Glory (RCA) is the exact right title for the new Britney Spears album, her first in three years, because it is truly a wonder. Sure, her voice has been manipulated more than Donald Trump's hair, but that doesn't detract from the songs. Do you know why that is? It's because the best songs on the deluxe edition of the album were either written by committee with Spears, gay songwriter Justin Tranter and his cohort Julia Michaels ("Invitation," "Do You Wanna Come Over?") or without Spears' input at all ("Man on the Moon," "Hard To Forget Ya").
Would there be an Ariana Grande without Britney Spears? Probably not. The difference, of course, is that Ariana Grande can actually sing. What she sings about on the deluxe edition of Dangerous Woman (Republic) isn't necessarily profound, but it's a vast improvement over the stumble of her second album My Everything. Grande seems more comfortable with the idea of being a dance artist than Spears, as she proves on "Into You," "Be Alright" and "Step On Up." Because she has the vocal chops, Grande can also put across more demanding songs such as "Bad Decisions" and "Thinking Bout You," and can hold her own alongside Macy Gray on "Leave Me Lonely."
Like Spears and Grande, the all-female pop group Fifth Harmony has its roots on television. Assembled by Simon Cowell, X Factor finalists Fifth Harmony made waves with their 2015 debut album and wasted no time in releasing the follow-up, the deluxe edition of 7/27 (SYCO/Epic). Catchy and clever songs "Work" (featuring Ty Dolla $ign), "Write on Me," "All in My Head (Flex)" (featuring Fetty Wap), "Scared of Happy" and "Not That Kinda Girl" (featuring Missy Elliott) illustrate Fifth Harmony's continued growth as a musical unit.
Reason (Because Music), the second full-length studio album by Belgian singer-songwriter Selah Sue, has a European sophistication lacking in Spears, Grande and Fifth Harmony, incorporating a pleasing variety of musical styles into her music. Album opener "Alone" is an irresistibly funky dance number that deserves to be a hit. The brassy "I Won't Go for More" and "Reason" recall retro soul with Sue's plaintive wail at the center. That's Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) assisting Sue on "Together." "Sadness" lives up to its name, even when it takes a reggae detour. The stripped-down arrangement suits "Always Home," and the same can be said for the jagged drum-and-bass beats on "Falling Out."
Monica, who preceded Britney on the radio and the charts by a couple of years, returns with Code Red (RCA). The title track, which opens the album, is a call to move your limbs in multiple directions, featuring appearances by Missy Elliott as well as Monica's daughter Laiyah. The retro soul number "Call My Name" opens with a lovely a cappella reading of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes." In "I Miss Music," Monica laments the people and things she misses most when it comes to music.