Britney Spears is one of the world's biggest pop stars, and with a career spanning over 15 years there isn't much that she hasn't done. Britney is prepping her newest show Piece of Me which is set to be one of Vegas' most elaborate residencies in history with Brit performing there for two years at the newly-renovated-just-for-Britney Planet Hollywood. Backing that show is her eighth studio album Britney Jean which she has been touting as her "most personal record" to date. Fans have been wanting a more soulful album from the Pop Princess as her three most recent albums (Blackout, Circus, and Femme Fatale) have largely been dominated by Max Martin and Dr. Luke factory-produced pop clichés. With Britney Jean, Spears delivers an interesting mix of club bangers and soulful ballads which she has not done since 2003's In The Zone. Britney Jean takes the diversity of In The Zone, mixes it with the transitional theme and mood of Britney and throws in the club bangers from Blackout to make the perfect concoction. This is Britney's first album released in her thirties and it's clear from some of the songs that she's in a new stage in her life. She has nothing left to prove with this album as she's proved she can do it all, but this album is largely a test to show the world that she does have excellent vocals and she's not just a robot. I think it delivers in all respects, and Britney Jean joins In The Zone and Blackout as the Holy Trinity of her discography.

1. Alien - 9/10

The album starts off with the long-awaited William Orbit produced track 'Alien'. Fans have wanted Britney to work with Orbit for years, and they have in the past, but Orbit's songs have never made the final cut. At long last Brit's management team were smart and gave us what we've been waiting for. The eerie opener takes us into the depths of space where we feel isolated as Britney sings about how lonely the world of pop superstardom makes her feel. It's a reflection of her life in the public eye, and it's one of the most beautiful songs on the album. The sonically strange tune gives us our first glimpse into Britney's personal life, and it's what we've waited years to hear.

2. Work Bitch - 7/10

The lead single from the album is something that never really hit the mark when it was initially released. Fans were expecting their queen's "most personal album" and then were given a song that is meant to be her song for all the gay boys out there. It's a banger of a tune with a sick video, but it was just not the right choice to kick off the era. There are so many other songs that were more worthy of being the lead single on Britney Jean. That being said, my love of 'Work Bitch' is still as big as ever and it's such a fun one.

3. Perfume - 6/10

'Perfume' is the Sia-penned track that was teased for a while and eventually became the second single. Again, I think it was the wrong choice, but this song really shows off how strong Brit's vocals are. She's clearly been working on them recently, and it really aids in getting the emotion across. Compared to the rest of the album's mid-tempos it's quite underwhelming, and will.i.am's nonsense production completely ruins it.
4. It Should Be Easy (feat. will.i.am) - 5/10

Basically 'Scream & Shout' 2.0, will.i.am just couldn't resist tainting Britney's record with this one. Will crafted a club banger that is actually quite good and the EDM sound is actually awesome, but the amount of processing he put Brit's vocals through is completely unnecessary. Her voice is so distorted it's ridiculous. And also, will.i.am sings so much on this song that you'd think it was his. The track could have been amazing, but of course Will took it too far like he usually does.

5. Tik Tik Boom (feat. T.I.) - 9/10

And thus begins the Holy Trinity of bangerz. Think of 'Tik Tik Boom' as '(I Got That) Boom Boom' from In The Zone's more mature sister. The song is this great urban track that has Britney singing about the countdown to her orgasm. Yep, this song is all about sex and it's as hot as you would expect. Plus, T.I. completely slays his verse and makes the song so very dirty. At the end she does a vocal run that sounds like it came straight off of the Oops!...I Did It Again album which is just beyond impressive. It's a highlight of the album and could easily be the third single,

6. Body Ache - 10/10

The David Guetta-produced 'Body Ache' is just so damn good. It was originally a mid-tempo but the fans were clamoring for more up-tempos so the producers swapped it, and I'm actually glad they did. It's a total club jam, and it's all about Britney dancing so long and hard that her body begins aching. What I love most about this song, though, is how strong her vocals are. Vocally, she goes hard on this song, and at the end she does a vocal run that sounds like it came straight off of the Oops!...I Did It Again album. This is everything done right.

7. Til It's Gone - 10/10

Did you ever think she could craft a song as good as 'Toxic' or 'Gimme More' again? Well, neither did I, but 'Til It's Gone' is easily the best song she has released since the Blackout era. It is a massive EDM/trap-infused tune that features this incredible hyperbolic beat that gets the blood pumping and the heart racing. It's out of this world, and the song just keeps propelling forward. Britney slows things down during the bridge with some of her signature "oohs," but then under her command the beat escalates once again finishing the song in a speed-induced rush that leaves you breathless and utterly exhausted but in the best way possible. If this isn't released as a single then Team Britney will have made their biggest mistake ever.
8. Passenger - 10/10

This is one of the few tracks that leaked ahead of release, but I'm glad it did because Diplo's production easily makes it one of my favorite tracks on the album. It marks a departure in Britney's sound because it's clear that this has a deep spiritual meaning, and being penned by Katy Perry (hence the religious undertones) and Sia, the song veers into pop-rock territory that Britney originally wanted to be in when she began her career over 15 years ago. It features fantastic lyrics, a beautiful sound and gorgeous vocals on Brit's part. If anyone doubted Britney's vocals, just have them listen to the song and they'll eat their words.

9. Chillin' With You (feat. Jamie Lynn Spears) - 8/10

If there has been any duet that Britney fans have waiting their entire lives to hear, it's the one with her little sister Jamie Lynn, and that's what we have finally been treated to. Upon first listen I was very confused. The song starts off with guitar so I thought it was going to be country, but then it went very adult contemporary pop before turning into an R&B/hip-hop tune during the chorus. The song alternates between these three sounds in a very bizarre manner, but in some weird way it all works. Jamie's vocals on this song are fantastic, and I actually might say that she outshines her big sis. Their vocals mesh well and the song is so beautiful and heartfelt because it's a great sibling love fest. How can you not fall in love with this song?

10. Don't Cry - 9/10

Rounding out the very short album is the ballad 'Don't Cry' that is probably the most raw and personal we have heard Britney in years. The emotion in this song actually brings tears to my ears but also warms my heart in the best way possible. It's everything and more that I could have wished to hear from my childhood idol. I also think it rounds out the album perfectly because it shows off her strong vocals, the raw emotion and the beautiful pop melody that slightly morphs into the pop-rock sound she has toyed with. It's Britney at her best, and if she performs this at her Piece of Me show I may turn into a puddle of mush.

Bonus Tracks
11. Brightest Morning Star - 10/10

'Brightest Morning Star' was one of the only tracks to leak ahead of the album's release, and it instantly became a favorite of mine. Penned by Sia and Britney, the song is supposedly about Spiritualney finding the light (although me and every other fan out there thinks it's about Brit's boys). Regardless of the subject matter, the song is one of her most beautiful and heartfelt ballads we have heard in years, echoing the sentiments of her flawless 'Someday (I Will Understand)' and 'My Baby'. You can hear Britney's love for her kids transcend the melody. And honestly, it's one of the catchiest songs on the album. I wake up singing it all the time and it instantly puts me in a good mood. She hit the mark once again.

12. Hold On Tight - 10/10

You wanted Personalney? Well here she is folks. One of the strongest tracks on the entire album, 'Hold On Tight' is beautiful, dark, chilling and sob inducing. The song has a dark, grim sound to it with clobbering electro beats backing Brit up as she digs into her deeper register and gives this song everything she's got. Her voice is absolutely stunning during the chorus, and the way she sings "he makes me sweaty" kills me each time. This song grabs my heart and tears it in shreds. One of her best pieces of work ever.

13. Now That I Found You - 9/10

The only reason this didn't get a 10 rating is because of the chorus' extreme similarity to Avicii's 'Wake Me Up' and Brit's vocals breaking when she screams during the bridge. Otherwise the song is flaw free giving me Nyan cat/Japanese anime realness during the chorus. 'Now That I Found You' integrates Personalney with Danceney as we go from a gorgeous and alluring first verse to country strings to full on EDM dance music. Like many of the Britney Jean songs, this is a weird mix of sounds but it all works. Brit's vocals are gorgeous as ever and the song is a rave-fueled jam that lets me know everything will be okay in this world because I have found Godney.

14. Perfume (The Dreaming Mix) - 9/10

The difference between this (the original mix) and will.i.am's version is like night and day. Whereas the single version is an over-produced mess, 'The Dreaming Mix' strips things back to a piano-driven version with a more distant and eerie feel to it. Britney's vocals are put more on display and the wrongs of the original are righted. This just shows how great things could be without will.i.am's overbearing presence on the record.

Tracks to Check Out: 'Alien', 'Tik Tik Boom', 'Body Ache', 'Til It's Gone', 'Passenger', 'Don't Cry' and all the bonus tracks

Overall Rating: 8.5/10