Panic Industry

Blackout is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears. It was released on October 27, 2007 in Australia, October 29, 2007 in the U.K. and October 30, 2007 in the U.S., and around the world. It is her first studio album of new material since In the Zone in November 2003.

Originally slated to be released on November 13, 2007, the release date was moved up to October 30, 2007 due to numerous unauthorized online leaks of the songs in an attempt to combat song piracy, as well as the great success of the lead single, according to the album's record label.

There was confusion as to the album's title prior to an official announcement. Spears's website ran a competition for fans to vote for the album's title, however none of those names were used. Several sources, including People Magazine claimed "Piece of Me" was the album's title as well as second single. The album was also put up for pre-sale on some online music merchant's sites under the "Piece of Me" title.

On October 5, 2007, a message was posted on Spears's official website confirming that the title of the album is "Blackout". A spokesperson for Jive Records has said that the title and theme of Britney’s fifth studio album, "Blackout", is about "blacking out negativity and embracing life."

Internet blogger Perez Hilton is being sued by Zomba Label Group for posting at least ten unfinished or complete tracks on his website.

This is the first studio album for which Spears did not do any promotion prior to its release with the exception of her performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. However, Jive posted the commercial for the album, which is in rotation on television, on its official YouTube page.

A tour has yet to be officially announced, but new sources now say Spears is seeking dancers for her new video and a tour.

On October 23, 2007, the full album was streamed on The Leak at MTV.com, VH1.com, and LOGOonline.com.

On November 13, 2007, U.S. store Target released a special edition of Blackout with the bonus track "Outta This World" and a bonus mobile wallpaper and ringtone.

Critical reception

The album, often called Britney's "comeback album", has generally been met with somewhat favorable reviews. However, there has been negative criticism most notably, Newsday titled its review "Save your money", while Billboard trashed the album, saying, "This is still pop, but the last bits of Spears' song-and-dance girl veneer are cracking, along with the rest of her public persona." Other reviews noted the overwhelming presence of "studio trickery" had the effect of making her sound like a "Brit Bot". "If a blow-up sex doll could sing, this is what she'd sound like," wrote critic Jim Farber. "In terms of studio trickery, Paris Hilton's album was practically 'unplugged' compared to this."

Despite the criticism, most reviews fairly were positive. Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ rating and praised the album as "a perfectly serviceable dance album abundant in the kind of bouncy electro elements that buttressed her hottest hits." Popjustice, famous for its unusual reviews, also praised the album calling it "modern sounding, and brilliantly produced." Rolling Stone went on to give the album three and a half stars out of five and joked that Spears will "continue to crank the best pop booty jams until a social worker cuts off her supply of hits".

Track listing

1. "Gimme More" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 4:11
2. "Piece of Me" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Klas Åhlund) – 3:32
3. "Radar" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick J. Que Smith) – 3:49
4. "Break the Ice" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 3:16
5. "Heaven on Earth" (Michael McGroarty, Nick Huntington, Nicole Morier) – 4:52
6. "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" (Corte Ellis, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica) – 4:45
7. "Freakshow" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick "J.Que" Smith, Britney Spears) – 2:55
8. "Toy Soldier" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Magnus Wallbert, Sean Garrett) – 3:22
9. "Hot as Ice" (T-Pain, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica) – 3:17
10. "Ooh Ooh Baby" (Kara DioGuardi, Farid Nassar, Erick Coomes, Britney Spears) – 3:28
11. "Perfect Lover" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 3:03
12. "Why Should I Be Sad" (Pharrell Williams) – 3:10

Bonus Tracks

• "Outta This World" (U.S. Target and Japan Bonus Track) – 3:44
• "Everybody" (iTunes and Japan Bonus Track) – 3:18
• "Get Back" (iTunes and Japan Bonus Track) – 3:51
• "Gimme More" (Paul Oakenfold Remix) (Japan Bonus Track) – 6:08
• "Gimme More" (Junkie XL Dub) (iTunes International Bonus Track) – 4:59
• "Gimme More" (Stonebridge Dub Mix) (iTunes Switzerland Bonus Track) – 7:23

 

Singles

• "Gimme More" is the first single from Blackout. Spears performed the song at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards on September 9, 2007. It was released earlier to radio stations on August 30, 2007 and as a digital download on iTunes on September 27, 2007. Written by James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica and Nate Hills, "Gimme More" became Spears's highest chart peak since "...Baby One More Time", having reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

• "Piece of Me" is the confirmed second single from Blackout. The official release date is January 11, 2008. The music video will be shot during late November, 2007. In the first week of the release of Blackout in the U.S., "Piece of Me" debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart mostly due to digital download sales. It also debuted in Canada at number 37 as well as climbing to number 91 in the UK Singles Chart.

 

Charts, certifications and sales

Chart	Country	Provider(s)	Peak position	Certification	Sales/shipments
Argentinian Albums Chart	Argentina	CAPIF	3
Australian Albums Chart	Australia	ARIA	3	Gold	35,000
Austrian Albums Chart	Austria	IFPI Austria	6
Belgium Album Top 50	Belgium (Flanders)	IFPI Belgium	19
Belgium Wallonie Album Top 50	Belgium (Wallonie)	IFPI Belgium	6	Gold	25,000
Brazilian Top 30 CDs Sales	Brazil	Hot100Brasil	1		24,000
Canadian Albums Chart	Canada	CRIA	1		29,000
Czech Republic Top 50	Czech Republic	IFPI Czech Republic	27
Denmark Album Top 40	Denmark	IFPI Denmark	6
European Top 100 Albums	Europe	Billboard	1		200,000+
Finnish Top 40 Album	Finland	IFPI Finland	22
French Albums Chart	France	Disque En France	2		13,600
German Albums Chart	Germany	IFPI Germany	10
Greek Top 50 International Albums	Greece	IFPI Greece	3
Greek Top 50 Greek & International Albums			7
Hungary Album Top 40	Hungary	MAHASZ	24
Ireland Albums Top 75	Ireland	IRMA	1
Italy Album Top 100	Italy	FIMI	6
Japan Oricon Album Chart	Japan	RIAJ	4		34,000
Japan Oricon International Album Chart			2
Mexican Albums Chart	Mexico	AMPROFON	2
Mexican International Albums Chart			1
Netherlands Album Chart	Netherlands	NVPI	14
New Zealand Album Top 40	New Zealand	RIANZ	8
Norway Top 40	Norway	IFPI Norway	12
Poland Albums Chart	Poland	ZPAV	24
Portugal Album Top 30	Portugal	AFP	10
Spain Album Top 100	Spain	PROMUSICAE	11
Swedish Top 60	Sweden	IFPI Sweden	11
Swiss Album Charts	Switzerland	IFPI Switzerland	4
UK Album Charts	United Kingdom	BPI	2	Silver	70,000
Billboard 200	United States	RIAA	2		428,500
United World Chart	World	MediaTraffic	2		850,000

Personnel

• Vocals – Britney Spears
• Background vocals – Jim Beanz, Robin "Robyn" Carlsson, Kara DioGuardi, Sean Garrett, Keri Hilson, Britney Spears, Windy Wagner, Pharrell Williams, Nicole Morier, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis
• Keyboards – Avant, Bloodshy, Fredwreck
• Bass – Klas Alund, Eric Coomes, Henrik Jonback
• Guitar – Eric Coomes, Fredwreck, Henrik Jonback

Production

Executive Producer: Britney Spears Producers: Nate Hills, Avant, Bloodshy, Sean Garrett, Kara DioGuardi, Freescha, Farid "Fredwreck" Nassar, The Clutch, The Neptunes Mastering: Tom Coyne Engineers: Jim Carauna A&R Executive: Teresa LaBarbera Whites A&R Administration: Nancy Roof A&R Coordination: Jenny Prince Zomba Production Coordination: Cara Hutchinson Clearances: David Schmidt, Kobie "The Quarterback" Brown, Jeff Monachino, Damon "Ellis" Ellis

Photography: Ellen Von Unwerth Art Direction and design: Jackie Murphy, Jeri Heiden, Glen Nakasako Stylist: Patti Wilson Makeup: Francesca Tolot Prop stylist: Kirsten Vallow Manicurist: Lisa Jachno

References

External links

• Official UK Website

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