Circus
by Britney Spears
  • Record Label: Jive
  • Release Date: Dec 2, 2008
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 638 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 528 out of 638
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 638
  3. Negative: 68 out of 638

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  1. AdamM.
    Dec 3, 2008
    10
    Love B. Love the album.
  2. chrisw.
    Dec 4, 2008
    10
    Best cd ever...im a mother of 7...plus 3 foster children....Britney has been thru a lot and I give credit to anyone who is trying to rebuild their lives!!! PLUS...the cd is just fierce...go out and get a copy of your own!!!!
  3. aaronhardy
    Dec 4, 2008
    10
    Go out and buy this cd or you will regret it the pop queen is back on top!!!!!
  4. feliciaw.
    Dec 4, 2008
    10
    I've never liked Britney Spears...But I see that she is trying and is working on a better life for herself and her children...I just picked her cd up to get a taste....YUMMMM....the cd CIRCUS is steller!!!!
  5. MandiC
    Dec 5, 2008
    10
    Great album-listen to it non stop! Go Britney!
  6. GlendaT.
    Dec 5, 2008
    9
    I love it!!!!
  7. BillW.
    Dec 9, 2008
    2
    The most awful album in a long time!
  8. SophieL.
    Jan 11, 2009
    10
    Love this album - a few of the tracks are slightly dry in the middle (unusual you, blur and mmm papi) but generally another Britney classic. Tracks such as womanizer, circus and if u seek amy show Britney at her best. A different sound from her "crazy" and "baby one more time eras", more electro-pop than bubblegum, but no less enjoyable.
  9. SeanC.
    Jan 2, 2009
    10
    Great album! Unusual You is the stand out track here!
  10. JuanF.
    Jan 4, 2009
    10
    Easy, breezy, fun, pure pop.
  11. HayroC
    Mar 19, 2009
    0
    Are you kidding? this album is so horrible!
  12. anonymousN.
    Mar 21, 2009
    10
    Britney's personal life may be a circus of its own, but with this Circus, she proves once again that she can shove aside the paparazzi and the rumors for long enough to make a successful, poppy, and infectious dance album. Best tracks are Circus, If U Seek Amy, Womanizer, Shattered Glass, and Kill The Lights.
  13. DaleO
    Apr 25, 2009
    8
    This was a solid effort by Britney and her team, and the album does hold together very well. The album is full of catchy anthems which are guaranteed hits no doubt, but the album does have one or two tracks that seem to drag on a bit. A problem that wasn't seen on her sleek & sexy predecessor Blackout.
  14. SantixRdeCh
    Jun 11, 2010
    8
    I loved some of the songs. It's nice.
  15. NoahH
    Jun 17, 2010
    0
    Most likely her worst album yet, very uninspiring. Lacks a great amount of creativity and vision.
  16. TT
    Dec 10, 2008
    10
    Fresh, catchy, crisp.
  17. JohnC.
    Dec 14, 2008
    10
    I love this album full of hits like Unusual you, Out from under, If u seek Amy, Circus, Womanizer, Kill the lights, Shattered Glass and Mannequin. Even the timeless Radar and other bonus songs like Phonography and Rock me in has hit written all over them.
  18. LJLJ
    Dec 2, 2008
    10
    It's so good she sounds way better on this album than any other, and the songs are great. "Just don't call it a comeback"
  19. ChrisG.
    Dec 2, 2008
    10
    CIRCUS Is The Best Album 2 Date 4rm Miss BRITNEY SPEARS Exactly What Whe Need Out In The Music World All That beyonce and christina All Boring Not Interesting At All .We Needed BRITNEY Back and She Dam Sure Is Back . . . . BRITNEY'S CIRCUS Is BRILLIANT and Its a 10 out 10. . . Go BRIT!
  20. DrewN.
    Dec 2, 2008
    9
    Although Blackout set the bar incredibly high for a "comeback", Britney's managed to put together a great set of pop songs. A bit warmer than Blackout, with more poppy songs, Circus is fun and full of Britney attitude. Highlights: Unusual You, Circus, Shattered Glass, Kill The Lights.
  21. MkayK.
    Dec 26, 2008
    7
    'Circus' is a well-rounded album, overall. Certain tracks stand about above many other. Namely the first 7 tracks on the album. Songs like 'My Baby' are disappointingly chosen over an excess of bonus tracks which didn't make it onto the album. The addition of 'Radar' from Blackout is also disappointing. Although with that, the album returns to earlier 'Circus' is a well-rounded album, overall. Certain tracks stand about above many other. Namely the first 7 tracks on the album. Songs like 'My Baby' are disappointingly chosen over an excess of bonus tracks which didn't make it onto the album. The addition of 'Radar' from Blackout is also disappointing. Although with that, the album returns to earlier Britney and still steers close to the electro beats of Blackout.… Expand
  22. HuanC.
    Dec 26, 2008
    9
    This is definitely not perfect as no album ever will be perfect but as pop music comes along this is the best offer our not-so-great-vocally Britney Spears can dish out on the table for us to enjoy. Just like a buffet, with sweets, meals and light appetizers to entertain us consistenly is what 'Circus' offered and it definitely done justice to her comeback carreer!!! As her one This is definitely not perfect as no album ever will be perfect but as pop music comes along this is the best offer our not-so-great-vocally Britney Spears can dish out on the table for us to enjoy. Just like a buffet, with sweets, meals and light appetizers to entertain us consistenly is what 'Circus' offered and it definitely done justice to her comeback carreer!!! As her one of the biggest fan in Malaysia I say Britney...you'll be the best pop iconic music till forever.… Expand
  23. EdwardM.
    Dec 3, 2008
    10
    This Album rocksss. she's finaly back with her best album yet to date. i love her
  24. Michael
    Dec 3, 2008
    10
    Wonderful comeback album. Her last three albums have been pop perfection!
  25. GabrielJ.
    Dec 4, 2008
    6
    the song are repetitive and there isnt any really new, but there are some songs that really are an improvement, in conclusion circus is a better album that I expected to be but still she has a long journey to remember us why she was called de Pop Princess
  26. PhilM.
    Dec 4, 2008
    1
    Just awful.
  27. bobbob
    Dec 4, 2008
    10
    Her best album yet by far!
  28. alfonsoz
    Dec 5, 2008
    10
    Wtf this is her best album ever. blackout wasn't as good as this one. I don't know what's up with the critics but they sure don't know anything about pop music for giving it a bad score. thisis truly amazing.
  29. Lucia
    Dec 5, 2008
    7
    Great Job! the best song: Blur!
  30. AjayD
    Dec 5, 2008
    8
    it's a Great Pop Album! She really knows how to put some decent pop music together. Its more pop sounding then blackout with number of songs that can become hit singles. There are some cool ballads as well, that really show her singing ability! I recommend it to all pop fans!
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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Most Discussed Album of 2008
19
#19 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Halfway through, Circus shifts from defiant booty calls to subtler material; suddenly, it's a first-rate electro-pop album.
    Read full review
  2. musicOMH.com
    60
    Obviously all is still not perfect in Britney's world, but Circus still does more than enough to remind us of why she's one of the world's most iconic pop stars.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    Her voice--treated and autotuned to within an inch of its life throughout--still sounds like that of the Mouseketeer who brought us '...Baby One More Time’, with every breathy “Mmmm… yeah!” and all the oh-so-naughty lyrics, such as the ones above, sounding forced and unconvincing. Of course, on a large number of the tracks here she has the solidly cool-sounding (no doubt expensive) backdrop of futur’n’b pop.
    Read full review
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