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I don't have other Aguilera albums... mainly because I always felt I would generally only like a song or two on each... but I am gonna probably start investigating backwards. I know some of her more recent prior albums were way more mellow so I avoided them. I need more than mostly mellow start to finish for me to enjoy an album. I like her mellow tracks on this album, but I love the upbeat ones so much more. Some are even really basic in structure and I still love them. Vanity, is my third favorite on the album and it literally is the same simple synth noise on loop with some changes in the beats and drums but the majority of the variety in the song comes from Aguilera changing up the vocals in the parts over the same synth part. It actually is clever... and the lyrics, to me are pretty damn hilarious... as it is obviously tongue in cheek about loving one's self. The song (and most of the album) is melodic and catchy... two things that almost always make me take notice positively. I am sure Vanity will be a track hated by many, but I love it. My favorite track is the first bonus track, Monday Morning, which has a funky older school Michael Jackson groove/funk vibe to it paired with a more modern synth part... then there is Bobblehead which is at first kind of annoying with a "wah wah wah wah wah" vocal line and simplistic drum line in it but it ends up growing on you (and infecting your mind and making you hum the thing around your house) with repetition... my six year old son LOVES it... makes me play it every time we get in the car. Again, it showcases some good humor. I can appreciate cleverly done humor in a song... I always liked Aguilera (especially when contrasted with Britney) but this album really makes me like her even more. The other thing I really love is she varies and layers her vocal style so much on the album that at times I don't even think it sounds like her (which I think is a badge of honor for her). Her songs Bionic and Woo hoo have her trademark vocals all over them (as do others)... but my second favorite song, Birds of Prey, sounds more like Shirley Manson and Garbage than Christina. There is some really good variety on this album. Aguilera is also quite dirty in the lyrics at times (Woo Hoo) in a way that is just riding the edge of being tolerable without going too far in just being 100% straight up trashy. It is interesting and again, more than anything, it is comical in a laugh along manner (unlike Britney who does it in a laugh AT manner). Anyway, at first there were a few songs I didnt really care for... but listening more and more, I find that I pretty much like every song now and most importantly, it has commandeered my CD player since it arrived... I just keep playing it over all the other CDs I have gotten recently. There is a lot to digest when the deluxe version gives you 23 tracks (even though 3 are intros). You have to like electronic/synth pop or most of this album would not be for you.
Another thing that I am sure others have pointed out (I havent read any other reviews yet) are that you can hear influences of Gaga and Rhianna and Kesha on this album... you can tell Aguilera decided to up the tempo and the loose fun factor and the catchiness like those newer artists have done in the past year.
Finally, this is the type of album that keeps me buying deluxe versions... because my top two favorite songs on the album are in the bonus tracks. Same thing happened with Clarkson's last album... my favorite is one of the bonus tracks. Alanis' last was the same... I loved her bonus tracks. It really makes you wonder how many great songs get discarded for stupid reasons. I really do not want artists thinking "oh, this is too different or doesnt fit" sometimes the differences are what makes it great not only within the album, but compared to other things out there. Be bold... take chances. As long as what you do retains the essence of who you are in it and is good quality... generally anything goes. This one is definitely one where the deluxe version is worth it... Christina took chances and, for me, it really paid off.
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Reviews with images
Definitely Ahead of its time!
This is such a fun and creative album. I admire christina for taking such a bold risk transitioning from her previous album/sound.
Top reviews from other countries
Alejandro Murriano
Christina goes Gaga!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2014