows her from stopping anything.

Britney brought her “A” game to “Blackout.” The upbeat tracks will keep people on the dance floor for hours and are sure to be popular with fans both old and new. When listening to “Blackout,” you can hear that Britney has been inspired by artists such as Madonna, and Pet Shop Boys.

Production-wise Britney can’t lose on “Blackout” as she works with some of the top music producers in the industry. “Blackout” features production from super-hot producer Danja, who has produced for Justin Timberlake, Bloodshy and Avant, and The Neptunes.

Stand out tracks on Blackout include the first single “Gimme More,” “Break The Ice,” “Piece of Me,” “Heaven on Earth,” and “Why Should I Be Sad.”

commenter
Gen of North Coast Gardening Said,
August 27th, 2010 @2:00 pm  

Review by Gen of North Coast Gardening for Blackout
Rating:
While it is clear that Britney herself was only a small portion of the making of this CD, the beats, lyrics, and general tone are just what I’d expect from a Britney album – fun, light, and very catchy.

You can hear that Britney’s voice has been played with in the studio – it sounds like she came in, did a bit of singing, and left them to perfect the sound. But even with that, the album is a lot of fun to listen to and one that I have been enjoying a lot. I love dance beats and songs that make me want to sing along and move, and this CD is great on both of those.

The best song is easily Gimme More, but the rest are all pretty good as well. Not a whole lot of character, but the songs are all catchy and there aren’t any real losers in the bunch, which is more than I can say about most CDs I have bought!

If you are a Britney fan, go ahead and get this latest from her – it isn’t as good as B in the Mix or her other top CDs, but it will stick to your player for a good long time!

Two months later: I wanted to add that this CD really has staying power. Most of the songs have really grown on me, and I have found that when I want to listen to something catchy and dancy, which is most days, I reach for this CD over other ones – even mix CD’s of my own making! There is only one song I consistently skip past (track six) and the rest are pretty darn good. I have gotten most of the songs on the CD stuck in my head over the past months, and listened to it over sixty times, and I am still not tired of it. So overall I’d say this is a no-brainer purchase for those who like a fun dance beat.

commenter
Dan :) Said,
August 27th, 2010 @2:51 pm  

Review by Dan :) for Blackout
Rating:
As a huge Britney fan, I waited a very long time for her to release a new CD, and I have to say that the wait was well worth it. “Blackout” is just as good as any other record by Britney (even when I do think that there will never be a CD as good as “In the Zone”).

Every single song has a great beat and amazing lyrics, and I couldn’t find a single song in the whole cd that I disliked. All of them are simply great! I specially liked the songs “Piece of Me”, “Radar”, “Break the Ice” and “Ooh Ooh Baby”.

I also noticed, while listening to it, that “Blackout” is pretty much about ‘going back like nothing happened’; Britney is trying to show us with this record that she is the same amazing performer she was a few years ago even with all the scandal that has been going around her lately, and that parenthood doesn’t stop her from still being sexy and sing about anything she wants to, just like she says in the song “Piece of Me”: ‘I can’t see no harm in working and being a mama’

So I’d just like to recommend this CD to everyone so that you all go and buy it, and please don’t listen to anyone who says that this is a bad CD, because that’s not true, this is some of Britney’s best work and anyone who liked her previous cd’s will not be disappointed.

And, well, what else can I say?… (as Britney says herself in the first song of the CD): “It’s Britney, b!tch”

commenter
???? Said,
August 27th, 2010 @3:13 pm  

Review by ???? for Blackout
Rating:
If this were another time and another era and if Britney Spears weren’t “Britney Spears,” this album would be selling like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Because “Blackout” really is her best album. She really is one of the best commercial Pop artists ever. Britney has certainly had some of the more recognizable Pop songs over the past 10 years like “…Baby One More Time” and “Oops!…I Did It Again.” As a recording artist and celebrity, she has captured the public’s imagination on multiple levels.

Britney Spears has gotten notably better since her debut album. I think the first signs of evolution were with 2003′s “In the Zone” and now once again with her 2007 release “Blackout.” Where she has succeed and where some of her young peers haven’t is that she’s been able to stamp her image and persona on every song like Michael Jackson and Madonna have done. Even though slick producers like Timbaland’s protégé Nate “Danjahandz” Hills (Gimme More) along with Bloodshy & Avant (Piece of Me) deserve at least half of the credit on the album “Blackout,” without Britney Spears on these tracks they just don’t sell. She’s the secret ingredient on all of these songs. Only she could get away with something called “Get Naked (I Got a Plan).”

After 83 million albums sold WW, Britney knows her game very well and it’s most evident on “Blackout.” As a recording artist, she gets what works for her and what doesn’t. We’re not going to hear her trying to warble her way through Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston power ballads. Let’s face it, some people try and it just doesn’t work. Britney knows what her strengths and weakness are like Madonna does and she plays to them perfectly on “Blackout.” She’s a Dance/Pop artist and she has never pretended to be otherwise. Britney’s never tried to be the next Celine Dion and shouldn’t be faulted for that. Most people can’t sing that well. You have to put her talent in perspective with the type of music that she’s recording. If you do that, then she’s A-list without a doubt. She’s the best of her age group. If she continues to make albums that are as good as “In the Zone” and “Blackout” then in time she might be a true icon like her idol Madonna is. Her ascent to the top of the Pop world should continue if she can rise above the 24 hour media circus and put her legal problems behind her. Because “Blackout” makes a damn good argument that she should be next in line for queen. And her former Mickey Mouse mate Justin Timberlake might join her as king. Who knows?

But come on folks, Britney Spears deserves some credit. In the midst of probably her darkest moment, she has delivered her best record. Most people in the same situation under the same circumstances wouldn’t have come even close. Appreciate her ability and her music for what it is and you won’t be disappointed. I hope the Grammys remember her in February of 2009. An album like “Blackout” shouldn’t be ignored.

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