• Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Nov 13, 2012
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 463 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 68 out of 463
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  1. Nov 13, 2012
    5
    In the academe of pop music, Christina Aguilera can be considered as the wayward, too-cool-for-school kind. Aguilera would release an album, disappear for several years and comeback with an album completely different from its predecessor which can consequently either make a bold statement or end up washed in the mix. For the most part, each transition marked a certain timeline in herIn the academe of pop music, Christina Aguilera can be considered as the wayward, too-cool-for-school kind. Aguilera would release an album, disappear for several years and comeback with an album completely different from its predecessor which can consequently either make a bold statement or end up washed in the mix. For the most part, each transition marked a certain timeline in her career. She opposed everything that was cute & formulaic with pop music back in 2002 when she released the iconic Stripped. And fast forward to 2006 when r&b and hip hop were at their prime, she decided to release a throwback album to everything 60s,70s and 80's with a Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Temple look to match. Back To Basics was a critical success and was a moderate hit compared to Stripped. Then as anyone could have predicted, she again took a hiatus before releasing a career celebrating Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits and it was actually more like a questionable move for her, knowing the fact that she only has 3 albums under her belt. And at that time where pop listeners in general are more fickle than ever, many careers alighted and dimmed during her breaks and the vast landscape of pop is not as forgiving as it was before. Hence the Bionic affair happened. Bionic's high profile underperformance earned its right having a pop cult following, so infamous it can proudly join the ranks of Madonna's American Life and Mariah Carey's Glitter. Though the album finds her in her most experimental and adventurous, most part of the album seemed more like Aguilera playing catch up with the new pop queens. Thus, Lotus finds its place as an alarm for a resurgence. In comparison to her previous allbums, Lotus is her shortest and most pop-leaning record since her debut. Lyrically, it's her most impresive since Stripped, and her vocal technique is miles better than her prime in Back to Basics. And though it is not as genre bending and experimental as Bionic, it is definitely more cohesive and arguably wouldn't sound as dated as the former several years from now. For whatever its real purpose is, Lotus is her safest sounding record and it is exactly what she needs at this point of her career.

    Just like any Aguilera record, Lotus started with a dramatic intro hence I should say that this one takes the cake as the best album opener she ever did. She start things off in high speed with the anthemic Army of Me, which sounds like something Katy Perry would die to record if only Perry had the vocal chops to deliver. The first half of Lotus will give you no room to breathe. With the 1-2 punch of Red Hot Kinda Love and the future funk of Make the World Move, to the radio & club friendly bangers Your Body & Let There Be Love, Aguilera is wasting no time to showcase why she's highly regarded as The Voice of this generation, and that no one can beat her in her own pop game that many thought she abandoned earlier in her career. The middlepiece finds the soft spot of the album. Sing for Me finds her singing her heart out with lines that couldv'e been taken directly out of a Whitney song and ironically sounding like the late Whitney Houston for the most part. Blank Page is her bid to capture an Adele moment with this album and let's admit it, no one sings ballad better than Christina, not even Adele herself. Tracks like Cease Fire & Around The World ultimately proves that Aguilera is not just a singer and that she also has a penchant for details and production to complement her vocals and these Alex Da Kid produced tracks are no fillers. Whether it's the warfare of Cease Fire or the almost marching band sound of Around The World, that Aguilera swag is showing no sign of slowing down. The highlight of the album is surprisingly the genre crossing duet with country superstar Blake Shelton "Just A Fool" which is screaming to be released as a single, and has "Major Hit" written all over it. Deluxe tracks like Light Up The Sky and Empty Words are nice addition to the set. With all these being said, Lotus couldn't be more than an affirmation that Christina Aguilera is indeed a pop star after all. Streamlining her image after all the career troubles that she had in the past. It's the record that is supposed to put her safely and surely back in the map and re-introduce her to the new generation of pop listeners. She might not have the drive, the vision or the passion she once had, Lotus ultimately proves that like the flower itself, Aguilera is unbreakable and will rise after every storm and bloom ever as beautiful.
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  2. Nov 14, 2012
    6
    I used to be a some-what fan of Christina. With this album she does the same as what Britney and J.Lo did, take on the electronic music genre and try to fit in. They all succeeded but personally I really miss the old sound of Christina. But on the other hand, it's a good thing she didn't go back to a full ballad album. We've got enough crying woman making music at the moment. AlthoughI used to be a some-what fan of Christina. With this album she does the same as what Britney and J.Lo did, take on the electronic music genre and try to fit in. They all succeeded but personally I really miss the old sound of Christina. But on the other hand, it's a good thing she didn't go back to a full ballad album. We've got enough crying woman making music at the moment. Although Christina will kick off Taylor Swift and Adele from any list when she comes back with one of her old-style tracks, this queen doesn't need to compete with mediocre pop-drama like Taylor and Adele.

    Very nice album to pop in once in a while, especially on a somewhat grey day, but not something to have permanently in your play list.
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  3. Aug 7, 2013
    4
    No! It's not that good! Christina needs to go back to Bionic! Christina can do so much better than this. And so can the people she features in the album.
  4. Nov 15, 2012
    4
    Lotus - first came into my mind is that, this concept is kinda weird but nonetheless it is beautiful. Generally, after 2-3 plays, the album consist of mostly to be called as "safe" tracks as there is not much of a standout other than overflowing of power ballads. I have to say, if Bionic get released by now, it would have done better, as Bionic is as if an album from the future.
  5. Nov 11, 2017
    5
    "Lotus" traz uma sonoridade mais simples, e decepcionou em vários pontos, a grande maioria das letras soam infantis, sua voz está enjoativa, pior álbum dela literalmente, decaiu muito em relação ao "Bionic", seu antecessor muito bem produzido.
  6. Dec 29, 2014
    5
    In the wake of her worldwide flop 'Bionic', Aguilera returns to her impressive vocals and pop superstardom. Unfortunately, nearly every track is filled with attempts at rejuvenating Aguilera's career with a hit single. She should stick with clean, professional pop genius as presented in 'Blank Page.'
  7. Dec 2, 2012
    5
    The only problem with X is that her music shifts to different fan groups. "Christina Aguilera" was for Teen-Pop fans. Stripped was for RnB fans. Back To Basics was soul and Bionic was Electronic fans. So that leaves lotus. This is for pure pop fans. The lyrics are undeniably well thought out. Auto-tune is used for effect, not for vocal help (we only hear auto-tune on "Lotus Intro". NoThe only problem with X is that her music shifts to different fan groups. "Christina Aguilera" was for Teen-Pop fans. Stripped was for RnB fans. Back To Basics was soul and Bionic was Electronic fans. So that leaves lotus. This is for pure pop fans. The lyrics are undeniably well thought out. Auto-tune is used for effect, not for vocal help (we only hear auto-tune on "Lotus Intro". No where else!). The reason why reviews were so bad is probably towards "self-help" lyrics. But this is what it's about. She stated it was a Fighter-esque record. Now why do you guys act so surprised?
    Highlights:
    Army of Me
    Light Up the Sky
    Just a Fool
    Red Hot Kinda Love

    Lows:
    Circles
    Empty Words
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  8. Sep 6, 2013
    6
    It's a good album, just not her best. It's definitely not like i taught it will be, when i heard "Blank Page" wich is the first song i heard from the album. I taught it will be so emotional just like "Stripped" while it's full of rowdy dance-pop songs. It's one of her first electro-pop album and it's amazing but i've seen better.
    Album's Highlights: "Blank Page", "Your Body", "Let There
    It's a good album, just not her best. It's definitely not like i taught it will be, when i heard "Blank Page" wich is the first song i heard from the album. I taught it will be so emotional just like "Stripped" while it's full of rowdy dance-pop songs. It's one of her first electro-pop album and it's amazing but i've seen better.
    Album's Highlights: "Blank Page", "Your Body", "Let There Be Love", "Army of Me" and Just a Fool"
    Album's Bad songs: "Circles", "Cease Fire" and "All Around the World".
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  9. Nov 5, 2015
    5
    no, this is not good. This album would be better if it was released as a book of poetry , because music does not . Sickening beats, look like they were recorded in the backyard . light up the sky , good , but that waste production and such ? I think some producers after they fell christina comes only to plunge it further into misery . Cease Fire one of the too few songs that are worthno, this is not good. This album would be better if it was released as a book of poetry , because music does not . Sickening beats, look like they were recorded in the backyard . light up the sky , good , but that waste production and such ? I think some producers after they fell christina comes only to plunge it further into misery . Cease Fire one of the too few songs that are worth listening only 2 times a week. Thank you Bonnie for let there be love . I hope Christina back to making good music . Expand
  10. Nov 10, 2017
    6
    It was not her best work, I think Xtina got lost in the production of this album because of people problems and high media attacks, confusing melodies, same sound, until the booklet was not good, this album is the clear example that when she does not alright nothing is going well But still some songs like. Lotus, Blank Page, Sing For Me, Just A Fool and Let There Be Love
  11. Nov 10, 2017
    4
    you should do better than that my little girl xoxoXtina. This is not you, this is just scream, you know that.
    .............................................
  12. Aug 24, 2019
    6
    This is what happens when Christina sits back and lets RCA call the shots. A few good tracks don’t make this average album worth the wait.
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Q Magazine
    Dec 11, 2012
    40
    Nothing really stands out like the best thing here, Make The World Move, featuring fellow Voice Judge, Cee-Lo Green. [Jan 2013, p.101]
  2. Nov 27, 2012
    70
    This might not be the golden, triumphant comeback Aguilera had hoped for, but it's pretty close and, let's face it, it's better than most Top 40 music right now.
  3. Nov 20, 2012
    50
    This vitriol-tsunami of a record misses a chance to connect Aguilera's music with her warm, empathetic TV presence.