Femme Fatale
by Britney Spears
  • Record Label: Jive
  • Release Date: Mar 29, 2011
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 707 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 535 out of 707
  2. Mixed: 69 out of 707
  3. Negative: 103 out of 707
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  1. RIProo
    Mar 26, 2012
    7
    Not as good as "Circus", "Blackout" and "In The Zone" ( in my opinion ) but however this is a good album, with an interesting dub-step that now the biggest part of pop artists uses! The best songs for me are Criminal, Seal It With A Kiss, Gasoline, Inside Out and Hold It Against Me.
  2. Parera_Starr11
    Jun 29, 2012
    7
    A Good Lp. Its constant but a bit over produced. There is way too much auto-tune for it to get anything above a 7 from me. Standout tracks are: I Wanna Go, Trip to Your Heart and How I Roll.
  3. riianu
    May 19, 2012
    7
    To me, Femme Fatale is Britney's best album. Of course it could be that now that I listen to her older albums, they sound a bit stale and out of date, whereas Femme Fatale has a more current vibe (obviously, being her latest). The single choice of Criminal threw me a little, though, as I think there are far better songs on this album than that one.
  4. DarkBates
    Nov 6, 2013
    7
    Not her worst, not her best... the chorus are catching, but not like in her other albums. Till The World Ends Hold It Against me. And what about Gasoline... hmmm... this song is "just ok".
  5. Felipecritic
    Oct 21, 2017
    7
    Trazendo uma sonoridade eletrônica misturada com música pop, que a própria Britney popularizou em 2007 junto com Kylie Minogue, Femme Fatale é um dos principais CDs de 2011. Responsável pelos sucessos "Hold It Against Me", "Till the World Ends" e "I Wanna Go".
  6. victorcarter
    Nov 21, 2016
    7
    A step-up from circus. The only song i found to be sub-par was (Drop Dead) Beautiful. Till the world ends was great, and Criminal was very good. Other good songs are:Hold It Against Me, Inside Out, I Wanna Go, Big Fat Bass and Gasoline. The rest are average or just fine. Overall a quite consistent and a pleasant (unexpectedly) record.
  7. ManuelContreras
    Apr 8, 2018
    7
    de los mejors albumes de su carrera, y tambien de los mejores albumes del año
  8. IIIDraceIII
    Sep 23, 2018
    7
    emme Fatale, in my opinion, is possibly the best album Britney Spears has released. Now granted In the Zone gave us "Toxic" and Circus, well it gave us "Womanizer" and "Circus"! But Femme Fatale is definitely up-to-date with the latest genres of music including, techno, electropop, synthpop, and even a touch of dubstep, which is new to the States (thankfully its Britney who is introducingemme Fatale, in my opinion, is possibly the best album Britney Spears has released. Now granted In the Zone gave us "Toxic" and Circus, well it gave us "Womanizer" and "Circus"! But Femme Fatale is definitely up-to-date with the latest genres of music including, techno, electropop, synthpop, and even a touch of dubstep, which is new to the States (thankfully its Britney who is introducing dubstep to us!). Some of the hallmarks of the albums has to be:
    I Wanna Go: a very upbeat, catchy tune with lots of autotune and bounce! This song is definitely radio worthy and I feel it has potential to be the popular song of Summer 2011! When the song starts it just makes you want to get up and dance and sing along to it! It's a great song and is probably the best song on the album!

    Trip To Your Heart: Very dancy tune, with lots of catchy beats and an awesome chorus melody! Trip to Your Heart is probably one of the sweetest songs on "Femme Fatale" and, in my opinion, sounds like something that Britney would've sung on "...Baby One More Time" or "Oops I Did It Again" if both of the albums were released in 2011! How I Roll: When you first hear this, you'll immediately think that this song is sexy (heavy breathing at the beginning of the song)! Like most of the songs on "Femme Fatale" it has a catchy chorus ("Because I got 9 lives like a kitty cat!") which makes it very sexy and alluring for Britney to sing! Gasoline: This song is shockingly perfect for the age in which we live in (ahem! gas prices). Gasoline is a very sexy song that fits perfectly for Spears and might I add, make gasoline sexy again!

    Criminal: This song is a more ballad like song which features Britney falling in love with a criminal. Definitely, puts you in the shoes of Britney's mama! And how she would feel if Britney really were in love with a criminal. Although slow, it's a great addition to "Femme Fatale"'s lineup of nightclub dance worthy tracks

    Up N Down (only available on the deluxe version): I love this song! The beats are perfect, vocals are perfect, melody is perfect, everything in this song is perfect! Definitely a song you would hum in your head! Some of the other songs with honors would include:
    Inside Out,
    Drop Dead (Beautiful),
    Seal It With A Kiss,

    Now I can say the whole album is great, but there is one song that I don't particularly like, and most people can agree with me on this one, Big Fat Bass! It sounds... OK... but too much autotune and heavy beats. Will.I.Am is not at his best in this song and doesn't do a great job as he did in "The E.N.D." but despite it all, Britney's vocal are outstanding and fills the void of the not-so-great beats and "vocals" (if you would like to call them that) of Will.I.Am! Overall the album is fantastic, but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to Big Fat Bass. Other than that, well worth every single penny. Great addition to any Britney fan's collection!
    I also suggest the Deluxe version, all of the bonus tracks are awesome, even though I didn't mention them, they're great!    … Expand
  9. infsai
    Mar 27, 2020
    7
    It's an okay album. All single choices are good (especially "Criminal" - love it!). However besides singles and some songs (like "(Drop Dead) Beautiful") whole album gives me "weird" feel and it's not so memorable like it's predecessors.
  10. PEDROMFR
    Feb 28, 2021
    7
    This album scream "dance" and "summer" and it's definitely her redemption, bringing confidence and power more than ever in her career. Spears didn´t have such set of triumphant singles for a long time, as well as such perfectly produced album. It's so good to see her shine again.
  11. KendylKlownfish
    Apr 30, 2011
    6
    Femme Fatale is far from being Spears's best album. In fact, it is so overly produced and heavily auto tuned that it could've been the latest Ke$ha album, and no one would care at all. However, it is a ballad free-club ready album that'll make plenty of fans scream, "Britney's back, **** The two latest singles, "Hold It Against Me" and "Till The World Ends", are its highlighted tracks.
  12. saulo_portokalo
    Apr 7, 2011
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An album with no lyrics, no production and no human voice - Femme Fatale This is the seventh album from Britney Spears! It is personal, the princess returned to playback everything. Britney Spears makes this time a trip to the insane electro-disco-pop. I must say that she was drunk all the way and driving a VW color pink. For patients Spears fans will be a recipe for long hair beats, voiceovers in front of the mirror and abuse at nightclubs.… Expand
  13. Mateusq
    May 19, 2011
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dança, sexo, amores caidos, auto-tunes! Tudo isso é possivel encontrar no novo album da Princesa do POP Britney Spears. A sonoridade é contagiante, com musicas chicletes e com capacidade de se tornarem grandes HITs. O album lembra os grandes sucessos de Kesha, e construido na mesma base dos HITs da cantora: Letras banais, agitado, uma dança sem fim. Porém, com a canção Criminal, Britney foi além, mesmo que não muito longe. 6,0!… Expand
  14. I_Am_F
    May 26, 2011
    6
    The album is nice but nothing more than that. Although meaningless, "Hold It Against Me", "Inside Out", "I Wanna Go", "Gasoline" and "Criminal" are catchy and fun. However, the other tracks are forgettable.
  15. vini1904
    Nov 6, 2011
    6
    Where is the voice of Britney? This is the first question that comes to mind when listening to this album. In a full summary of the work, it seems that Britney forgot her good old pop and electronica trend adhered to today.
  16. KleineSean
    Feb 5, 2012
    6
    A good album with catchy beats. No innovation at all. Gottwald has the ability to turn all the artists her works with into mainstream pop stars. Extremely auto-tuned and Ke$ha-like. It sure makes us all miss the days when Britney used to sing. Definitely, not her best album at all.
  17. miguelandrade1
    Oct 25, 2013
    6
    Femme fatale is a good album, but is too predictable. There is no innovation, it is always the same eletronic music with a bit of auto-tune, definitely not one of the best works made my pop princess Britney Spears. There is no comparison with her previous works, such as blackout and circus, but it has good songs like "criminal", "he about to lose me" and "hold it against me".
  18. yessv
    Sep 8, 2016
    6
    so presta os singles, album cheio de auto tune e cagado. Britney deixou a desejar um album tão promissor como esse no final foi lançado faltando mais naturalidade
  19. Tonyo
    Jan 30, 2016
    6
    Album assez inégal, ancré dans son temps avec des sons électro dance qui ont assez mal vieilli.

    Coup de coeur: Inside Out et les pistes bonus de la version deluxe.
  20. MrFrench
    Aug 4, 2019
    6
    Of the albums released in the 2010s, this one is her best in my opinion. This song has two of my favorite Britney songs on it: "Criminal" and "Gasoline." It also has great songs like "Inside Out," "Trip to Your Heart," and "He About To Lose Me."
  21. maquisl
    Jul 24, 2020
    6
    It's a good album but it could have been released by any other artist. She's just following a trend instead of creating a new trend, as she did with her previous albums. They should have gone for the style of the bonus tracks. Also, the lyrics makes the album worse.
    It still has great tracks like Hold It Against Me, Seal It With a Kiss, Don't Keep Me Waiting, He About To Lose Me and Inside Out.
  22. BloodyMary
    May 20, 2011
    5
    The whole album is not the best album of Britney. There are some good and catchy songs like Hold It Against Me, Till the World Ends and I Wanna Go. However, I think Britney Spears should start write some songs and produce her own material and not leave the songwriting to others (for example I Wanna Go a song about her life isn't written by her, neither). The lyrics are catchy but lack ofThe whole album is not the best album of Britney. There are some good and catchy songs like Hold It Against Me, Till the World Ends and I Wanna Go. However, I think Britney Spears should start write some songs and produce her own material and not leave the songwriting to others (for example I Wanna Go a song about her life isn't written by her, neither). The lyrics are catchy but lack of Britney's involvement and something new. Her voice is so much robotic and has so much auto-tune and the listener doesn't enjoy the album. All in all, the album isn't interesting and lacks of new lyrics yet good choice for clubs only and nothing else.… Expand
  23. BWETMatangi
    Aug 9, 2013
    5
    One of the worst Britney Spears CD's. Her highly autotuned voice gets annoying, and the songs are horribly written. Definitely not a good album, only four or five good songs.
  24. NathanCabello
    Dec 16, 2014
    5
    Britney excuse me but this album is not good, you have the potential to make (at least compose) best songs, there are few that can be enjoyed this album.
    Highlights: Drop Dead and Till The World Ends
    Lows: Gasoline and Do not Keep Me Waiting
  25. jimmytancredi
    Jun 11, 2011
    4
    In my opinion, Femme Fatale's strikes are innovative, Britney's voice is better and the record hasn't a bad song. The only thing I was kind of disappointed are the lyrics of songs that aren't that creative... for me the best lyrics are from "Trip To Your Heart" and "Criminal".

    Femme Fatale can't be compared to the previous, because if we really consider it her best work: doesn't have    In my opinion, Femme Fatale's strikes are innovative, Britney's voice is better and the record hasn't a bad song. The only thing I was kind of disappointed are the lyrics of songs that aren't that creative... for me the best lyrics are from "Trip To Your Heart" and "Criminal".

    Femme Fatale can't be compared to the previous, because if we really consider it her best work: doesn't have annoying music or bad. The change in style for trance-pop may not please everyone, however it will please the majority. It will bring more fans to Miss. Spears, because we have one of the most mature records of her career. The album wasn't meant to be heard, but felt.

    Generally, I face Femme Fatale as a unique album. I can't compare this work with no other from Britney. I think everything Britney has done so far is unique. And she nailed it on this album. This is what Pop is. Britney knows how to pop, this is fact. The record didn't disappoint me in any aspect. As each and every album has its ups and downs. I really hope she doesn't ignore "How I Roll", "I Wanna Go" and especially "Criminal" because in my opinion are the best of the album along with "Trip To Your Heart". And not being fanatic, but I think Femme Fatale has imperceptible lows. Now it's time to enjoy this record, wait for the bonus tracks and the performance on Good Morning America, the video of Till The World Ends, and something about the new tour.

    Britney proves once again that doesn't need to follow trend's music to be fashionable... she creates a different vision of pop music, which few or many, will be happy to savor every melody, production stage, choruses, bridges, etc...
    The album's name does justice to the content. More mature, provocative and daring to the ears of fans and listeners.

    It may not have sounded so good at first, but once I heard the album on the iPod, I was loving every song. In it we can see an evolution in relation to the last two albums because it presents a great diversity of sounds, lyrics a little more elaborated and somewhat with census, the most important thing is the fact that hasn't such a weakness noted in the recent musical works. The album in general can be very generic but it is this type of rhythm it is essential these days because the music is changing every time that passes. Overall I loved the album, however it won't be my favorite though. It has been noticed that she gave her heart for working through this fantastic album which I am very thankful and she deserves to be congratulated for this. Even though I really loved the record I feel a little disappointed for the fact that the album doesn't have any ballad.    … Expand
  26. cyborobin
    Mar 29, 2011
    4
    So disappointed. There's barely anything in this album that remotely tells me that this is Britney's best album like she said it was. Now, I love Britney as much as anyone else could, but I love her for a totally different reason than most. I loved her for her innovation and originality that she brought to pop music; she seemed like the first person to bring in different elements ofSo disappointed. There's barely anything in this album that remotely tells me that this is Britney's best album like she said it was. Now, I love Britney as much as anyone else could, but I love her for a totally different reason than most. I loved her for her innovation and originality that she brought to pop music; she seemed like the first person to bring in different elements of different genres into her music and that what drew me to her during her "Britney" and "In the Zone" era, but now it seems like she's settled on a sound and isn't giving it up.

    The writing seems lackluster; there's definitely a theme, but it's so transparent that it doesn't pop like before. I know 12-year-olds that could write better songs than Till the World Ends or Hold It Against Me, but there is no way they could've done the production. The composition on most of these songs are top-notch and that's what really sells the album, which, on its own merits, is an accomplishment but a vague one at the least. This album is definitely "POP GOLD", but whose pop, because it's not Britney's? Actually, it sounds like the pop album of twelve different artists' rejects fused together.

    The only highlights I can find are "Inside Out", the dubstep-influenced monster it is, and "I Wanna Go", the disco/electro, Kylie Minogue-esque hit that was obviously skipped as a single choice. I'm not saying that this doesn't reek of Britney or pop fantasy, it's just disappointing.    … Expand
  27. PopCulturist
    May 25, 2011
    4
    Dear Britney: I miss you in Toxic . This Album is repetitive, no creativity since the electro beast is the same... Put together her two latest singles "Till The World Ends" and "I Wanna Go" is the exact SAME background. Is energic yes... but is so repetitive and some lyrics make no sense. Britney's voice is auto-tuned that sounds like a remixed album. Is catchy but you can't be consideredDear Britney: I miss you in Toxic . This Album is repetitive, no creativity since the electro beast is the same... Put together her two latest singles "Till The World Ends" and "I Wanna Go" is the exact SAME background. Is energic yes... but is so repetitive and some lyrics make no sense. Britney's voice is auto-tuned that sounds like a remixed album. Is catchy but you can't be considered a "Pop Princess" with just a "catchy" album.… Expand
  28. DylanVDW
    Jun 30, 2011
    4
    Femme Fatale is exactly what I expected in an album from Britney Spears: a few standout tracks: HIAM, TTWE, and Up N Down; a few mediocre tracks: Inside Out, I Wanna Go; and filler. This is Britney's best album after Blackout and Baby One More Time respectively. This is a solid release for Miss Spears, fun to have drinks to while getting ready for a night out but not a serious contenderFemme Fatale is exactly what I expected in an album from Britney Spears: a few standout tracks: HIAM, TTWE, and Up N Down; a few mediocre tracks: Inside Out, I Wanna Go; and filler. This is Britney's best album after Blackout and Baby One More Time respectively. This is a solid release for Miss Spears, fun to have drinks to while getting ready for a night out but not a serious contender for any best of lists and hopefully no one deludes themselves with the idea that it is.… Expand
  29. chommy
    Apr 3, 2011
    3
    I used to love Britney so much, but she has honestly gone so downhill. She doesn't write her songs, make her music, and now she doesn't even sing her own songs. Her voice is so extremely edited, and the songs are so plain. The album is nothing special, and, in my opinion, has to be her worst to date. Song by song review: Till The World Ends: 4/10 The moment I heard it, I knew it was eitherI used to love Britney so much, but she has honestly gone so downhill. She doesn't write her songs, make her music, and now she doesn't even sing her own songs. Her voice is so extremely edited, and the songs are so plain. The album is nothing special, and, in my opinion, has to be her worst to date. Song by song review: Till The World Ends: 4/10 The moment I heard it, I knew it was either written by Kesha, or a clear rip off of Kesha. As I believe Kesha has terrible songs, well, I'd obviously hate this.
    Hold It Against Me: 2/10 Sounds like a bad attempt at a dance song, and the lyrics are a bad attempt at sounding flirty.
    Inside Out: 4/10 Again, terrible lyrics. Got annoying after a few listens.
    I Wanna Go: 6.5/10 This song is REALLY close to being a decent song, but there's something about that just irks me. Clearly the next single.
    How I Roll: 6/10 Different, which is nice. The beginning turns you off, though. The first 5 seconds made me annoyed, but after I listened to the entire thing, I actually kinda liked it.
    (Drop Dead) Beautiful: 4/10 So, Till The World Ends sounded like a Kesha song, and in this song there's some chick who seems to be trying to pretend to be Kesha. If the featured girl wasn't in this, it would be an okay song, but she really turns me off.
    Seal It With a Kiss: 5/10 Once again, has potential but fails. Something about it just ... no.
    Big Fat Bass: 0/10 Dear God, what was she thinking.
    Trouble For Me: 5.5/10 First few listens, I liked it. Got boring really quickly.
    Trip To Your Heart: 6/10 One of the better songs on here. The music gets annoying after a bit, but still one of the more decent songs.
    Gasoline: 6.5/10 I hated it at first, but it's really catchy. Like other songs, it has potential to be good, but ... it just isn't.
    Criminal: 8.5/10 Hands down the best on the album. The melody is amazing, the flute is beautiful and ahh. This is the only song I keep going back to. The only song you should bother listening to.

    I seriously don't know why people are still in love with her. She has done nothing creative recently, hardly making her worthy of any "Queen and/or Princess of Pop" titles. She needs to settle down and focus on her family life, because her heart's just not into her music anymore.    … Expand
  30. musicisallineed
    Aug 7, 2011
    3
    An album that prooves Britney for what she really is, and yes i feel rather bad saying this, but, a fake. Never have i heard such flat lyrical content, over production and auto tuning. Britney is almost totally void in this album, the computer/equipment took over and sadly Britney was left behind. This album is saved by just a very small few handfull of songs that, although not 100%, theyAn album that prooves Britney for what she really is, and yes i feel rather bad saying this, but, a fake. Never have i heard such flat lyrical content, over production and auto tuning. Britney is almost totally void in this album, the computer/equipment took over and sadly Britney was left behind. This album is saved by just a very small few handfull of songs that, although not 100%, they do remind you of why you bought this album in the first place.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2011
21
#21 Most Shared Album of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. Hartford Courant
    May 24, 2011
    80
    Despite a slew of hit singles and eye-popping sales figures, Britney Spears has never released an album as coherent from start to finish as her latest, Femme Fatale.
    Read full review
  2. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Apr 15, 2011
    83
    The poppers keep on coming right through the bonus tracks of porn-lite funk-lite that's quirky and clever front to back.
    Read full review
  3. No Ripcord
    Apr 5, 2011
    70
    Femme Fatale equips Britney with material which is strong enough to enable the original all-American Pop Princess to hold her own in such an overcrowded context.
    Read full review
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