Personnel includes: Britney Spears (vocals); Madonna (vocals); Ying Yang Twins (rap vocals); C "Tricky" Stewart, Moby, Bloodshy, Avant (various instruments, programming); Roy "Royalty" Hamilton (various instruments, background vocals); Guy Sigsworth (various instruments); Roy Gartrell (guitar, banjo); Jimmy Harry (guitar, keyboards, programming); Donnie Lyle, Gary O'Brien, Henrik Jonback (guitar); Steve Anderson (keyboards, programming); Kendall Nesbitt (keyboards); Thomas Lindberg (bass); Penelope Magnet, Courtney Copeland, Emma Roads, Roxanne Estrada, Chyna Royal, Black Cell, Cathy Dennis, Emma Holmgren, R. Kelly, Bud, Tricky, Kyron Leslie, Lisa Green, The Matrix (background vocals); Bollywood Strings.
Producers include: Trixter, Roy "Royalty" Hamilton, Mark Taylor, Bloodshy, Moby.
On her 4th album, the omnipresent Britney Spears--with the aid of numerous collaborators and producers--has crafted a virtual soundtrack to her wild, club-hopping nights. Following up the media frenzy of her televised Madonna kiss, Britney kicks things off by unveiling a full-on collaboration with the Material Girl, "Me Against the Music." This party-fueled, dance-floor-ready anthem bookends IN THE ZONE with a bonus Bollywood-tinged remix, and both versions are emblematic of the album as a whole--energetic, assertive, and sexy.
On the saucy "(I Got That) Boom Boom," Britney makes a stop in the Dirty South to visit "crunk" rappers the Ying Yang Twins. The innuendo-laden hip-hop and R&B carries over to the sultry "Showdown," the Moby-produced "Early Mornin'," and "Outrageous," featuring production and backing vocals by R. Kelly. Of course, Britney finds time for a little quiet introspection on the string-soaked "Shadow" and the piano ballad, "Everytime." Although IN THE ZONE showcases Britney as a carefree party girl, these latter songs highlight the softer side of the pop superstar.
What the critics say…
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.198) - 3 stars out of 5 - "…There's no question that Spears wants IN THE ZONE to be erogenous, so she lays on the heavy breathing and offers herself for hookups on and off the dance floor…"
Spin (12/03, pp.130-1) - "…Spears hits paydirt on 'Toxic,' holding her own against a wall of drum breaks, strings, and James Bond surf guitar that warps and struts like it's been fed into the Matrix…" - Grade: B-
Q (1/04, p.122) - 3 stars out of 5 - "It's a sprightly collection of provocative pop showing she still knows exactly which buttons to press."
