CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Resurrection

 

Resurrection is the 2014 studio album by Anastacia. It was her sixth studio album, and, when it was released, her first album with original material in over five years. Like most of her albums, this one did not gain much traction in the US but was a hit in several European countries. Also, like her prior albums, the songs are a mix of pop, rock, soul, and R&B. It contains more slow, ballad-like tracks than the upbeat dance tracks featured on her earlier albums. Although there are a couple that fall in the latter category.

It contains 10 tracks in all, some of which were written and recorded during her second cancer diagnosis, so some of them are absolutely inspired by her personal experiences. The CD liner includes lyrics and production notes for each track, a few pictures of Anastacia, and the usual thank-you notes on the final page. Overall, the album is very similar in style and tone to her prior albums. I would not say that there is one or two standout tracks on the album, but there are no bad songs. Ultimately, if you have liked or loved her previous albums, you will likely enjoy this one. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Heavy Rotation

 

Heavy Rotation is the fourth studio album by Anastacia. It was released in 2008, and, depending on which version you have, contains 11 or 12 tracks. The UK and Australian editions contain a bonus track titled "Beautiful Messed Up World." This album has more slow ballads and ballad-like tracks than her previous albums, which primarily featured up-tempo dance tracks. This one does have some up-tempo tracks as well, but overall, the album showcases more of her vocal ability and range.  Like her prior albums, this one blends genres like rock, R&B, funk, soul, and pop. The CD liner contains the lyrics and production notes for all the songs, several pictures of Anastacia, and thank yous on the final page. 

While the album was not a huge hit here in the US, it contains many good tracks that are worthy of inclusion on a playlist, such as All Fall Down, Never Love Again, and You'll Be Fine. Ultimately, it is probably her best overall album (at the time of its release) and is definitely worth listening to. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Pieces of A Dream

 

Pieces of a Dream, released in 2005, is partly a greatest-hits compilation album by Anastacia and partly a new release (at the time). It has 17 tracks in total and includes singles from her first three studio albums, four new songs recorded for this album, and a megamix of her biggest hits up to that point. The CD liner includes lyrics and production notes, as well as one picture of Anastacia. Like her other albums up to this point, this blends different genres, including soul, pop, and R&B, mixing slower ballads with upbeat dance tracks. Even though she hit the scene in the early 2000s, Anastacia was older than many of the female pop stars of the time, and only achieved modest popularity in the US. She was always more popular overseas than in the US, and this album was no exception. Ultimately, if you liked her first few albums, you will probably enjoy this one. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia (self-titled)

 

This is the 2004 self-titled album by Anastacia. It is her third studio album and mixes elements of pop, soul, rock, and R&B. It was not released on physical media in the US  but is available on CD as an import. The album did very well overseas, topping the charts in Germany and the UK. The album has 12 tracks in all. Most of them fall into more of a power-rock category. There are not many ballads or slower songs. The standout tracks, in my opinion, are Left Alone Outside and Sick and Tired. The CD liner includes track listings with lyrics and liner notes, several pictures of Anastacia, and a thank-you note on the final page. The album is good. It has many good tracks, but it definitely has some weaker tracks mixed in. Ultimately, if you liked or loved her first two albums, you will probably like this one as well. 

CD/Music Review: Ashanti: Chapter II

 

Chapter II is the 2003 sophomore album by Ashanti. It features 20 tracks total, but some are very short skits or interludes that run around a minute or less, give or take (similar to those on her first album). The album features three singles, the most successful of which is "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)," which peaked at number 2 on the US Top 100. Like her first album, this one mixes R&B, rap, funk, hip-hop, soul, and pop and includes more upbeat dance tracks and ballads. The CD liner unfolds into a poster of Ashanti on one side, and pictures, lyrics, production notes, and a thank-you message on the other. Ultimately, the album has a very similar style and sound to her debut album, which some may like and some may feel is too much of a carbon copy of her first album. Personally, I liked her first album a bit more than this one, but ultimately, if you enjoyed her debut album, you will probably like this one. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Freak of Nature

 

Freak of Nature, released in 2001, is the second studio album by Anastacia. Like her first album, this one blends sounds from different genres, blending funk, soul, pop, and R&B. The album consists of 13 tracks totaling just over 50 minutes. Most of the tracks are upbeat dance numbers, but on this album, she also includes more ballads. It was a good follow-up to her debut album, but it was not the same jump in quality that, for example, Adele had from her debut album, 19, to her second album, 21. 

The CD liner contains pictures, track listings (with production notes but no lyrics), and a thank-you message at the end. Ultimately, I would describe the album as good, but not great. I think part of the issue that Anastacia faced was that she came along at a time when the pop charts were dominated by people in their early 20s (Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera), and she (despite looking much younger than her age) was in her mid-30s so putting out songs trying to compete with the "pop princesses" just did not work. I think the album would have been a bigger success if she had stuck with material geared toward the age group beyond the clubbing scene. That said, it is still worth checking out if you liked her first album.

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Not That Kind

 

Not That Kind is Anastacia's 2000 debut album, released after she gained notoriety on the late-1990s MTV talent show, The Cut. The album contains 13 tracks in all, including four singles: "I'm Outta Love" (the most successful and popular song on the album), the title track "Not That Kind," "Cowboys & Kisses," and "Made for Lovin' You." The songs on the album are quite eclectic in terms of sound. Some very much sound like late '90s/early '00s dance pop tracks (although slightly different from what younger stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were doing), Cowboys & Kisses is a mix of pop and country, and some are slower ballads. She has described her style as a mix of soul, pop, and rock, and that definitely describes the mix of genres on the album. 

The CD liner contains pictures of Anastacia, a listing of all the tracks with production notes (but no lyrics), and the requisite thank-yous. While Anastacia never broke out into superstardom, she has a very good voice and was one of the better lesser-known pop acts of that time. The album is absolutely worth listening to and has several songs worth of inclusion on one or more playlists.

CD/Music Review: Marc Anthony Self Titled Album

 

Marc Anthony's self-titled album was released in 1999. It was his fourth studio album and his second English-language album. It contains 15 tracks; most are ballads or Latin-dance tracks. Most of the songs are in English, but the last few are in Spanish. The most popular song on the album is probably "I Need to Know," which peaked at number 10 on the US Top 100 chart. The best song on the album, in my opinion, is the first track, which is the ballad "When I Dream at Night." The CD liner contains pictures, the track listings (which include lyrics and production notes), and the traditional thank-yous at the end. Ultimately, this is a wonderful album with a good mix of songs. While many pop acts back in the late 1990s sounded very similar, Anthony's album was not a cookie-cutter carbon copy of what was popular at the time. It is absolutely worth listening to with multiple tracks worthy of inclusion on one or more playlists. 

CD/Music Review: All Saints: Self-Titled Album

 

All Saints was a 1990s "girl group" from England. Their debut self-titled album was released in 1997. It contained 12 tracks, mainly ballads and R&B dance numbers, along with a couple of covers. The biggest hit on the album (and the best overall song) was the ballad Never Ever, which reached number one in several countries and peaked at number 4 on the Top 100 in the US. The CD liner includes pictures of the group members, track listings with production notes (but no lyrics), and separate "thank you" messages from each member. 

Of course, in the late 1990s, the Spice Girls were the dominant girl group, eclipsing all others, and All Saints did not gain much traction. Ultimately, the album is okay, but not great. The covers of Lady Marmalade and Under the Bridge were okay, but did not achieve the success of Never Ever, and the other tracks just sound like cookie-cutter '90s pop songs. While I would not call it a must-listen, if you were a fan of the group in the '90s or just a fan of '90s pop, it is worth checking out. 

 

Music/CD Review: The All-American Rejects: Move Along

 

Move Along is the 2005 studio album by the rock band The All-American Rejects. It is the band's second (and most successful) studio album. It consists of 12 tracks, including three singles that reached the top 15 on the Top 100 chart: Dirty Little Secret, Move Along, and It Ends Tonight. Move Along is (in my opinion) the best track on the album, but all of the songs are good; they have a nice mix of sound and are not carbon copies of each other. The album definitely sounds like an early-2000s rock-oriented pop album and will definitely bring you back to that era if you lived through it. The CD liner features production notes and pictures of the band members. It does not have a "traditional" track listing and lyrics. Instead, it has pictures of handwritten notes for each track, containing some of the lyrics for each song. Ultimately, the album very much feels stuck in its era. If you are a fan of early-2000s pop, especially the non-boy-band rock portion of the genre, you will probably like this. If so, it is worth listening to and includes several tracks worthy of inclusion on one or more playlists.

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Liberation

 

Liberation, released in 2018, is Christina Aguilera's eighth studio album. The album includes 15 tracks. A few of them are very short interludes that run for a minute or less. The album's total runtime is just under 50 minutes. 

Like her prior albums, the songs on this one mix styles and genres. On the whole, the tracks tend to be slower ballads and ballad-like, rather than the more upbeat dance/club tracks (although there are some of those too). While the album did not have a bunch of hit singles, it does have many good-to-great tracks. For me, the best track on the album is "Deserve," which wasn't released as a single.

The CD liner contains pictures of Aguilera, production notes (but no lyrics) for the various tracks, and thank-you messages on the final page. Ultimately, while this album was not a massive hit like her earlier albums, it is one of her best albums, if not her best overall album. It is absolutely worth listening to, and it has several songs worthy of inclusion on a playlist. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Lotus

 

Lotus is the seventh studio album by Christina Aguilera. It was released in 2012 and contains either 13 tracks (on the standard edition of the album) or 17 tracks (on the deluxe edition). As with her past few albums, Aguilera co-wrote and produced several of the tracks on the album, which includes a wide range of topics and mixes genres and styles. It features a mix of upbeat pop and dance-style songs and ballads. Two singles were released from the album: "Your Body" and a duet with Blake Shelton, "Just a Fool." Both of them are good, but neither became a massive hit.

The CD liner features pictures of Augilera, lyrics, and production notes for each song, as well as several thank-you messages at the end. The album has a very similar feel and tone to her last few albums, which may be appreciated by some and found to be cookie-cutter by others. While the songs on the album were not as popular as some of her earlier hits, they feature a good mix of songs that showcase Aguilera's vocal range and talent. If you are a fan of Aguilera's it is worth listening to and, depending on your tastes, some of the tracks are worth adding to a playlist, even if you would not listen to the entire album multiple times. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Bionic

 

Bionic, released in 2010, is the sixth studio album from Christina Aguilera. The album features 18 tracks in total, some of which are brief "intro" tracks lasting under a minute. Like her prior albums, especially Stripped and Back to Basics, it mixes genres. The first half of the album includes upbeat club/dance songs that employ an electronica sound, and the second half has the ballads (which tend to be Aguilera's better songs). As has been the case since Aguilera started taking more control of her music and sound, this album features songs with more adult-oriented themes, particularly those related to sex and feminism.  For example, the song Woohoo is about oral sex, and Desnudate is Spanish for "get naked." The album also features songs about marriage and motherhood. The biggest hit from the album is the song "Not Myself Tonight," which peaked at number 23 on the US Top 100 chart.

The CD liner contains pictures of Aguilera (mostly scantily clad or nude), lyrics, production notes, and a thank-you note on the final page. While the album was not as big a hit as some of her prior albums and did not have as many hit singles, it is still good, especially the second half, which features more of the ballads. The easy comparison to make for the sound and feel of this album is to Madonna's Erotica and Janet Jackson's Janet albums. While I don't think this album is as good as those two, it shares some parallels with them. It is definitely not an album that is kid-friendly, like her first couple of albums, which were more bubblegum pop albums. While some of the songs are okay for younger kids to listen to, along with the sexual content of some songs, she does drop a couple of f-bombs that are not edited out. Ultimately, if you are a fan of Aguilera, this one is worth listening to, and many of the tracks are worthy of inclusion in a playlist.   

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics

 

Back to Basics, released in 2006, is a two-disc album by Christina Aguilera. It contains 22 tracks in all, 13 on the first disc and 9 on the second. It also has a bonus video track. It is her fifth studio album and was her first in three years, following 2002's Stripped. On it, Aguilera continued to assert more control over her music, acting as a producer on the album and co-writing all of the tracks, many of which with Linda Perry. 

Most of the songs on the album use samples from other songs. While the album is still a pop album, it is not all bubblegum kid-oriented pop. The songs have more mature, adult themes that reflect her being older and having gotten married. Like her prior albums, this mixes pop, R&B, hip-hop, and soul, and also incorporates swing and jazz elements. It has a mix of dance numbers and ballads that highlight Aguilera's vocal range. Only a few songs from the album were released as singles, of which the songs Ain't No Other Man and Candyman were the biggest hits. 

The CD liner features many pictures of Aguilera with the production notes and lyrics printed over them, and a thank-you note on the final page. Ultimately, the album is good, despite not having as many big hits as her prior albums. It has a good mix of songs, many of which are worthy of inclusion on a pop playlist. If you liked her prior albums, this is worth listening to.

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Stripped

 

Stripped, released in 2002, is the fourth studio album by Christina Aguilera. It was created during the period when Aguilera was attempting to shed her bubblegum pop teen persona, which led to her taking more control over her music and significantly altering her public image. The album includes 20 tracks (some of which are very short interludes as opposed to full-length songs), five of which ("Dirrty," "Beautiful," "Fighter," "Can't Hold Us Down," and "The Voice Within") were released as singles and achieved varying levels of success on the major charts. The songs on the album tended to touch on more adult themes than the songs on her first two albums, like love and sex, being in an abusive relationship, fighting through tough times, and the concepts of feminism and misogyny. The songs on the album incorporate elements from various genres, including pop, rap, R&B, rock, hip-hop, Latin, and soul, and feature a mix of songs ranging from upbeat dance numbers to ballads.

The CD liner includes pictures, lyrics, and production notes for each track, as well as several pages of thank-you notes. The wording is very hard to read because the text is tiny and printed in white against a silver background. Even if your eyes are relatively good, you have to hold the liner right up to your nose to read it. The album is good overall, although some songs are definitely better than others. It has an eclectic enough mix of songs that chances are, if you are a fan of late '90s/early '00s pop, you will like one or more songs on the album. The album marked a significant shift for Aguilera, and, of course, introduced her more mature and sexual "Xtina" persona, which she still occasionally showcases. While the album will not appeal to everyone, if you are a fan of Aguilera's music, it is worth listening to, and some of the tracks are definitely worth adding to a pop-oriented playlist.

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Mi Reflejo

 

Mi Reflejo, released in 2000, is the second studio album by Christina Aguilera. It was recorded entirely in Spanish and included 11 tracks in all. It included Spanish-language versions of five tracks from her self-titled debut album (Genie in a Bottle, Come on Over Baby (All I Want is You), I Turn to You, What a Girl Wants, and Reflection), four original tracks, and two covers. 

The CD liner includes pictures of Aguilera, lyrics, and production notes for the tracks, and a thank-you note (all written in Spanish). As with the first album, some of the tracks showcase Aguilera's vocal range, but overall, like her debut album, this is mostly a bubblegum pop album. She can get a bit overzealous with hitting high notes, much like Mariah Carey, which can be a bit annoying.  Ultimately, if you were a fan of her debut album, you will most likely enjoy this one. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera

 

Christina Aguilera's self-titled debut album was released in 1999. It contains 12 tracks, including the hit singles "Genie in a Bottle," "What a Girl Wants," "Come on Over Baby (All I Want is You)," and "I Turn to You." The first three reached number one in the US, and the last one reached number three. The album blends pop, R&B, and hip-hop, featuring a mix of upbeat dance numbers and ballads.  

The CD liner includes lyrics and production notes for each track, interspersed with pictures of Aguilera, and ends with a thank-you note. The album definitely falls squarely in the realm of teen pop, but also showcases Aguilera's vocal range and talent, which was much stronger than that of other pop stars of the era. Although it is now 25 years old, the album holds up fairly well over time. Chances are, most people who will be interested in the album now are those who were teenagers or in their early to mid-20s when the album was first released. However, if you are a fan of late '90s/early 2000s pop, this is worth listening to. 

CD/Music Review: Bryan Adams: So Far So Good

 

So Far So Good, released in 1993, is primarily a collection of hits from Bryan Adams from the 1980s and early 1990s. It includes all of his best-known songs, such as Summer of '69, Straight From the Heart, Run to You, Heaven, Cuts Like a Knife, and (Everything I Do) I Do It for You. It also includes some lesser-known songs that had been released on his prior albums, and the one new track, Please Forgive Me, which became a Top 10 hit in the United States. The CD liner just includes the track listings, production credits, a photo, and a note from Adams. It does not include the lyrics for the various tracks. 

Adam's music is a blend of rock and pop, both of which are heavily featured on this album. Most of his big his are pretty traditional pop songs (either upbeat or ballads), but the lesser-known tracks give a nod to the kind of music that influenced Adams. If you are a fan of Adams or just 80s and 90s pop, this is definitely worth listening to.

CD/Music Review: Ace of Base: The Sign

 

The Sign is the 1993 album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It is, for all intents and purposes, their debut album as it included many songs from their lesser-known (at least in the US) debut album, Happy Nation, and added several songs, including their smash hits Don't Turn Around, and The Sign. The album has 12 tracks overall; the biggest hits from the album were Don't Turn Around, The Sign, and All That She Wants. Other tracks, such as "Wheel of Fortune" and "Happy Nation," achieved more success overseas but did not gain much traction in the US. 

The album is a good early '90s pop album. It absolutely has more of a Euro-pop feel than stuff that was being put out by American artists at the time, but it worked. The CD liner contains the track listing, production notes for each song, and personal notes from the band members. Ultimately, if you grew up on '90s pop, listening to this will be a nostalgic blast from the past. 

CD/Music Review: Paula Abdul: Head over Heels

 

Head Over Heels, released in 1995, is the third studio album from Paula Abdul. The album comprises 14 tracks, primarily falling within the dance-pop genre. This album was not as successful as Abdul's first two albums, but two of the three singles released from it, "Crazy Cool" and "My Love Is for Real," reached the Top 100. Only My Love Is for Real reached the Top 40, peaking at number 28. The CD liner includes the lyrics, writing, and production credits for each track, as well as a thank-you message from Abdul. Ultimately, the album is okay, but none of the tracks are as good as the biggest hits from the albums Forever Your Girl and Spellbound. That said, if you are a fan of Abdul or the dance-pop genre generally, this is worth listening to.