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. JamesB.
    Jan 5, 2009
    10
    I love it. Amazing!
  2. TiaS.
    Jan 2, 2009
    10
    This is Britney Spears' absolute best album. With songs like ''Unusual You'', ''If U Seek Amy'', ''Womanizer'', ''Circus'', and ''Kill The Lights'' it's no wonder as to why this album went straight to #1 on the Billboard.
  3. JoshPinder
    Jan 3, 2009
    10
    Britney is at the top of her game with this fabulous Circus album, it's a mesmerising powerhouse of an album that more than earns being titled the greatest album of 2008. Womanizer,Circus,Out From Under,Kill The Lights,if You Seek Amy,Shattered Glass,Unusual You,Mmm Papi,Mannequin,Lace & Leather,My Baby,Rock Me In,Phonography and Amnesia are nothing but fantastic...all of which Britney is at the top of her game with this fabulous Circus album, it's a mesmerising powerhouse of an album that more than earns being titled the greatest album of 2008. Womanizer,Circus,Out From Under,Kill The Lights,if You Seek Amy,Shattered Glass,Unusual You,Mmm Papi,Mannequin,Lace & Leather,My Baby,Rock Me In,Phonography and Amnesia are nothing but fantastic...all of which should be released as singles for sure.… Expand
  4. CarrieC
    Dec 4, 2008
    10
    I find that her new album is just as good, if not better than 'Blackout'. I feel like all of these so-called music critics who have given this album poor ratings merely do not care for Britney, Pop music, or both and therefore they have a bias opinion. Any fan of Britney will absolutely love this album. So just ignore all of the haters, because what they think really I find that her new album is just as good, if not better than 'Blackout'. I feel like all of these so-called music critics who have given this album poor ratings merely do not care for Britney, Pop music, or both and therefore they have a bias opinion. Any fan of Britney will absolutely love this album. So just ignore all of the haters, because what they think really doesn't matter anyways.… Expand
  5. reineirm
    Dec 11, 2008
    9
    This is a pop gem!!! very modern, she knows what she is doing, both american and european flavors.
  6. KevinR.
    Dec 2, 2008
    10
    Great CD. Blackoput is much more original, but she sounds much better on Circus which is nice. It's more self-conscious of a CD, but there are some great moments: Unusual You, If You Seek Amy, Blur, and Out From Under is her best ballad since Everytime. GO BRITNEY!
  7. AW
    Dec 2, 2008
    9
    This album seems to get Britney back to the path she was on, musically at least, before Blackout. Blackout, for me, was one of her best albums ever, if not her best album of all time, an album I could listen to the entire way through (except for that "Why Should I Be Sad" which was sort of out of place). This one is the same, with the one sort of "off" song being "Mmm Papi," which is just This album seems to get Britney back to the path she was on, musically at least, before Blackout. Blackout, for me, was one of her best albums ever, if not her best album of all time, an album I could listen to the entire way through (except for that "Why Should I Be Sad" which was sort of out of place). This one is the same, with the one sort of "off" song being "Mmm Papi," which is just a little too out there, but maybe it will grow on me. Otherwise, "Circus," "Kill The Lights," "If U Seek Amy," "Shattered Glass" are all amazing dance tracks, while "Out from Under" and "Unusual You" provide two of her best ballads ever (best since "Everytime," for sure).… Expand
  8. GagaForGhibli
    May 29, 2012
    10
    Simply 100% Perfect Album And Singles
    This Is The 1st Britney Album That Should Get A Perfect 10/10!
    Great Album!
  9. JesusRT
    Oct 13, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The best comeback ever.................................... Amazing!!!!!!!!!!
    BS i love you baby XOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXXO.
    Circus Womanizer, Unusual You, Blur, Amnesia, Quicksand, If u seek amy, Phonography and out from under and shattered glass and Lace n leather the best.    … Expand
  10. Evyan2002
    Jan 25, 2016
    10
    Circus is by far the best Britney Spears album there is to date. You have hit songs like womanizer, circus, kill the lights and radar. Britney's other songs are great too. 10/10
  11. QueenBritney
    Mar 25, 2016
    10
    amazing album the best album of 2008 she did her thing on this album it was really her comeback album she nailed it with Circus and Blur and the album is timeless.
  12. infsai
    Mar 27, 2020
    9
    Another pretty good Britney album with many dark dance jams! However "My Baby" breaks whole feel of an album for me. Anyway this is my second favorite album of Britney, only behind Blackout.
  13. someonewhocares
    Sep 7, 2022
    9
    Circus proves to be way better than Blackout could ever be. Songs like "Mmm Papi", "Lace and Leather", "Womanizer", and "Circus", as well as "If U Seek Amy", are quinessential Brtney Spears hits. The vocals are intensely autotuned and somtimes stiff, but who wouldn't already know that Britney isn't a singing person.
  14. rxffy
    Dec 26, 2022
    10
    Her second best album (after Blackout), i grew up with “Womanizer” “Radar” and “If U Seek Amy”
  15. Kaleido
    Sep 10, 2011
    8
    A collection of soft, circus-themed songs that after a while may sound dull but will always be anthems ("Womanizer", "If U Seek Amy"). Loving "Mmm Papi" and "Lace and Leather" aswell.
  16. RIProo
    Apr 7, 2012
    9
    How to make a great album?? Ask to Britney Spears! After her dark period Britney gets back with a simply fantastic album, "Circus". Funny and engaging, when you listen this album you feel like in another world, like in a "Circus", because you feel a lot of feelings in the same moment and so you are confused but also charmed. Best Songs? "Womanizer", "If U Seek Amy", "Kill the Lights" andHow to make a great album?? Ask to Britney Spears! After her dark period Britney gets back with a simply fantastic album, "Circus". Funny and engaging, when you listen this album you feel like in another world, like in a "Circus", because you feel a lot of feelings in the same moment and so you are confused but also charmed. Best Songs? "Womanizer", "If U Seek Amy", "Kill the Lights" and "Out From Under".... Great Job, Princess! ( sorry for my English )… Expand
  17. Greta
    Dec 3, 2008
    5
    Mediocre, no standout tracks. Disappointing follow-up to Blackout, which I consider to be her best album by far.
  18. BillW.
    Dec 9, 2008
    2
    The most awful album in a long time!
  19. PhilM.
    Dec 4, 2008
    1
    Just awful.
  20. None
    Dec 6, 2008
    0
    Utter Crap.
  21. paulgreen
    Feb 24, 2012
    9
    I have only two words - oh yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  22. Zone111
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    Circus is great album, not her best but still good enough for 10!
  23. Clubsocial
    May 4, 2015
    1
    Katy Perry bursts back onto the scene with her amazing second album that is full to the grim of the tongue-in-cheek atmosphere that got herkhkkjhjghjbnnnnn
  24. LipeFireworks
    Jan 28, 2017
    10
    O melhor album de Britney com certeza, faixas com Out From Under, Shattered Glass, Blur, Lance and Lather tinham muito potencial pra ser single, esse album é sim melhor que seu antecessor "Blackout"
  25. sixinch
    Aug 30, 2016
    1
    One of the worst albums of the year thus far. It shows absolutely no artistic growth, the lyrics are elementary, and the vocals are non-existent. All in all, a terrible album. Collapse
  26. Jann_Junx
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Circus mantuvo el ritmo de su antecesor Blackout, pero con su toque especial, haciéndolo destacar e incluso siendo uno de los mejores álbumes de Spears para la mayoría.
  27. KennethP
    Jan 31, 2010
    7
    Classic... Britney deserves to be the ringleader But be honest some of the songs is not danceable.
  28. Jacky
    Dec 2, 2008
    10
    She is back?and the album is amazing.
  29. ElizabethH.
    Dec 2, 2008
    10
    I absolutely love this album, definitely one of the best she's ever created and its one hell of a comeback.
  30. jespearlh.
    Dec 2, 2008
    9
    I really like all the songs... its more on techno-urbanish album.. britney's back, i guess.
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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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