Shhh...Don't Tell Anybody, But I Like Ms. Spears

OK, now if you've read any of my other music reviews, you probably are aware of the fact that my personal music preference is more on the louder side of the industry. I like hardcore, punk, heavy metal, ska, emo, etc. etc. However, I like to think of myself as well rounded musically. I like to listen to a little of everything from time to time.

Let's face it there are times when I just don't feel like listening to the heaviness of Slipknot. So when I am making a mix tape or CD for my car..what do I do to break up some monotony? Well, if you promise not to tell anybody, I'll let you in on my secret...

...shhh, don't tell anybody....but I like to throw a Brittney Spears tune into the mix. Don't ask me why, but there is something that attracts me to her style of bubble gum pop. I can't even begin to listen to N'Sync, the Backstreet Boys or even Christina Aguilera. However, there is something about Brittney Spears that strangely attracts me to her music. Sure she is good looking, I know that. Believe it or not, I liked her music before I even saw a picture of her.

I don't know, there is just something remotely interesting and entertaining to me about the way she sings.

Well all I can say is Amen for CD Now. I was able to anonymously order the CD player and pop into my machine. Perhaps its because she reminds me of my youth, when acts like Debbie Gibson and Tiffany were so rampant, or perhaps its because her songs have very dancey beats to them, I just find myself wanting to listen.

Now don't get me wrong, her music is not earth shattering, or phenomenal for that matter. I just find it really listenable. I really like the way her songs have the tendency to come to an abrupt end, like "...Baby on More Time" and "(You Drive Me) Crazy". I even like when she gets emotional and slow as she does in "Sometimes".

Brittney was the first one on the scene with this brand of teeny bopper pop music. Sure it is uninventive nowadays. Sure there are so many nameless clones of her nowadays it is ridiculous. I can't even keep up on the names of these clones. All I know is there is something I like about Ms. Spears music.

The album for me is a step back, a break to something less heavy, a chance just to sit back and relax.

I guess everybody has a band or two that they like but are embarassed to say. I have a friend who thinks Winger is the best thing since sliced bread, and his name is not Stewart, and he is not the next door neighbor on Beavis and Butt-Head. I know somebody else who find Milli Vanilli as a guilty pleasure, and one of my best friends holds both the Dropkick Murphy's and 98 Degrees in the same amount of favor. It is good to be musically diverse.

Anyway, there you go, I've said it. I like the groovy, pop induced beats on Brittney Spears debut record. I think the album is pretty good. It contains 11 tracks that are nice, easy listening experiences. They are toe tapping singalongs that when taken as just that, are pretty enjoyable. Sure she is one of the culprits guilty for spawning the uninventiveness of today's radio culture. But that's ok. I will continue to stick a Brittney song in between Vision of Disorder and Madball on my mix tapes.