|
|
MUSICBOX: Strip by strip
Forget Brittany Spears. Sit back as 22-year old Christina Aguilera takes you on a ride to her very own planet. With a diverse assemblage of 20 new tracks on Stripped, Christina has definitely struck the right chords and found her own voice. It is a voice that was previously entangled in its own inhibitions, but now it’s the voice of an artist discovering her own potential.
Flaunting a hot new look and a bodacious attitude to match, the album sees Christina navigate her way from post-teen vaudeville into adult turf. She has penned most of the songs on the record, although she teamed up with Lina Perry for four songs.
Featuring appearances galore by such artists as Eve, Redman, Alicia Keys and Dave Navarro, Stripped is the pop star’s sophomore English language album. The Genie in a bottle girl kicks off the record in a befitting fashion as she relinquishes the teen pop approach for a more chic and genteel R&B and rock rhythm. Aguilera broaches a serious issue by eulogizing the strength of women on Can’t Hold Us Down, which also features Lil’ Kim. Even though the theme of the song is not a bolt from the blue, what sets the tune apart is the resilience radiated by Christina’s voice. Walk Away has stunning lyrics and phlegmatic vocals to boot. This song definitely has a reason to be on the album.
Fighter presents the perennial ambitions of the artist. The acoustical effects of Dave Navarro’s guitar endear affection for this song. Impossible has Alicia Keys on the piano, pristinely supporting the groovy vibes of Christina, while Beautiful is a subtle ballad that has the singer carrying notes like Mariah Carey. Arching a slow tune and capitalizing on a ubiquitous theme, Beautiful is a song that will touch the depth of your heart.
Christina and Redman successfully make Dirrty the flamboyant cynosure of the album which also came accompanied with a controversial video. The funky chorus and bouncy beat will entice you to hit the dance floor. Definitely a robust proclamation, Stripped deserves a place in your audio collection.—-Taimur Saleem
Twisted sister
.jpg)
Although only 20 years old, country music child prodigy LeAnn Rimes is already a multi-millionaire. Since age 13, Rimes has been wowing audiences with her Patsy Cline-like sound and sweet, girl-next-door charm. She’s evolved from a child star micro-managed by her father to an emancipated, married woman who’s gradually leaving her country-western roots behind for a more mainstream pop sound on her new CD, Twisted Angel.The title aptly summarizes her new style: teen queen with a twist. Wearing sophisticated dresses that look like they came out of an ’80s soap opera, Rimes is desperately trying to be more elegant than Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilera. The reality is, however, with Spears, Aguilera, Mandy Moore and Jessica Simpson around, it’s hard to tell one blonde starlet from another.
Lead single Life Goes On is the best thing on the album. With a tepid chorus and lazy beat, the single is pleasant, but forgettable. It is saturated with weak lyrics and chords that are simply not catchy. The video, on the other hand, is quite memorable. Rimes wears a daring designer dress that shows off her new, slim figure and is pursued by a brooding Heathcliff wannabe with a Joe Millionaire look to him. Relying on image and style consultants, Rimes ends up with a manufactured look rather than the real deal. In a determined attempt to look 20 years old, the singer ends up looking older!
Follow up single Suddenly is more of the same, and even more forgettable. Rimes wears another Dynasty diva dress that’s much too old for her and sings lyrics full of dated slang. Other tracks include her very adult Tic Toc — a seductive techno driven number, the slow-burning Celine Dion-esque ballad You Made Me Find Myself, and the soaring R&B tune The Trouble With Goodbye. The rest of the album continues in the same vein with no standout hits.
Twisted Angel desperately needs a Diane Warren song. Rimes blew Trisha Yearwood out of the water when she recorded the classic Warren single How Will I Live? More of that kind of music would have ensured Twisted Angel touched more listeners’ hearts and made them dig into their wallets.—-T. U. Dawood
|
|
|
