Album of The Week: Britney Spears — Glory

The argued “Queen of Pop,” Britney Spears, returned to reassert her dominance of mainstream pop with the release of her new album on Aug. 26.

With its solid track arrangement, “Glory” is a nearly perfect pop record, and one which coincides with the music topping today’s charts. This is Spears’ ninth studio album, her first since 2013’s “Britney Jean.”

“Glory” is Britney in her best form, hearkening back to the “Circus” cycle of 2008. While today’s top 40 radio is not what it was when Spears made her debut in 1999, this pop-music veteran might just be better now than ever before.

This release opens with “Invitation,” a slow, but welcoming and aptly named track. “I just need you to trust me/Oh, that you see more with your eyes closed,” sings Spears.

A marriage of horns and jazz with today’s typical pop structure is what sets this recipe apart. This first appears in “Private Show,” the saucy third track in which Spears appeals to a lover. “Strutting on the stage, center of the lights/Dripping in smiles, they come on down/Take your seat now,” she sings.

The album’s first single, a track featuring G-Eazy, titled “Make Me,” debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in July. By September, the song had already dropped all the way to number 58.

Top tracks on the album include, but are not limited to, “Man on the Moon,” “Just Like Me” and the alleged Justin Timberlake call-out track, “Liar.”
As for record sales, the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 after selling 88,000 copies. This gives Spears her ninth top 10 Billboard debut, “Glory” being her first number three debut. Her last release, “Britney Jean,” debuted at number four and charted for 10 weeks.

“Glory” is available in stores, or on Apple Music and Spotify now.

Kimberly Firestine is the arts editor for the Spectator. She can be reached at ae.spectator@gmail.com.

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