Christina Aguilera
Back to Basics
(RCA)
After the backlash Christina Aguilera experienced over her single “Dirrrty,” she’s been sure not to expose herself as dramatically again. The subsequent years have brought a marriage and a new outlook on life—the cocoon of Xtina gave way to a poised, confident woman ready to return to the spotlight. Aguilera can sing, but her pop-princess antics tended to shift attention away from her vocal prowess. Back to Basics is a throwback to the music—blues, jazz, soul—that influenced and inspired her during her formative years. The only chanteuse to emerge successfully from the Mickey Mouse Club, Aguilera has finally begun a career as a genuine singer.
—Trevor Savory
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.