Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics

When the buzz that Christina Aguilera will be releasing an album with a tribute to jazz era, a lot of speculations on how she will blend this whole piece together. Is she going to make this album jazzy/swing style or she going to mixed it up with hip-hop/pop and make it into a new sound? The answer lies in double disc of 'Back to Basics' album, Christina third album to date. For this album, Christina portray a grown-up look and stash away her crotchless leather and mulitcolor hair extensions.

(taken from nzherald.co.nz)
DJ Premier produces disc one and infuses it with sophisticated hip-hop cred through horns, crackling vinyl and old soul samples, a combination best summed up on the addiciting sound of Ain't No Other Man. Understand is another astounding example of her gymnastic voice suiting Premier's vintage beats.

The second disc, produced by songwriter to the stars Linda Perry using only analogue equipment, revisits burlesque, faux 1940s jazz and Hollywood kitsch. It succeeds when Aguilera invests her emotions without sounding overwrought - Mercy On Me , for example, is a great soul song.

Personally, to me this album is something different from the 2 previous album. In this third album, Christina singing maturely as she make her way to through track by track. As you keep playing the album, you found that you drawn by her voice and amazes how it blend with the music and the sound itself, but that is Christina. Her passion for music is something that no one can question.

Although this album is her tribute to 'jazz-makers' to 'ground breakers' such as John Coltrane to Nina Warren, Christina's favourite theme resurface again in this album; about her personal album, to which it will be something her fans can relate to her and their life. Song such 'Without You', 'Hurt', 'Mercy on Me', 'Save Me From Myself', and the song that penned specially for her newly wed hubby, 'The Right Man' will hit the sappy fans like me.

Still, it's fun to hear she coming back as truly singer with new sound and new look.

Here some of her photos taken for the album:

Worth Listening to:
Disc 1
1. Back In The Day
2. Ain't No Other Man
3. Slow Down Baby
4. Without You
5. Still Dirrty
6. Here To Stay
Disc 2
1. Candyman
2. Nasty Naughty Boy
3. I Got Trouble
4. Hurt
5. Mercy On Me
6. Save Me From Myself
7. The Right Man

Feel Good Ratings: 4.5 out of 5