Call Her X-Tina: "Lotus" Review
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Lenz-El — 9 years ago(September 12, 2016 05:53 PM)
Bionic
(2010)
1.
"Bionic"
And here we have the title track, which goes for an electronic Caribbean/reggae beat. I mean it'sok. Not the best opener to the album as the beat feels like it's trying to do too much. I mean during the chorus it's fine but during the rest of the song, it feels like it's being beaten to death. (No shade!!!
) I mean this is just alright to me and could have been far better. Not really a tune, more a smashing of beats that are trying to make a tune.
(C)
2.
"Not Myself Tonight"
Ok, you're not yourself tonight, so you're pretty much excusing yourself from being a careless freak!?
Oh Christina, this is a decent track, it kind of feels like a post modern disco track with electronic influences. The production is pretty basic though and doesn't feel that it's rising the energy, more like it's desperately trying to find some. Yeahhhh
(C)
3.
"Woo Hoo" (Featuring Nicki Minaj)
"Woo Hoo".I wonder what she's talking abouthmmmmmm
. Well this song is once again okay, but the lyrics are very generic; just partying and getting drunk. Is this what the album is gonna be about?! Nicki's verse is more annoying than anything els2000e and Christina's vocal delivery is very inconsistent, feeling she needs to strain her voice toward the end when she doesn't need to. We know you can sing gurl, calm down!
This is gonna be a long album isn't it?
(C-)
4.
"Elastic Love"
Now, Christina is going for some 80s synth music?! I mean the production is sort of flatand the way Christina sings this is like she forgot how to sing for some reason!
I don't like this song, it feels lazily produced and Christina for the first time under performs. The lyrics are also kind of none sense. Who wrote this?!
Not a favorite of mine from this album.
(C)
5.
"Desnudate"
Using the Spanish word for "take your clothes off", Christina is considered getting people on the dancefloor with this Latin flavored dance-pop and I actually like it. It's catchy and is easy on the ears as appose to the songs so far that have almost been an assault on my ears. So good job Christina!
(B)
6.
Love & Glamour (Intro)
Okthis interlude has Christina briefly talking about love and glamourok?
7.
"Glam"
Ok, this is kind of a random song. A song about fashion and looking presentable, "Glam" is a bit self indulgent in it's message. All conceited, no substance. I guess I can give it to Christina for sounding good her but I expect nothing less from her but I am not feeling this song at all.
(C-)
8.
"Prima Donna"
Well, I like the beat to this, heavy and intoxicating!!
Christina proudly sings to the world that she is a Prima Donna and she isn't apologizing for it. Well, if you didn't know Christina was an egotistical diva, now you know.
This could be a solid anthem for the clubs and I enjoy the obvious fun that Christina had with this track.
(B+)
9.
Morning Dessert (Intro)
A decent interludenot an intro by any means. I mean..what exactly are you introducing here. It's just Christina getting all sexy for her man in the morningnothing to see here!
10.
"Sex For Breakfast"
Now this is the grown and sexy music that I like from Christina. This has a nice soulful groove and a solid vocal performance from Christina as she sings about wanting some passion for breakfast instead of pancakes!! Well, who wouldn't want to get a piece of that muffin in the morning?
I like the head bopping effect that this song has on me. You know you're listening to some good soul music when it has that effect on you.
(B+)
11.
"Lift Me Up"
Christina goes for an emotional revolution with this song as she is looking for someone to inspire her to keep going. The song is pretty good, if not a bit sappy with its lyrics. Christina does a more than adequate job here with this almost pop/rock ballad but it just doesn't inspire me; at least not in the way Christina wants me too.
(C+)
12.
My Heart (Intro)
Awww, this is a cute interlude that has Christina's son saying her name. Dawwwwww!!!
13.
"All I Need"
I'm guessing that this song is dedicated to her son and it is an adorable little song. You can hear the compassion in Christina's voice as she sings this to her little one. It's a sappy yet sweet number by Christina.
(B)
14.
"I Am"
"I Am" is about Christina letting her defenses down and revealing all the negative traits she has. It's a song that reminds me of her "Stripped" album as she shows the sensitive woman she is behind all the glitz and glam (Not that song again!) But I like this side of Christina since it's always refreshing to see.
(B)
15.
"You Lost Me"
I enjoy the somber nature of this track and the way Christina sings this is very soothing. The lyrics are pretty heartbreaking as Christina sings of being neglected by her lover. Christina really is the best artist when it comes to these minimalist tracks that just have her voice front in center with little music around it. A real artist needs nothing else as her voice sounds as sharp and emotionally rewarding as ever!
(B+)
16.
"I Hate Boys"
With some -
Lenz-El — 9 years ago(September 13, 2016 11:50 AM)
Lotus
(2012)
1.
Lotus Intro
We get some background vocals from Christina in a loop until she sings about the Lotus. Now Lotus has two meanings; one being the water lilies and the second being the Greek mythological planet that would induce dreamy forgetfulness and an unwillingness to depart. Oh How nice! I hope this means this album will have a theme to it; a strong theme about rising from the pains of the past and forging new strength like a flower just opening up and spreading it peddles.or it could be another album where Christina talks about how "dirrty" she is, how she wants men to go down on her and how obnoxious she is abou2000t her beautywhat do you think?!
Well, let us begin
2.
"Army of Me"
Christina goes for techno theatrics with this inspirational track about her showing how strong she isonce again. She seems to be a one woman army as she sings about how she's a fighter and she has "a thousand faces of me". But does it make for a good song? Ummmm, it's pretty decent, nothing special but Christina is really singing her heart out on this one, so I appreciate the effort. But I don't really feel that moved by this track but a valiant effort by Christina.
(C+)
3.
"Red Hot Kinda Love"
Oh boy!! Christina is in heat on this one as she sings of a man who seems to sizzle with sexiness and the type of love that she needs. I like the production overall, this could have gone in a completely different direction but it makes for a pretty good song. It's catchy enough as the melody has a hum worthy appeal to it. I mean after an album like "Bionic", Christina can't do any worseor did I speak too soon?
(B-)
4.
"Make The World Move" (Featuring CeeLo Green)
This song's goal is aiming for utopia type love and harmony as CeeLo Green comes in to assist Christina on this track. I honestly don't know what I think about this one; not a bad song, just a song that's a little disappointing. I thought a collaboration between The Voice Judges would be electric but it feels just decent. Nothing great, nothing terrible either. So it's just
ok
.
(C)
5.
"Your Body"
In this electronic pop single, Christina is adamant of getting up close and personal with a guy in the most intimate way. The chorus is pretty catchy and the beat manages not to get too chaotic as songs from this genre may tend to do. The lyrics are cute; if not simple. But it's a pretty fun song overall and Christina manages to be seductive without being "dirrty". So Yay!!!
(B-)
6.
"Let There Be Love"
Well, isn't this some techno/EDM joy!
I like this. Christina manages to sound good against the electronica production and the song actually is pretty catchy. Who said the EDM genre can't have some soul as Christina's vocals sound pretty exceptional against the beat. So this is a plus for me!
(B+)
7.
"Sing For Me"
Well, Christina once again is about showing who she is and who she is her voice. She uses that beautiful instrument to voice her hopes, her fears, her pain, her inner turmoil, her doubts, etcthe list goes on. I like this song because it shows that Christina is a real personnot just some egotistical diva who loves her looks, she has flaws like everyone else and she shares them with the world through her music. Which is a blessing!
(B)
8.
"Blank Page"
In this emotional piano ballad, "Blank Page" is a cleverly written song about Christina using a blank page as a way to reflect her inner demons as she pours her heart out about the recent mistake she made in her relationship. I love the vocal work here; her voice is stunning here, with just enough power to move you but enough vulnerability to get you a bit teary eyed. I like when Christina genuinely sings her heart out because that's where her voice is at its best. Pretty brilliant song!
(A-)
9.
"Cease Fire"
I like the epic drums and theatrical presence of this track!! It's something pretty new from Christina that she hasn't done before. The lyrics have a heartbreaking tone to them with Christina desperately asking to "cease fire". I really like the energetic and almost orchestral production as Christina sings frantically but clearly, if that makes sense. This is a really great track and I like the emotion Christina exudes in her voice.
(B+)
10.
"Around The World"
This is an energetic pop song that has Christina singing about having some passion with her lover around the world. It's a pretty decent track but there is nothing about it that stands out. The lyrics are pretty simple and don't really make the song have that memorable feeling about it. The chorus is pretty catchy but that's about it.
(C+)
11.
"Circles"
This song is pretty average to me as Christina sings this explicitly tough track as she brags about her success and fame. See, there's that obnoxious, self involved Christina we know and love!
The song is is simply ok, nothing to get excited about.
(C)
12.
"Best of Me"
Ok, so we get this semi-ballad with a nice guitar assisted production as well as drums. I think this song is once again decent, but nothing th -
SelenaQP — 9 years ago(September 13, 2016 03:33 PM)
I think Bionic is her most underrated album and by far her most experimental. It was edgy, naughty, freaky, and rebellious..and I beep love it! I don't think she meant for any of the content of the album to be taken seriously like Stripped. She wanted to do a fun album..more along the lines of a girls night out, girls with attitude, and all the single, sexy ladies kind of a thing, and she shouldn't be hold against that for wanting to have fun and let loose. I actually prefer Bionic over Back To Basics because it reflects more on the single woman life and whose not really looking for any serious relationships. And, Bionic was so much more interesting than Lotus in its sound and theme. Lotus was just basic and generic as hell. I love the booklet pages from Bionic. Especially the naughty kitty one.
16. "I Hate Boys"
With some questionable lyrics like "(Boys) They're only good for fruit, I mean bananas/Boys) Them boys so nuts, they're drivin' me bananas", "I Hate Boys comes off more juvenile and lackluster than anything else. The production is forgettable as Christina sings the reasons why she hates boys. That's all fine and well, but you're a woman now Christina, separate the boys fro the menHELLthat probably would have been a better song than this one. I don't like it. Not one bit.
(D+)
17. "My Girls" (Featuring Peaches)
Ok, I like the production because it's different and Christina sings this in a way that'sunusualfor her at least. It's more standard popstar singing than her signature powerful vocals. Not saying Christina needs to sing like that with every track because she shown she can sing in a variety of styles. But I'm sorry, this song isn't one of those songs. It's pretty forgettablelike that brief appearance by Peacheslike WTF!? This is just corny and not the good kind!
(C-)
18. "Vanity"
Ummmmm, this isn't even a charming kind of song, this is just obnoxious and cocky! Well, a song called "Vanity", what do I expect?! Well, what I expected was a song of some substance, but this is pure styleI'd rather hear Christina sing about how "dirrty" she is again than this poorly written, condescending song where Christina needs to gloat about how beautiful she is and how we should act the same way. Yuck! No ma'am! Also, inserting her son's "Mommy" at the end?! So tacky!
(D)
I actually love those songs because they're so beep hilarious. I love "I Hate Boys". I honestly don't see why it gets all the hate. I think people should lighten up and get a sense of humor. Why is it okay for a man to do a song calling all women "bitches", "sluts", and "ho", but people have a problem when a woman doing a song on men acting like dogs. So what if she's a grown woman? Chris Brown sings about "hoes" not being loyal. As far as I'm concerned, she told no single lie in that song. It was very much tongue-in-cheek song. She was just calling out the guys who act like dogs, and trust me, it needed to be SAID. She already separated the boys from the men by naming the song "I Hate Boys", not "I Hate Men". What's really old and tiring is people singing mushy, cheesy love songs that distort the reality that falling in love can have major flaws and consequences. Nobody has time for that mushy, drama mess. This is why Christina is my main girl. She's a feminist that isn't afraid to speak up on the whole double standards thing.
Don't play games with a girl wh2000o can play better. -
Lenz-El — 9 years ago(September 13, 2016 07:53 PM)
It's not that "Bionic" is terrible, it's just the songs come off very simple and the productions are over the top or boring for the most part. Now a song like "Can't Hold Us Down" is positive song about how women are mistreated and how there is a double standard. I LOVE that song because the presentation and lyrics were good. That's the kind of music Christina should be singing. "I Hate Boys" is just childish in every sense of the word. I just can't take the album seriously, but like you said, maybe that was the point. But after two really strong albums, "Bionic" just comes off basic and uneventful. Like Christina had nothing really important to say and had a little too much fun.
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rmcrae_deluxe — 9 years ago(September 14, 2016 03:05 PM)
"9. "The Right Man"
Oh Christina!
If only you found the right man, you wouldn't have had to signed those divorce papers at the time!! Boop Boop!!
"
Bad Lenz!
The Right Man is the only song on BTB I don't like. It's too over the top and Interview with a Vampire-ish for my taste.
Don't
eva
let nobody tell you you ain't
strong enough -
rmcrae_deluxe — 9 years ago(September 11, 2016 07:42 PM)
Great review for my fave Xtina record, Lenz! Loving Me 4 Me always reminded me of a cross between Mariah and Jill Scott's He Loves Me (I remember Christina mentioning how much she loved Jill's debut), but I can hear a resemblance to Floetry too.
I'm glad Christina's reunited with Linda Perry and I hope she's able to dig this deep again for her next album.
Don't
eva
let nobody tell you you ain't
strong enough