Ok... soooo check it. I have always thought Blackout should have gone towards the futuristic-circus theme. Toy soldier and freakshow all have that sort of vibe. Sooo when I heard she was making a Circus album that's the same sort of theme I was hoping for. But it would just turn out to be a Blackout pt2. I guess the glamor-circus theme might just work out for her. I wish her the best.
And the comment about 12 good songs and no fillers is totally true. Every single album... well, except baby one more time... is completely listenable all the way through.
AND has britney ever been particularly good with album covers.... no. Look at In the zone. It's not tooo creative. And Blackout's is garish as all get-out. But eventually they grow on you and then you appreciate them for what they are.