Britney Spears Drops New Album 'Glory'

I really hate to say this because it's been said so many times, but I'm 99 percent sure the following thing is what we're all thinking, so I'm going to say it anyway: It's Britney, b*tch, and she's back and better than ever. Britney Spears has dropped Glory , her ninth studio album, on platforms including iTunes and Spotify, and, as I'm sure it'll be no surprise to those who have been paying attention, the album is quintessential Britney gold. What do I mean by that? Glory's like the perfect storm of old and new Britney, marrying the artist's nostalgic sound to something that feels fresh and novel and totally, completely her own. Let me put it more simply: It's a Britney Spears album that only Britney Spears could have made.

Glory rests in the Spears canon as album number nine. That's a huge feat for anyone, let alone an artist that's been making music for over two decades: In 1992, a then 11-year-old Spears joined the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club , and by 16, her debut album Baby One More Time topped the charts, eventually hitting double platinum status. She's done countless tours, she's a mother of two boys, and currently, she's headlining her own show in Las Vegas. Glory is Brit's first album since 2013, and though she's no longer the type of pop star she was in the late '90s or early '00s, her latest musical offering stands as a celebration of the genre.

The album's track list is composed of 17 songs, including her recent single "Make Me" featuring G-Eazy. It's clear that Britney's put in the work to make something her fans would appreciate, and something even her non-fans can respect for its ability to honor its artist's roots.

Glory is bursting at the seams with fun, catchy, can't-get-it-out-of-your-head music. It's meant to be enjoyed, not dissected for meaning or prowess. (Though when it comes to skill, it should be noted, no one has mastered the nuanced pop vocal like Spears.) Glory gives you all the songs you need and would expect from early Spears, as told through the lens of modern Spears. It reminds you why you fell in love with the artist in the first place — because she makes damn good pop music — and yet, it allows you to tumble even deeper into your affinity for her.

She's back, she's full of glory, and she's everything we've been missing in pop.