Christina Aguilera "Lotus"

Not sure if this would be classified as an identity crisis, but every album she approaches in a different way while still staying the same. In 1999, the self-titled debut of the vocally talented and lovable teenage pop-tart was released; the songs were catchy and worthy of multiple listens. In only three short years she was Stripped of her cookie-cutter crust, and began her growth as a gorgeous and independent young woman; fearless of being sexy, albeit dirrty, and even vulnerable in her own skin. Her last album she played the role of sexbot, and was a little too Bionic for me. While there were obvious standouts under the new allegiance with studio wizardry and producers of electropop/ electronic music, some of the best tracks were devoid of all the studio bells and whistles. The tracks which ignored the sexual desire, even though practically everyone experiences that, and focused on personal aspects of her life (including her son) were more memorable; also balanced the album.
So while her new album was not Back 2 The Basics, it was a little more organic? It’s not like she didn’t have songs expressing her sexuality on basically every album, and as she sang on still dirty rom said album “Why is a woman's sexuality always under so much scrutiny?” So there you go, and now time for the show! The comparisons made between Gaga and Madonna are noted, and how either gaga also copied Xtina throughout their careers, or vice versa, is also noted. I mention that because the “Lotus Intro,” lyrically, reminds me of the egg concept that Gaga used throughout her Born This Way album. “Army of Me” is another one of those anthems that converts the pain of a past relationship into a force for bettering oneself, and repeats the same theme found on the intro. This “Red Hot Kinda Love” is more than kinda fun with those higher registers, and that ever present beat. Cee-Lo Green assists Xtina in her attempt to “Make The World Move” and “Turn up the love/Turn down the hate” I love the message, isn’t it great?! Yes, Christina, I’m sure a majority of people are in love with “Your Body,” now all they ask is for the experience. “Tonight’s your lucky night, I know you want it.” Don’t be a tease. “Sing My Song” reminds me of a when she was singing her song; except it is through the eyes of a more experienced diva. The rebirth theme returns as a “Blank Page,” and reminds you of the reason she became well known. Her looks…too, but her voice is what did it; she is gorgeous though. The dreamy and occasionally drum-heavy sound of “Cease Fire” paint the picture of a battlefield, and those explosions are caused by fear and hatred. “Pain and hurt/Living in fear/Wasted energy/In the end/What is it worth?” may be the simplest of lines, but are effective. These lines and others may seem like buckets compared to this conflagration, but if enough people work together it will be ousted. Love “Around The World” sounds like a plan, even if it has to be made it will be fun. The drums in this production sounds more pronounced, and assist in its energy. Anybody up for a quickie in Milan? LOL, kidding. We see a confident Christina spin “Circles” around her haters on her “little middle finger” in this expert kiss-off. If the preceding track is what she shows the world, this track is how she feels on the inside late at night: “Words cut through my skin/Tears roll down my chin/My walls crumble within”  but she still proclaims “I will rise undefeated/I will not let you bring me down” on “Best of Me.” What is interesting is that this next track features another one of her cohorts from The Voice in what sounds like a lightweight unchained melody, with a dash of Linda Perry, or maybe I’m “Just A Fool.” I would not mind if Shelton re-recorded this for his next project. This song says more than what I can, so I will avoid using any more “Empty Words” to describe it?