After going pursuing a more retro feel on 2006’s Back to Basics, Christina Aguilera looks toward the future for a new musical direction with electro-romp album Bionic. The 18-track set consists of Aguilera’s most fun and playful songs to date. Also notable is Aguilera’s interesting choices in song collaborators, with artists like Sia and Nicki Minaj rounding out Bionic’s sound. Though the album has drawn criticism from some for feeling like a rip-off of Lady Gaga’s style, Aguilera slays the comparisons with her powerful, gargantuan voice.
Among the best tracks on Bionic is the flirty Peaches collaboration “My Girls,” a song that cleverly riffs on the track’s title — which could mean either best girlfriends or a pair of boobs — over a video-game-styled background and funky guitars. The raunchy track is a perfect candidate for an updated “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”
Aguilera also delivers on the rave worthy “Elastic Love,” finding the songstress likening love to rubber bands with her hypnotic drone over Euro-pop beats and stuttering synthesizers on the M.I.A.-assisted track. The best of the ballads on Bionic is “You Lost Me,” where Aguilera puts herself in a league of her own with amazing fluttering vocals during the pre-choruses on the hauntingly beautiful track, co-penned with Sia. The song alone reasserts Aguilera’s relevancy to the current music scene with each note she belts out. While recent dance tracks’ production often consumes songstresses’ voices, Aguilera instead has the beats compliment her big voice like one hot mess on her first single, “Not Myself Tonight” and Lil Jon crunk jam “Prima Donna.”
The set falls short on the Tricky Stewart number “Glam,” which was touted as a modern day “Vogue,” though the stiff track lacks personality and doesn’t get remotely interesting until Aguilera unleashes her killer vocals near the song’s end. Bionic would have been an indestructible set if it was shorter and tighter, but instead, the filler material on the album exposes the chinks in Aguilera’s otherwise glorious armor.
I loved the album!
I agree its really fun but still showcases her vocals.
And I also didn’t like Glam as much as I thought I would. I think Desnudate is a far better get up and dance song.
great album im for sure buying i t!!
i tink ur wat you have written speaks the truth, and gets to the heart of the album…Couldnt agree wit u more.. Her album may not be an instant hit, but it makes u want to take a second glance…
Christina, your hot BIOINC album is so god damn BIONIC HOT.
I AM IN CHINA. I AM GONNA BUY YOUR ALBUM
I LOVE lift me up. it will be another grammy of course
i love elestic love. so elastic, so funky
i love I AM, with a pure love.
i love YOU LOST ME, so etta james.
I LOVE MY GIRLS. it fits a movie song……..
you changed your style but not your soul.
i love your innovation and your voice
amazing. she truly deserves success. what a great voice.
Her ballads are really amazing
This album is so special, exciting and unique. Christina is always exploring new sounds and her talent, lyrics and vision fits this direction perfectly. Definitely a career defining album, that’s also her funniest and most original. We’re all up for an amazing ride from beginning to end.
I downloaded the album this week and it is crazy great. It blew my mind the things she has done with her voice and the production is clear, crisp and concise! Standouts are definitely Bionic, WooHoo, Elastic Love, Glam, Primadonna, Sex For Breakfast, Lift Me Up, I Am, You Lost Me, My Girls, Vanity and hell, the whole freaking album!
Nice review, I’ve never been a big fan of Christina but after reading how good this album is I will buy it for sure!
This is an amazing album! When I first heard that Christina was going to do a futuristic album, I got a little worried that it would sound like everything else that people are doing, but I was wrong! She brings her signature voice to the table with beats that infect you and ballads that make you want to cry, and she does both effortlessly!
I am sooo amazed at this album.. She make take long breaks.. But she ALWAYS come back with fire! Every single song offers something Different.. There’s something for everybody. June 8th!! I will be first in line!
Christina is top notch talent. The album is incredibly varied and her voice’s versatility is unmatched. I listened to the the entire album today on Christina radio, and it’s no doubt some of her best work.
Can’t wait to buy it when it releases!!
no regrets, no apologies.. this is the best album ever. the whole album is freaking amazing.
she’s the best po singer worldwide, i’m going to buy bionic album!
This albums is an example of how pop shoul sound. Period.
Once again, Ms. Christina has done a very good job!
This is a great album delivered by the most versatile vocalist and singer of all.
This album is experimental and creative. After listening to this on her facebook page, I’m 100% sure that I will be buying my copy/ies. :)
I loved that she didn’t go the screaming DIVA route again like what she did with Back to Basics (cough, UNDERSTAND, cough). I loved how the album was produced, how she used her underpowered vocals and how she let her big voice take the backseat. Notice Woohoo, Vanity, and Glam, those are the songs where her underpowered vocals are backed up by short and effective big voice shouts / verses. It makes her songs a little more sing-able. If you take a little history on her dance pop efforts, she’s always big voicing the whole song and it didn’t blend… Read more »
appreciated this blog!
I like Christina Aguilera a lot. I have been a fan of hers since the beginning of her career. She is very beautiful, and she has a fantastic voice! I would love to be able to sing like that!
Christina Aguilera gave me so much strength with ‘fighter’ and ‘can’t hold us down’. She definitely figths for women and I love her for doing that. No one could ever beat her voice she’s the number 1!!!!!!!!
LOL I positively adore Lady Gaga! I love the fact that she is outrageous. Thank you for writing this article. I have bookmarked your web site and definitely will drop by again!
Ok, enough! My sister got this as a present yesterday and now I have to listen to it 24/7 :)
I have to admit though that the more I listen the more I like it.
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