Back to Basics

I don't know why I never expected a Christina Aguilera album to be here, and I don't know why I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. It's a VERY well put together album, with clear influences from pop, jazz, R&B, and swing albums. It's a delightful listen.

Loved this!

Great

Yeah if I could sing like this and people kept putting me in the same category as Britney Spears I’d be pissed too. This was really great, and while certainly bloated in places I liked it a lot. The concept of sampling on disc one and live instrumentation on disc two was cool and her singing shined throughout. The two hits were great to hear in context and a lot of fun. I’d probably do a 4.5 if possible but it’s not so 5 it is!

This is some big album at the time, that became pretty unjustly forgotten. I appreciate her dedication to the concept, the songs are pretty varied too.

Had a lot of fun with this one

I really liked this! She reminds me of a pop Carrie Underwood. This was just an interesting album through and through

she is a good singer. I like her voice. Maybe I want to listen to her sometime in the future again.

she is so talented. take me back to when pop stars could actually sing! the harmonies on “ain’t no other man” were SO good. also she is RIFFING. “still dirrty” (yes, 2 r’s) has an AWESOME bari sax line. it’s SO groovy. “thank you” is honestly so cute bc it’s dedicated to fans and has messages from said fans. they talk about like how her music has helped them (which is really awesome, and there’s one of my all time favorite songs on this album that i think is another one of those super down-to-earth/helpful songs). “enter the circus” is a CRAZY interlude and a great intro to disc 2. this is followed up by “welcome” which is SO cinematic. then i want to touch on the NEXT song, “candyman”, which pays homage to the 50’s/60’s doo-wop era and has a super sick walking bass line. next is “nasty naughty boy” which has a NASTYYY brass line. it’s the best, most sultry jazz i’ve EVER heard. (can you tell i like disc 2 more). the last song i want to talk about is “hurt” (this is the aforementioned favorite) which is HEARTBREAKING yet sooooo powerful. if you listen to any please listen to this one. disc one gets a 4/5, disc 2 gets a 5/5. since disc 2 was INSANE i will round up instead of down. 5/5.

Great production and vocals; very distinct style

Great culture vulture material. I would’ve thought she was black the way she borrows from gospel and soul music

Surprisingly I really enjoyed this album, Great vocals great instrumentation!

I've always found Christina Aguilera's voice spellbinding, and I've had the Stripped album for many years, but never owned any of her other albums. I knew a couple of the songs on this one, but that's all. I don't know if it was a good thing, or a bad thing that the project presented me with this album yesterday, but I was going through something at the time, so maybe the impact of listening to it was amplified by that. Needless to say on some of the numbers (not the raunchier tracks obviously :) ) listening nearly brought me to tears, and certainly put a lump in my throat (the raunchier numbers stimulated a swelling elsewhere, but that's another story). All jesting aside though, Back to Basics had quite a profound effect on my mental state, and triggered a range of good, and not so good, emotions. - ensuring that it would stay in my memory much longer than many of the albums I've listened to as part of this project. Even if it wasn't so memorable, perhaps because of the circumstances, I know I will experience the sound of this double album for a long time to come, since I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library. Any negatives? Well, I will say that I would prefer that some of the tracks were not laden with effects meant to make them sound vintage, but with a voice as good as Christina's, I can forgive anything.

Christina’s voice fits into old-school soul & jazz very well. Both discs are great but my personal tastes have me gravitating towards the old-school hip-hop/soul fusion songs on the first disc. favs: Ain’t No Other Man, Slow Down Baby, Back in the Day, Makes Me Wanna Pray, F.U.S.S., Candyman, Save Me From Myself, Hurt least fav: Welcome

Wow, that woman can sing. Mercy on Me, please Christina. Between Wings and Christina Aguilera, I have a lot of music to catch up on. This project is turning out to be one of the most rewarding projects in recent years. Thanks queen for voice.

What a fantastic voice. I had probably only ever heard 2-3 of these songs before but I really loved this listen. There's a really soulful bend to much of this. Really enjoyed.

AWESOME

Why not what a time

Her Music is just incredible snd her voice out of this world

Love

Soft 5 here. The excellence of Christina Aguilera's singing cannot be understated here. She's amazing in all senses of the word. I take issue with portions of Disc 2. It has great tunes, but lacks the cohesion Disc 1 seemed to have. But this album was definitely worth the listen and will definitely be revisited. Hard to pick a favorite here because I liked so many, but I'll go with 'Ain't No Other Man' and 'Hurt' for Disc 1/2 respectively.

She's so talented

Mg casi todo el álbum. Mg la cantante.

I appreciate this. She is an excellent singer and some of the song were well timed for where I am now.

это очень круто, я в шоке

Forget Beyonce or Taylor Swift, give me this lady Any day. Beautiful voice. Loved it

Not my style but a good production

Nice.

Christina Aguilera was one of the performers in the 90s reboot of the Mickey Mouse Club, and she may be the most talented of that very talented bunch. Her dynamic voice has an impressive range, and allows her to create pop songs with the sounds of R&B and soul tracks. Back to Basics is an impressive double disk - 85 minutes with 22 tracks. The content is certainly not "basic." Several tracks are orchestrated and performed like vocal jazz standards from the 40s. The incredible range of the songs is impressive. While the album received mixed reception from critics, it was very well received commercially. This album, and the tour that followed, propelled Aguilera into superstar status - a performer with far more range and creativity than "just" a pop music star.

Came into this album sceptical and I bloody loved it! The sample of Genie in a Bottle in Thank You threw me but I really liked it! The whole of Disc 2 in itself is a masterpiece and a joyous listen. The opening 2 tracks were mint, candyman was great in a different way. Nasty Naughty Boy turned me on a little. And the rest of the disc was just mint. Listened to this album twice because it was that good.

Classic album. I still like Stripped overall more. I would put that one over this for this list imo

I was fully expecting this to be the lesser known and less good album from an artist whose good album is already gotten but goddamn was I wrong. As a gen zer who only knew Christina Aguilera from moves like jagger and sorta genie in a bottle, I never realized that she has probably the best voice of the 00s maybe the 21st century. She can pull off the most operatic and full throated vocals as well as the slower and quieter tracks. She was going for a tribute/theme of old 50s/60s icons and she actually managed to pull it off without sounding out of her league. Candyman and nasty naughty boy were my favorites but I can’t really think of a track I didn’t like.

Couldn’t find this album on iTunes but I listened to her Essentials. Lots of well-known songs.

Wow. CA can sing. I guess growing up and being anti-pop and having genie in a bottle being rammed into your brain you kinda tune some things out. Really impressed with vocal talents and going away from poppy vibes and going for soul. This album being 2 disc you’re gonna have a couple sleepers but she could have easily put a solid 12-15 tracks for one mega bang. Anyways it was really good.

A tour de force. Is there any better guilty pleasure then Christina cheerfully belting out old timey tunes about sex? Ain't No Other Man and Candyman are just good fun. Hurt is a beautiful counterpoint. A great collection of songs sung by one of the great singers of our generation.

Heel sterk popalbum. De jazz en soul uit de 20s zijn heel sterk te horen. Ook ballades als 'Hurt' zijn prachtig

Of course Christina’s voice is fantastic! There wasn’t a single song that I didn’t enjoy, and most of the album (all but three songs) were new to me. This felt like two completely separate albums, and I honestly feel like the album would’ve benefited by being released as two separate albums. It was almost too much Christina at once. Especially since the two halves of the album are so stylistically different from each other, I think two 30-40 minute albums would’ve been better than one almost 80 minute album. But anyway, this is 4.5 stars for me.

So damn cool. Lot of energy

I feel like the greatest artists always have a signature style and Aguilera's voice is so unique that it makes me cum instantly. Back to Basics draws back the curtains and stabs a dagger of joy into your back. Faultless.

seit 20 jahren ein solides werk mit vielen highlights. aber man muss stil und stimme mögen.

9/1001 Possivelmente o melhor álbum da Aguilera, com uma primeira metade morna e uma segunda metade com alguma das melhores músicas de sua carreira Intro (Back to Basics) - 75 Makes Me Wanna Pray (feat. Steve Winwood) - 80 Back in the Day - 75 Ain't No Other Man - 75 Understand - 75 Slow Down Baby - 80 Oh Mother - 80 F.U.S.S. (Interlude) - 75 On Our Way - 75 Without You - 75 Still Dirrty - 75 Here to Stay - 80 Thank You (Dedication to Fans...) - 75 Enter the Circus - 75 Welcome - 80 Candyman - 85 Nasty Naughty Boy - 80 I Got Trouble - 75 Hurt - 85 Mercy on Me - 80 Save Me from Myself - 80 The Right Man - 80 Media: 77.9

Great singer! Love the soul.

Wildly surprised with how much I liked it.

Redescubrí a christina aguilera loco, muy bueno

Fajne. Wiadomo, że to pop, ale z tychdobrych. Mega głos kryśki. 4

베스트: Back in the Day, Oh Mother

Liked it more than I thought I would. Never really paid Christina Aguilera any attention before this, but this was all pretty good pop music. Huh. 3.5

Well, I rolled my eyes at this when it popped up as my album of the day. I scrolled to see where “genie in a bottle” was in the track listing. It wasn’t there, so I painstakingly hit play on track one. And… I was pleasantly surprised! A retro inspired album with extremely strong vocals. Not far off from Amy Winehouse, but without the edge. There is a lot to like here!

Classy little album. Only half way through & some real bangers on there. My mum didn’t let my listen to Christina on account of her being a Jezebel but boy does that hussy make some bangers. Real mixed album as well

Say what ya want, her voice is amazing, she has the "it" thing

Got no idea why this is on this list, but I really enjoyed it. For the haters: 3.6.

Surprising pretty hot and fun

I guess I found a guilty pleasure. I really liked this.

Wasn't looking forward to this but it's better than I thought. She can obviously sing, but the songs aren't bad. Far too long though and her attempt to be a Serious Artist wears thin. Overall pleasantly surprised

love it, very versatile voice

The only Christian Aguilera I knew was the one song off her first album "Genie In A Bottle" as it played on MTV all the time when I was watching MTV heavily. When I saw this album as my album of the day, I was a little apprehensive as I'm not a pop person and wasn't thrilled. However it's clear this isn't a carbon copy pop album as the one I am familiar with. Aguilera really pulls from her influences of the era jazz swing era with sultry vocals, some techniques to make her sound more old timey (like on "I Got Trouble") and overall elevates herself here a bit.

This is a really wild album, in a good way. Some real bangers. A lot of range! Long, but a lot of fun.

Long, but deserving of a double album.

Idk but I love it leave me alone

This is too long and self indulgent. But somehow it works

Great album. Christina has such a great voice, sultry and powerful. There’s a nice mix of old school inspired r&b and more modern pieces here.

I enjoyed that more than i expected. Some really cool songs on this album

I don’t know what I was expecting, but this quickly proved to be one of the biggest surprises for me on this list. I was struck by the quality of the music and production, Aguilera’s undeniable talent, and I enjoyed the “throwback” concept of the album. It’s LONG. Makes Me Wanna Pray kicks it off and drags you right in. But don’t miss some of the most captivating and vulnerable songs that come later such as Oh Mother, and much later: Mercy on Me, and Save Me From Myself.

a little eclectic, but also very fun to listen to and more unconventional than i expected. feels very influential on the pop music coming after!

I dreaded listening to this until I remembered this is probably the album Primo produced a lot of. You can hear the signature DJ Premier sound on most of his tracks, but it's also fun to hear him branch out a little from his gritty mainstays of samples and scratching. I knew the intro song was Primo before even looking it up, for example. Anyway, as a pop album, this one is a little more soulful than most. It's also more musically involved. The first track is a gospel throwback. Back in the Day solid Primo again, including sampled snippets of rapper quotes peppered throughout. The Ronson track is solid as well, Slow Down Baby. The second disc in this double able is all produced by Linda Perry, and it's also pretty solid, with tons of throwback nostalgia. Really a good album that lifted my overall opinion of Aguilera, which wasn't admittedly high before, though I always thought she had more of a voice than Brittney or Jessica Simpson. 4/5

4/5

super cool concept. it dragged in some parts, but the vocals were insane

Beautiful voice. Can sing any type of song.

lots to say about this. this should have been 2 separate albums honestly, vol 1 and 2 are so so different from each other (and made it long as fuck christ). her voice is absolutely insane (we knew this but was a good reminder. what a powerhouse voice). halfway through the 'thank you (dedication to fans)' really just? feels? so weird? its a song full of voicemails left for christina about how much they love her. it feels a bit. odd. ain’t no other man, welcome, candyman and hurt are my faves.

Overall, not a bad album. There were three songs that were quite popular, but I know that a lot of people enjoy this album, including the not-so-popular songs. It's pretty jammy having it in the background... Okay, the album was actually pretty good and I enjoyed "Hurt" and "Mercy on Me" quite a lot.

201/1089 disc 1 was more solid Xtina. it doesn’t have a Dirrty or Fighter-level banger but it’s a great listen nonetheless. Even when i’m not really feeling a song, her voice is able to carry it. Without You is a highlight of this generator project i think, that one really hit the spot for me i fear hearing Candyman in context still doesn’t make me love it. like it’s a fine single but not my fave and i kinda don’t see the relevance. i wasn’t 100% sold on the need for disc 2 when i hit Candyman and the 2 songs after that but then it hit right Hurt onwards and i’m glad it clicked this is so close to 5 stars but i need to see how much i feel the need to return to the project in full before i can bump it into that category faves: Without You, Hurt, Oh Mother, Thank You…, Welcome, Ain’t No Other Man 81/100

4.25

I only know Beautiful by Christina, so this was nice to expand my pallet. I can admit that while I probably won’t gravitate back to this, its still pretty good for what it is!

Didn't think I would like it this much :D 3.5-4/5

I'm really only familiar with her song from the Grammy Nominee CD we have. I know she has a powerful & impressive voice with influences from several genres. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Ain't No Other Man Understand Candyman Hurt Mercy On Me The Right Man

7.5/10 Production on it goes crazyyyy

Never heard this album, she has a great voice and I appreciate her trying to branch away from being a teen idol. It has a lot of her signature "yelling," in a big band/old timey style context. Highlights: ain't no other man, candyman

I would have probably cut four or so songs, but otherwise a cohesive yet varied album. I love a good song transition. Feels like an album meant to be a full experience. The vulnerable parts such as Oh Mother and Hurt are high points lyrically while songs like Candyman are a fun experience.

Cool album with some really good tracks. 7.3/10

Genre: Contemporary R&B A 2-disc pop album with quite an impressive concept: 1 disc with DJ Premier hip-hop type production, and 1 disc with 4 Non Blondes lead Linda Perry pop influence. It’s a very intriguing listen, and Aguilera’s voice is really impressive. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the songs on this one. If you like pop, you’ll really love this. 4/5

Creo que peca de largo (2 discos es demasiado, me parece), pero cuando funciona, lo hace muy bien. Justamente es Aguilera dándonos buen material de la época para después irse en un viaje retro que no hace más que verse beneficiado por su espectacular voz. Lo disfruté mucho, solo tiene momentos algo insoportables como esa canción que le dedica a los fans y que es un track entero de escuchar mensajes de agradecimiento de los fans diciéndole lo extraordinaria que es.

Great album from one of the top 3 women's voices in this era!

Really good

R'n'B pretty standard but it's pretty good up to "Welcome" which I haven't finished listening

This was a tough one to rate. No point wasting many words on her vocals which everyone knows are incredible. The major criticism I have is it's far too long. There are also some really bad songs here. I especially hated the one where all the fans are telling her how great she is. But then there are some amazing songs here too such as Ain't No Other Man, Candy man, Nasty Naughty Boy, Hurt, and Mercy on Me. I think it just about edges a 4 but it would be a much better album if it was half the length.

Super cool

07/11/2025 I was surprised that I slowly warmed up to this. Spotify listeners: 28.8 million

A fine talent, and she proved it on every track here.

Didn't think I would enjoy this nearly as much as I did! Strong voice and catchy tunes. A bit long for my linking but still an enjoyable listen.

Still had that strong voice even in her third album.

Not bad, not bad... she has some insane vocals, and I'm bold enough to say that the second disc is almost perfect. It's a good pop album. 4 stars.

i didnt fw it so much but then i listened to it in the shower

banger?

The songs are lightweight pop, but her voice really belts them out. She can definitely sing! Fun distraction. My favorite song is the one that sounds like it could have been as hit for the Andrews Sisters.

I didn't know this album was good. And it is!

Expected this to be a trainwreck, but it actually mostly works.

I don't really enjoy this type of music. But I must confess my admiration for Christina Aguilera as an artist. If it were my style, this would probably be top of the list. A rare 4 despite it not being my thing.

iconic

Actually gewt

This album was fire. I wanted to hate it because I thought she was whack growing up. Turns out I’m the one who was whack

I didn't want to say it, but how good is some of this album?? Her voice the production, you can't freaking knock it can you.

Very fun. Nostalgia bonus point

pre good

Total vibe. Felt like I was watching MTV in 2009. I think I have found my new guilty pleasure…

One thing about Christina Aguilera is that she can consistently make decent pop songs. Every song on this album was either OK or good. I don't think there was a single song on this album that I thought was bad. I was also surprised by the her range in this album. She incorporates a lot of elements from genres that I was not expecting, like cabaret and jazz. The people who say that the whole album sounds the same clearly have not listened to it. 4/5 Favorite song: "Still Dirrty"

Solid banger with excellent production

Nome che conoscevo ma mai ascoltata davvero Albumozzo incredibile con la seconda parte più soul che spacca

this album surprised me in the best way. i had heard the singles before and thought they were fine but listening to them in context of the album really highlighted them. her voice is great and fits the style of the songs really well. the runtime is long but i was actually enjoying the album so much i barely noticed. there were a few weak songs that couldve been cut to keep it closer to the 60 minute mark but overall i was very impressed with this one

After listening to Aguilera's earlier album Stripped, I had high expectations. This record did not disappoint. Disc 1 gets a little monotonous, but the tone in question is quite simply spectacular, particularly near the beginning when it hasn't yet overstayed its welcome. It's hypermodern (for its time), slick, badass, catchy, poppy, and held together by one of the strongest vocals of the time period. Aguilera's voice is undeniably brilliant. I'm not a huge fan of the backing vocals throughout disc 1; they do that hip-hop harmony thing where they just kind of sing in haphazard thirds apart from each other and hope the audience doesn't notice that it's exactly the same as every other backing vocals. Beyoncé does the same thing in most of her music, and it's equally frustrating there. There are a few dud tracks. And no, F.U.S.S. (Interlude) is not one of them. That one may as well be its own standalone track, it's got such a catchy, funky synth part. On the other hand, Thank You (Dedication to Fans) was placed smack in the middle of the album, just before you flip over to disc 2. And it's such a show halter – in the worst way – that it almost makes you want to stop listening right there. Five minutes of recordings of your fans thanking you for your music isn't exactly an exciting or moving musical experience. It's just a slow, painful wait-fest. And then you switch discs and are hit with the extremely questionable Enter the Circus. It's an attempt to turn disc 2 into a concept sub-album, I guess, but it's such a silly, cheesy idea with a half-baked performance. The next track, Welcome, is thankfully much better, and the third on the disc, Candyman, is excellent. Back to form – whew! Disc 2 is, for the most part, the "jazz-soul crooning" half of the record. More points from me in that regard. The tracks are more varied from one another, and the vocal harmonies are (mostly) more interesting than the modern hip-hop ones found on disc 1. Nasty Naughty Boy, I Got Trouble, Hurt... there are so many standouts that disc 2 could feasibly be a 5-star album on its own (if it weren't for its opening number). 4/5 Key tracks: Ain't No Other Man, Nasty Naughty Boy, Hurt, Save Me from Myself

I've never underestimated Christina's vocals, shes a powerhouse through and through. However, I feel where this album falls weak is in its production. Sometimes the instrumentals were battling with her vocals, creating a very loud track which can be overwhelming to listen to. I found myself enjoying the simpler,slower songs especially when her voice was more toned down.

Damn, can she sing!

Listened to Billy Bragg's Back to Basics instead. Banger.

Low 4, the circus track to open side 2 was wild, powerful vocals

Christina can sing for sure. I wasn’t too familiar with this album but it has a lot of good songs. Some were amazing while others not so great but man her voice is just mesmerizing.

She really is an undeniably talented singer.

YUPPPPP

You know, I almost gave up. CD 1 just wasn't my cup of tea. But damn, CD 2 shocked me in a great way. The style and execution felt like a speak easy in new Orleans and I was definitely about it.

Ikoniskt popsound som ingen annan varit nära med en av modern pops bästa röster. Flera bangers o hög lägstanivå!

Långt men alltså jättebra och jag hade noga aldrig gett det här albumet en chans om det inte var med på listan.

Honestly better than i thought it would be, I was expecting generic pop ahh but this was a lot more unique and innovative than that, the first half and second half feel really different as well. The first half’s sampling is really good which made for a lot of cool beats and instrumentals, varying from funky guitars and hip hop style drums and record scratching which was really nice, paired with really great vocals (which sometimes felt like she was showing off a bit sometimes with the long sustained notes), didn’t feel like it overstayed its welcome as well as the second half feels quite different. Really liked the message dedicated to her fans at the end of the first half as well. The second half was a lot less sampling, a lot more orchestral and cabaret style with even better vocals in my opinion, the intro with the circus style was a nice introduction and then followed by the cabaret style music (especially i got trouble which definitely hit its intended feel of sounding like a song from the 1920’s) and then ending with songs with an emphasis on Aguileras voice which was certainly an epic way to end it. I feel this deserves more than a 3 so overall, 7/10.

Solid

Imponerende. Hadde jeg ikke visst hvem det var, hadde jeg ikke gjetta riktig hudfarge ihvertfall. Moro med innhopp fra andre kjente stemmer.

Gah - I forgot to give a comment about King Louis Prima. What a bop. This one is more interesting than another 70s folk Celtic get together that sounds like everything else. And she has a great voice

When I think of Christina Aguilera - THIS is the album I think of! The first disc was so good. I would have probably 5 starred - I really loved it. Disc 2 wasn't as good. Fantastic voice and some nice songs on there, but it felt like 2 different albums Candyman is my favourite song of hers, I listen to that all the time. That song is what saved the 2nd half of the album for me Overall I did enjoy! 4 ⭐️

I got 2 Christina Aguilera albums this week. This one was long, but i enjoyed it. She had fun with the horns on a few tracks, nodding to early swing jazz sound. Her voice is one of a kind, instantly recognizable. Im a fan

This album strangely grew on me over 2 listens.There is no denying she has a great voice but I’m no fan of the melismatic singing style. Also this would have been better as two single albums. Despite some cringeworthy moments it’s a 7/10 from me. Damn you 5 star rating system

4-

This isn't my go-to kind of thing, but I have to give her props for this. It's quite varied throughout, it has some interesting production on it, and there's some really good songs on here too. The two halves are genuinely distinct, but I think the second half is much better, to my taste. As with a lot of 'powerful' pop singers, I find the vocals can be a bit over-powering at times. That's more the case on the first half, but the second half it feels like they're servicing the songs in a much better way. Although maybe I'm being a bit contradictory, because she absolutely belts it out on something like Mercy on Me, and I really enjoyed that. This album is genuinely quite surprising, as I wouldn't have thought that this kind of thing was in her wheelhouse. I assumed it was all route-one, sugary pop, but there's jazzy showgirl stuff, soul, and melodramatic power-ballads thrown in here too. I think that's pretty impressive, and she clearly has a lot of talent. Side A: 3/5 Side B: 4/5 Overall... Let's be generous. 3.5 rounded up.

What the fuck is with the hate on this album? This is exceptional -- her voice is absolutely stratospheric, the music is diverse and interesting, and everything is so much FUN!! The whole circus thing is weird and I don't think it needed to be as long as it was, but this is a pretty great album overall. Fave songs: - Makes Me Wanna Pray - Ain't No Other Man - Slow Down Baby - F.U.S.S. (Interlude) - Without You - Still Dirrty - Here to Stay - Candyman - Nasty Naughty Boy - I Got Trouble - Save Me from Myself

Amazing voice. No bad songs.

Very long, but very good, I was shocked how much I enjoyed this.

Mainiota musiikkia, laulantaa, joskaan ihan joka kappale ei osu omaan makuun.

A generational voice, and a few good songs. Definitely worth a listen.

Surprised me!

Not really my taste in music. But I can't deny she's an incredible singer. Plus the track enter the circus and the strings in general on the album get it up to 4 stars.

She’s great and this is a great album

She is a lot more bluesy and jazzy than I assumed. Not bad at all

Een dubbelalbum van Christina Aguilera? Sign me the fuck up! Nee serieus, eindelijk een beetje lol in deze lijst. Zo klaar met 1001 folkrock albums die je moet luisteren waarna het voelt alsof je doodgaat.. Er mogen echt meer popalbums op deze lijst, niet dat pretentieuze gedoe de hele tijd. Disc 1 was helaas niet helemaal aan mij besteed, er staan knallers op en Aint no other man is gewoon top. Maar disc 2? Dat is mijn jam hoor. Volgens mij is daar ook veel meer besloten tot een circus thema? Geen idee, het tempo gaat omhoog, de fun factor verdubbelt. Ja. Dít is een vrolijk album. Absoluut niet perfect, maar gewoon een album wat staat voor fun, goede productie en je kan zeggen wat je wilt, maar Christina Aguilera is een fantastische zangeres. De hits zijn de hits. Maar de rest van het album is me eigenlijk ook hartstikke goed bevallen! Meer fun muziek in deze lijst! FAVO: Ain't no other man, Candyman, Hurt

Good music. Some really good music. 4/5

Good, for a pop music album.

Soulful, groovy, respectful of the past while insistent on her own way. Really good.

Y2K glam meets vintage soul. Aguilera’s voice is thunderous, and the production knows it; bold, polished, and way more fun than expected.

Not a huge fan of Aguilera, but can respect her. This album has some great songs. Loved the song 'Ain't No Other Man' when it was released, such a good backbeat and use of horn hits.

Fuck yeah. Right back to being 11 and remembering mom talk shit about pop music for being thoughtless. I love the appeal of the double album, with their different personalities and highlights, but beyond Xtina, the production on this album, especially with the emphasis on genre-bending, hit all of the right notes

Another revelation - strong songs, excellent voice, eclectic mix of styles, excellent production. Was not expecting to like but I really enjoyed. Will listen again.

Never listened to anything but singles, which I have mostly enjoyed. I would be hard to describe myself as "a fan", but I'm interested in seeing where this goes. Wow- I really enjoyed this. I grew up in the 90s- a time when pop music made us choose sides- Biggie v. Tupac; Nirvana v. Green Day, Britney v. Christina; Backstreet v. NSync. 25 years ago, I said that Christina would win, because her voice would win, even after she didn't have a 15 inch waist and she couldn't dance. (That's not me being judgmental- blame the record industry.) I'm pretty sure I'm correct. Christina's voice on this album makes every song worthy of repeat.

"Basics" is subjective here (it probably cost a few million to produce), but every track is just so slick and enjoyable.

I was really blown away by the first disc of this album, and while not as energetic, the second disc still has some good tracks regardless. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

She has an amazing voice and this was a great showcase for it.

Fun music.

Fun pop working as a revue of fun pop through the ages, her voice is in great form.

Christina Aguilera's *Back to Basics* is a bold, ambitious double album that pays homage to the music of the 1920s–1950s while blending it with contemporary pop, R&B, and hip-hop influences. Released in 2006, the album marked a significant artistic evolution for Aguilera, showcasing her vocal prowess and creative vision. Below is an in-depth review of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics The lyrics on *Back to Basics* are deeply personal and reflective, drawing heavily from Aguilera's life experiences. Themes of love, empowerment, resilience, and nostalgia dominate the album: - **Personal Struggles**: Tracks like "Oh Mother" delve into Aguilera's tumultuous childhood with an abusive father. The song is heartfelt and raw, echoing Madonna's "Oh Father" in its emotional depth[1][3]. - **Romantic Devotion**: Songs such as "The Right Man" and "Save Me from Myself" celebrate her relationship with then-husband Jordan Bratman. These tracks explore themes of healing and trust after past traumas[1][5]. - **Empowerment**: "Still Dirrty" revisits Aguilera's sexual independence from her earlier hit "Dirrty," challenging societal scrutiny of female sexuality[1]. - **Tributes to Musical Icons**: "Back in the Day" name-drops legends like Etta James and Marvin Gaye while celebrating their influence on her artistry[1][5]. - **Defiance**: The interlude "F.U.S.S." (an acronym for "F--- You Scott Storch") takes aim at producer Scott Storch for declining to work on the album. It’s a bold expression of creative independence[1]. While the lyrics are often poignant and empowering, some critics found moments of immaturity or overreach in Aguilera’s attempts to align herself with musical greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James[3]. --- ## Music Musically, *Back to Basics* is a fusion of old-school jazz, blues, and soul with modern pop and R&B elements. The album is split into two discs with distinct styles: ### Disc 1: Contemporary Meets Retro - This disc leans heavily on hip-hop beats and urban influences while incorporating retro elements like horn samples. - Tracks like "Ain't No Other Man" blend funk-infused R&B with brassy instrumentation, creating a vibrant soundscape that complements Aguilera’s powerhouse vocals[1][2]. - Gospel influences shine through on "Makes Me Wanna Pray," which features a choir-backed arrangement reminiscent of classic soul music[2]. - Songs like "Slow Down Baby" and "Understand" balance traditional R&B with contemporary production techniques[1]. ### Disc 2: Vintage Homage - The second disc delves deeper into vintage sounds with live instrumentation and minimal sampling. - "Candyman," inspired by The Andrews Sisters’ "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," is a swing-infused romp that captures the playful energy of 1940s big band music[1][5]. - "Nasty Naughty Boy" channels sultry jazz club vibes with its blaring horn sections. - Tracks like "I Got Trouble" evoke Bessie Smith’s bluesy aesthetic through lo-fi production techniques[1][4]. While the musical diversity is impressive, some critics argued that the stylistic shifts between tracks could feel disjointed. Others felt that certain songs leaned too heavily on pastiche without fully modernizing their influences[3][4]. --- ## Production Aguilera served as the album’s executive producer, collaborating with an eclectic mix of producers including DJ Premier, Linda Perry, Mark Ronson, and Rich Harrison: - **DJ Premier** brought his signature jazz-influenced hip-hop style to tracks like "Intro (Back to Basics)" and "Ain't No Other Man," marking his first foray into pop production[1][2]. - **Linda Perry**, Aguilera’s longtime collaborator, handled much of Disc 2’s vintage-inspired production. Her work emphasized live instrumentation over digital sampling[1]. - The production aimed to create a “throwback” sound while maintaining contemporary relevance. However, some critics found the execution uneven, particularly on tracks where retro elements felt forced or overly theatrical[3]. --- ## Themes Thematically, *Back to Basics* explores: 1. **Nostalgia**: Aguilera’s love for 1920s–1950s music permeates the album. She channels the glamour of classic Hollywood through both her sound and visual presentation as her alter ego Baby Jane[1][5]. 2. **Empowerment**: From asserting her independence ("Still Dirrty") to celebrating her fans ("Thank You"), Aguilera uses the album as a platform for self-expression and gratitude. 3. **Healing**: Many songs reflect Aguilera’s personal growth after overcoming childhood trauma and finding love. 4. **Tribute**: By referencing iconic artists in both lyrics and musical styles, Aguilera positions herself as a torchbearer for their legacy. While these themes resonate strongly in many tracks, some critics questioned whether Aguilera’s vocal delivery—often characterized by melismatic runs—overshadowed the emotional subtlety required by such material[3][4]. --- ## Influence *Back to Basics* was both commercially successful and critically divisive: - It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and topped charts in over 15 countries. As of 2013, it had sold over five million copies worldwide[1]. - The album earned multiple accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man"[1]. - Its ambitious blend of genres set it apart from contemporaries like Britney Spears and Pink, solidifying Aguilera’s reputation as a versatile artist willing to take risks[4][5]. However, its influence was somewhat muted by its polarizing reception. While some praised its innovation and homage to classic music styles, others criticized it as overly indulgent or inconsistent. --- ## Pros 1. **Vocal Performance**: Aguilera’s vocal range and power are undeniable throughout the album. 2. **Ambitious Concept**: The fusion of vintage genres with modern sensibilities showcases Aguilera’s artistic vision. 3. **Standout Tracks**: Songs like "Ain't No Other Man," "Candyman," and "Hurt" highlight her ability to balance commercial appeal with creative experimentation. 4. **Personal Lyrics**: The emotionally charged songwriting adds depth to many tracks. 5. **Visual Presentation**: The Baby Jane persona and retro aesthetic enhanced the album’s thematic coherence. --- ## Cons 1. **Inconsistent Execution**: The dual-disc format sometimes results in uneven pacing and cohesion between tracks. 2. **Overproduction**: Some critics felt that certain songs were weighed down by excessive vocal runs or theatrical arrangements. 3. **Polarizing Style**: While innovative, the retro-modern fusion didn’t resonate with all listeners. 4. **Length**: At over 90 minutes long, some felt the album could have benefited from tighter editing. --- ## Conclusion *Back to Basics* is a daring exploration of Christina Aguilera’s artistic identity that blends nostalgia with modernity. While not without its flaws—such as occasional overindulgence or uneven pacing—it remains an ambitious project that highlights her vocal talent and creative vision. For fans of genre experimentation or retro-inspired music, *Back to Basics* offers a rich listening experience that stands out in Aguilera’s discography.

She's sweet as always, but the selection is not that great

Well that was great. I knew Christina Aguilera was highly rated but she's always just been Genie in a Bottle to me, but this album was really good and had a lot of depth.

This type of artist isn’t usually my cup of tea but I am really impressed with her voice.

Rating: 8.5/10 Probably the most surprising rating to date, this is an excellent pop album with fantastic singing and production. Christina is consistently excellent and the production is varied enough to make this a fun listen from start to finish. There are about 4-5 songs I would definitely cut but the vast majority of this was excellent.

Powerful vocals! I thought a double album of her voice would be too much of the same thing, but she plays in many different styles throughout.

I admit I groaned when this came up yesterday; the thought of an hour and twenty of early 2000s pop didn't appeal. But I split it into two sessions (disc 1, disc 2), and was very surprised how listenable I found this. She's got a good set of pipes.

Not my thing at *all*, and its too long, but it's still one of the most diverse and downright best pop albums of the 00s, commercial or otherwise. What the fuck is wrong with you people?

Not sure why this needed to be two, completely different albums in one but both were pretty good.

liked this much more than expected, even played it again. good mix of music and particularly likes the cabaretesque songs.

Soul and R&B

If you only remember Christina Aguilera as the "Genie in a Bottle" pop princess, Back to Basics will hit you like a slap with a white satin glove. Released in 2006, this bold double album took a giant leap into vintage soul, jazz, and blues, blending them with 21st-century pop bravado. Aguilera’s vocal mastery is on full display, effortlessly jumping from sultry growls to soaring belts, while the album’s ambitious production, featuring heavyweights like DJ Premier and Mark Ronson, pushes the boundaries of retro-futurism. The result is a brash exploration of musical heritage that struts through arena-sized nostalgia. But let’s be real: At 22 tracks and over 80 minutes, Back To Basics occasionally dips into indulgent territory, with a few overly sentimental moments. Still, even at its most extravagant, Aguilera’s conviction carries the album. Looking back, Back to Basics is an album that proves that an unapologetic, theatrical reinvention could leave a lasting impact. From Lady Gaga to Janelle Monáe, its influence echoes throughout the pop that followed, showing us all that sometimes the biggest risks result in the most rewarding reinventions.

4/5. A very innovative and creative album, to include both sides as a double album. Side one is the superior of the two, with excellent songs and hits, barely any skippable ones. It's not perfect but it is excellent. The second side is the lesser of the two but very interesting with it's theme of nostalgia while giving a twist of agency within simpler lyrics. It's not bad, and if it was released by itself, it might have more to hold on but it does feel like an added bonus album. Overall, it was a great listening experience but there seemed to be some hesitation in releasing them separately, and that does feel weird at the end of it all. Best Song: Ain't No Other Man, Makes Me Want To Pray, Slow Down Baby

Steeping in black culture, this honestly is a really good album. So much jazz, R&B, blues, gospel influence. Plus Christina has a really strong voice which goes so well with these sounds.

mitä vittua edes tapahtuu tässä? neljä eri konseptia yhdessä albumussa, aivan uskomaton concept. back to basics:: 2009 poppi biittimasiina päälle ja laulanamaan. ei mitäön ei mitään. hyvää kuunneltavaa. tosiaan vähän liian pitkäveteinen ei aivan tarpeeksi syytä yli tunniksi tätä venyttää btw olin irakin sodassa ja kristiina pidit motivaatiomme yllä kiitos tästä! (olin surullinen kun niin kuuma sää hohhoijjakkaa) joo olen aliarvostanut tämän poppi prinsessan, hybä alumi f.u.s.s

Another album i feel biased because i love it, but it is not a coincidence i have many in this list!! It must mean something, a pattern ;) Yes, this album is pop, but it is one side of pop i love, which is genuine voice talent (seems rare for my ears these days), great r&b feeling, and this old school kind of vibes overall. The sound quality is great, easy to listen. The only thing that this album misses to get further from 4 stars i would say is some more edginess, meaning, some completely different structure/sounds to make your ear go like "what is that?! Interesting". However, isn't this was Pop is made for? To be predictable and easily digestable? Yet to confirm... Solid album from Christina and it's the last i could hear from here. Solid 4/5

some songs fall off, bu others are amazing. also the concept is well thought out

In a word: QUALITY. …when I wasn’t expecting it. I am not the target demographic but that’s what this list is for, at its best. Surprises. I was struck by the quality of the music, her undeniable talent, and enjoyed the “throwback” concept of the album. Also, I expected pop but got soul, jazz, R&B, and even some gospel. Most captivating songs: Makes Me Wanna Pray, Slow Down Baby, Oh Mother, Mercy on Me.

Ég fíla svona tónlist og þvílík rödd sem Christina er með. Ég setti plötuna í gang með allskonar fordómahugsanir um popptónlistarmenningu gömlu dagana en þessi plata sneri mér alveg

мне нравится как она поет, первый трек классно аранжирован. вайб топ модели по американски 2010. чучут как будто соул и крутые бек вокалы. это весело апбит мьюзик. много неймдропинга и соул&джаззз апришиейшн

Powerful voice, good songs across a variety of genres. Like. 4

Back to Basics” ist ein beeindruckendes Album, das eine gelungene Mischung aus Retro- und modernen Klängen bietet. Aguilera zeigt hier ihre Vielseitigkeit und stimmliche Stärke, indem sie Elemente aus Jazz, Blues und Soul mit zeitgenössischem Pop verbindet. Besonders hervorzuheben sind die kraftvollen Tracks wie “Ain’t No Other Man” und die gefühlvollen Balladen wie “Hurt”. Ein kleiner Kritikpunkt ist, dass das Doppelalbum mit 22 Tracks etwas lang geraten ist und einige Songs sich wiederholen. Dennoch ist “Back to Basics” ein starkes Album, das Aguileras Talent und Kreativität unterstreicht.

A worthy tribute to the pioneers of music history. I would definitely take her over some of the other so-called “divas“ of this time period.

El comienzo de Oh mother es como la canción principal de Los Chicos Del Coro. Está bastante bien el disco.

ms aguilera i was not familiar with your game. disc 1 was awesome, disc 2 not quite my thing but still great. great voice and great production. 8/10

I liked ‘Stripped’, and I like ‘Back To Basics’. The second disc probably isn’t quite as strong as the first, but I like where Aguilera tried to take it with the 30s/40s jazz thing wrapped up in a modern pop twist, and that she had the balls to do it. She’s at her artistic peak here, and everything she tries mostly comes off. And I also think people have maybe forgotten just how talented and how big she was in the early to mid-2000s. I’d happily listen to her music ahead of many a pop/rnb diva.

Not usually my cup of tea, but you cannot deny the talent on this album. Zero songs that I knew going into this and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. This is one of those ones that I enjoyed, but I just don't know when I would pick it to listen again.

I don’t add her music to my playlist, but I don’t feel the need to turn her off either. I may or may not have teared up during the fan dedication lol.

already in my library

I remember listening to this album back when it came out in 2006. I had just turned 18 and graduated that summer. I remember liking some specific songs off of it but not thinking much of it as a whole. Mostly I liked the hits with a few extra ones. I definitely ended up liking it a lot more now than I expected. In part I think because of listening through this list I can better seen and appreciate her musical influences she drew from for this album. Also being older some of the songs just hit more deeply with more life experience. Her voice was always beautiful to me but I enjoy it more now as well. I do think volume 2 is stronger as a whole than volume 1. Volume 1 still has some good tracks though. I think on it's own volume 2 would be a 5* for me, and volume 1 is more like a 3*. You know what that means, I have to meet in the middle for a 4*.

Solid album! Reminded me of childhood. She has some pipes

El comienzo de Oh mother es como la canción principal de Los Chicos Del Coro. Está bastante bien el disco.

Disc 1 👍 Disc 2 👎

Didn’t expect to like this as much as I did

Nice music and nice voice, I'd rate 4.5

I really enjoyed it! 4

Christina is probably the first pop girlie I stanned, and I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for her earlier stuff. Her voice is undeniable and when she finds the right track, it works like magic. Unfortunately, she’s always been kind of spotty and never really seemed to find her sound. Going from basic pop star to “dirrrty” R&B to throwback to Gaga wannabe is a direction that I don’t think totally lands. So I don’t think I’ve played this all the way through although I recall a solid chunk of it. There’s gold, but some of it doesn’t work at all- did Xtina really need to make a 5 minute track thanking her fans, especially when she uses phone calls from them as the beat? But embracing her soul and jazz-influenced roots is a good fit for her, she should have leaned into this instead of whatever Bionic is. If she trimmed the track list or at least turned some of it into bonus tracks, we’d really be cooking. B-

Супер добротный поп из 00ых. Цирковая вторая часть на голову лучше первой алкоальбом: коктейль со сладкой ватой

Powerful and passionate voice! Enjoy her work

In the competition between Aguilera, Brittney Spears, and their other contemporaries, I think this album shows she really threw down the gauntlet. The biggest problem I found here is that it's just too padded. There are at least two or three songs that could have been trimmed out to make this a single disc. OR release them as two different albums. Songs like "Thank You" felt too self-congratulatory. With "F.U.S.S." I understood why it was on the album, but again it could have been cut out to make one disc. Cutting this down to one record would give you a side each to showcase the different musical sides of C.A. Top tracks: "Ain't No Other Man", "Oh Mother," "Candyman", "Hurt", " Mercy On Me"

Damn does this woman have PIPES. I've only known Xtina through her singles and such. This is a fun album, beautifully produced. It's cotton candy for the ears. Not overly deep, but that's not what you're listening to Ms. Aguilera for. Much better than I expected.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I'm not normally one who enjoys a big vocal performance as the main factor of music, but Christina Aguilera just has a fantastic voice and it really drew me in. Lovely album and I thought Thank You (Dedication to Fans...) was a touching song. P.S. Nasty Naughty Boy had me bricked up.

Large variety, catchy stuff. Good stuff as far as pop goes.

I'm not familiar with her music. She has a nice voice.

Oh my god what did I do to deserve two Christina Aguilera Albums within days of eachother? Wait what? A double album? You're taking the fucking piss mate. Strap in then. If I didn't know some of the singles on the last one it's possible I've not heard any of these songs at all. First proper track Pray is alright, mainly for the gospel because gospel is good and has good energy. Next song harks back to when originators and innovators were alive. Erm, Chris mate, there's still people innovating now. Oh ok, the single. Yeah I've obviously heard this. Didn't know it was her because I didn't pay that much attention to it. But obviously the sample is great and it's used effectively. No name recognition because the enormous hook is the sample, the lyrics are kinda incidental by comparison. Decent pop song though, undeniably. And I have to say, by a million miles the best song of hers I've ever heard. Fair do's Christina, you get a a tick. Apparently another couple of singles slipped by without me noticing, in fact I was thinking it was a lull in quality if anything, so I definitely never heard Slow Down or Oh Mother. Still Dirty is better than Dirty (which was simply annoying) but that could be because I've not heard this before whereas the latter was fucking UNAVOIDABLE. Also, brass. Brass is cool. So alright, this has been better than expected so far, the use of samples is largely done and with intelligence. The second disc appears to have turned the album into the soundtrack from The Greatest Showman or something (which, well, hey, I'm not against). Candyman. Yeah ok I've heard this too. On Strictly or something. It's fun. Obviously again heavily leaning on that great sample. Ok couple more tracks - alright so we're somewhere between vaudeville, swing and roaring twenties for this part. You know I'm really down for this. This is a genuinely good time. Absolutely not my thing of course, and it goes without saying it's much too long, but to be fair it's basically two separate albums, a little like that Outkast one. If we'd stopped after disc 1 it might even have sneaked a low 3 to my shock but after the abrupt left turn I'm even contemplating a genuine 4 for basically a surprisingly good time overall. It's much, much better and far more interesting than Stripped.

There are some pretty excellent vocal performances on here. A bit too much but I'm feeling generous.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t very excited when this was my album of the day. This came out my sophomore year of college, and I certainly had no interest in it at the time. I remember the singles, and while I can’t say I hated them I largely ignored them. This was a very fun album to listen to. It has sort of an almost Motown mixed with delta blues and modern R&B. I did not find it to sound firmly rooted in mid 2000’s pop - I can’t believe how well this record has held up 18 years later. As expected the singing is performed with incredible talent and technical prowess, but I expected to react to the songs like “whoa that’s a bit much” ; but it never happened. It’s not over the top, even when she hits 20 notes in half a second. I was also surprised to see she’s credited as a writer for all the songs. It’s raunchy at times, heartfelt at times, and fun throughout. It’s a really good pop record.

7/10 actually super solid production but, I’m not a fan of this genre

As good as she's ever sounded musically. No hits but a good album.

Great voice.

Enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would. Try it out!

She’s so full of herself. Standouts: Ain't no other man, Oh Mother, Hurt 3.75

Very fun album. I can see how she has influenced many singers, she has a very unique and powerful voice and is clearly a really technically good singer. I enjoyed listening.

Fun concept, well executed, and lets Christina belt for an hour

If this were done purely on vocals alone, then it would receive top marks. It was a good album; it has some absolute bangers in here. Ain't no other man, Candy Man, and Hurt are the pick of the bunch. She also made some decent music videos for these tunes. But there are a couple of songs that stop it from being perfect, and the whole thing is a little too long

Pretty good. More soul/r&b than I remember from her popular more pop tunes. Not really my thing, but the music and her voice are infinitely better than someone like britney spears. Good mix of songs, well produced. 3.7.

After her fourth album, Stripped, appeared on this illustrious list I assumed no further Aguilera albums would be included; and if there was to be only one I was surprised it wasn't Back To Basics. Well, here that album also is, which, whilst unnecessarily long, is, nevertheless an excellent pop record and likely her best. On Side A Aguilera brings street cred from the likes of DJ Premier - whose beat on Ain't No Other Man gets even the usually snobby B-Boys and Girls up on their feet - whilst Side B is the souldful ballad-heavy second side, produced entirely by Linda Perry, which helps give this a sold, cohesive identity and and includes the track Hurt, another excellent pop record in the vein of Beautiful, also written by Perry.

Better than I expected

back to basics acts as a beautiful tribute to all the artists that came before christina aguilera! she pays homage to all kinds of artists, whose contributions created music to what it is today. she is mostly influenced by r&b and jazz, and she throws a lot of names around. honoring these musicians is done so respectfully and creatively. "back in the day" has aguilera reminiscing of the old days, and it's a delightful way to kick off the album. however, the second half of the album goes in another direction. aguilera still uses the same r&b of the first half, but doesn't reference the tributes and frequently uses a circus theme. i don't think it's an accident linda perry produced the entire second half--and the two of them wrote each song together. the sampling of traffic's "glad" in "makes me wanna pray" was outstanding. in fact, the sampling is so well done that aguilera changed the song completely! the touch of the gospel choir was brilliant, too. but to use a jazz rock song as a sample shows me aguilera's fearlessness and creativity. it's not a sampling choice you'd expect. i can appreciate that aguilera included her own personality in her songs. the lyrical themes are right in her wheelhouse. "still dirrty" is undeniably a xtina song, and it's a continuation from her previous hit, not a carbon copy. it fits in extremely well with the stylings of this album, too. like, those trumpets?! not to mention, she includes short snippets of her previous songs. aguilera has always had one of the most beautiful voices in all of music. what set her apart in the pop craze of the late nineties was her voice! throughout the album, she uses her vocal talents but they might stand out the most toward the end of the album with the slower, emotional songs. this album does a lot of things right! i found myself impressed. to be honest, i am reminded of prince's 2003 musicology album. but all artists are inspired by previous music, and there's no rule aguilera couldn't do her own album like that. an apologetic 3.5, rounded up to a 4.

Favorites are "Makes Me Wanna Pray" and "Here to Stay"

Another big name female pop star to surprise me. 4

Didn’t expect to see Christina Aguilera on this list, not my favorite album but not bad either!

Schöner Pop. Stimme noch nicht ganz so nervig.

I was a big Christina Aguilera fan as a kid. Looking forward to this. This album is such a product of the 2000s with all of the disc scratching sounds every few seconds lol. I love it. Oof. Track 7 hurts. I have a feeling that I'm going to like the second disc of this album better than the first. The opening track to the second disc is freaking me out in the best way. 4/5 Dang she's got a great voice.

Solid album, lots of variety and good sounds but wouldn't listen every day

Suprisingly complex!

Hard not to move.

Pretty classic C.A., hard to not love.

Surprisingly enjoyable. Pop is not my style usually.

Surprisingly, I really liked this album. It had a diverse sound, ranging from soul to blues to jazz. I should listen to more of her music. I give this 4.5 stars.

J: chu chu chuuli N: temas icónicos

Christina Aguilera's 2006 album "Back to Basics" holds a special place in many hearts, acting as a nostalgic soundscape for those who grew up with it. I, too, have fond memories of listening to this iconic album on repeat in my mum's car during my childhood. The track "Thank You (Dedication to Fans...)" not only carries the weight of gratitude but also echoes the reminiscent vibes of her debut hit "Genie In A Bottle," a song that propelled her to international stardom. The second half of the album takes a bold leap into the realms of old-school jazz, blues, and soul, showcasing Aguilera's versatility. The burlesque vamp "Nasty Naughty Boy" stands out with its trumpets and audience cheers, creating a vivid late-night showgirl atmosphere that feels reminiscent of Moulin Rouge. However, the decision to release a double album raises questions about its cohesion, and while the material is strong, the segregation of certain throwback tracks onto the second disc creates a noticeable imbalance. Nevertheless, gems like "Mercy on Me" showcase Aguilera's staggering famous belted vocals, making it worth revisiting this album to fully appreciate its intricacies.

I literally listened to this album on repeat all day. It did not get old. She has amazing vocal range and diversity in the music she makes. Honestly really good.

Christina is a true diva of the 90s (and early 2000s) - not Brittney or Pink or Arianna. She has such a unique, powerful, soulful voice - which is a good thing because most of these songs aren't that good on their own. She makes them interesting to listen to. A true talent, even if you aren't a fan. I'm guessing this will be the only album of hers on the list, which is why it's getting a one-star bump. Everyone should listen to and appreciate Christina in their lifetime. This is the album to listen to (granted it's too long).

I don’t have a lot to say for this one. Nice catchy songs and cool production. It loses me a bit as it goes on and it’s a bit bloated though.

Love me some Christina, though very long and some songs I'm not so sure about.

Not my go-to genre, but her vocals are impressive, and these tracks draw from her 1920-1950's inspiration in an interesting modern soulful R&B style.

Great, powerful voice! Tracks are often similar.

I was often surprised by this record and I enjoyed it much more than I expected to. It has soul and style.

Once she gets away from the Mtv inspired pop songs, her true range comes out and you can really see what an amazing artist she is.

Très bon album de pop, j'aime beaucoup l'influence des années 40/50 et sa voix surpuissante supporte bien les paroles. Malheureusement, en faire un double album, c'est quand même chaud, la deuxième partie semble de trop.

What a voice!

Side B !

Ugh - I braced myself when this album turned up - but but but - it turns to be a pretty half decent record. First half is a strong showing of R&B, Soul and Gospel influences that are actually tasteful, then this second is split between some decent pop ballads and had it ended at the ‘Thank You’ track it would been an actually great record. But then it kind of descends into this gaudy cartoonish cabaret that gets old very very quickly. But if you skip that - this is a good record. I would never have guessed.

El comienzo de Oh mother es como la canción principal de Los Chicos Del Coro. Está bastante bien el disco.

The handful of her song I've heard before already let me know she has an incredible voice, but this is the first album of hers I've listened to all the way through. Wow. She is superb at her craft and I really enjoyed this. What a voice, what expression, what soul!

Never really listened to Christina Aguilera but this album is pretty solid

Allow me to say, I love "Ain't No Other Man", but I'm going to have to pace myself here. The Wall is the same length! Ok, Disc 1 is done, I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would, more than other crooners like Britney Spears & Mariah Carey. Disc 2: oh this is a Tom Waits record Alright it isn’t, but she had me fooled It’s melodramatic, and the bloat is real, but I’d still go far as to say that they should’ve kept this in the book. It’s a decent representative of 2006 pop music, and it’s kinda silly only 4 albums make up that year in the new edition of the book HL: “Makes Me Wanna Pray”, “Ain’t No Other Man”, “Slow Down Baby”, “Here to Stay”, “Candyman”, “I Got Trouble”, “The Right Man” Not as crazy about: “Hurt”

I dock one point for the heavy use of tech (samples) when time and money was likely available to pay a few more great session musicians, maybe some that the ladies she is paying tribute to have used, but four stars for the message: "I've waited for some time To get inside the minds Of every legend I've ever wanted to stand beside So here I stand today In tribute I do pay To those before me who laid it down and paved the way" Niiiice.

A lot better than I expected. I remember really hating on Ain't No Other Man & Candyman when they came out. 10-year-old me had particular tastes when it came to music. Anyway, this kind of pop record really shows that Christina is more than whatever the media thought she was. Back to Basics is a great album and almost a "re-branding" of sorts. It seems a bit long, but the songs go by quicker than you think. Sidenote: I really liked "Oh Mother" as a HUGE fan of Bruno Coulais' work on Les Choristes.

Some surprisingly good bits

This album is a bit like Simply Red - such a powerful voice that gets a little overwhelming after a few tracks.

Guilty pleasure alert! that said...no album should be 80 minutes long. holy smokes

I find that popstars of the 2020s tend to be much better at ‘album craft’ than those from my childhood, but Christina Aguilera gives it a good go on Back to Basics. There are some era defining hits across the record but they are outnumbered on a double album which includes the occasional dud and plenty of tracks that fall somewhere in between. As with many double albums I am left feeling it would have been better lean and mean. The quality difference between songs like Back in the Day and Ain’t No Other Man (which sit side by side on the first disc) is stark. Both tackle a clear lyrical concept head on but where the latter is a short shock of radio fuel, the former is an unwieldy, unconvincing mission statement. I could have done with more chilled out ballads such as the excellent Thank You (Dedication to Fans…) and Hurt, or fabulous, dramatic songs such as Nasty Naughty Boy and Candy Man, all which display the “back to basics” songwriting which this album shouts about. I could have done with less vocal gymnastics throughout, but I understand that this is very much Aguilera’s brand and what was in vogue at the time.

Christina gets a low 3 with this one, a bit overstuffed for me and not my style of pop but some undeniable tunes and a v strong set of pipes, love her attitude too

Beautiful voice, but started to all sound the same. Not my style of regular music so I'm not sure it'll get a repeat.

This, to me, is one of those albums that are absolutely good, but not very original or exciting. Good songs, great performance but it isn't something I'd ever choose to listen to - if it is on, I'll enjoy it though... It is very mid.

This just made me want to listen to old soul and jazz, so I guess it was effective in that way? Ain't No Other Man slaps, though. Decent white girl album. Probably didn't need to be a double.

No bad actually Better than I expected on the album tracks.

I appreciate the sentiment and motivation behind this, though the lyrics are too on the nose (I get it, remember the trailblazers), while the music is a bit too pop and of the day (the worst era of popular music in most peoples opinions). But “Candyman” gets the closest to her goal here.

Ambos discos son bastante distintos a mi parecer, siendo el primero mucho mejor

This one lost a star before I had even heard one note. I skimmed the Wikipedia page and was crestfallen at the words, "the first disc."

She’s got a great voice but god damn how many times can you listen to the exact same song over and over again? It’s a three on vocals alone. That’s it, that’s the rating.

This didn’t need to be a 2 disc set. Some good songs in here but a lot of uninteresting stuff as well.

Exactly what I thought it would be. Meh.

Better than expected. Really enjoyed Christiana Aguilera's voice and she really showcased her versatility throughout the album.

chop out half the tracks and you’ve got yourself a decent album

Christina has a great voice and I enjoyed the album. After a while, it does become somewhat repetitive, but she clearly has great talent. The album is too long. A 3 for me only because of how exceptional her singing is…

While a double album is still a bit too long for my taste, I do like how there's a notable difference in production between the two. If you're gonna do a double album, that's the way to keep it interesting. The second disk is definitely the better of the two, even though it's not without faults. Aguilera has some incredible pipes, even though she has a habit of going a little overboard with the embellishments. Ain't No Other Man, Hurt, Mercy On Me and Save Me From Myself are all pretty enjoyable, and hold up pretty well. That said, there's quite a few other songs here that don't do anything for me.

This album is not as bad as a lot of people are saying it is.

She's clearly a very talented singer but this severely did not need to be a double album. It's incredibly bloated. 3⭐️

some really good tracks here ! I found the tracks thanking her fans and past musicians a bit cringe but that genuinely might be a me problem because it’s sort of wholesome at the same time ? Overall I liked some things here but it was decidedly too long

Feel like it was the same as the last Christina album that we listened to. She has a great voice, but just does the same trick over and over.

Glad to hear xtina is still dirty… I mean, girls got bops… not all super interesting, but fun pop fodder. 3.4

When I saw that this was 80 minutes long, I began to dread it. But I was pleasantly surprised. It did overstay its welcome, but it wasn’t nearly as samey as the Britney Spears album I had last month. And damn can she sing! (I’m subtracting half a star for the production — I don’t need artificial record pops in my recordings, thanks.) 6/10 Pretty Good

Girl can sing. And some enjoyable songs. Not sure we needed a double album and some songs could have been edited out. I think I liked disc 2 more with the big band sound rather than generic pop. And Nasty Naughty Boy…oh my my my. That song has me rounding up. 2.5

I actually thought this was a cool choice to put on this list. I’m not sure it’s worthy of selection, but I definitely haven’t confronted an album like this in this project so far. Definitely not the most interesting pop album, but likely the most interesting Christina Aguilera has ever been. I appreciated a break from the regular DNA of this list.

Huh, surprised that there are two Christina Aguilera albums on this list. But anyway, there was a clear effort by Christina to change her sound here. Going "back to basics" in the form of honoring the soul/blues acts from yesteryear. Honestly if anyone could replicate those acts, it's Christina on that shortlist. As for the album itself, it's solid pop music, and the singles are pretty memorable. The production kind of helps and hinders things here, however. Having names such as DJ Premier and Mark Ronson is a pretty big deal of course, as their presence among others is immediately noticeable and elevates the album at points. But there are almost TOO many hands involved here if that makes any sense. The mid-2000's gave us quite a few over-produced and bloated albums, and I'm afraid this falls into that list for me. Don't let that take away from Christina Aguilera's UBER-talented vocal prowess though. "Stripped" might be the more important album, but this was still a good artistic evolution.

2006. Primarily a pop and R&B record with a fusion of old-school jazz and soul inspiration. Back to Basics was meant to pay "homage and utmost respect" to some of her favorite musicians.

She's got a powerful voice, but as an album it didn't do too much to wow me.

I expected to really dislike this based on my dislike of the long notes Christina is known for, the AaayaAaayAaaaAAAaaa. Seeing the runtime filled me with dread. But it was not too bad. Her vocals sound powerful in a good way and I started to appreciate the range more. It was a thematic album without becoming too stale. Overall more enjoyable than Britney for instance. Maybe it should be 4 stars but I feel that is a bit too high

A bit generic, but listenable.

Some of the tunes are bops. Could use some sax.

I don’t have much to say here. Listened to it once. I was ashamed that I thought some songs were bangers. Some of it lasted too long, though. I am not an Aguilera fan, but might have a slight bit more respect for her after this record.

This album was constantly rewriting my review thesis. So it started off with the kind of music that appeals to Bible belt America, then it proceeds into awfully generic mid-00s pop, then you get to volume 2 and the album starts being its namesake with the old time jazzy vaudeville sound that's honestly the most interesting part of its album, then it's back to a couple more bible belt songs to close it off. The album sounds like it was made by double the amount of label executives than it was actual artists with the amount of people it is trying to appeal to. In my world this entire album would just be the second half of it and it would have been great. That being said, I'm grading what we got and unlike Christina Aguilera herself, this album would need a lot of fat trimmed off before I could grade it higher.

Her voice is incredible. Amazing that a voice that big comes from such a tiny person. But the production here fucking sucks. Back in the Day promises to throw this back to old school and old days or whatever...but the production is anything but. If she really wanted to make a blues/jazz record, she'd kill it. The hip hop beats and scratches just suck. I could listen to her sing all day...and I don't know if I want to listen to the rest of this. It's a double album, are you kidding me? Who felt that this was worth two discs in 2006? I'm giving this a 3 just out of respect to the voice but that's about it. The production here is terrible and dated.

Incredible voice, obviously, but the style and length just do nothing for me. 2.5

Better than I expected

Much better than I was expecting. Christina Aguilera has an incredibly strong voice and that alone basically carries this album. The songs get a bit samey and it is way too long. Still not bad

Pretty good pop album, not my fav by a long shot tho. Why is it so long, I'm happy to listen to something long that I know is going to give something to chew on, but I knew that this was not going to be one of them. Look, the hits off this are really good and it's undeniable that Christina is beyond talented as a singer, this just starts to get old at points. Once again, it's not bad just not a wow factor album. Fav Track: Ain't No Other Man

There are some really good songs here (Candyman will always be a bop) but it feels like a patchy double album with a great single album trying to break out. If I'd have been in charge of the tracklisting, Thank You (A Dedication to the Fans) would have been the first for the chop.

Good

I mean, great talent. The songs are ok.

Surprisingly fascinating. I’m not familiar with Ms. A’s catalog, so this “rebirth” of her persona wasn’t on my radar. Love the mix of classic style with modern lyrics and sass.

3.5

She undeniably has a powerful and versatile vocal instrument, but there's just something about this R&B/pop style that doesn't hold my interest after awhile. The arrangements are good, though.

This was a surprise. I didn’t know I needed to hear this album at this moment in time. What a phenomenal artist, a great singer songwriter, and what a great pop/hip hop album. Disc 2 continues the great piece of work, albeit a little wackier with “Welcome” and “Candyman.” Then it gets bluesier, and noir-like, with “I Got Trouble” and “Mercy on Me.” The second half may be more beautiful than the first.

Better than I expected

Never listened to this in full. Amazing voice and who knew she had a collab with Steve Winwood?! Not necessarily something I'd go back and listen to, but a fun one.

17/05/26 a voz dela é foda, mas esse álbum vai me enjoar naturalmente não vai ser tudo igual a primeira música vai me enjoar tanto pelo gênero quanto pela repetição da voz potente (algo que já me incomoda e me incomodou no Muddy Waters) vou dar 6/10 / 3/5 pq me conhecendo eu daria essa nota mesmo

This was a LOT more enjoyable than I envisioned. A lot of that has to do with the production even if it’s very 2000s coded. The main issue is the length - if they cut this album in half you could have a really good album but instead this one drags

Это качественный поп-альбом, но извини, Кристиночка, не смотря на попытку примазаться к джаз/соул-легендам, я буду оценивать это именно как качественный поп-альбом из нулевых со всеми вытекающими отсюда плюсами и минусами. Очень вылизанный саунд, продюссирование, качество, тыры-пыры, но боже, как сложно такое слушать подряд альбомом будучи ещё и ДВОЙНЫМ, когда привык к совсем другой музыке....... щищщщщ.....

Listened whilst working, had a surprisingly good time

One Christina is enough. She’s great. But one is enough.

Another album I could have died without hearing. Not as bad as some, but I found nothing here that I can't get anywhere else.

This is a solid album here and there. I liked side 2 better for the most part. A few songs from each side were not great, the rest were fine. I don't think I loved any of this album, but I got into a few tracks and would be fine if someone played this. I really like the beginning of side 2 with Enter the Circus and Welcome.

I like the idea of Christina Aguilera reaching back to jazz and R&B, and the sampling on the album is well done. But by the end of the album I grew tired of her melismatic singing style (I had to look that up). Can't a syllable just be a single note?

A lot of sir duke esque musical hero call outs, and then some love stuff. She can really sing and it's all alright.

Her voice is amazing. Many of the songs started to blend together. Thank You was pretty cringe. Candyman was fun. This album in incredibly long.