Britney Spears Joins The Circus

It's a Britney birthday present, bitch!

It's the moment of truth for Ms. Britney Spears. Today, on her 27th birthday, she releases her much-anticipated, mega-PR-blitzed new album, Circus. Will it be the rocket fuel that propels her Moon Man-based comeback into the stratosphere? Or a lifetime of single-serve American cheese slices with dear ol' dad?

Time, and downloads, will tell, but we think the album has some serious lift-off potential. Thanks to the Chuck Bass tie-in, we were hooked on "Womanizer" from the slimy, sultry start. "Blur," the album's slow-tempo offering, channels Britney's big mama, Madonna. The heavily produced, synth sounds that are Brit Brit's trademark are there in dance-track abundance, but "Kill the Lights" works them to maximum effect.

We're keeping our fingers crossed for you, Britney. You best keep those oversized umbrellas and midnight visits to the barber in check.