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| Back to Basics | 
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| Artist: Christina Aguilera
Label: RCA
Category: Music
List Price: $21.98
Buy New: $4.95
You Save: $17.03 (77%)
New (65) Used (46) from $4.57
Avg. Customer Rating:  418 reviews
Sales Rank: 1103
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 82639
UPC: 828768963425
EAN: 0828768263921
ASIN: B000G759LW
Release Date: August 15, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new, never opened, in stock, and ships right now.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Back in Top Form August 15, 2006
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
At first, I was skeptical when I heard Christina was going to record a 'nitty-gritty soul' record as she said once in an interview some few months before 'Back To Basics' was released. 'This was going to be boring' or so I thought. Back To Basics is a pleasant surprise. There's nothing really basic about this album - it's a wild ride fueled with artistry, gusto and creativity. The album is split into 2: disc 1 being the sample-influenced hip/hop club ditties and disc 2, filled with collaborations exclusively with Linda Perry who brings a more risque and orchestra heavy sound for Christina.
It is difficult to really pick highlights from both discs but I think that Back To Basics is filled with more sleeper hits that grow on you than the instant hits of Stripped. Back To Basics gets better after every listen. Christina's voice is strong and confident where it needs to, and is subtle and vulnerable where songs call them to be. From Disc 1: highlights include: the gospel opener 'Makes Me Wanna Pray' - a bouncy and dynamic start to the album, nostalgia-bitten 'Back In The Day' wherein DJ Premier effectively samples 'Charley' as Christina pays homage to Aretha, Etta James and Marvin Gaye, soul stunner 'Understand', lush ballad 'Without You' and the tongue in cheek 'Still Dirrty' - a sophisticated horn heavy club banger. It is in Disc 2 where the real fun starts: 'Welcome' has got to be my favorite in the whole album. It's rumbling start, string driven bass line and satirical lyrics about the music business - hard to believe this song came from the same girl that gave us 'Genie In A Bottle'. 'Candyman' is another highlight, a risky venture that pays off and makes you want to hit the floor. 'Save Me From Myself' borrows from Norah Jones. This is one of Christina's best vocal performances ever - I can't describe it, you'll have to hear it for yourself - it's a whole new side of Christina.
The album could actually fit in one disc, but the decision to split it into 2 discs is an artistic and creative move to showcase the versatility, how this album has ambitiously placed itself as one of the most memorable and interesting projects in the pop canon. Christina - the 4 years was worth the wait. I strongly recommend you give this one a chance - you might find a gem of your own.
 Christina's Last Album September 10, 2006
19 out of 37 found this review helpful
How back to basics is record scratching and sampling? I wasn't aware that hip hop music was around in the 30s and 40s and if by basic she means simple, I wasn't aware that sampling counts as minimal music. This girl is simply delusional. I don't know if it is entirely her fault, or she is merely misguided or brainwashed.
This album is the worst I've ever heard in a long time. Disc two is slightly better, but her over-singing and screaming is just too much.
Since her 1999 debut, her voice has slowly gotten worse. She sings from her throat and that is not good. She has either become conceited and is not trying anymore, or she is being told what to do by the same people that are telling Rhianna she can sing. Or perhaps she has nodules on her vocal chords. She is just not a good singer anymore.
Hopefully, people will realise how bad she is or she will finally sing her voice to pieces by the time it comes for her to start recording her next album.
She is awful, and a disgusting human being.
Tries to be something she is not August 21, 2006
18 out of 33 found this review helpful
Jazz singers of the 1920s and thirties did not stretch every note out into 10 syllables like Christina does. I can't even listen to Aint No Other Man because she is literally screaming from beginning to end. She's got a great voice, she just doesn't know how to use it in a way that is pleasing to the ear..
The "oversinging" was good on her first CD, but she began to do that annoying growly sound on Stripped and it continues on Back to Basics. It sounds like she tries to make her voice sound deeper than it really is, and it just comes off sounding like she has a huge wad of phlegm in her throat.
The only two songs I like are "Makes You Wanna Pray" and "Welcome".
Truly Stunning! August 16, 2006
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
"It is now time for the one and only....There will never be another....Christina Aguilera" - Back to Basics (Intro)
Who knew Christina was capable of actually topping 'Stripped', her audacious sophomore album from 2002, or even capable of making an album of this magnitude. Nobody questioned Christina's talents as a vocalist, but was she up to to the challenge of making this album? I've only listened through it once, but I can already tell this is going into my 'classic album' file.
If 'Stripped' was her dirrty, angst album, this one is pure joy and class and she pulls it all off with vigor. As you might have heard, this is Christina's foray into old blues/jazz/hiphop/20s/30s/40s sounds she's been so influenced by. This album is more of an homage to those who inspired her and those with keen musical ears will be able to pick out those samples that she and super producers DJ Premier and Linda Perry (among others) have thoughtfully put together in stunning and creative ways. Songs like the fast paced catchy first single "Ain't No Other Man", the touching mid-tempo ballad "Understand", the ultra sassy "Slow Down Baby", and the explosive soul rhythms of "Makes Me Wanna Pray" blends perfectly the elements of old soul/r&b with modern day sounds. Other songs bring back to mind old hip/hop vibes of the late 80s and 90s. The bump and grind of "Back in the Day" gives praise and tribute to early artists who paved the way for her. The chorus to this song is one of the catchiest I've ever heard. There's a chill energy on the track "Thank You", a thoughtful exchange of thank yous between Christina and her fans with clips lifted from actual fan voicemail. "On Our Way" and "Without You" finds Christina using her voice in her upper register is some beautiful ways especially in that of the latter. And a haunting piano loops in the background of the endearing "Oh Mother" that gives appreciation to her mother for getting her out of a domestic violence situation when she was younger. Overall, Disc 1 is a solid album even if it was released by itself. However, it's not like Christina to completely stop there. If you're looking for something more adventurous, check out Disc 2.
If you want to go further back into time, venture into her second disc and there you'll find those sounds that hearken back the sounds of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. The insanely infectious "Candyman" is an ode to the Andrew Sister's "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" only with much more tongue and cheek sexuality in the lyrics and music. "I Got Trouble" sounds the most authentic to the era and sounds like it's coming straight out of an old, ratty radio in a dingy, dark bar. The torchy, burlesque stylings of "Nasty Naughty Boy" will send you off in hot sweats while the hush stunner "Save Me From Myself" leads us into a very intimate conversation with her as she sweetly explains to us how her husband has changed her life. No reverbs, no nothing. Just Christina's voice at her most vulnerable. This is a vocal performance like you've never heard from her. Treading back to Disc 1, even the track "Still Dirrty" has a 1920s flapper-esque sensibility with it's repeating triple horn blast. "Mercy On Me" is a vocal tour de force with Christina infused with deep down blues giving a heart wrenching confession to God for committing a wrongful sin towards a lover. This is probably my favorite song out of the two disc set. Her vocals on this song is a feast to the ears. The rock ballad "Hurt" sends an emotional chill up the spine as she pleas for forgiveness from a lost loved one. And as if the second disc wasn't off the wall enough, Christina sends us to the circus with "Enter the Circus/Welcome" acting as a combo. "Enter the Circus" feels like something lifted straight out of a Tim Burton movie with what seems to be Linda Perry playing the MC for the opening act of a circus. It's somewhat creepy, but it's a very effective intro and it leads straight into "Welcome". This is an amazing (albeit short) little song giving us a satirical view of the music business. She sings over a cavalcade of beautiful strings and the combo sounds epic in scope. I just wished it was a little longer. Christina ends the set with "The Right Man" written in response to the emotion she felt when she realized she had no father to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. A very emotional, almost classical song with dramatic strings. This ends with a very touching line and optimistic view to her future.
There are no fillers on this album (save for FUSS, but it's actually an interlude). The two discs could've been meshed into one, but her decision to divide it into two sets was more a creative reason - to separate the two completely different sounds. This album has something for everyone.
Standout Tracks :
Makes Me Wanna Pray
Back in the Day
Ain't No Other Man
Understand
Slow Down Baby
Without You
Welcome
Candyman
Nasty Naughty Boy
Hurt
Mercy On Me
Save Me From Myself
There you have it. It's quite possibly the best album to come out in 2006. This will surely be a major contender in the upcoming Grammy season. If you have any reservations on whether you should go out and buy this album, don't hesitate - BUY IT! You can't go wrong when the music is this good.
The advancement of the commonaire August 26, 2006
15 out of 41 found this review helpful
I bought, I listened, I threw away! Tough times in the music biz. Hip-Hop has hit another stalemate. Even in the attempt to advance they have managed to circle around and bump each other on the head. Let's take Christina out of the equation for a second, the fun boy producers did a pretty good job at creating another common album. Good attempt at getting your money from the project. Money Money Money. Putting Christna back in the equation. Her cat screach of a voice has gone on for two albums too long. she should probably give it up at this point. You've made your money. It's time to retire into the depths of the mainstream tabloids as another failed marriage and an eating disorder. I'm not impressed. there isn't too much I can say. The rest of the unsold CD's should be ground up and used as insulation on newly constructed homes in Louisiana. That would a better use of the plastic. Way to be common!
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