The Sun newspaper in the U.K. had an exclusive preview of the album and were the first ones to post the world’s first reviews of Circus. Of the track, “If U Seek Amy”, “It’s a great track. A stomping robo pop number with clattering kettle drums and Brit being quite frank about the opinion she holds of herself”. “Kill the Lights” was described as “a brilliant disco banger”. The reviewer expressed the opinion that the album had similarities to Madonna’s Hard Candy. According to Nick Levine of Digital Spy, it has many similarities to her last studio album, although she sounds more confident and there is less reliance on the vocoder. “Out From Under” was described as “a teary eyed ballad…that’s really quite lovely”. Billboard Magazine gave a positive review of “Circus.” It states “From the synthy open of “Womanizer” to the regretful ache spurring “Blur,” “Circus” gives Brit pop a whole new meaning” and goes on to say “she is in a class of her own.” Rolling Stone’s Caryn Ganz says he was blown away with Britney’s new work and that Toxic producers Bloodshy & Avant hit pay dirt again with the melodic, glowing “Unusual You.” The Max Martin-produced “If U Seek Amy” is a saucy, swinging standout, and the photographer-taunting stomper “Kill the Lights” recalls the synth crush of 2007’s Blackout and then he went on to credit songs “Blur”, “My Baby”, “Mmm Papi”, and “Out From Under,” calling it Spears best ballad since I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.

However, The Hartford Courant did not feel that it was her best performance, writing “It’s too bad the best songs here don’t really match up with her best performances, but that’s nothing new for Spears.” Slant Magazine gave an unfavorable review as well, writing that Circus “doesn’t quite feel like a comeback”, while The Guardian felt that the album was “substantially less edgy and exciting than its predecessor.” Allmusic was in a similar agreement with The Guardian, writing that the album “never feels as sleek or addictive as its predecessor.”