You're very welcome, Lenz! Gonna check out and comment on your other reviews tomorrow.
Don't
eva
let nobody tell you you ain't
strong enough

Hey rmcrae!!! Good to see you on this board and thanks for the response!! I absolutely love "Stripped". Currently working on my "Bionic" review.

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

"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

I love Monday Morning. It has that 80s feel to it.
Don't play games with a girl who can play better.

Hahaha yeah, I'm not a fan of it. Not at all.

You hate Monday Morning? NOOOO!!!!
Don't
eva
let nobody tell you you ain't
strong enough

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.

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.

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

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

Back To Basics
(2006)
Disc 1
1.
Intro (Back To Basics)
We start things off with Christina singing about wanting to pay her respects to the many artists that came before her by doing music that would make them proud. I like it as it establishes the tone and theme of the album as Christina presents us an album that be a highlight and definite throwback.
2.
"Makes Me Wanna Pray" (Featuring Steve Winwood)
With an infectious choir behind her and a soul/gospel/funk production, Christina sings of having a divine intervention as the new man in her life makes her want to sing her praises to the Lord. I like the arrangements of the music and Christina gives a strong performance as always as her voice fits this type of music easily.
(B+)
3.
"Back In The Day"
"Back In the Day" has a vintage soul/hip hop production as Christina sings of the ones who came before her and honestly did things right. This is a thoroughly entertaining trip down memory lane as the male in the background even lists the artists who came before and paved the way for artists like Christina. Christina had some fun with this one as I can definitely feel her energy on this one. A nice track overall.
(B)
4.
"Ain't No Other Man"
With a jazzy opening as well as Christina's signature vocals, "Ain't No Other Man" is a 1940s inspired track with it's mixture of it and modern day music. Christina sings of a man who is unlike the other men in her life as he stands out for a multitude of reasons that she lists. This is the kind of inventive music that is ridiculously fun to listen to and Christina has more than enough soul to pull off a song this old school yet contemporary. One of her best hits by far.
(A-)
5.
"Understand"
Sampling Betty Harris's "Nearer to You", "Understand" is a tale of Christina singing about a man that she hopes understands why she needs to keep her distance from him in their relationship. I love the sample as it seamlessly works into the music of the song. Christina is really contemplating and you can hear the uncertainty in her voice as whether she's doing the right thingbut ultimately knowing she has to walk away. (Wait, wrong album!
)
(B)
6.
"Slow Down Baby"
"Slow Down Baby" has more of that vintage soul production as Christina sings about a man she has no interest in and is trying to make him get that they will never be a couple. I like the little touches of practical instrumentation with the horns and Christina carries this with a sassy confidence that is needed for the song to work.
(B)
7.
"Oh Mother"
In this mid-tempo track, Christina sings of a pretty dysfunctional relationship with some abusive consequences. The lyrics are pretty moving and it almost feels like Christina is talking about her own mother, telling her "I love you mom". Could this in fact be about her mother and father's relationship? I mean she had a step father, so maybe it's about them. Whether this is for the sake of her art or true, I love it overall. Christina sings this with great emotional depth and I love how the production swells toward the end, especially when she goes for that high note.
(A-)
8.
F.U.S.S. Interlude
This interlude sees Christina singing of her parting ways from a relationship as she feels unappreciated and that it's her time to move on. She dedicates this song to that unfortunate individualwhomever that maybeI'm sure she's talking about her ex-husband. lol
9.
"On Our Way"
juxtaposed to the other track, "On Our Way" is about redeeming a relationship that is in turmoil. I mean, is she still talking about her ex on this one!?
Who knows! I think it's a decent song overall and I also love how the beautiful piano playing is incorporated into it.
(B)
10.
"Without You"
This song has Christina getting all mushy about a guy and I don't know if I like it for that matter. The lyrics are a little too sappy for me as Christina sings about not being able to live without this guy. I'm sure you can boo.
It's ok for me, could be better but Christina sounds solid regardless. Nice piano playing again too.
(C)
11.
"Still Dirrty"
Oh ChristinaI thought you were cleaning up your act with this album!? I don't need to know that you are "still dirty". I mean Christina what image are you trying to present to the public? I mean I get wanting to be sexy, but why dirtyand why spell it "D.I.R.R.T.Y?!"
I mean the production is awesome with it's vintage cool factor but I just don't like what Christina is singing about. I don't care how naughty or freaky you can be. Keep those clothes on boo!!
(C+)
12.
"Here To Stay"
"Here To Stay" has Christina being unapologetic and honest about who she is and why she will always be relevant. I like it but she's a bit overconfident here. But then she does sing at one point that she has "never been shy", so who am I to call her overconfident when that is probably apart of her personality. The production is decent enough and I like it, so this is a pretty good track for me overall.
(B-)
13.
"Thank You (Dedication To All The Fans)"
We get a

Stripped
(2002)
1.
Stripped Intro
Well, the album opens up with an intro that starts off with news broadcasts238 about Christina's behavior in the public before she sings about showing off the real her that people don't know about. I like this intro a lot because it is establishing a theme for the album: the
unapologetic
and
real
Christina!
2.
"Can't Hold Us Down" (Featuring Lil' Kim)
This ferocious R&B track is about how women have been disrespected for centuries and Christina detesting the fact that there has always been a double standard. Lil' Kim comes in for a decent rap verse, though it's of the "blink and you'll miss it" variet2000y. It really does seem too brief but anyway, I like the message of this song as it comes off as a very strong feminist anthem. Christina sounds great and the production is superb. Possibly one of her best hits; though it was a moderate hit.
(A-)
3.
"Walk Away"
This has a soulfulness to it and feels like a song Alicia Keys would sing (I need to review her albums by the way). I like the production as Christina sings of a tumultuous relationship she needs to "walk away" from. I love the way she sings this with an almost deep vibrato in her voice. This is really an excellent track that feels like Christina is going through an emotional train wreck that you are glad to witness as she sounds oh so powerful. I love the lyrics as Christina explores her insecurities and wonders why it's so hard for her to leave this heartbreaking situation. Pretty moving stuff!
(A)
4.
"Fighter"
With a strong piano melody starting things off, we soon get into this fury ridden rock anthem!! Christina sings of showing her resilience after the pain she has been through with her current relationship. Christina is in no mood to be sympathetic as she is a scorned lover and wants the endless games to stop. You really feel her anguish on this track as you can relate to being in a position of being constantly hurt by a lover. I love Christina's almost earth shattering vocals; especially against that epic guitar solo. The production is off the charts and Christina sells the song so well; making you feel like a fighter yourself. This was a great hit!
(A)
5.
Primer Amor Interlude
Christina shows off her Latin roots by speaking Spanish against some elegant Spanish guitar playing. I like it! Shows her ethnic background and is a nice detour from the last track.
6.
"Infatuation"
The Spanish guitar continues on into this R&B track with some Latin flavor thrown in. I like how Christina continues to incorporate the Spanish language in the album. This is a nice change of pace from the album so far and Christina sounds equally beautiful in Spanish as she does in English. A track not to miss with it's love sick lyrics and stellar production.
(A-)
7.
Love Embrace Interlude
We hear sounds of nature as well as other musical sounds incorporated into it. I like it. It's simple but leads into the next song well.
8.
"Loving Me 4 Me"
I like this grown and sexy approach to this song. This is another song I imagine being sung by Alicia Keys or Floetry. It has that soulful R&B music that is for adults as Christina leaves those teen pop days behind. This song just seems beyond her years at the time but she carries it with such a cool and ease that it's so great to hear. I love the lyrics as Christina sings of a man who loves her for the real here. It's a song that goes back to the theme of the album and Christina's vocals are really sexy on this track. I love every minute of the naked,
stripped
(dammit, more puns!) down track.
(A)
9.
"Impossible"
Some beautiful piano playing as Christina is assisted by some nice background singers (Alicia Keys apparently!!
Now that's why some of these songs remind me of her music!
) before getting into the another soulful track! Christina sings this with more of that vibrato that is so great to here. The song's production is simple but Christina's vocal delivery makes it exceptional! It's almost like she's channeling her inner Aretha Franklin with some of the sweet vocal inflections she delivers. The fact that I'm comparing Christina to the Queen of Soul shows that she did something so fantastic with this song. Once again, her maturity and vocals are far beyond her years!
(A-)
10.
"Unappreciated"
In this sassy, trumpet cued track, Christina sings of her frustrations of being a woman who isn't appreciated for the things that she does and it's a shame as she clearly deserves better. I love the tone in Christina's voice as she sounds so fed up with her man's actions. I also love the practical instrumentation of the production with real instruments being used; not going for a flashy production but a more down to earth one. Pretty awesome!
(B+)
11.
"Beautiful"
You know this song still holds up so much meaning after all these years, especially for me. For someone who deals with the daily expectation of being perfect, but it being impossible because we are all imperfect. "Beautiful" is a powerful statement