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Back To Basics
EMAILPRINTby Christina Aguilera
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 227 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: RCA
Release Date: 15 August 2006
Discs: 2 discs
Genre(s): Pop
Summary
The 'Basics' in the title of this double-disc set are the jazzy blues and soul sounds of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, which Aguilera tackles with the help of Linda Perry and DJ Premier.
Also By This Artist: Mi Reflejo Stripped
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
All Music Guide
It may be all about style, it may be a little crass and self-centered, but it's also catchy, exciting, and unique.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Aguilera doesn't have the gravitas of her heroes, and her forays into bluesy torch singing and '40s-style swing are stiff and mannered. But she needn't genuflect before the past -- she can make her own glorious kind of 21st-century noise.
Read Full Review >NOW Magazine
Ultimately, Aguilera's the only one of her peers with the vocal prowess to pull it off.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Psychedelically strange and outrageously entertaining. [Oct 2006, p.99]
Stylus Magazine
A truly soulful pop album, at least for one disc, Back to Basics is one of 2006’s best when Linda Perry’s fingerprints aren’t present.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Good taste in collaborators and a voice that has the capability to head heaven-bound all combine to make this an inconsistent, but ultimately rewarding listen.
Read Full Review >Observer Music Monthly
The first disc contains all the major American radio hits, but at no small price. It's all craft and very little heart. Disc two, then, comes as welcome respite.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful. [24 Aug 2006, p.96]
Paste Magazine
The album carries a slight-but-distinct theatrical odor. [Apr 2007, p.56]
Q Magazine
Sadly, CD2 is a disastrously misjudged, cartoon homage to juke-joint jazz. It is awful. [Oct 2006, p.122]
musicOMH.com
This rather bloated record should be regarded as a disappointment - an interesting one, but a disappointment none the less.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Beyond the retro instrumentation, however, it's unclear what Aguilera has really learned from her idols.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 227 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Devon S gave it a10:
Excellent album. She sounds like a woman in control of her career and you can't get any better than "Mercy on Me," "Hurt," "On Our Way," and "Ain't No Other Man." She is amazing and has the best voice of this generation.
Bryan W gave it a9:
Her voice gives me goosebumps. Incredible vocal expertise, amazing ability to express emotions, really well-written tracks... Aren't they enough to make up a worthy album?
Berry gave it a6:
She should have had only one disc. There's a lot of good songs: Ain't no other Man, Makes me wanna pray, Hurt, Candy man, Mercy on me, Still Dirrty, Welcome,The right man, gosh I forgot the other ones! But there are a lot of pretty bad ones like F.U.S.S (too bland), Thank you (?) ( really xtina?! It's basically a bunch of her fans saying how great she is blah blah blah...It should have been HER thanking them! And the background music was Genie in a Bottle.) slow down baby (Another bland pop hip hop song) and Trouble (just boring and pointless). Her second cd was more solid though. I love Xtina and I'm really looking forward to her next album but this just wasn't very good. It pains me to say this but she always seems behind the trends musically. I'm not suggesting she needs to follow the current trends either but i'd like her to do HER OWN THING and be unique and maybe not sound like other people or drop the hip-hop driven beats and also maybe pay more attention to the originality of the songs written and the music? Don't know if I make sense but if she ever wants to be a more well-rounded artist then she should do these things. Also this album struck me as pretty pretentious in regards to the length, and some of the songs, such as both intros (even though I loved them) . I hope her next one is better!
ROMINA V gave it a10:
SHE IS THE BEST SINGER TO HAVE EVER COME OUT .. shes an individual and the most amazing person i think , back to basics is another wonderful album that has its own style .her songs actually have meaning and the lyrics make sense compared to other artist .. shes out there for her music not for the fame side
kane p gave it a10:
i love candyman but i dont like nasty naughty boy and fuss i love hurt and aint another man and understand and welcome and still dirty im the biggest fan in the world love ya christina
Esteban V. gave it a10:
Even though there are some tracks that don't sound good like FUSS. This album in general is great even though too much time is used to worship one man. The album is great but it gets old. The highlights of the album are Ain't No Other Man, Hurt, Candyman, and Mercy On Me.
Jordan F. gave it a10:
fascinating!
