Christina Aguilera's New Album: Great Cover but the songs. . .

[fflagg]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 11:55pm

This new album was originally going to be standards. Now it is hard to tell what the heck it is; the new single is a bore.

She perplexes me. Does she have the potential to be a musical 'artist' or is she merely the least offensive of the gals who sing, wail, and yelp a la "American Idol"?

Look at Whitney before her downfall. Wonderful voice but sang mostly sh*tty material thanks to Clive Davis, the closeted head of Arista, who only cared about making commercial music, not necessarily 'good' music. He ruined the careers of Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, and countless others.

What will happen to CA at RCA in the long run?

I think I prefer Pink.

[Parks]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 11:59pm

That's funny. I just got in from running and the last 2 songs I listened to were Pink's Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely) and Christina's Aint No Other Man.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 1:54am

I love Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely).

Actually, I love all Pink's new songs.

I've only listened to Christina's "Ain't No Other Man".

[donna_darko_23]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 3:15am

I agree. Christina's new song is sort of boring. I am curious as to how this album will sound. I am afraid she may be ruined as well.

Though I really do love the cover of her new album a lot.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:55am

"This new album was originally going to be standards"

No it wasn't. It was always going to be "inspired" by the songs of the 20's, 30's, and 40's. I LOVE "Ain't No Other Man" and I have heard a couple of other songs off her album and so far I have loved them all, especially a song called, "Candyman!"

I think this album is going to be one of the biggest selling albums of the year!

[Serenade]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 8:48am

I am really getting sick of Christina Ugliera's music. Her voice is really scratchy and grating and it's annoying me to death. And she shows off too much with it, too. Sheeeesh.

[fflagg]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:05am

Yes, it was! It was also going to be 1 CD, not 2.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:19am

I like Christina Aguilera and am looking forward to this album and am going refrain from drawing any conclusions about the album as a whole from her single.

In general, I like the single but I get the same feeling from it as most of her other signature material. The thing that is really going to prevent Christina from taking the step towards being a "special" performer is the fact that she seems unwilling to go a bit low key and really emote a song. Even her "closer to tender ballads" have a tendency to display 30 seconds or so of vocal grandstanding and riffing. Riffing has it's place and we get that she has a powerful voice, I just wish she'd get past that and focus more on singing rather than "showing off."

When I heard about this album I was excited because it seemed like maybe she was ready to take that step, but while the first single is a depature from her last album it doesn't show the kind of progress that I was hoping for. Hopefully that was a business decision made in order to keep her primary fan base intrested and there are more "standard-esque" tracks on the CD.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:46am

Well, the first cd is going to be Christina belting and doing her normal runs, but the second cd is closer to how songs were actually sung in the 20's, 30's, and 40's. I already heard one song from the 2nd disk called, "Nasty Naughty Boy" and I don't think she did a vocal run in it . . . or if she does, it is only about one or two. I think people will be really impressed with this. It is already getting RAVE reviews from music critics.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:49am

Here is the review from amazon.com:

"Back to Basics, Christina Aguilera's first disc in four years, refines and clarifies the--let's call it "sexy"--aura surrounding this platinum firebrand. Here, the best belter in a class that counts Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears on its roll call has turned her attention to love songs: the supercharged and ubiquitous first single "Ain't No Other Man," for one, and the hushed stunner "Save Me from Myself" for another. That doesn't mean she's foresworn being nasty, though. Dive deep into this set, past the gorgeous crackle that frames the old-school jazz-, blues-, and soul-inspired tracks on the first disc, and you'll reach a playful and familiar raunch; "Candyman" celebrates a "one-stop shop" who "makes the panties drop" to a boogie-woogie beat, and "Nasty Naughty Boy" sends out a heated, big-beated invitation to "sip on my champagne/Cause I'm gonna give you a little taste/Of the sugar below my waist." Thoughtful listeners should snap out of their fascination with Xtina's undiminished yet newly un-tramp-like sexuality, though, because what they'll really want to focus on throughout these 22 tracks is the honest-to-God artistry. While the rock producer Linda Perry helps disc two pop in interesting and unexpected ways (check the muffled blues number "I Got Trouble" and "Mercy on Me," an obvious nod to Fiona Apple), DJ Premier, a mainstay on Jay-Z and Nas projects, pipes a batch of aural high-fives into the nostalgia-bitten first disc (the deep-down funk of "Back in the Day," the strut-strut early hip-hop sound of "Still Dirrty"). Their nudges aside, though, Back to Basics is all Aguilera's baby--she executive-produced, and she's found herself artistically. Nobody would argue, in fact, if she swiveled around the chorus to "Ain't No Other Man," written for her husband, and aimed it at herself: "You got soul, you got class/You got style, you're bada--."

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:50am

I also found one from the music critic for Barnes and Noble:

"Plenty of pop singers talk the talk when it comes to taking chances -- but Christina Aguilera really walks the walk on this ambitious, exciting double album. The blonde bombshell sets the bar high for herself, intro-ing the disc with a promise to honor "the soul singers, the blues figures, the jazz makers" -- and later, in "Back in the Day," name-checking such giants as Etta James and Marvin Gaye. The thing is, she sails over that bar with surprising ease, revealing an uncanny affinity for '40s-era vocal sass on the va-va-voom nugget "Candyman" and a genuine flair for old-school blues on the Billie Holiday-channeling "I Got Trouble." Much like the folks she's paying homage to, she even tempers the lasciviousness with a shot or two of church-borne testifying -- most notably on the swooping "Makes Me Wanna Pray." Not all of Back to Basics is that old-school, of course. The first disc is largely given over to tunes that let Aguilera push her pipes to the limit over sample-savvy dance floor beats -- a Gladys Knight snippet pops up in the low-slung "Slow Down Baby" -- and gritty funk bass lines (see the appropriately titled "Still Dirrty"). It's impossible, however, to listen to the disc without coming to the conclusion that Aguilera is a changed woman, having come a long way from her days as a spinner of sugary pop confections. She's no longer just playing soul-diva dress-up -- she's actually become the real deal."

[fflagg]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:57am

Most music critics today are idiots. In fact most critics today are idiots. If CA were paying homage to this period of music then why still look so slutty in videos and other promotion.

I think the truest way to prove yourself is in live performing. I want to know if she can 'interpret' lyrics or if she is just a girl with a big voice who is just going to wail, and wail, and wail.

If she does "Christina Sings Eydie Gorme" then I will be convinced. :)

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 11:01am

"Why does she still look so slutty in video and other promotion?"

Well, this WAS the era of Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, pin up girls, etc. There was a lot of sexuality during that time, especially from women. Etta James did a song called, "I just wanna make love to you" which back then was shocking! And you haven't even heard the cd yet, so why are you calling these critics "idiots?"

Updated On: 8/12/06 at 11:01 AM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 11:04am

Here is a mixed-leaning towards positive-review from ROLLING STONE
Rolling stone Review!

[fflagg]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 11:14am

I am talking about music critics in general.

And sorry I do not put CA in the same league or class as the other singers.

She is just another manufactured kewpie doll in the line-up of contemp singers.

Maybe she and Britney will do "Legends" in 40 years. . .:)

Pardon me while I put on "Korn".

[soapguy17]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 11:22am

Christina Ugliera
Wow, that's whitty. (end saracasm)
Anywho, I'm looking foward to this album also. You can't judge until you've heard the album and seen her perform it live. Until then, I can't really take this thread seriously. And Christina's voice and range is FAR better than any of the other manufactured kewpie dolls

[shira467]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 11:31am

Eh, I love the album. And if I like it, I don't give a crap what anyone else thinks.

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 3:41pm

I like the album. I was recently at a dance convention and we learned a dance to "Ain't no other man" so I'm kinda sick of that song.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 2:38pm

Just a friendly reminder . . .

Christina's new cd "Back to Basics" comes out tomorrow.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 2:47pm

"Her voice is really scratchy and grating and it's annoying me to death."

Personally, I've never thought of Christina as someone with a scratchy voice.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 2:52pm

I ****ing love her and her voice. I will be buying this album tomorrow.

[GoodbyeMyLover]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 2:53pm

I love Christina's voice! It is beautiful! She is way better than Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson in my opinion. She's gorgeous too. I can not wait for this cd!

Updated On: 8/14/06 at 02:53 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 2:55pm

I already have my money set aside to go to Walmart tomorrow morning when I get up, and purchase the cd that I have been waiting for, for months. HUZZAH!

Updated On: 8/14/06 at 02:55 PM

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 2:57pm

Worship Pink. Can't stand Christina.

Beautiful album cover, though. Updated On: 8/14/06 at 02:57 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 3:14pm

I LOVE the new Rolling Stone cover with her on it. It is like a 1940's pin up picture. Very well done!