Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is a lot of sexual innuendo on this album, as well as some pretty steamy photos in the CD insert. But it's all delivered with a wink and a smile.
Families can talk about the interesting phenomenon of young performers paying tribute to musical forms that have been around awhile. Is Christina's voice better suited for the pop music she's known for performing, or the jazzy, bluesy, classic sound she's going for here?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Christina Aguilera's first album in four years features the pop music star feeling her oats on two CDs' worth of classic-sounding love songs. She pays tribute to the jazz, blues, and soul arrangements of the past while giving them her contemporary, flirtatious spin.
The pop princess vamps her way through lyrics like "Sip on my champagne/cause I'm gonna give you a little taste/of the sugar below my waist," on the track "Nasty Naughty Boy." And the song "Candyman" describes a "one-stop shop" that "makes the panties drop." Despite the fact that these lyrics leave little to the imagination, most of the other sexy stuff (and there's tons of it) is relegated to the kind of tease-y double-entendre that won't register with kids too young to understand the innuendo. It's the advantage of going way old skool: the racier stuff is usually handled with more subtlety.
The first disc on this two-CD extravaganza features help from high-powered friends, including DJ Premier, Kwame, Tony Reyes, and Ben H. Allen. The second disc appears to be the "Linda Perry Show" -- on which the celebrity songwriter/producer leads Christina through her paces with artistry and finesse, and delivers a few lovely musical surprises.
The CD insert features an array of sexy, flirty photos of Christina in period costumes, apparently having the time of her life playing dress-up.
Some may wonder whether a double-CD was really necessary. Many of the mixes sound a little drab, and some judicious editing could have made the album feel more focused. But if you're a true-blue fan, Back to Basics provides a lot of Christina to sink your teeth into.
Fans of this album may also enjoy Destiny Fulfilled and the covers on Idol winner Ruben Studdard's Soulful.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA lot of innuendo. Only explicit in a couple of instances with lyrics: "Sip on my champagne/cause I'm gonna give you a little taste/of the sugar below my waist," on the track "Nasty Naughty Boy." And the song "Candyman" describes a "one-stop shop" that "makes the panties drop." |
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Social BehaviorLots of playful flirtation throughout. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoIncludes a couple of references to drinking. |
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