Circus: Overrated, Underrated, or Fairly Rated?

[Hylia 85,573]

So my sis @Impossible Princess and I have been discussing Britney's album Circus a lot lately, leading to us coming to the conclusion that neither of us are HUGE fans of the album. As I've read other opinions pertaining to the album across pop forums, I've noticed people either seem to love Circus, or hate it, with there being no true middle ground.

 

My problem with the album is that while the first half is great, the second half is rife with filler (aside from the bonus tracks, which I love). There also seems to be no true theme to the album. It's titled Circus, but aside from the title track, nothing on the album makes me think of a circus, so the whole idea of the title and cover is really lost on me.

 

What do YOU think of Circus?

[Onika 23,143]

It's one of the holy trinity

[Bionic Monster 5,020]

I find it dull and overrated

GODout, In The GOSPEL, Fat Female>>>>>>>>

[Hylia 85,573]

My overall order:

1. In The Zone

2. Femme Fatale

3. Oops!... I Did It Again

4. Britney

5. Blackout

6. Circus

7. Britney Jean

8. ...Baby One More Time

[Impossible Princess 1,557]

I have nearly the same issues with the album, except for I find both halves about equally lackluster  with the first half being only slightly better. The theme is an issue with me too. 

 

I'll post my ranking too:

1. In the Zone

2. Femme Fatale

3. Blackout

4. Oops!... I Did It Again

5. Britney Jean

6. Britney

7. Circus

8. ...Baby One More Time

[Tasso 17,034]

Underrated  

[Merryem 8,076]

underrated  shattered glass >> brit's discography  

[trashmagic 6,841]

It's a good album, better than Oops! and Britney Jean. The thing I find with Circus is that there are some really good tracks, like Lace and Leather, Womanizer, Amnesia and If U Seek Amy but then you have absolutely awful songs like Quicksand and My Baby. The comparisons to Blackout are also inevitable, it's far too safe and unchallenging as an album after that masterpiece. Then again, the unashamed poppiness of it is really nice and, in some ways, the fact that Circus is such a overall positive album is nice.

In general, it's a good album but definitely not one of her best. The ranking for me goes:

1. Blackout

2. In the Zone

3. Britney

4. Femme Fatale

5. ...Baby One More Time

6. Circus

7. Britney Jean

8. Oops!... I Did It Again

[Lachlan 18,474]

It's my fave Britney album, and it doesn't really bother me that the content of the music itself didn't have that much to do with the circus theme. Such an underrated record.

1. Circus
2. In the Zone
3. Blackout
4. Oops!... I Did It Again
5. Britney
6. Femme Fatale
7. ...Baby One More Time
8. Britney Jean

[CHANEL #1 12,907]

Underrated. It's her best album.

[SpringwoodSlasher 740]

1 hour ago, trashmagic said:

It's a good album, better than Oops! and Britney Jean. The thing I find with Circus is that there are some really good tracks, like Lace and Leather, Womanizer, Amnesia and If U Seek Amy but then you have absolutely awful songs like Quicksand and My Baby. The comparisons to Blackout are also inevitable, it's far too safe and unchallenging as an album after that masterpiece. Then again, the unashamed poppiness of it is really nice and, in some ways, the fact that Circus is such a overall positive album is nice.

In general, it's a good album but definitely not one of her best. The ranking for me goes:

1. Blackout

2. In the Zone

3. Britney

4. Femme Fatale

5. ...Baby One More Time

6. Circus

7. Britney Jean

8. Oops!... I Did It Again

[ParentalAdvisory 8,162]

Circus is a mixxed situation for me some songs are flawless others are filler

 

 

[Goldie 3,081]

The theme of Circus is enjoy the show, which was precisely Britney's intention with the album - to get people to remember why they listen to her at all, because she makes good pop music - and that's exactly what the album is  it has the straight up fun pop moments (like Womanizer, Circus), in-your-face clapback satire moments (Kill the Lights, Mannequin), introspective moments (Unusual You, Out From Under), some edge (If U Seek Amy) and also some filler which didn't really deserve to make the cut (Rock Boy rip2) But it slays so that's the bottom line  

[ChooseyLover 19,970]

I love every single song off Circus. Where are the fillers?

That album was so important! It was her big comeback with Womanizer

I've been giving a few listens to it this week and I love it Maybe more than I love Blackout

The Circus stuff doesn't have anything to do with the rest of the album, it's true. BUT THE BOOKLET IT'S PERFECT The album cover is absolutely one of her best . IT'S A GREAT ALBUM

Conclusion: Underrated

[ChooseyLover 19,970]

8 minutes ago, Goldie said:

The theme of Circus is enjoy the show, which was precisely Britney's intention with the album - to get people to remember why they listen to her at all, because she makes good pop music - and that's exactly what the album is  it has the straight up fun pop moments (like Womanizer, Circus), in-your-face clapback satire moments (Kill the Lights, Mannequin), introspective moments (Unusual You, Out From Under), some edge (If U Seek Amy) and also some filler which didn't really deserve to make the cut (Rock Boy rip2) But it slays so that's the bottom line  

AMEN

[trashmagic 6,841]

3 hours ago, SpringwoodSlasher said:

a good Gaga song but terrible Britney song

[Courtney Love 4,389]

I love it and will always have a special place for it. While I adore all the tracks, I definitely feel like some of the bonus ones should have replaced the standard ones

[Skyline 16,075]

I have mixed feelings about it. It's not as good as the previous 2 but it's good enough on its own. There are some filler tracks that could've been replaced by some of the bonus tracks. It's not very consistent either but I don't think that was the intention of the album. It's just a fun album.

My overall ranking of her albums would be:

01. Blackout
02. In the Zone
03. Britney
04. Circus
05. Femme Fatale
06. Oops!... I Did It Again
07. ...Baby One More Time
08. Britney Jean

[P.O.P 6,000]

UNDERRATED AF

[Radar 2,782]

12 hours ago, Impossible Princess said:

5. Britney Jean

6. Britney

7. Circus

8. ...Baby One More Time