Stripped - Christina Aguilera > Reviews > Very powerful, very raw, very honest

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Very honest and personal, only 2 - 3 bad songs
Disadvantages:	A few forgettable songs

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I received Stripped as a Christmas present, and chucked it to one side, expecting an album in the same style as Genie In A Bottle, despite her image change. After hearing brilliant reviews about it, I decided to try it. I had my doubts, as I peeled off the cellophone wrapping and sticking it into the CD player. As it loaded, I had a look at the album booklet. It seemed okay - in some pictures she is topless, just in her knickers and even nude, but they all seemed tastefully done.

What's my verdict? Amazing. This is one of those rare albums that you can listen in one sitting, without skipping over countless, rubbish unoriginal tracks that all merge into one long rubbish, unoriginal track! This is very different with Stripped.

1) Stripped intro
2) Can't Hold Us Down
3) Walk Away
4) Fighter
5) Primer Amor Interlude
6) Infatuation
7) Love Embrace interlude
8) Loving Me For Me
9) Impossible
10) Underappreciated
11) Beautiful
12) Makeover
13) Cruz
14) Soar
15) Get Mine Get Yours
16) Dirrty
17) Stripped part2
18) The Voice Within
19) I'm OK
20) Keep On Singin My Song

That the is tracklist above. Sixteen songs minus interludes and intros is quite a lot - most albums have 10 to 12 songs, and all the ones on Stripped are listenable, but there's a handful that stand out to me.

Fighter is in my opinion, the best from the album, about two-faced, backstabbing people Christina's had to deal with. It's as catchy as a cold, the lyrics are thoughtful and it's generally an inspiring song if you've ever had people trying to knock your confidence and self-esteem. Beautiful, the second to be released from Stripped, lives up to it's name. The lyrics are thoughtful, and it has a 'you are beautiful no matter what' theme to it, which not many songs do nowadays, so well done to her.

I'm OK discusses the domestic violence she endured as a child, and you feel somewhat intrusive listening in on such personal memories and feelings. It is very sad and emotional, but leaves you with a sense of empathy with Christina. Get Mine Get Yours is a very fresh, funky song, and it's a shame that it's so obviously about casual sex - otherwise I think it would have been released as a single. Can't Hold Us Down features L'il Kim, about how women who sleep around are whores but men who do the same are seen as studs. I hated it the first time I listened but it's a definite grower and if you're not careful, you might be tempted to sneer, 'little boy, you must act so big to make up for smaller things..' at guys who are paying unwanted attention!

What eventually comes across is a very raw, very personal album that she's put her heart and soul into. Completely amazing, I'd recommend it to anyone.