The Official "BACK TO BASICS" reaction thread . . .

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:40am

Well, today Christina Aguilera's much anicipated follw up to her "Stripped" album is released, and I am curious as to what everyone thought of it.

Updated On: 8/15/06 at 07:40 AM

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:48am

She kinda looks like a mannequin there.
Too perfect to be real.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:53am

I think that is the best picture I have ever seen of her. VERY CLASSY! Something came up and I won't be able to buy her album until tonight (which I am not happy about), so I will give my reaction then.

Updated On: 8/15/06 at 07:53 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:56am

I'm not really familiar with Christina's music. I've heard a few songs on the radio, so that's the extend of my knowledge. She's a great singer, but I just don't care for her style.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 12:03pm

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:23pm

I just got back from getting the cd and I am starting to listen to it now! HUZZAH!

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:26pm

Any good?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 7:37pm

I just got done listening to the first disk and it was good mesh of both old school instrumentals (vocals) and modern beats.

I am now listening to the second cd, which is supposed to me more authentic to the music of the 20's, 30's, and 40's. I will write a full review then.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 8:59pm

Ok, I finished and I am stunned . . . completely stunned. Here is the rundown of what I think.


DISK 1

"Intro (Back to Basics)"--Good little ditty to start the album.

"Makes Me Wanna Pray"--I just want to say "HALLELUJIAH!" This is a great song, where you can picture a black church with a choir in the loft and Christina making people jump to their feet and get thier praise on.

"Back in The Day"--This is Christina listing all those singers that came before her that inspired her and giving those greats a musical shout out. Great, great song!

"Ain't No Other Man"--The song we all know and I still love it.

"Understand"-- A good song that is very soulful and a perfect sample in the background.

"Slow Down Baby"--Ok, this is headed for singledom. It is like the younger sibling to "Ain't No Other Man"

"Oh Mother"--This is a song that is about Christina's mom. If you remember "I'm Ok" from "Stripped" . . . this is like the sequel to that, but I like this even more.

"F.U.S.S."--This is a song about a producer and friend that turned his back on Christina. It is a short song and pretty much a filler.

"On Our Way"--This would have been perfect on a Lauren Hill cd. A pretty good song.

"Without You"--A sweet song about her husband, but not one of my favorites on the album.

"Still Dirrty"--Another song destined for Singledom. I love it! It's def. one of my favorites.

"Here To Stay"--It has a disco feel to it where Christina declares that no matter what they say about her or try to bring her down, she will always rise above it.

"Thank You (Dedication to the Fans)"--Very nice way to end the first cd. It has a sample of "Genie in A Bottle" where Christina thanks her fans for sticking with her. It includes a few recordings of actual fans saying nice things about Christina.


DISK 2

Before I go through each song, I just wanna say that this disk alone better win Christina the grammy for best album, because NO ONE can top this.

"Enter The Circus"--A neat intro into the second disk with a carnival theme. Christina doesn't sing on this track, but I really like it.

"Welcome"--It still has kind of the carnival theme to it, and very reminiscent of "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band." Great song!

"Candyman"--This is WITHOUT A DOUBT my favorite song Christina has ever done. You can swear THE ANDREW SISTERS actually time traveled to the 21st century and laid this track down. It is genius and it's going to be here second single and it's going to make every other song on the billboard chart look like crap!

"Nasty Naughty Boy"--A very Burlesque, cabaret song of the 20's. It is very well done and it is one of my favorites. Love it!

"I Got Trouble"--Ok. This is the most "authentic" song of the era that Christina has been trying to go "Back to Basics" to. If you love Billy Holliday songs, then you will love this one. This is also another favorite of mine. Great, great song.

"Hurt"--For those that say they hate Christina riffing and shout-singing . . . you have to listen to this song. It is very intiment and wonderful. This is a side of Christina's voice that people really haven't heard before.

"Mercy on Me"--This is a song where she asks Jesus and God for forgiveness for all of the faults that she has ever done. It is very personal.

"Save Me From Myself"--This is even more of a intiment song for Christina, where it is just a piano and an acoustic guitar. There is no over dubbing or anything. Everything has been stripped except for her vocals (which is very subdued and heartbreaking) and those instruments.

"The Right Man"--The last song on the album is one of it's best. It is done over strings ALA "Eleanor Rigby" and it is about her wedding day and it is such a great song. For all those that say that Christina is just a "manufactured Kewpie doll" needs to listen to this song. I promise it will change your view of her.



Well, that's it for "Back to Basics." While I like the first disk, the second one is the best cd I have heard in a very long time from any artist. It is really a masterpiece. Even though I love the songs on the first cd, I wish it was just one disk. All the songs on the second disk and about 4 or 5 from the first. Still, it is a great album and Christina has really proven that she is an artist and will go down in history as one.

Thank you Christina for bringing back real music to the table instead of all the crap on the radio today. As most of you know, I am a gigantic fan of "old school" blues/jazz/soul like Etta, Aretha, Ella, etc. and I could not be happier.

[PJ]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 10:28pm

"Candyman" is my favorite, so far.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 11:20pm

I had completely forgotten about this until I saw the thread and then I rushed out to get it. I'll post my thoughts sometime tomorrow.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 11:55pm

Thumbs up from Jerby!

I, too, especially enjoy the 2nd disk. Not surprising as it's the one with all the Linda Perry songs. Brilliant.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:05am

Jerby--What is your favorite on both disks?

Mine are: Disk 1--"Back in the Day"
DiSK 2--"Candy Man"

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:12am

i still remember the first song i heard from this cd, "a new england," and the effect it had on me. it was included on a mix tape from a soon to be ex-gf. i maintained the relationship long enough to steal her cassette. then i bought it on vinyl and made my own tape to blast in my camaro (although i never gave hers back). now i have it on cd and it's still to my mind one of the great collections of songs of the last 30 years.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:19am

hahaha. Glad you enjoyed it then, papa. I have never heard of that cd before, but you intrigued me.

Updated On: 8/16/06 at 11:19 AM

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:24am

Bought it last night, am listening to it now. I'm on "Still Dirrty" on the first CD, and I'm looking forward to getting to the 2nd disc. Nothing really stuck out on the first disc for me as the "I know I'll hear this on the radio and love it" kind of songs, but none of it hurts my ears.

She's got a voice that I love, I saw her live a few years ago with Justin Timberlake, and she put on a SHOW. Whew.

Looking forward to Disc 2.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:30am

Be prepared for that Disk 2, beacause it is going to blow you away!

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:34am

Yea I'm excited for it. I've been looking forward to seeing how authentically she can apply her ideas of bringing the "Old-School Hollywood Glam" sound and look to her music. She's got the look.

I remember her doing "At Last" at her show a few years back and just remember being so floored by this tiny little girl with this big BIG voice. What a treat.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:39am

Ooooo, the first song on the 2nd Disc scares the hell out of me. I love it!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:51am

Whenever you finsish the second disk, let us know what you think.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:52am

"...now give me a little spanking...come on, is that all you got...don't play with me..."

That's from Nasty, Naughty Boy. I'm enjoying the 2nd Disc much more than the first. This is what I expected when I heard about her album coming out with it's sort of refurbished style. Muted trumpets, lots of jazz. "Candyman" is hot and definitely dirty and pure Christina. "I Got Trouble" is a neat sound, I like it. Very authentic to what she's going for. Four songs left to review.

The first disc has just sort of left me underwhelmed. I feel like the first disc sounds a lot like other stuff she's done before, but maybe it didn't make the cut. Lackluster "Old" Christina sort of stuff, you know?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:58am

Well, she said that she wanted to ease her fans into the more authentic second disk, because majority of the kids and young adults today have never listened to "The Andrew Sisters," Billie Holliday," etc. So, on the first disk she has the horns and even sampled some older songs, with today's beats to appeal to her fan base, and then with the second disk, to show them what kind of music inspired her as a child, etc.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:06pm

Ok cool. If that was the intent, I think it was cleverly done and well-executed.

"Hurt" doesn't fit with that style. I love the song and think it's a very good voice to show off Christina's voice. But neither it nor "Mercy On Me" fit the style of the second disc. Good songs, I'll keep listening to them and they're both going on my iPod, but night and day when held up against "I Got Trouble".

"Save Me From Myself" just started, and I'm enjoying it. It's very tender and you can tell exactly who the song is written about.

But that's the thing with Christina. I love her voice, so really she could sing me the phone book and I'd buy it and love it and pass it on to other people. She seems to be running into continuity issues here though...sort of mish-mashing songs that suit her voice, but not the image of her album that she's trying to sell when you watch her doing these promotional tours.

Now I'm onto "The Right Man", and it's right back into the older style of singing and music producing. I'm going to have to go through the album again and really think.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:12pm

"Now I'm onto "The Right Man", and it's right back into the older style of singing and music producing. I'm going to have to go through the album again and really think."

Really? Thought it was something COMPLETELY different than what Christina has done before. It is such a beautiful song.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:13pm

Oh sorry for the confusion. By "older style" I meant her "old-school Hollywood glam" target sound. Sorry I was unclear. I did mean her "new" sound of "old", lol. Confusing much?