Re: Aguilera: Bionic [Spring 2010]
I realize I'm about a decade late to this party...but then again, so was
Bionic (which is too bad, since I've heard that it was originally planned - and mostly produced - for a lot earlier, when it would have been a lot more obviously groundbreaking and a lot less seemingly "wait for me, wait for me!!" but
Burlesque shooting schedule made it have to be pushed to where it was. Of course, that was Christina's choice to make, and it's been pretty clear that her personal priority is the film...which is probably why she's been so oddly "whatevs" about the album's numerous disasters.
Anyway,
Bionic is far and away the album that I've spent the most critical effort and sheer mental energy and time on, because in some ways it's seriously epic (mainly in terms of production, credit to Tricky Stewart, John Hill & Switch, Ladytron, Polow Da Don) and in others it's so appallingly awful it's really worrisome...especially because a lot of the things they fucked up are the exact same fuckups that happened with
Stripped... it's forgivable to err on your sophomore album, but to do the same shit again eight years later on your fourth is either criminally lazy or maddeningly stupid...neither of which bodes well for a pop singer turning 30.
See? I can't even help getting into it when I actually meant to post the
in-depth, Pitchfork-style review I did on the album for my pop music blog,
Vertigo Shtick. I'd be really interested to hear from other Aguilera fans/
Bionic enthusiasts or detractors about your thoughts, so I was stoked to come across this thread.
Check it out if you possibly can, and let me know what you think! I'm still pretty new to this, and would be very grateful for any feedback, and especially grateful to those who find a moment to spread the word somehow!