| Back to Basics | 
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| Artist: Christina Aguilera
Label: RCA
Category: Music
List Price: $21.98
Buy Used: $4.65
You Save: $17.33 (79%)
New (61) Used (52) from $4.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  418 reviews
Sales Rank: 1322
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
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| Customer Reviews:
 THIS IS NOT JAZZ!!!!!! August 19, 2006
8 out of 17 found this review helpful
Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm a HUGE JAZZ FAN. I also happen to be a fan of Christina Aguilera's "Stripped" Album. So when I heard she was releasing a Jazz record I was EXTRA HYPED. I absolutely loved her duet "A Song For You" with Jazz Master Herbie Hancock on his album "Possibilities" and the first single "Ain't no other Man".
Unfortunately, I was quickly disappointed upon listening to the first couple of songs. THIS IS NOT A JAZZ ALBUM, not even close, it is more of a HIP-HOP/SOUL ALBUM. They're a couple of songs that have portions of Jazz influence like "Slow Down", "On Our Way", "Still Dirrty", "Candy Man", "I Got Trouble", & "Mercy on Me", but nothing in this album reminds me of any Jazz or Blues legends from the 20's 30's, or 40's.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS A BAD ALBUM; IT ACTAULLY IS GREAT IN ITS TRUE ELEMENT OF HIP-HOP/SOUL. They are even some songs that will finally bring Christina the artistic acknowledgement she should have received with "stripped". The one noticeable bad thing is that Christina seems to be recycling the same message from "Stripped": Feminism, Abuses, and being "Dirrty", but with a bit more love songs. I guess you can say this is "Stripped II" but softer (STRIPPED IS MORE EDGER).
I'm greatly disappointed because I WAS EXPECTING AN AUTHENTIC JAZZ SOUND AND SHE DIDN'T DO THAT!!!! Christina had the opportunity to revise Jazz & bring it to the hip-hop generation. Sadly, that generation will continue to be soulless and never appreciate real music. I've barely listened to this album and maybe I'll be back in a couple of weeks or months praising its genius. BUT FOR ME, there's nothing new thats brought to the table with this project..... Quoting Madonna "I heard it all before, I heard it all before, I heard it all before,I heard it all before...."
If you're looking for true Jazz & Blues influence albums, check out these titles:
*ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO - DANCE OF THE INFIDEAL
(The album Miles Davis would have done if he were alive today)
*HERBIE HANCOCK- POSSIBLITIES
(A Jazz, Blues, & Soul Musical collaboration with Christina, John Meyer, Annie Lennox, Sting, Paul Simon, Joss Stone, Santana & show cased their true artistic possibilities)
*CASSANDRA WILSON- THUNDERBIRD
(Blues mixed with every sound)
*GEORGE MICHAEL- OLDER
(Only pop star that was willing to merge both pop and jazz and mix it with 90'sound)
*LIZZ WRIGHT - SALT
(Amazing debut from a 20 year old Georgia sing venturing into Blues, Gospel, & Jazz)
*MICHAEL BUBLE' - MICHAEL BUBLE'
(Classic Sinatra/Big band sound)
*Queen Latifah - The Dana Ownes Album
(The queen does an execellent job in remaking many classics and makes them her own)
*EMMA BUNTON - FREE ME (EX-BABY SPICE)
(Its more of a 50's & 60's Pop/Swing/Jazz/Bossa Nova influence CD, surprising good)
Cacophonia... August 19, 2006
8 out of 13 found this review helpful
I was really looking forward to Christina Aguilera's forthcoming CD when I heard she was working on a new recording. I expected something of the magnitude of STRIPPED, and my expectations have falledn flat. Incidentally, I think that STRIPPED is one of the best written material of this entire decade. BACK TO BASIC falls short of this. Unfortunately, I spent energy looking forward to what became less-than-appealing material for me.
Everything I have read and heard from interviews with Christina about this CD is that it was going back to the roots of the 20s-50s era. Disc 2 does go there!
I think the CD would have gotten a higher rating from me had the entire CD consisted of that disc alone. Lyrically, while the material is not as strong, as her previous release, the second disc winks at the era of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Not a whole lot of deep wording, but heartfelt. This is what Disc 2 achieves...a la Christina (a little naughty at times, but fun). Disc 1 does still show some maturation, but no more than what we got used to with STRIPPED. Comparatively, it is more of a let down.
CANDYMAN is great example of what this entire album should have sounded like. Some may think it would be too much of the same, but that is exactly what disc 1 is about...in addition to not sounding like it came from the 20s-50s era. There is minimal influence per se, though those years led to what the 70s became, which is transfused throughout Disc 1.
That one does something very clever, namely introducing little snippets of songs that influenced Christina's choice. Unfortunately, with one, it is fine. More than that creates too often a cacophonic symphonia of unbearable enjoyable background music with the same beat. Noisy! And noisy is not good when you possess as great a voice as Christina's!
It seems to me that she's taken the route that Mariah Carey has been on with I don't know how many contributors to one song... Ever heard of too many cooks in the kitchen? This would apply here. Where Mariah's great voice has not really been used to its full potential over the past 10 years or so, Christina sounds stronger than ever... I actually wish something a little more subdued at times. We know she can belt a song like the best of them. She is one of the best today!
Disc 1 has a couple of tracks that appeal to me. The rest all sounds the same. Is it bad? Not if you like 70s soul (different from 60s soul to me, which seems to go deeper into...well, one's soul).
I found that F.U.S.S was cleverly written, and sends the obvious message to Scott Storch (S.S.) who co-wrote all the songs mentioned in this track on STRIPPED with Christina. I guess he stopped "getting it" in her eyes. I am wondering whether she "still cherishes the memories she made with him" as mentioned in the thank you note of that album! Maybe she should have listened to Scott a little bit with regards to some of the tracks.
Overall, I did not give less than 3*** thanks to Christina's voice. She also co-wrote all of her songs, which is rare today, especially someone that young, though nothing new transpired, and lyrically, the end-result is weaker overall. Great voice too good for most of the material.
The good tracks are on Disc 1: UNDERSTAND and SLOW DOWN BABY. F.U.S.S. is different lyrically. The message makes it interesting though! The rest is so-so! Disc 2 offers highlights like CANDYMAN and MERCY ON ME. If any of these songs were released as singles, people may come to buy this CD more readily. I don't think it will do as well as STRIPPED (18 million copies), but I am willing to be proven wrong. I wish her well, but I am not sold on BACK TO BASICS.
 She should market her voice, not her sexuality September 16, 2006
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
What a shame. A wonderfully talented young woman with the most outstanding female voice in pop music today, and she still hasn't figured it out. I don't want to listen to an album filled with lyrics - some explicit - about sex. Whatever happened to songs that had meaning and could move you like "Hurt"? This is perhaps the best song on the album because it showcases Christina's awesome voice, and the lyrics are powerful enough to move anyone to tears.
I'm begging today's pop artists to cut the sex talk and get back to real music and lyrics!
 Just cuz you can SCREAM REAL LOUD doesn't mean you should! January 17, 2007
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
Don't believe all the hype...this album is terrible. You will like this album if:
1.You enjoy the sound of a screaming woman singing endless scales...over...and over... and over again.
2.You love songs that go on and on about how great the singer is and just how wonderful she has managed to touch everyone's life (the last track). It's really pathetic.
3. Sophmoric oversimplifications on what it means "to be a woman".
That said, there are two good songs on the first disc. These are:
Back in the day
Still Nasty
But I have to tell you, you get pretty tired of playing these two songs over and over again....best thing is just to download them. The second disc is pure superfluous junk, with a few good songs to make it interesting.
Both discs would have made a decent single disc. Don't waste your money without listening to the whole thing first.
 Comeback of the century August 15, 2006
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
With Christina Aguilera's comeback, yet again, she has reinvented herself to keep her fans on their toes and also, to reflect her musical versatility and current stage in life. With her third major effort "Back to Basics," she does not fail to impress even the toughest critics with her golden voice, amazing lyrics, and musical originality, packed with the X-factor her industry peers so desperately lack and therefore, crave for.
How does "Xtina's" third "baby" fair? It is definitely good, surely. Grammy worthy. The album, which is a double record of 23 tracks including interludes and a behind-the-scenes video, is a concept CD infused with the sensibilities of the past--particularly the 20's, 30's, and 40's spiced with a modern touch. With a risk this big, the consequences could be ghastly but if pulled off successfully, the rewards can be mind-blowing. Amazingly, she executes it convincingly, providing fans with an introduction to older music without forcing it on them. The album is full of dance-heavy tracks, coupled with feel-good numbers, and tear-jerkers--Christina's forte--at the same time! Talk about well-balanced.
The first disc opens with an intro which basically informs that the CD will go back in time in terms of sound and vibe. Cool intro infused with smart samples. Disc one amply continues with "Makes Me Wanna Pray," an up-tempo track almost like the upbeat songs sung by talented African-American choirs in churches. You're gonna be praising by the end of the song, which paves the way to "Back in the Day," which is one of my favorites, with its addicting chorus and melodic stanzas. "Ain't No Other Man" comes next, which continues the up-tempo feel of the album and then goes to "Understand," a slower ballad with "hit single" written all over it. Its chorus, featuring a sample vocal, will leave the track stuck on your head, in a good way. "Slow Down Baby" begins, giving a harder edge to the CD which, if released as a single, will surely be a hit, and goes to "Oh Mother," a deep ballad about Shelly, Christina's mother. Pepare the tissues because this is a potential tear-jerker. "F.U.S.S." starts, which is a short interlude regarding former collaborator Scott Storch, ending with "Guess I didn't need you, still got the album out." and may leave some shocked. This is followed by "On Our Way," another personal favorite. It's so excellent a track that you will picture yourself sitting alone at night and feeling the song through and through. Next will be "Without You," a feel-good track that is very soothing yet simple, followed by the racy lyrics of "Still Dirrty," showing off her sexual side perfectly and going against the people who say that she has left her sexiness behind. Great song and potential hit if released commercially. "Here to Stay," ensues with its high-energy anthem of self-empowerment, followed by "Thank You," disc one's closer featuring clips from fans collected through phone-calls stuck together with Christina's message of gratefulness to her supporters. I thought this would be a cheesy song but the way DJ Premier did the track left me speechless. Amazing.
Disc two, the more soulful of the twin CDs, starts with an intro again called "Enter the Circus," which is OK besides the fact that Christina's vocals are not there. "Welcome" then is played, which will leave you feeling nostalgic with its epic sound. Too bad its a short track. "Candyman" then begins with its up-tempo beat that is so addicting, making you almost see Christina and her dancers dancing in sailor suits, and then slows down with "Nasty Naughty Boy," with its sexual and racy lyrics coupled by a live jazz band. Its so burlesque and the words are so clever, you'll be left amazed--"I'll give you my Ooh La La, voulez vous coucher avec moi..." "I Got Trouble" then is next, featuring a muffled sound reminiscent of old vinyl records and is one of the more authentic sounding songs along with "Nasty Naughty Boy" and "Candyman", and then is followed by "Hurt," a big ballad that Christina does perfectly. For me, this is one of the best ballads in the record and deserves to be released as a single. What follows is "Mercy On Me" with its heavy melody very reminicent of the beautiful "Walk Away" from Stripped. This track is mainly a conversation with God and is generally a confession in a song. Then, what follows is "Save Me From Myself," the jewel of disc two. The track is stripped down to just guitar, strings, and vocals, sans the riffs, featuring an intimate Christina singing about her husband. Beautifully done and definitely encaptulates the record's back to basic charm. The CD is closed with "The Right Man," which talks about her wedding day with its slow, soulful sound. Lyrically, its moving and serves as Christina's way of making peace with her father and moving on to accept for the first time, a male protecter in her life. What touched me was the last part where she says that one day, her daughter will say that she found the right man, unlike Fausto Aguilera, Christina's father who tormented Christina's and Shelly's life years ago. It's a beautiful ender, for me, with profound lyrics stringed together with an almost church-like aura.
Overall, the CD is very diverse and balanced, not focusing too much on drama, ballads, or dance-heavy tracks, but rather, incorporates all of them consistently. It shows Christina's versatility and the reaches of her talent, which I think ranges to eternity, showing why Christina's still here after 7 years of singing. The album, too, is very likable, which is the winning power of the double record. It doesn't only make you appreciate the music but also honestly like it.
BRAVO CHRISTINA. DON'T EVER STOP MAKING MUSIC AND INSPIRING PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU MOST DEFINITELY ROCK AT IT.
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