The Singles Collection (by Britney Spears, Pop)

THE SINGLES COLLECTION is the second greatest hits record (or third, if you count 2005's B in the Mix: The Remixes) from Britney Spears in the last five years -- not bad for an artist who's barely out of her mid-twenties. The latest compilation contains remasters of some of the same classic tracks on the former My Prerogative greatest hits album, including "Oops! I Did It Again," "Baby One More Time," and "Toxic." It also sports hits from more recent years, such as "Gimme More," "Piece of Me," and "Circus," along with Britney's latest number one single, "3" -- her ode to the sexual threesome. The track list parallels the singer's personal life, with the more carefree and fun songs from early in her career giving way to the tunes with sordid sexual themes that have characterized her career in recent years. 

Britney Spears is not just a singer, she's a brand -- known (and loved) for everything from her dancing to her image -- so she can't be judged on the merits of her lackluster vocals alone. Problem is, plenty of other brand-name artists do everything else Britney does, too, only they do it better. For example, Madonna may not be the best singer, either, but her daring image overhauls have resulted in songs that reflect a more intriguing variety of musical styles. And while Lady GaGa has also released her fair share of dance tracks, she infuses them with powerful vocals and more musical interest than Brit's ubiquitous synthesizer. Compared to tunes from these and other creative and talented counterparts, Britney's formulaic songs sound less appealing.

Released on: November 20, 2009
Label: Jive Records
Genre: Pop