Britney Spears

Britney Spears has become something of a marmite artist. In the privileged position of having long over-lived the average pop shelf life, Britney is now 17 years into her recording career and impressively manages to create more hysteria for an impending album release than many of the younger former Disney stars, yet somehow despite all the outpouring of fan love in the build up to any album she has released, the #1 album spot in the UK has always evaded her. With all but two of her previous 8 albums having reached the Top 10, she has thrice stalled at #2. With the criminally overlooked 2013 release Britney Jean having only managed #34, could Britney finally climb to poll position with ambitiously titled album #9, Glory?

The simple answer is hopefully. While Britney Jean saw Ms Spears experiment with her sound in a direction that disregarded her core fanbase's pop sensibilities, Glory shows that the princess is ready to not just reclaim her crown but that she is very much worthy of a promotion. Glory is not your average pop record, it is a step above and Britney, at 34, is ready to be titled a Pop Queen.

Glory opens in slick style and sets the tone. Although Britney is best known for her bangers, often opening records with the biggest of the new collection, Glory starts slow and allows the record to build. Vocally crisp, Invitation entices her listeners with her rather wonderful falsetto. Invitation is truly inviting and could easily be the finest opening album cut she has ever recorded.

Invitation builds into Make Me..., the single which kickstarted the new campaign and saw Britney thankfully abandon the misguided direction she had started with Iggy Azalea on the awful Pretty Girls. Make Me... ticks all the boxes needed for a comeback single. Sexy, sultry and and addictive, the only slight misstep is the inclusion of G-Eazy's forgettable contribution. Private Show is an early highlight, which showcases Britney in a playful, experimental mood. With a doo-wop drive, Britney's vocal will silence all her critics. Impressively rich, this deserves to be a future single.

Man On The Moon sees Britney not only returning to her fascination with space, but to the pure pop sound that defined her early years. The move is welcome and while it leans towards bubblegum pop, we suggest you simply let your youth return and sing along with all your heart and soul. With echoes of the sensitivity explored on songs like Everytime, Just Luv Me sees Britney yearning for the one thing we all crave - love. While her wanting is not reciprocated, Britney is about to showered with outpourings of love from her fans for this inspired cut.

Clumsy is vocally the most experimental on Glory. With a real dynamic to her presence throughout the song, the real range of her unique vocal is finally showcased. For all those who questioned whether she still had it in her, Clumsy is Britney's time to silence the critics.

With the haters silenced, Britney brings her favourite theme to the fore for the next song, Do You Wanna Come Over? Even at her most provocative, Britney has always managed to maintain something of the naughty girl next door to her artistry. Do You Wanna Come Over? plays on this as she revels in a little bit of a tease. From tease to pure sexiness, Do You Wanna Come Over? blends into the bombasting dream that is Slumber Party. This is one to turn up loud and lose yourself in. Britney wants you to move, best make it naughty.

Just Like Me is the most surprising inclusion on the album, but also one of it's finest. Allowing a real and very rare insight into her actual psyche, Just Like Me is a fragile exploration of how it feels to be cheated on. This is a real gem.

Following the finest with the weakest, Love Me Down is the only song that shouldn't have made the cut. While there are some impressive ad-libs, this is a little too generic for the collection, but will no doubt have people grinding on the dancefloor.

Clearly enjoying a moment to retrace her steps, Hard To Forget Ya could also have easily been lifted from her early years. This is a euphoric joy that will have you singing, bouncing and smiling infectiously. While the throwbacks are a joy, it is the forward thinking exploration and diversification that makes Glory so glorious. What You Need sees Britney really really sing! This is a throwback to the sing-a-long soul from the seventies and is a sheer thrill to listen to.

While What You Need closes the standard edition album in fantastic style, we thoroughly encourage you to invest in the deluxe edtion, for this is a collection you do not want to stop. Better is perhaps the most contemporary inclusion on the set. Opening the deluxe additions, this feels like it should feature Justin Bieber as a guest star, but who needs Biebs when you have Brit?

Continuing with her determination to include as many genre influences in to her new sound. Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortés) sees her flirt with flamenco and will have you begging for a fully fledged Latin-pop album from this pop diva.

Why Liar was not included on the standard edition is beyond us - but if you are two minds about investing in the deluxe edition or not, this songs alone makes parting with those extra pennies worthwhile. Unlike anything she had recorded before, this is such a mash-up of styles that it is nigh on impossible for words to do it justice. You simple need to hear it.

The PC driven pop of the irrepressible If I'm Dancing is begging to be a single. This is quirky, bouncy and extremely left of the centre. Britney was always a forward thinking pop artist and If I'm Dancing is about to inspire a decade of wannabes mimicking her sound. Pure genius.

Having dabbled with Latino-pop, Britney heads to France for Coupure Électrique, which translates as Blackout, which is of course the title of her sensational fifth album. With a slightly robotic sound behind her dreamy vocals, this closes the deluxe edition in glorious style.

Essentially Glory is even more glorious than it's title suggests. Britney may have disappointed many fans with Britney Jean, but she is set to thrill them with this diverse and impressive set. Britney is not just back, but she is better than ever.