Britney Spears: Comeback of the year?

Is Britney back on top? Or has her career gone the way of Lindsay Lohan’s? It’s hard to say. First, let’s consider the pros: Though her new CD, Circus, isn’t a revelation on par with, say, Mariah Carey’s 2005 lifesaver, The Emancipation of Mimi, it was good enough to open at No. 1 with 505,000 copies sold; her music videos for "Womanizer" and the title track are satisfactory, much like the songs that inspired them; and she’s finally got her svelte pre-baby body back. Still, there are cons to consider as well: As an entertainer, Brit’s no longer the electrifying dancer she used to be–her lackluster moves are stiff and sluggish; during interviews, she exudes apathy and indifference while remaining curiously vague about the details of her notorious meltdown; and her messy personal life continues to overshadow her work. So, what’s the verdict? Well, she’s certainly no longer capital F fierce, but I wouldn’t call her a has-been just yet. In fact, I’m keeping hope alive that the old Brit will magically reappear when she goes on tour next year.