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. Juliakay337
    May 25, 2012
    4
    The album as a whole is not terrible. Britney gets it right on the singles "Womanizer", "Circus", and even "If U Seek Amy" manages to be likable, despite it's awful lyrics. However, the songs that are bad are really, really bad. "Mmm Papi" is inexcusably awful, with Britney obnoxiously singing lines like "Now see I'm Mami, and that make you Papi, and that makes us Luvi!". Her ballad "MyThe album as a whole is not terrible. Britney gets it right on the singles "Womanizer", "Circus", and even "If U Seek Amy" manages to be likable, despite it's awful lyrics. However, the songs that are bad are really, really bad. "Mmm Papi" is inexcusably awful, with Britney obnoxiously singing lines like "Now see I'm Mami, and that make you Papi, and that makes us Luvi!". Her ballad "My Baby" is among the other offenders on the album, a sickeningly sappy track about her children that she apparently wrote herself. I would recommend downloading a few of the songs, but buying the entire album would be a mistake in my opinion.… Expand
  2. Parera_Starr11
    Jun 29, 2012
    9
    Britney's second best cd released thus far. Good production and well put together. The album transitions very well as each song flow right into the next. It also contains her best ballad (Out From Under) since "Everytime". Though "Circus" and "Mannequin" are the best tracks on the cd.
  3. AgustinS
    Oct 21, 2013
    10
    Definitely one of Britney's most underrated albums. People compare it too much to Blackout (her most overrated album), I personally enjoy it a lot more than Blackout, we actually get to listen to her real voice and there is more musical variety (electronic songs, dance songs, ballads, etc.). I'd say it's my second favorite Britney album, after In The Zone.
  4. dreammusic
    Nov 7, 2012
    10
    Britney at her best returns and has made a helluva comeback with Womaniser and Circus... A must listen Although tracks like Blur and My Baby are slightly away from the direction of the album, it glues together perfectly with peppy tracks like If U Seek Amy and Mmm Papi :-P
  5. Matheus_
    Sep 23, 2012
    5
    Although the album is the first step of a re-invention period for the singer, "Britney" is, still, a childish-like album. Despite from some of the songs (such as "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Boys"), the rest of the album is too girly even for Britney's style. The tentative to achieve a more feminine and adult sound transforms into a sensation of "how would that be like if the Neptune hadAlthough the album is the first step of a re-invention period for the singer, "Britney" is, still, a childish-like album. Despite from some of the songs (such as "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Boys"), the rest of the album is too girly even for Britney's style. The tentative to achieve a more feminine and adult sound transforms into a sensation of "how would that be like if the Neptune had produced the whole thing?", since they were responsible for the two mentioned songs. From what it should have been, the album is just a wannabe.… Expand
  6. inof
    Mar 4, 2013
    9
    if not her best then one of her best albums ever.!!! Songs like ''Circus'' Womanizer'' ''If U Seek Amy'' ''Mannequin'' ''Shattered Glass'' make you wanna dance..but on the other hand, ballads like ''Out from under'' ''My Baby'' or Unusual You'' are so so beautiful...
  7. LanaDelRey
    Mar 24, 2013
    10
    Womiazer, Circus, Kill The Lights, If U Seek Amy, Unusual You, Papi, Lace And Leather!
    Damn Perfect!
  8. billobo1
    Aug 27, 2016
    6
    The follow-up to "Blackout" isn't bad. It's not good either, though. In 3 words, lack of inspiration. Despite the amazing, killer singles it produced and the "Blackout" almost song, "Kill the Lights", this album has no direction. Most songs sound like demos. Do they have potential to be great? Sure! Did they evolve like that? No, not really. Its surprisingly large number of forgettableThe follow-up to "Blackout" isn't bad. It's not good either, though. In 3 words, lack of inspiration. Despite the amazing, killer singles it produced and the "Blackout" almost song, "Kill the Lights", this album has no direction. Most songs sound like demos. Do they have potential to be great? Sure! Did they evolve like that? No, not really. Its surprisingly large number of forgettable ballads doesn't really help either. It can'be called bad, because it isn't a let-down or a flop. Truth be told though, it is no masterpiece either.… Expand
  9. BWETMatangi
    Aug 6, 2013
    6
    "If U Seek Amy" will always be one of my favorite Britney songs. Other good songs include "Mmm Papi" and "Womanizer". A great CD if you like happy pop music.
  10. MateusClemente
    Oct 20, 2016
    9
    One of her best albums ever! Close enough to the old and classic pop sound. Britney got everything right in it, from the cover to the singles choice. Definitely a great piece of work!
  11. breathesp
    Dec 13, 2013
    10
    melhor album pop melhor album pop melhor album pop melhor album pop melhor album pop melhor album pop melhor album pop amoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  12. lukeparkes26
    Jul 15, 2016
    8
    "Circus" provides more lighthearted moments than "Blackout," and it has those sassy, sexy, sultry moments, too. I love the fun, upbeat tracks, such as "Circus," If You Seek Amy," and "Phonography," and I love the softer, vulnerable ballads, such as "Out From Under," "My Baby," and "Unusual You," and I love the songs that mix things up: "Shattered Glass" and "Quicksand."
  13. caiotemon
    May 14, 2014
    9
    This album is FANTASTIC. It's funny like no other she has ever released and every track stands out in it's own way. Unusual you was, for me, the best track on the album and one of the best of her entire carreer(too bad it wasn't released as a single :( ), and the others follow up to this.
  14. PinkFriday
    Sep 6, 2014
    9
    Esse é o álbum da "volta por cima" de Britney. Depois de raspar a cabeça, beber, fumar, e ir para a clínica de reabilitação, e todos acharem que sua carreira estava acabada, voltou com tudo com o single Womanizer e o álbum Circus, um album pop muito bom e divertido. Acertou em cheio! As melhores faixas são "Circus" "Blur" e "Unusual You".
  15. Felipecritic
    Oct 21, 2017
    7
    Um bom álbum pop, responsável por trazer Britney ao topo das paradas novamente, além de uma das turnês mais lucrativas da década de 2000, um super espetáculo pop.
  16. DanielSaldanaG
    Oct 11, 2015
    8
    It's a good album but it looks like it's divided in two parts, because from the middle to the end has really weak tracks that take away the strength of the album. However, it has hits, and good hits, since Circus and If U Seek Amy have a perfect production and an excellent performance.
  17. tulho21
    Mar 10, 2016
    9
    Um dos melhores albuns que eu já ouvi da Ms. Spears, muitos que dizem que ela morreu em 2004, mas esse album provou como uma verdadeira rainha retorna
  18. sayaam
    Feb 1, 2016
    10
    Britney's most flawless venture into the realm of pure pop in almost a decade (having worked with hip hop and dance on the two records prior to this) didn't disappoint. Full of sexy, high power jams that become instant classics on the first listen - this album has every track worthy of being a hit and accentuates her powerful dominatrix side as well as some of her most meaningful balladsBritney's most flawless venture into the realm of pure pop in almost a decade (having worked with hip hop and dance on the two records prior to this) didn't disappoint. Full of sexy, high power jams that become instant classics on the first listen - this album has every track worthy of being a hit and accentuates her powerful dominatrix side as well as some of her most meaningful ballads of her career.… Expand
  19. LuizSimmer313
    Feb 9, 2017
    10
    Com certeza Circus é um álbum marcante na carreira de Spears. Marca uma nova etapa na sua vida, e mostra que amadureceu, de canções profundos á canções dance, como o sucesso 'Womanizer'
  20. Tonyo
    Jan 30, 2016
    7
    Album fourre-tout, pot-pourri de la pop où l'excellent (Mannequin, Circus, Out From Under) côtoie le moins bon (Blur, Mmm Papi, My Baby). Album du retour, bien mené par le premier single Womanizer.
  21. TheusOk
    Mar 5, 2016
    10
    Best album jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
  22. Bruck8
    Jun 8, 2019
    10
    Underappreciated.
    One of the few Britney albums that has slower songs and ballads on it.
    a Great Record.
  23. lipeeh1398
    Aug 26, 2016
    10
    Realmente grande, um album que seguiu a reta o nome do mesmo, todas as musicas são muito bem elaboradas, nem todas, mas muitas estão excelentes, o destaque para unusual You, Out From Under, Shatered Glasses e If U Seek Amy que são as perolas do album.
  24. prayyoucatchme
    Aug 30, 2016
    1
    Spears' sophomore album, which was critically one of her best, and featured the self-titled single that everyone and their mothers know. The album is headlined by such songs as Oops...I did it again, Stronger, and Lucky, with each one reaching the top 15 in the US Billboard 100 charts. Though those songs were popular, and I think they are catchy, the album does have its flaws. (I can't getSpears' sophomore album, which was critically one of her best, and featured the self-titled single that everyone and their mothers know. The album is headlined by such songs as Oops...I did it again, Stronger, and Lucky, with each one reaching the top 15 in the US Billboard 100 charts. Though those songs were popular, and I think they are catchy, the album does have its flaws. (I can't get no) Satisfaction is a word-for-word cover of the original Rolling Stones song, and it just comes off as awful personally. Also, the last track on the album, Dear Diary, is very, very stupid, in my opinion. Buy it to relive some nostalgia, but be aware this is the early 2000's, and bubblegum pop is just as cheesy as you thought it was. Collapse… Expand
  25. gabrielfobia
    Sep 10, 2016
    7
    This album has some great moments, but a great part of the unknown songs for most of people is just there for filling the blanks. I, personally, highlight Out From Under as a very personal track which really spoke to me about what Britney has been through in the past 2 years.
  26. Kauanzanatts
    Sep 11, 2016
    9
    this(and glory)is the best album of my diva and queen britney spears i am a bigggggggggggg fan of her and this is the most strong but is really underrated album of her, that shows songs like circus,unusual you etc... that show britney vocal skills and a pop star skills like womanizer that is her 2 big hit of all time, this album is really underrated album and deserves much more
  27. victorcarter
    Nov 21, 2016
    5
    Definitely not as exposing as the title suggests. Exposure aside :I'll give Radar a straight up zero because it also was on Blackout (Seriously Britney? How did you think this was a good idea?). Mmm Papi gets an undeniable 1 out of ten, as it is one of her biggest FFS moments so far. About the rest, Circus was really good, i liked Womanizer, and the rest songs just fail to stick out.Definitely not as exposing as the title suggests. Exposure aside :I'll give Radar a straight up zero because it also was on Blackout (Seriously Britney? How did you think this was a good idea?). Mmm Papi gets an undeniable 1 out of ten, as it is one of her biggest FFS moments so far. About the rest, Circus was really good, i liked Womanizer, and the rest songs just fail to stick out. Overall an average to just fine record.… Expand
  28. lordemusic
    Dec 1, 2016
    2
    "Blackout" seemed like it signaled a more club-orientated path for Spears, like Madonna or Kylie Minogue, but Circus is a hodgepodge of pop themes that never really finds a face."Blackout" seemed like it signaled a more club-orientated path for Spears, like Madonna or Kylie Minogue, but Circus is a hodgepodge of pop themes that never really finds a face.
  29. JonasCroft
    Jul 23, 2017
    10
    This album continues the legacy of Blackout, but in an unusual way. We can really feel the sadness, the kindness, the madness, and the fun times, a whole personality. This album it's really a Circus.
  30. Heychrystin
    Jul 26, 2017
    10
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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.
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