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  • Release Date:
Back To Basics Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 651 Ratings

  • 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.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. It may be all about style, it may be a little crass and self-centered, but it's also catchy, exciting, and unique.
  2. She's found herself artistically.
  3. Ultimately, Aguilera's the only one of her peers with the vocal prowess to pull it off.
  4. Rolling Stone
    60
    At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful. [24 Aug 2006, p.96]
  5. Paste Magazine
    60
    The album carries a slight-but-distinct theatrical odor. [Apr 2007, p.56]
  6. This rather bloated record should be regarded as a disappointment - an interesting one, but a disappointment none the less.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 16 out of 212
  1. JeffJ
    Aug 15, 2006
    10
    This album is amazing. Christina has really shined on this diverse and fresh new music. I love the old time jazz influences integrated with This album is amazing. Christina has really shined on this diverse and fresh new music. I love the old time jazz influences integrated with modern pop music. Expand
  2. Nov 21, 2011
    10
    II Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove this album Expand
  3. TerraC
    Aug 18, 2006
    10
    Glad she's back. Loves it!
  4. May 14, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Warning: This review may contain spoilers

    In my opinion, this is Christina Aguilera at her best. The production value is really good, she tries very hard to be authentic with the theme, more on that in a minute, which I like and her vocals peaked with this album. Concerning the theme, almost no other singer, at the time of the albums release, could do the 20's, 30's and 40's better than her. It may be a mostly pop album, even though the genre is pop/r&b, you can still hear jazz and soul, which were popular in the aforementioned decades. For example, "Candyman" is a jazzy 40s-style swing tune and "Ain't No Other Man" has elements of 60s funk. In my opinion, the only flaw is not combining "Welcome" and "Enter The Circus" as they are incomplete individually but combined creates a masterpiece that describes show biz in the perfect way that matched the theme of the album. I don't know why the critics hated on this album too much but it's hard-pressed to find a better album than this, which you almost can't.
    Expand
  5. Jan 6, 2015
    10
    deusaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadeusaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Expand
  6. May 8, 2011
    9
    Her best album yet, Back to Bascis souds pretty good, ver voice is amazing, she is an excelent performer, give us another album with the sameHer best album yet, Back to Bascis souds pretty good, ver voice is amazing, she is an excelent performer, give us another album with the same or better quality that Back to Basics Xtina. :D Expand
  7. MandyD
    Aug 14, 2006
    0
    Isn't even worthy of being released. She's so fake.

See all 212 User Reviews