Of this tangled mess of strands that I have made up of my life, let Me pick the path that pleases You.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

My exams [or without a "s", HAH!] just finished, so now i'm preparing for the holidays by relaxing a bit at home. Relaxing MORE, i mean. I promised before the exams that i would constantly try to improve myself and my skills and by the time i come back to school, i try not to make such a fugly mess of myself like i did this semester. Yeah, Reuben has loads and loads of prospective plans for him and me and many other people. A pictorial book!!! How cool is that??? That's pushes me to improve myself even further. I love it how my class is still so far yet so near yet so far. I dont really blend together with some of them, but they still talk to me, so that's cool.

I have been pulling back one of the most anticipated albums for me this year cos of the exams...so right after the exams i immediately went out to buy BACK TO BASICS. Christina Aguilera is just so good, full of music and some other stuff you cant explain just through words alone. Let me have the pleasure of reviewing this long awaited CD.

Back to Basics

DISC 1
1. Intro (Back To Basics)
This one is very similar to Stripped on the previous album of the same name. An introductory music and voiceovers and stuff. I love this track now its in my head, too bad its just an introduction.

2. Makes Me Wanna Pray
This, here, is the ultimate gospel song im listening to now. I really like gospel becuase its full of raw energy and how the singers implement their own runs and style really test themselves as singers. This is strictly for people who like raw and positive energy.

3. Back In The Day
In a lot of albums it takes some songs to sink into you. This song is that type of song. It didnt stick with me first because i really couldnt catch the beat. But once i caught up with it, it sounds good. A lot of tiny easter eggs you can catch up like the names of famous singers back in the day, as the track name suggests. Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Bille Holiday [referred to as Lady Day, how cool is that?] and the most important inspiration to Christina's music, Etta James. Nice beat too.

4. Ain't No Other Man
The hit single which started it all. Appeals both to mainstream and fans closer to Christina, in my opinion. Great song, full of attitude. Great choice as a single.

5. Understand
Another song which requires a bit of sinking in. A bit more of sinking than Back In The Day. Not one of my favorites, but its good nonetheless.

6. Slow Down Baby
This reminds me of Unappreciated in the previous album. This song is dedicated to her husband, like 30% of the songs in this album. she sings about rejecting a potential suitor, singing "cos you'll never get it with me, im with someone else" A good song to pass the time while you prepare for the better songs.

7. Oh Mother
The song suggests, its for her mother. The song is classified into the same style of "I'm OK" from the previous album. I hated that song, but this song was more lovable. Sadly, this song spent more time on tributing this to her mother instead on really representing this song as a likeable song. This is how Christina works, i guess. Another great song to pass time.

8. F.U.S.S (Interlude)
Wow this song shocked me. It has a nice downtown beat, sleek and mysterious. But its not the beat you have to listen to, its the LYRICS. She deliberately targets a certain person in her life which she hasnt forgiven. This song is personal. Despite it being an interlude, it has a really laid-back beat. She does the voiceover "Guess I didnt need you, still got that album out. Ha."

9. On Our Way
A song which still hasnt stick on me. Definitely not one of my favorites, but as all her songs go, it's ok. Though I like the chorus...okay maybe it has begun to stick on me. @_@

10. Without You
I skipped this song the first two times I decided to play the album back-to-back. BOY was i surprised when I heard it. This song is one of the songs which I felt myself liking it without me knowing. It has loads of harmonies done by Christina herself. A laid-back upbeat rhythm, almost like an upbeat version of "Loving me 4 me".

11. Still Dirrty
Unlike Dirrty, this song doesnt delve in hardcore beats and hip-hop rhythm, it has loads of horns. It is very suitable for a chilling club. Although totally different from Dirrty, it still has it. She sings "I still got that Dirty in me, still got that nasty in me."

12. Here To Stay
This song...I think is quite redundant. This song gives me the feeling that Christina is trying to reinforce the fact that she isnt a skank and a flash-in-a-pan singer. She really doesnt need to waste track space for this song. A song you rather skip if you decide not to play back-to-back.

13. Thank You (Dedication To Fans...)
This is a sweet song, especially for her fans. It features bits and pieces of "genie in a bottle"...which is actually quite a nice addition. I like to treat this as an interlude rather than an actual song, seeing how the theme and name goes. The song has a really nice chorus, though. Other than clips from her first hit, it has clips from her fans and how she inspired them.

DISC 2
1. Enter The Circus
A creepy interlude. I never liked circuses. But its one of the two weirdest tracks on the album. just listen once and skip it, it only has the voice of a creepy man in it, not worth listening.

2. Welcome
It sort of has a theme of the previous track, a follow-up i guess. But somehow later in the bridge and even the chorus things start to run off the theme very quickly. I was confused what theme it was getting a lot more pop-ish than circus-ish. Well if that's what she wants then ok. You wanna blame anyone, blame Linda Perry.

3. Candyman
Her next single. Very nice and old beat. Cute but slightly vulgar. Its a fun song, what else can I say? I totally digged the scat harmonies she did halfway through the song. Very nice...now excuse me I have to go learn it lol. She holds a high and full note at the end.

4. Nast Naughty Boy
The first time I heard it I skipped it. Its a seductive song, with that Oh-so-irritating sexy horn. I got goosepimples. Girls who are comfortable in their own skin would love this. Another great song have a lapdance with. It even has a tiny french from Lady Marmalade, guess which one lol.

5. I Got Trouble
Easily one of my most favorite songs. It uses an old microphone which a ragged cloth covering the mike. Very vintage and very enjoyable. A vocal beauty. It was featured at the beginning and at the end of the Ain't No Other Man video. For the mainstream crowd, they will definitely not like this.

6. Hurt
A potential grammy winner, they say. It certainly doesnt have the "Beautiful" vibe, but it certainly does have a Linda Perry vibe. It just doesnt register in my favorites list. But it seems a lot of mainstreamers like this song. I wonder if it would be a single for her?

7. Mercy On Me
A somewhat profession to Jesus. Another song she could without. She has Makes Me Wanna Pray to blow the energy and love for Jesus through the roof. Definitely can do without this song. The good part about this is actually good song to sing to, sans the violins ugh.

8. Save Me From Myself
She practically whispers throughout the song. But the best part of the song is that she whispers. The song is very personal, singing close to your ears and your heart. Not a song to sing with [actually you can do it too] but a song to embrace. A wonderful piece from Christina, a different side of her away from the riffs and runs and screaming and trying to hit the high notes.

9. The Right Man
A ballad with violins which sounds like something out of the interlude from "25 Minutes". I would preferred it if she did it without all the theatrics. A good song nonetheless...it leaves a lasting impression of her. It personally gave me a silent thought about the album, a somewhat good end to a great album.

i love this album and i hope i can love it more. Christina Aguilera really took some well-deserved rest to create this wonderful album, though there were some hits and misses. I felt that Christina made the songs so true to herself, but also so true to Music itself.

Hooray for the girl who everyone thought was a skanky slut.

Just Because
9:55 PM