Britney Spears will hook you with 'Femme Fatale'

It makes no sense to compare Britney Spears with "deep thought" female artistes. You've gotta value her next to other chirpy pop dollies like Jessie J and Katy Perry, who also rely on Auto-Tune vocal enhancement and splashy, punchy productions to ply their flirty, funny wares.

And you know what? On that (admittedly shallow) plane of competitive catfighting, Britney's new "Femme Fatale" (Jive, B+) album holds up better than anyone dared expect, thanks largely to sonic Svengalis Max Martin and Dr. Luke.

The set's hard, synthetic sheen and out-for-a-good-time ethic ain't gonna change your world but just might rock it like eight times out of 12 - or 14 out of 16 if you get the Deluxe Version. Not bad odds.

I got hooked with snappy touches like the choppy, stuttering vocal on "I Wanna Go." And how about that bottomless pit of party fun that is "Big Fat Bass," with special guest will.i.am's basso profundo getting larger by the minute?

A few clever lyrical touches do pop up here 'n' there, like the combustion engine symbolism in "Gasoline," or the provocative girl-on-girl imagery of "Seal It With a Kiss." But sorry, that "Hold It Against Me" line is as old as the Bellamy Brothers. And the skanky pole dancing (or whatever) imagery of "Up N' Down" is not worth the extra investment for the deluxe edition.

FROM THE GREAT BEYOND: Ever notice how artists, once passed, are remembered mostly in images and performances from their prime? That's how we think of Elvis - as the stud, not the bloatburger. That's how homages to Elizabeth Taylor were played out last week.

This week, though, we have reason to revisit Philadelphia's urban soulman Teddy Pendergrass in both full vigor, standing tall, and also with a newly released vision of him from late in life, weakened and humbled though certainly not bowed.

The prime-time exposure comes in Shout! Factory's release (first time on DVD) of "Teddy Pendergrass Live in '82" (B+), filmed at London's Hammersmith Odeon Theater. Cinematic values are sparse, but his vocalizing is commanding, as the growling Teddy Bear rebounds from a "Love T.K.O.," shows his nice-guy self on "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," accompanied by a cute kids choir, and turns on the boudoir charms with "Close the Door" and "Turn Off the Lights."

Marking what would have been his 61st birthday (last Saturday) is the release of "I Am Who I Am" (B), a gospel pop message composed and recorded relatively late (2006) in his life with his friend and musical director, Bill Jolly, blessed with strings and the massed backing voices of the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale).

The voice is weak yet distinctly Teddy, still etched in emotional rasp and grit. And the message in the song, somewhat evocative of R. Kelly's "I Think I Can Fly," is clear. While times grew rough, and the paraplegic who used a wheelchair thought his life "was over and done," Pendergrass found peace with himself and his God, and "Here I stand, still the same man."

T.P. meant for this song to serve as the theme for his biopic, a project still pending. But fans can download the single via iTunes, Amazon.com and Rhapsody.com.

IF YOU LIKE . . . : Pick up the Band of Heathens' rousing, funky "Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster's Son" (BOH Records, B+) if you got a charge from Little Feat and the Band.

Go for Israel Nash Gripka's "Barn Doors and Concrete Floors" (www.israel gripka.com, A-) if you relish the hardscrabble country scuffles of Neil Young and John Fogerty.

Hit the city streets with Ivan Julian and "The Naked Flame" (JuJua Music, B+), a spunky, bluesy urban crawler evocative at turns of Lou Reed and Jimi Hendrix.

Feel the warmth with Steve Krause "Broke Down Beautiful" (self published, B). He's a folksy balladeer who phrases like Cat Stevens and does a great cover of Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis."

Globe-hop with Devotchka as they take "100 Lovers" (Anti, B+). Those fiddles, accordion and horns lump 'em with the whole Balkan and Spanish Gypsy-punk crowd, though Devotchka's sweeping and melodramatic aura is more polished, romantic and prog-rocking.

SENSATIONAL SISTERS: Mellow down easy with the "Sophisticated Ladies" jazz set by the Charlie Haden Quartet West (Decca, A-). Making an honest man of the bassist are guest vocals by Philly's own Melody Gardot, Cassandra Wilson, Ruth Cameron, Renee Fleming, Diana Krall and Norah Jones.

Meanwhile, Ms. Jones' half-Anoushka Shankar floored me with her fiery sitar playing, opening the new Blu-ray edition of "Concert For George" (Rhino, A). This grand Royal Albert Hall memorial from November 2002 also features homages to George Harrison from pals Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Monty Python, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney.

BONUS POINTS: Newly unearthed concerts from back in the day dress up the deluxe anniversary editions of Pete Yorn's "Music for the Morning After" (Columbia/Legacy, B+) and Pearl Jam's combination punch "vs." and "Vitalogy" (Epic Legacy, A).