Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Whoever made this list really likes Christina Aguilera… anyway, this was better than the last one of hers I listened to. Still not my jam, but it wasn’t all bad. Like I said before, she wouldn’t be where she is if she was a bad singer.
Wasn't expecting this to pop up but guess it's about time there was something more pop on the list. This album isn't for me but it's alright, I can appreciate a bit of Christina even though I still wouldn't go for it myself.
Not my thing. Candyman is fine.
Great voice but it wears thin with the way she sings. I like the bluesy, soul sound she sort of pulls off. It’s the vocal range extension that she wants to show off that doesn’t do it for me. It’s not even close to being the best pop album I’ve ever heard and not even close to being one of her best.
Not sure I expected this on the list. But always fun with something different! It's almost impossible for me to think of Christina Aguilera in any other context than what we hear her in on this album. She was all over the radio when this was released, but I haven't heard much of her since. As such, I feel like this record is a bit stuck in time for me and feels a bit dated - it's not old enough to feel vintage, but also not new enough to feel fresh. Certainly the album is playful, and it's hard to feel sad or down when listening to it. Christina certainly has an impressive voice, but halfway through the record I feel a bit fatigued by her wailing and screaming. It just becomes a bit too much and too repetitive. Overall I feel like this probably deserves more, but I personally can't extend past a 3. It just feels too radio and commercial for me, and is not the type of music I typically enjoy listening to.
Sometimes an album is greater than the sum of its parts. This album is the opposite. There are a few decent songs here, but man—is it way too long and way too samey. It feels like someone pitched the concept, and then 100 people wrote songs around the theme. There was no real process of refinement or cohesion. They just threw everything at the wall and saw what stuck. The result feels plastic and insincere. Aguilera has a great voice, but after an hour of her oohs and aahs, I’m officially done. None of the songs seem genuinely invested in the album’s theme; they just slap a shallow layer of horns or some other “old school” element on top. It’s like someone watched "Moulin Rouge" and said, “I want that.” Probably a 3-star album, but for the sheer effort it took to finish it, 2 stars.
A generational voice, and a few good songs. Definitely worth a listen.
So long, so full of herself.
My biggest surprise so far. I enjoyed this far more than I expected.
I feel like this album is what I think IS 2000’s pop. Surprised there isn’t a hit on the album with the amount of solid tracks on here. Aguilera’s voice is also just mmmmmm so good
No surprises for this album, as it's a woman's 2000s album. Such a powerful American voice that could take anything that was given to her. The influences on the big band music of the early 20th century are neat. Not my particular taste, but I can see how she is still big.
Favorite Track: Candyman
meh, disc 1 is v repetitive
Surprised me!
She's a talented singer, but this album leaves a lot to be desired. As others have overstated, this is a long album. There's a lot of chaff on this record that likely didn't need to be here. The big band sound had a comeback for a bit in the late 2000's/early 2010's and I think this album was a bit ahead of the curve on that. Bioshock came out the next year and it was still 2 years before Caravan Palace began ravaging theater kids' iPod shuffles. It intends to pay homage, but comes off as uninspired. It's overproduced but tries so hard to capture the warmth of analog recording. It's not really for me, but I bet there's plenty of people out there that still return to this every now and again.
Strong vocals, and a command of the music
Surprisingly I really enjoyed this album, Great vocals great instrumentation!
Was really stoked then got over it by like the fifth song.
Didn't finish because it's a really long album and all the songs sounded kind of the same to me. 4/10
Why does this album have 40,000 songs on it?
It's an interesting double album for Pop standards, though i personally preferred the first half over the second. The first half has great production and incredible vocal performances. Her vocal abilities however, tend to be both a blessing and a curse, a lot of songs would be a lot stronger if she held back a little bit and let the song speak for itself. The second half is a lot less my taste, and becomes less enjoyable for it.
Pop music is a fickle beast. It serves one purpose - to entertain. Christina Aguilera pushes the boundaries of patience with this 1 hour, 18 minute double album that really should be a single, and no longer than 40 minutes at best. Comparing to other 'pop' albums on this list, for example the Buddy Holly album I had recently clocks in at a respectable time AND entertains. Christina Aguilera (and her fellow pop princesses of the 90s and 00s) try to step outside the boundaries that pop music requires and present their music as art. She is definitely talented, but a double-disc album of her strangling her vocal cords to overemphasize what doesn't need to be overemphasized is pushing it. 2/5
I guess fine but not gonna finish this one. Disc 1 is plenty Will I listen to again: 0%
Another lengthy one, it was ok probably would of enjoyed it more if the album was 40 mins long
I am listening to this without closing my ears though it almost makes me close my ears. There is that mass production vibe hovering about it like a harpie ready to rip the guts out of a real person trying to make personal music. When you're hearing honest expression, it really clicks.
People still not adhering to the Less is More adage. I preferred Disc 2 but overall was underwhelmed. She’s got a great voice but it went on for so long and all sounded the same. I liked Save me from myself. It’s a shame some discerning producer didn’t intervene and answer that particular request. I don’t want to give her a drubbing but this could have been edited down to one disc. My version of basics is black T-shirt, black jumper, black trousers, sensible shoes. Even that ensemble sounds more exciting to me.
I don't know what to make of this. Aguilera can sing. So what? The songs all feel so overdone. Her performances seem more about proving something rather than trying to emote or convey a feeling. The production team is determined to pull out every trick they can think of. None of it feels authentic or relatable. Not to me anyway.
I tried. I failed. my overall impression is that there's is much ado about nothing. lots of stuff happening. lots of emoting and sounds and so, so many notes. and it all added up to squat.
Honestly this just bored me. It’s not a 2 but 3 seems generous.
It's fine but I didn't need a 2006 pop double album in my life. The vocal gymnastics do nothing for me and makes the whole thing seem a bit soulless.
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.
This was fun to listen too, with a few really solid songs. The Enter the Circus + Welcome combo was :chef-kiss:. The Right Man was also really really good. it's a 3.5 for me, I don't think I'll listen to it again, but I discovered some great songs.
I only recognized one song: "Hurt". I liked "Ain't No Other Man", what a jam. Christina has incredible vocal control, but also she kind of has a particular style that ends up feeling repetitive, especially on a double album.
Christina is one of those artists whose songs rarely rise to the level of her vocal talent, but I liked this album more than I thought it would. If she'd kept it to 1 album and dialed back the post-productiin so that it feature more live instrumentation, I think this could have been a 4.
Kind of astonishing how someone so talented can still feel like they're checking the boxes in a formula, resulting in an album that sounds undeniably poppy but not actually all that catchy. I kind of liked two tracks ('Without You' and the sample on 'Understand' is really great) but the rest ultimately felt like a very standard pop/R&B album that - while polished & perhaps even over-produced - isn't all that memorable.
Not really my kind of music. Also a verrry long album. That being said, obviously a very talented singer - her range is pretty crazy. That alone makes it at least a 3-3.5.
She’s great and this is a great album
I knew she had some pipes but hot damn is she fantastic. Musically I thought this was quite good too - lots of R&B and soul inspired pop music, and I enjoyed the theatrical tracks too. Tired of double albums but this was at least one of the better ones!
She is a lot more bluesy and jazzy than I assumed. Not bad at all
Good voice, some good songs, but way to long (double disc album)
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
Oh by Jingo how boring. This gives me absolutely nothing.
I would give zero stars if that was an option. How is this an essential album?
I was surprised to see this on the list, but it was fine overall. Long, it took a while to get through, but I don’t think at any point I didn’t like it.
She has a good voice, but not really my thing.
Le projet de marier le r&b pop d'Aguilera à des influences jazz et big band est très clair: c'est expliqué dans les premières pièces, au cas où quelqu'un passerait à côté de la noblesse de l'intention. C'est un album qui bénéficie de beaucoup de moyens, et son talent de chanteuse est indéniable, mais je finis par trouver que chaque pièce se ressemble, car j'ai l'impression qu'elle les interprète toutes de la même manière. Elle a ses tics et ses passages obligés. J'ai trouvé ça long
OK, not my cup tea, but good if you like Christina Aguilera
I've heard of Christina obviously but (I don't know what happened to me in the early 00s) I just completely missed her entire career. If you asked me about her biggest hits I wouldn't be able to name even a single song. Listening to this album I think I got the answer to that, I just generally don't vibe with this kind of early 00s R&B. Steve Winwood being a feature on one of the songs was lowkey wild though 2/5
2.6 Going to ignore Disc 2 as jesus that was bad. Unnecessary, bloated nonsense. Disc 1 was... Better than I expected. Although my hopes were extremely low. I've learnt from this list that when you get past the bubblegum pop debuts that these stars had, there's usually a bit of meaning in one of the later albums before they disappear into obscurity. Not my cup of tea but can see why it was liked.
Ok.
This couldve been a single album, had no real reason to be a double. I ofc liked Hurt, Candyman and a bunch of others, but not really gonna revisit it much. Not my favorite singing style. Still a stronger 3
Trash. Poor attempt at Stevie Wonder.
Seriously? C’mon.
This should not have been this long
Inoffensive, in the nicest possible way.
Koji jebeni zajeb izdati retro soul album u godini back to black🤣
Good music. Some really good music. 4/5
Nothing exciting ofc there's that few standout songs you've listened on the radio way too many times.
This was good.
Having never listened to her music, and lived through the Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilera era, I wasn’t pleased to see this album pop up for me to listen to. Especially since I’ve already had to listen to a Brittany Spears album on this list and it was brutally awful. I was shocked at how different these artists are and how much more talented Christina Aguilera is compared to Brittany. There really isn’t any comparison to be honest. Christina has a more pleasing singing voice, better range, more powerful delivery, and over all a much more talented singer. Her songs are also so much more musical and listenable. Whether you like this style is up to you. I found it was well written, recorded, and produced. All of the songs seemed busy with too many layers going on. It’s a production for sure. For an album that harkens back to music that she admires, it falls into the same trap as sounded dated and from a certain time period (the early 2000’s). In the end, it wasn’t something I would listen to even now. I’m glad I did though. I now know who the better talented artist is between the two big pop stars of that time was.
She has a good voice but this is a bloated mess.
Sorry, but no thank you
It's fine. She was never really my thing so this is the first album of hers that I've listened to and I don't hate the music, but I have two criticisms: 1) It's long; 2) Some of the throwback references just make me want to listen to the things she's referencing instead, especially on the first disc which is more sample-heavy.
Faktisk overraskende godt, ikke så cheese som frygtet, lidt rnb/hiphop vibes
Candyman is the song I turn to when I want some lighthearted uptempo beat. Other than this, the songs were mostly mellow, I liked the gospel and jazzy influences, but the album seemed too long-winded for me.
I think she is talented, but I just don’t care much for this style of music. I sure can’t listen to a double album’s worth. 3 stars.
Jedinica iz principa. // Bila bi dvica zbog Candyman, ostalo je grozno i narcisoidno.
It was alright
I like what she’s trying to do with this but I find Xtina a bit tired. I think it’s just her singing style is both powerful and unique in certain ways that it’s incredibly hard to apply it to different genres of music which is clearly the intention with this album. 2.5 stars for me.
So much drama. Christina over sings everything on this album to the point of making it unlistenable.
Good, for a pop music album.
solid 2000s hits. great combination of various styles. some of these songs are raunchy, man. i love the sampled bits Would I listen again: if I was in the mood Deserves to be on this list: why not 3.3
I actually made it half way through this way too long album of standard, overwrought diva-pop music. Lightweight and of little consequence, this is music that will be forgotten as quickly as it was regurgitated. 2 stars
I was a little young for Christina in her heyday, so this surprised me a bit in a positive way. I have a hard time with double albums in general, and portions of this dragged, but overall it's got some cool stuff going on and I might revisit it in the future
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.
The appeal of the tracks on album's first half (especially on those co-produced by DJ Premier) relies solely on the well-chosen samples that provide the backbone of those songs. Aguilera's grit-free vocals, however, wail over the instrumention but leave little impact. Every song seems like it's supposed to be a demonstration of her vocal capabilities, but not every techinque needs to be applied to every syllable. Had she dialed it down from time to time, it would have been far more effective. The last three songs on the first half of the album are Aguilera's observations about her career - they *want* to be bold and powerful statements but instead come across as self-absorbed. (Too bad there isn't a way to delete the fawning voicemail messages from her admirers on "Thank You (Dedication to Fans...)".) The singing on the second half of the album is more straightforward but the songs are largely genre exercises that don't break any new ground. 2
Too warbly for me
She's got soul, she's got class, she's got style, she's badass...
I don't need to listen to Christina Aguilera before I die. And multiple albums on this list? That's actual insanity.
It's too much album. And man she has a chip on her shoulder. I understand why it's a double album because she said fuck you that's why. It's well produced and well thought through, but it's two albums and not the way she decided it either. I thought I'd get sick of her vocal fireworks but instead I got sick of her constant complaining how no one respects her and she sexy but can't say the word cock? I don't know. Looking at how Sabrina Carpenter now just glazes over this whole thing so much more e seamlessly I feel bad Christina had to deal with the bullshit.
I try to find one song from every album that stands out as the reason the album made the list. I have no idea what song that would be on this album. We're any of these hits in 2006? Did music die in 2006? I can't say I'm a fan of Christina but I know her hits and I was disappointed to not recognize having heard any of these songs. It's almost like this album just appeared on Earth today. Anyway, I didn't find anything here worth ever listening to again. Some of the hip hop beats were decent on the first disc, but I can't help feeling like Christina's entire repertoire has existed as a rip off of music created by black artists. C'est la vie though when that has been the case for a very long time. White artists exploit and steal the sounds created by black artists. What if Christina had collabed with Throbbing Gristle? Wouldn't that have been something? And if anyone knows where I can hear a song Christina sang about oral sex which was supposedly drunkenly recorded for this album and titled "Fuck You, Suck You," I would love to hear that so I can add that song to my playlist as the standout track from this album.
#557. I can't say that I liked this one. It's a pop star past her prime trying desperately to cling on to relevance, and honestly I don't think she's succeeding. All of it was uninteresting, and the album is way to long. 2/5: meh. No, double meh.
Just whatever music from the radio, 30 min and dnf
Christina Aguilera does have an impressive voice, and as a pop album, this is probably pretty good. It’s not the sort of thing I care to listen to more than once, though, and it’s way longer than it needs to be.
I feel it doesn’t commit enough to the throwback sound of replicating classic singers like Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald. The concept has been tried and executed better by many other artists and this album is just bloated as well. 3/10
Mr. President, a Christina Aguilera record has hit the tower.
Of the late 90s pop princesses, Xtina was easily the most talented. That being said, this album is long and samey. Disc 2 improves on that a little, but only so much. Integrating the pop and the jazz would have made for a good single album.
DNF. Not my thing. Sure she’s talented, but I find vocalists in this style to distract from the music.
in spite of the vomit inducing track Thank You (Dedication to Fans) this was a decent listen, a guilty pleasure 100%. dead me won't admit to listening to this but I am glad I did.
Part 2 was better than Part 1. Christina has a powerful voice but the songs were not good. That whole “Thank You” section was just really cringe worthy. Also, it was way overproduced witch goes against the idea of this album.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this album, but it turned out to be an interesting mix of styles. Aguilera obviously knows her musical heritage and name checks artists from Billie Holliday to Etta James to make it clear where she is coming from. This is a double album, with the first disc riffing on classic R&B sounds but I think that I preferred the second disc which goes further back bringing in jazz influences and even a 1940’s number in the style of the Andrew’s Sisters which she pulls off with considerable panache. It’s probably not the sort of thing I’d listen to regularly, but I now have a lot of respect for Ms Aguilera for her depth of talent.
To be honest, I was ready to give it one star from what I knew from her. Starting to listen the album, it's actually not that bad: she can sing, the background music is pretty diverse (don't get me wrong, it's 100% pop music, but still). So I was ready to give it more stars than that. And then, the album never finishes. I started to be lost in this; double albums are really something great when you're a fan of the artist; when it's not the case, it's a never ending story and it's really hard to stay in a good disposition. Sorry, Christina.
Sappy, not zappy. Budget Beyonce.
Refused to listen.
Talented but not my thing
-more Christine Aguilera.. one week after the first album, okay -though i liked some of the soul / older musical influence, i fear this one didn’t do it for me nearly as much as Stripped. some tracks were actually unbearable in how corny they were which i never felt while listening to Stripped -and yes neither album had any business being as long as they were. I didn’t hate this though it certainly had its moments. her voice is amazing as usual -Favorites are Ain’t No Other Man and Slow Down Baby
Part 2 was a surprise. The first half was just standard vapid pop. It's a sales pitch for a faulty product from someone who doesn't really care. For the back end of this, she at least believes in the songs, and I'll take that any day.
First thought: Christina...ohhhhh nooooooo BUT it's actually a pretty good album! Has it's place on the list imo!
This one caught me off guard. I came up through the golden era of Christina, Britney and the boy bands. Always preferred Christina to Britney - thought she had a more mature and professional voice. That's demonstrated on this record along with her range of chemistry and collaborations. I hear elements of Mariah, Boyz II Men and even some older soul artists. Had no idea DJ Premier did any collaboration with Christina, but this was a nice surprise while listening. This is a really solid record and I'm happy it found me.
Some good songs but nothing too special.
She's good, it's just not my bag
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.
PGH represent! She's a fantastic singer, edgy in 2006? all over the map , gospel, soul, weird sketches, 50s swing sounding shit, naughty 😏, pop, doesn't make me tingle though
She can sing, but this album was too indulgent. Lots of songs saying the same thing, and it made the entire thing less palatable.
What’s up with the skits? She’s not a rapper, and doesn’t need the hype tracks. Meh.
Weird she’s on here but knowing her she probably ate it up. I can tell why she never truly reached Britney level.
OK, so it wasn't exactly as I'd expected, it had an old time feel to it and it was professionally done. But professional crap is still crap. Not for me. I feel I should give it a 2 as I didn't actually hate it, but I'd be making the same mistake I made with u2, as every other 2 I've given is leagues above them.
The positive: she can definitely sing and for that I’ll award 2 hard fought stars. But the rest of this ‘package’ is not for me. Pop music in its sickliest sweetest form.
I don't mind a bit of Christina, but 78 minutes continuously? No. It was all too much for me. I can cope with in 10 minute bites, but no more.
She's got such a strong, beautiful voice. And I know she has a message, in some of her songs, that people love. But, I just don't love it.
WOW! Britney Spears AND Christina Aguilera albums in the same week? and a double album no less. Really leaning into her soul voice on this record. Understand is a good song. Side one was pretty solid. Candyman is a funk soul 'nawlins style pop song. the instrumentation is good. it was okay! the double album didn't feel like a slog but it wasn't really my thing either.
Corr, bit long that one. Nice enough voice of course but double albums are a real slog for this challenge.
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
I love pop music but this is some boring ass pop music.
Another revelation - strong songs, excellent voice, eclectic mix of styles, excellent production. Was not expecting to like but I really enjoyed. Will listen again.
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.
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.
I strangely enjoyed this album, way better than I thought it would be, I new a couple songs already, but had variety and a good sound, can believe I like an Xtina album…
I liked the jazzy feel, but it was just too long. And the son were no great. And the track that us just recordings of people kissing her ass was off putting.
She kinda changed her sound from straight teeny bop pop (which is what I remember....Genie in a Bottle, What a Girl Wants....) to a more bluesy/jazzy pop style. Sounds straight out of New Orleans by times with the burlesque style stuff. Not my favorite, but definately not bad. I've listened to much worse. From the song Nasty Naughty Boy... "I wanna give you a taste...of the sugar below my waist".....dear Jesus Christina ....I feel like my ears are getting an STI... Favorite songs: Candyman, Ain't No Other Man, Still Dirrty, Here to Stay, Slow Down Baby, Mercy on Me Least favorite songs: Oh Mother 3/5
This is actually a lot more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. Christina Aguilera lived in my head as a semi-annoying pop icon. But these lyrics go deep. She talks about sexuality, being a woman, giving love to her fans. And the production quality is good. She definitely has insane vocal range.
It was good
"Basics" is subjective here (it probably cost a few million to produce), but every track is just so slick and enjoyable.
This album is fine, a lot better than Stripped, but holy hell Christina why is this an hour and 20 minutes? Cut some fucking bloat please, every other song is filler Great voice tho
Love her vocals. But I don't understand why this album is here. To be fair, half of the albums here doesn't make sense. Anyway, she still dirrty.
Gawd. I'm so tired. Let's get this over with. So. Coming into this album, I had a bias against Christina Aguilera — I'll be upfront about that. I thought that while she did have talent in singing, she didn't have any style. She could put a lot of power into her belting, but you look even barely below the surface and there's no character whatsoever. So the idea of spending nearly 80 minutes with her just seemed intolerable. Just as well, I'll be honest about how old and outdated this bias is. I got it about a decade or so ago, when Todd In The Shadows uploaded his review of Christina's film vehicle BURLESQUE. Back then he still had a lot of that "angry reviewer" in him, as was the style at the time, so it's not like he was exactly trying to be charitable to Christina. Meanwhile, in those days I was way more susceptible to parroting any opinions without ever stopping to ask myself if I actually personally believed them or not, so with this being basically my only exposure to and engagement with Christina besides the chorus of a Pitbull song... I mean, it's not like I ever felt any incentive to see if that bias was based in anything or not. By the time I gained it, she was barely relevant in the mainstream anymore. The story I heard was that her 2010 BIONIC flopped so hard it killed her momentum dead on the spot, and the movie BURLESQUE sure didn't help. Hell, if Todd hadn't reviewed it, I may have never heard of it. As far as I was aware, she disappeared from the face of the Earth after that aforementioned Pitbull single. I don't even know if I knew that "Genie In A Bottle" and "Beautiful" were hers. So I was not looking forward to listening to this album. "Dread" is a bit of a strong word, but it's not, y'know, **not** applicable? Especially when you combine it with the fact that this was supposed to be her "throwback" album, paying tribute to the 1920's soul stars that inspired. Like, great, that's just what I need: modernized retro. And 80 minutes of it at that! A 22 track double album — just what I needed. But, y'know, I gotta realize what I was happening there. See, I'm autistic, and there's this thing I do with food where if it's something I haven't tried before, I'll tend to overthink how much I'll dislike it. How bad the taste and texture and everything about it will be... All that. Normally, though, once I try it I end up— I mean, not loving it, or even **liking** it, but I realize it's not that bad and I was getting worked up over nothing. That's what was happening here, I figured. Once I actually sit down and put the album on, it'll be just fine (a 3 at worst) and I'll feel a little silly for spending so much time worrying about it. I just need to try and push my bias aside and everything will be good. Well. OK, so, I want you to note what I said above: "this was **supposed to be** her 'throwback' album." Let me rip the bandage off here. My big problem with the album is that this record was sold to me as a "throwback." The album is named after this concept, she invented a whole alter-ego to go with it, and two tracks on the album are dedicated to making a big deal about it (the intro and "Back In The Day"). And, y'know, I have no issues with throwbacks as long as they're done right. I mean, you look at Bruno Mars's modernized retro takes on 70's and 80's R&B, or Daft Punk's take on 70's disco. That kind of stuff is great. If only Christina actually did that. Hell, she didn't even do any Meghan Trainor-style modernized retro — and as excruciating as **that** would have been... Goodness! It would have been **something**, at least! Besides a few tracks scattered between both discs, this album ends up just sounding like mid-2000's pop. That's it. I mean, she honestly seems to think that randomly adding vinyl crackle to the start of some songs and having one that namedrops people like Coltrane and Billie Holiday is enough. And, like... Come the shit on. If you're gonna do a throwback, **commit** to it. I thought this was largely gonna be a precursor to what she did on the BURLESQUE soundtrack, besides the only that randomly samples a Marilyn Manson song. Instead, the furthest back she ends up throwing to is, like, 2004, at best. It's not even like these are bad songs. They're largely fine, at best. It just bugs the shit out of me that she put so much importance and emphasis only to largely forget about it. Why did she even bother in the first place? By the time we get to a couple of songs back-to-back on the front of the disc that actually do what I expected this thing to do, I was so tired that I could hardly even bring myself to care. Point of fact, I was a little pissed, actually. Like, what in the hell took you so damn long to get around to this? Goodness me. And the fact that this is a double album. There is no good reason whatsoever that this needed to be a double album. "Here To Stay" and "Thank You" needed to be here? The album needed to have a **second** intro with "Enter The Circus" and "Welcome"? Honest to goodness, it was in the middle of "Welcome" that I really started getting upset. Like, what in the shit Insane Clown Posse carnival barker nonsense is this? This was absolutely necessary? Goodness, what was left on the cutting room floor? And I get the idea: that the first half is sample heavy, while the second goes largely without 'em. But, like, who cares? If the album's overall concept is largely abandoned, why did **this** need to be adhered to? And I wanna narrow in on "Thank You" for a moment, 'coz... Oh, my goodness. I mean, look: despite how I've come across, I'm not that mad at this album — or at least I'm trying **really hard** not to be. It's a dumb mid-2000's pop album with a botched concept. Ultimately, who cares? And this song, I wanna emphasize, I know it's not for me. After all, its subtitle is "Dedicated TO The Fans..."). If you were a fan of Christina's, especially someone who sent in one of the voicemails that get played, you probably loved this. A nice shout-out to the fans. But, I'm sorry, having this play immediately after the song where she proclaims "CRITICIZE ME ALL YOU WANT; I'M GONNA BE HERE FOREVER!", this comes across as one of the most egotistical things I've ever heard on an album. Like, goodness me. It's just even worse when, like I said, Christina largely faded from relevance after her next album. The hubris, y'know? So... Look, it's not a bad album. If you want some loud, dumb mid-2000's pop music, there's stuff on here that'll do the job just fine. Quite frankly, putting my feelings aside, it's a 3. There's some stuff on here that's kind of obnoxious, but overall, I think you could do worse. Christina's voice isn't even as bad as my old bias would have led me to believe. But I can't be dishonest about my feelings. After "Enter The Circus" and "Welcome" got me all pissed off about the album length, and after "Candyman", "Naughty Naughty Boy" and "I Got Trouble" were "too little,too late" in actually accomplishing what this album promised me it set out to do... I'm sorry, but I gotta go with a 2. I can't give it a 1; that'd just be me pissing and shitting my diaper at that point. But for how absolutely tired I was by the last four songs, and for how little I'd ever wanna revisit this material... Yeah. It's a 2 for me. Give it a shot if you want; you might get way more out of it. But me, though? I'm gonna get back to stuff I actually like.
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.
I’m at a 5. Christina Aguilera is one of those artists where she had undeniably big hits, and yet I can’t really think of anything past the major ones, like Genie in a Bottle, What a Girl Wants, or Moves Like Jagger. Going into this, I expected her vocals to be great, and the pop sensibilities to click really nicely, but I wasn’t really sure how compelling of a package the whole thing would be – based on the bigger hits I knew, she had a really specific vibe that might’ve felt a little jarring over the course of a full album, especially in this case, where it’s 78 minutes long. Thankfully, she shut down my expectations rather quickly – this is the sort of pop album that I’ve been waiting for on the list, even more so than Britney’s debut album. It fits the right sort of sassy, overproduced, hip-hop influenced, confident mid-2000s vibe that I adore, since Disney & Nickelodeon bit on this style hard as hell when they were trying to make pop stars (and kinda succeeded, for the most part). That's the stuff I grew up on, so this clicked super well for me. This feels like it’s around the peak of that style, and I think it really shows; this is hard-coded to 2006, even with the 60s vibe she tries to set at the start of the album. In some weird way though, with this style coming back in fashion for the mid-2020s, mixed with the more simplified & streamlined pop stylings of the 2010s, this feels oddly modern, now? Either that, or I’m just hitting the nostalgia pill hard with this style of production, which feels sort of lost nowadays. Either way, I really liked this – talk about a vocal showcase, my goodness. I knew she was good, but I didn’t know she was THIS good. Occasionally, she oversteps the boundaries of each track with an overdone vocal flourish that borders on parody, but for the most part, she’s right within the vocal range she should be to keep her presence really strong, projecting a sort of operatic power that feels like only Adele or a few others really have nowadays. She dips into everyone else’s bag though; there are points here where she sounds like Whitney, or Celine, or Mariah, or Janet, and there’s more than a few times where she just absolutely bites “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, most blatantly and egregiously on “Here to Stay”. Still, though, what a fucking voice – “Mercy on Me” in particular seems undeniably powerful, even as someone who’s sort of lost his faith. As far as the production goes, I already touched on it, but I thought it was really good throughout – a few moments where the instrumentation feels like a bit much for the subject matter, sure, but the energy was great throughout, and usually fit the tone of each track really well. Whether it’s gospel, 60s pop, 70s funk, a Mary J. Blige-esque rap cut, or glittery 90s ballads, the variety of styles here still feels cohesive, despite the amount of producers from track to track, and it keeps the full 78 minutes feeling pretty fresh. It certainly helps that the lyrics on this album are pretty good; Christina (or her team of writers) know how to write some catchy fucking hooks & bridges, and the vocal structure on the verses feels great. When she has to go into full storytelling mode, it’s usually compelling (see: "Oh Mother"). In case it wasn’t obvious, I REALLY fucking liked this. A few overproduced moments, and a few awkward tracks (see: “Nasty Naughty Boy”, which still has great production regardless), but this is right down my alley for 2000s diva pop. I see that 2.74 average on the website, and I call a little bit of bullshit on it – if this were anyone but “Christina Aguilera” as the artist, or some random singer they’ve never heard of, this would be at a higher average on the website. It’s a protest vote against this style of music, same as Britney’s album, and I think it’s petty as hell. Granted, I’m the type of petty to want to drag Kid Rock down to the worst album on the site, or at least right next to Haut de Gamme, but I digress. I think it’s impossible not to have fun with this; even if you barely pay attention to the lyrics, her voice and this production is just super fun, and really easy to vibe to. I could keep gushing about this album, and how effectively it uses its two discs a la Outkast’s Speakerboxx / The Love Below, but I’ve already typed 788 words, and I think the music would say more than I could. So, yeah, it’s a 5 for me. One of the easiest I’ll personally give – I am a total unabashed sucker for this style, though, so I can understand someone else being cold on this. Probably shouldn’t be any less than a 3, though. Maybe a 2 if it really is THAT grating.
Pretty surprised Christina has two albums on this list, neither really seems to do anything unique to the other based on my one listen to each.
308/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
This woman can sing. A bit of everything on this album. Just not my bit. Candyman’s Andrew’s Sisters tribute song is a good one though.
She has an amazing voice and this was a great showcase for it.
I'll give it some credit for having some fun singles and solid production throughout, but god damn it is way too long. Chop this up into a 45 minute album and it would be decent pop, but i can't see myself ever listening to it again the way it is. Fine, but definitely not essential.
Decent RnB songs about being sexy, but humble, performed and produced by skilled hands. If you like pentatonic vocal runs, then you're in the right place. 3.5/5
7/10
Amazing voice but it’s just not my kinda music
I feel like it's not a problem if we forget this exists.
Ja, dit is toch wat te ver buiten mijn comfort zone, maar dat is de bedoeling van dit ding zeker? Best oké, voor dit genre dan. Chance dat de zon schijnt, want het is wel nog een vibe. 2.9
Fun music.
She’s got a great voice and there’s some great tunes, but too much belting overall
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
Fun pop working as a revue of fun pop through the ages, her voice is in great form.
Die Einflüsse werden schnell klar. Hier wird sich bedient aus der Schublade des Soul, RnB und teilweise des Jazzes. Aber das schadet dem Album garnicht. Es hat vermischt das ganz mit dem Touch der 00er Jahre. Viel Uplifting Groovy Songs dabei, die spaß machen. Aber nach einiger Zeit wirkt es dann doch sehr lang. Vielen Tracks wirken leider wie Filler bzw bringen dann doch wenig neues rein. Nicht jeder Track muss das Rad neu erfinden, aber muss dann das Album 22 Songs haben mit einer Spielzeit von 80min?
Seemed so random she would pick the boogie woogie era as her inspiration. Some songs are ok, some do not need to be listened to before you die.
Solid pipes but not my vibe
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.
Is anyone still listening to Christina Aguilera?
This has a lot going on. Unfortunately, most of what is going on is terrible.
Way too bloated for a mid 2000s Pop album
It's good, but often times feels a bit musically hollow. Her singing is beautiful, and I love the vibe it's striving for, but less would have been more.
I didn’t listen to the whole thing just some chosen highlights because it’s so long but Christina deserves a 3/5
Decent enough pop. Hurt, candyman and ain’t no other man are highlights
2.7 - So long. Just a lot of vocal showing off. It's good, but is it good?
Candyman is a real guilty pleasure bop. This is a just fine pop album. Christina has a great voice, you can really appreciate it across a full album. 3/5
She's sweet as always, but the selection is not that great
1 half is eh. 2nd half is really good.
Better than expected
It is pop with a vintage vibe but this is where Christina starts to forge her own style I think.
er was eens een hond die elke dag in mijn tuin kwam kakken... maanden aan een stuk... ik liet dit eens door de luidsprekers schallen en hij is nooit teruggekomen...ik heb horen zeggen dat hij in een zak is gekropen en de beek ingesprongen
Look I was never going to be super into this. I've never been an Aguilera fan really. I can appreciate some hits but generally it's just not my thing. This went on a bit. Bit long.
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.
There are people in the world who think Christina might be Lens daughter. He’s not sure but the hair and the lips are a definite giveaway if you ask me. 2.1
An undoubtedly quality pop album that unfortunately doesn’t do much for me. Genuinely impressed by how daring some of these instrumentals are and how conceptual the album can get. Wish it wasn’t 80 minutes long.
The kind of pop music really isn't my jam, I thought it was going to be my first one star but horn and windwood arrangements dragged it to a ⭐⭐, generally though the warbling vocals (although a tremendous set of lungs) are a bit grating, some good feminist lyrical content but mostly more puerile pop culture themes persist. Would not listen to willingly again.
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.
Ehhhh…. I mean, is it all that? It falls into the trap of “this quadruple album contains some of the best music by this particular artist sandwiched in between some garbage”. I’m not likely to listen again.
It my thing
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.
That "thank you" song is peak comedy, saved it another star. Otherwise, really not my jam
Ooof. This was tough to work through. I know it’s all about her voice, but that’s sort of the problem. I just didn’t dig her style, plus the song writing often sounded like everyone was trying too hard. A few good moments plus premier got it a slight upgrade.
There weren't really any bad songs and her voice is undeniable. Maybe I would have rated it higher, but it was way too long. It dragged.
This album was on the "long" side (over an hour). As the first half played I wasn't wowed. Sure, Aguilera has a great voice, but all of the songs blended together and sounded like the same mediocre pop from my teen years (the early 2000s was an uninspired time for pop, IMO). The second half of the album, however, was surprisingly fun. I loved the vintage tones and vaudeville vibes. It was almost as if the first half of the album was made to appease the masses and the second half was Aguilera asserting her artistic voice. Overall I don't think I'll reach for this album much because of the bland first half, but it gets a solid "three" rating because of the second half.
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.
🎧Christina sure has pipes. Although this album goes off the rails a bit in the second half, and it’s overlong, overall it was a decent listen. Worst track: Enter the Circus
good
First listen. A bit repetitive, but not strictly bad.
First half is much better on the whole, but still one for the girls. Way too long as well.
Bloated and unfocused. Christina Aguilera is not really an album artist imo so I’m surprised she’s on this list at least twice.
Ok but what was with that track with all of the fake reviews praising her for being perfect
2.5
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?
1.91
Her voice is amazing, not my preferred musical style, but she is good.
She’s got pipes, but I don’t think the rest of the music and production makes this nothing special. It’s also way too long, shouldn’t have been a double album, I just found myself bored
First? 3/5 Again? 2/5
I thought this site's least favorite genre was electronic music. Nope. Early 21st century pop. Always gets slammed. This wasn't all that bad. Ballads were a bit dull but the music was fun.
‘Still got that freak in me’ - Christina Aguilera, 2006 She’s good at singing and none of these songs are bad, but they don’t really stick out from each other. That would make this a 3, but it is also inexplicably nearly 1 and a half hours long.
Nope
Instantly the production stands out, it definitely reminds me of hip-hop and her voice is pretty. Makes me wanna pray had a great beat and her voice definitely is great on this track. Back in the day has somewhat of a corny and unimportant subject matter; however good production and voice. Ain’t no mother has a great chorus and production. Oh mother is good too and On Our Way is good too. A main flaw of this album is that it has no strong theme connecting every track and that every track blends together with a few highlights. She has good production, chorus writing abilities, and voice; she needs to have actual substance and theme now. 2nd disk has a stronger theme and has more unique songs, but weaker production and vocal performance; she has the opposite of her problem now. Hurt is really good. Save Me from Myself is not good. Overall, a decent album; she clearly has talent and hit making abilities, it’s just that there is too many similar tracks with not enough of a strong central theme. Initial listen: 6/10 or 3/5.
Not my cup of tea. I also don't love when an album is too much directly about its influences. But maybe it's over my head. Obviously she is an amazing singer and if you enjoy nonstop vocal runs, go for it!
I mean. It’s ok
Wow, too bad about the second disc of this album. First disc is probably 4 stars, but it gets so bad after that
Very early on in this process I unfairly dismissed out of hand an album on this list by Britney Spears. As time has gone on and perhaps because of this list broadening my horizons I am prepared to give anything (apart from gangster rap) a chance. For example I have opened my ears to Taylor Swift and now really rate her. I have a long standing love of female artists who naturally appeal to my musical tastes. So I did try with Christina and can see why she does appeal to so many. Unfortunately this album could not cut through to me at all. She has a strong voice but the style of music she produces here is totally disposable. 1/5 22/1/25
Generic pop crap... Eww
Not my thing - songs all start to sound the same after awhile.
Solid output from the original 2000s girls but double is too much.
Far too long for an album that isn't all that interesting. This could have been a perfectly inoffensive pop album, but unfortunately its length drags it down a lot.
Too sickly and just no bite to it at all
Long, samey and rather shouty.
Really did not like the start of the album, Christinas vocals where great, but kinda too much. She really proves why someone like Aretha is great, you need to be an amazing singer, and be ably to hold back so the listener doesn't get overwhelmed (take notes Ado). The album grew on me a bit, and some of the songs like hurt showed some great songwriting skills, but this album is waaaaay to long, and most of the tracks are just forgettable.
Not sure why this needed to be two, completely different albums in one but both were pretty good.
The vocal instrument is quite powerful but used as a blunt instrument and not to anything like subtle effect; one feels bludgeoned rather than sung, too, really. Hello Traffic sample? Sorta interesting, but not really.
liked this much more than expected, even played it again. good mix of music and particularly likes the cabaretesque songs.
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.
OK, so Christina has an excellent voice, but this album went all the way up its own asshole and cant find the exit. It sounds like the same track all the way through - Its not a bad track, but it gets really old about 20 minutes in. Plus 2 stars for her voice and the production, both of which are very good. 3/5
Actually enjoyed this more than I expected, and was able to finish it, which puts it above Stripped in my ranking. Her voice is amazing, but the very frequent vocal runs do my head in. It's way too long and the Thank You song is very cringe worthy, but there are some quite good songs here and there. I also enjoyed some of the production. Overall, not something I would listen to again though
Sorry if I'm being pretentious but there is no need for an album in this style of pop to be so long. Good voice though
упаси меня господь от этого вокала + подумала вчера как хорошо что уикед не двадцать лет назад сняли, иначе Кристина была бы Глиндой и все умерли
It's a perfect dance/pop album with great vocals. The production is top notch but all maybe just to shiney and perfect, so quite quickly it becomes a bit sterile and samey. So maybe it's not so perfect after all.
Ow that really hurt
I tried to park my initial dismay but disc 1 confirmed my complete ambivalence for this sort of contemporary generic wailing. Disc 2 at least offered something a little more interesting at times, though still not enough to redeem it for me.
It's good that people are revisiting the sounds of the old days and trying to put some soul back on the table, but this just came across as vapid, manufactured and self-obsessed. She has a great singing voice and has sold a lot of albums, so I'm sure she's achieved what she wanted. I just don't know why it would be on this list.
Just another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex ...and the winner of the best name spoken in a Scouse accent goes to... 🤪 Aguilera has a great voice and range, I'm sure her fans love her, but this album wasn't for me, it's far too long and far too much warbly oversinging.
I'm not really a fan of those naughties pop stars albums. They are definitely a relict of their times and for some reason we liked it then. Nowadays, listening to full albums of Aguilera, Spears, Carey or Lopez (or any boysband, for that reason) is like a highest order of punishment. My mental was strong enough to make it halfway through the album, afterwards the changes in the psyche will be irreversible. Christina has couple of nice songs, but her album doesn't belong on this list, unfortunately.
Soul and R&B
Nimensä mukaisesti aika basic albumi, siis siinä mielessä kuinka soulia on tuotu hyvin helposti sulatettavaan poppiin. Aguileran ääni on upea. Tätä kuuntelee mielellään, muttei ehkä jaksa kerta toisensa jälkeen, sillä kerrokset erottaa jo ekalla kuuntelukerralla.
Tuplalevy eli yksi levy ja täytettä. Myönnän, että alussa on kuultavissa jonkinlaista poljentoa, mutta sanoitusten banaalius hätkähdyttää: en minä edes tarvitsisi hyviä! 1,5
Back to Basics was certainly an interesting album. Unlike other double albums which despite being double albums, do tend to rely on the same sound. This one drastically changed it's sound towards the 14th song with it changing from a more hip-hop/R&B style album to a more orchestral album towards the end. It does go without question that i do prefer the first half and that's mainly because DJ Premier produced a lot of that section and he is a beast of a producer who did an immensely good job there. This album is a decent one and i can appreciate it for changing up it's sound but the change does feel very jarring. Best Song: On Our Way Worst Song: Nasty Naughty Boy
Great voice but got samey quite quickly
Dirt box.
I mean, it's fine for what it is. But not for me.
Too poppy for me
Even though she has a great voice, the album is too repetitive and too long. Most songs are mediocre or bad, however it has some good tracks as well. If she would had cut the album and only included the top 10 songs, it could actually be good and enjoyable.
Not my style at all and I hated this music at the time it came out. I will say that Aguilera is so talented and has a beautiful voice and her talent has stood the test of time, in my opinion. With that being said, 1h18min runtime is ridiculous, we don't need 22 of these songs. Someone tell her and Martin Scorsese that length does not matter, sometimes shorter is better.
Not a bad pop album
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.
Christina has an excellent voice and her singing is quite soulful. There is a lot here to enjoy. When she turns on the R&B it's on point. It was an enjoyable listen.
I really liked the background music and the production but the Lyrics and the Voice just didn't work for me.
too much xtina. I had to turn it off midway disk 2.
i did not enjoy most of this but there's a few songs that brought the rating up to 2 instead of a 1. "welcome" was a nice one i hadn't heard before. "hurt" i knew already and i enjoy that song. in general, disc 2 is miles better than disc 1. i couldn't get through disc 1 but disc 2 is nice except for that one song that i skipped xD
Hon får en tvåa och av den anledningen att jag skulle kunna tänka mig att ligga med henne.
Ain't No Other Man aside, I drastically preferred Disc 2, it feels much more "back to basics" than the first disc. Disc 1: 2 Disc 5: 4
What’s with the marathon length of this? I struggled to get through more than 30 seconds of each song on this album...
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
of the female pop vocalists who came to prominence in the early to mid 90’s, i.e. mariah carey, britney spears, christina aguilera… in my mind, christina aguilera was probably the most under appreciated. her voice is soulful without over singing, like carey. and she didn’t do the breathy thing that spears does when she sings. this album is full of throw back retro music spanning jazz to show tunes as aguilera pays homage to her musical influences. its very well produced and her talents shine. this album is very listenable and blends vintage sounds with modern music… and some of the songs are even a little racy (“put your icing on my cake”… oh my). highlights: “back in the day” “oh mother” “nasty naughty boy” “hurt”
I liked her other album on here but this was pretty awful. She was trying to copy Beyoncé and it just wasn’t working for me.
Not for me. The music is cool but she sings too many notes or something.
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
not as bad as i feared. i think i would quite enjoy the music without her voice :D
She's got pipes, but the sound isn't for me.
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
Way too long. Could have dropped some filler tracks and had a 3 or 4 star album.
Malardo
Had low expectations - but even these were breached. I find her vocal flexings so fucking annoying and they dominate and make every track sound the same. Sonically the production sounds shallow and fake and forgettable. I'm usually partial to a cheesy pop banger - but this was very poor.
Your joking. Ok its not that bad but her voice is annoying Ok now its getting repetitive… only a few good-ish songs… Would prolly give this a 2 if it wasn't so long
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.
I don't remember where I've read this thought but it applies perfectly here. Artists with exceptional vocal skills very rarely produce interesting music, they are more focused on displaying the skills She hits notes like she's playing Osu!, got an impressive range and all that, but you can't expect me to keep a soy face for 80 minutes
Just noise and not the good kind
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
better 2000s hip hop pop stuff w some surprise
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
Some of this is quite annoying - the fucking circus one ffs - but overall good
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.
Really hated this album, while I found an earlier album of hers not too bad this was dire
This felt like two different albums to me, only slightly related. The first album started off okay, but it rapidly became obvious that it wasn't going to go anywhere interesting, and by the end it felt like a one star effort. I particularly detested the last few songs, which seem desperate in the extreme, and made me feel a little bit queasy. The second album was more diverse, maybe a weak three star album. Putting them together, I'm going with two stars for something I'll thankfully never have to listen to again, but wasn't quite annoying enough to justify a single star.
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.
Gosh, she works hard on her vocals and is great at what she does. Unfortunately, the accomplished vocals don't always mean that emotions are communicated better than they would be by just, er, singing. And a large team of writers, it seems, didn't stop this being an album of largely forgettable songs.
idk
Much better than expected but also very long which only fans wouldn‘t mind
There are two Christina Aguilera albums in this book. I probably would not have included this one, though I know there is a need to update the book with "new" albums. It's not bad. There is a significant amount of yelling and singing but not too many of the songs grabbed me. Like most double albums this was probably a better single album. Makes Me Wanna Ain't No Other Man Slow Down Baby Oh Mother On Our Way Still Dirrrrty Candyman Nasty Naughty Boy Hurt Mercy on Me Save Me from Myself This would be a strong album and could even still be on the list, though I am still not sure it SHOULD be on the list. Credit to Xtina for trying to have a different sound and she succeeded on that front. This isn't for me though.
Rock, Pop, Soul, RnB, 2006 -> 3
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.
My guess: the second record is the one someone wanted to make, but everyone thought it was too risky by itself. For me, it was the better, more interesting half.
Disc 2 was much more enjoyable than the first. I had no idea she was such a good singer. Still, a lot of the music's just not for me. 3.5*
absolutely not my style at all, ended up giving me a headache halfway through lol very much a loudness wars thing going on here with the production on some of these songs can't deny her talent, the high points are spectacular best song: hurt worst song: still dirrty
Pop with bombastic horns is a fair bit better, when it doesn't become circus jazz. I was worried I'd have to give this two stars. Saved by: - it's too long for its few ideas - "Y'all remember back in the day, you dig Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald" with this album cover. really. - thanks Christina I'd be nothing without my parasocial relationship to a pop star - Enter the Circus - "blue-eyed soul" not even DJ Premier can save it. ton of talent run through a blender to make mush. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Not as psychically excruciating to as the Spears, or as sonically excruciating as the Carey. But some other thing, that I can’t quite put my finger on. I liked it distinctly more than those, but not enough to give it two stars. Rough time for too 40 chanteuses.
Pop, R&B. Ni fu ni fa.
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
AWESOME
A great voice and a few decent tunes but this is not an album that deserves any more attention.
Enjoyed. 3/5
Didn't get to this yesterday but listening now. I'm not loving it might not get through the whole album. It's to bubblegum. Poppy. Okay Oh Mother is the first one that's had me impressed. It's pretty! Night actually listen to that one again!
Effing horrible. Basic moaning.
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.
Pop music isn’t my thing and never will be especially this era of 2000s music. Now there were still some decent cuts. “Understand” “Thank You (Deduction to Fans…) “Save Me From Myself” It was never boring or making me roll my eyes but it’s just not made for me. Really enjoyed the overall theme it had with having an old school sound. 3/5 (2.5 by my standards because beside a few tracks I wouldn’t listen again)
Soulful but very shout-y. It's clear why she was a big star but why this era of pop (even including neo-R&B, a mostly likable genre) was so disappointing and obvious and excessive in so many ways. Less musically-driven than commercially-oriented.
she has an incredible voice, that i can’t deny. but outside of that, i really didn’t care for this. production hasn’t aged well and the album goes on for far too long.
Why not what a time
high energy pop anthems which incorporate elements of 90s pop with hip-hop, latin, and RnB
I expected nothing from this album, but am 5 songs in and absolutely jamming. Girl's got pipes and the (very) 90s production is actually quite solid here. Yes it is hyper-polished, but the instrumentals and vocal layering are well done and interesting. On production/mixing, there is some clipping in her voice + distortion at the upper end of her range, which can be a bit jarring (especially noticeable on Slow Down Baby). Sounds like this is a song that Eminem ripped off for the cadence in the "chorus" elements of Marshall Mathers. Interesting return to basics on Candyman and Nasty Naughty Boy back to back. The former that interpolates jazzy-swing and the latter that goes full big-band crooner. Both equally horny. Full star reduction for Candyman alone. >>> 3 hours later <<< Well that was a lot of time sunk into a 90s R&B space. Honestly I think if they left it aat the first disc and threw Hurt higher up in the mix, this would be an easy 4. But the playtime was faaaaaaaaaar too long and I found myself literally tired by the end (even with breaking this up). Buoyed by the strength of the first half, I will give this the lightest of possible 3s.
Long ass album. Her voice is impressive so I'm giving this 3.5 stars. I see the appear but not my jam.
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.
Man that was a long boi of an album. Christina is definitely my favorite of the 90s pop singers I would say and she proved it again here. I just didn't really need to listen to her for almost an hour and a half
Going to try to listen to this one with no prejudices, but I can't imagine I would need to listen to 2 Aguilera albums before I die. Plus was really hoping this was some deluxe edition but no, just another long ass Aguilera album. Just like the other one her voice is great, but this is never something I'm going to seek out and just some over-produced pop. I have liked both of her albums more than Britney's album but nothing is redeeming to me about this except her voice.
Her Music is just incredible snd her voice out of this world
Fun and sexy.
How have I been sleeping on her???
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.
Why?
Ridiculously long and completely dull, combined with misplaced arrogance trying to draw parallels with classic jazz artists for some reason. The song where she'd cut her fans praising her into it was notably terrible, though I liked how some snippet of a fan was followed by a line about people don't tell the truth about her. Unintentionally correct. The whole album was insufferable.
Meant to be a fusion of jazz and soul, ended up lengthy, repetitive, boring, and misjudged. Ain't No Other Man is fun, but 1 out of 22 songs being decent is not enough.
From a 2 hour live Motorhead album into an hour and a half of Christina Aguilera! She has a good voice and likes doing her distinctive woahs so that's something. First disk was quite different and more tolerable, kinda believed her. The final track with the fans on was awful though. Then the second disk was outright shite. "Taste of the sugar below my waist" made me cringe. Too diiiirrrty for me apparently. Sorry Xtina, you had your day in the sun though
1e helft was stiekem erg goed, 2e helft teveel gekunsteld retrogeluid,