Rated Bi~on~ic

Two years ago Christina Aguilera performed 'Keeps Getting Better' at the MTV Movie Awards. Following the show she was accused of copying Lady Gaga, for her electro-pop sound, straight blonde hair-do and black cat suit (you know, because Britney never did that before?). It seems the Gaga comparisons haven't stopped coming over the course of Christina's new production period. However, ignoring the now annoying links to Gaga (and by annoying I mean I am bored of Gaga comparisons!), Christina's Bi~on~ic is no huge disappointment nor is it the scorching memory branding I anticipated.

If Stripped gave us Xtina, Bi~on~ic gives us XXtina. Opening track 'Bionic' compares Christina to a rocket and has her stating, "i'll take you supersonic". It's a suitable introduction, setting the tone for the first portion of the album, which is as club ready as Britney's Blackout. Lead single, 'Not Myself Tonight', follows suit, delivering a massive punch as Christina demands she doesn't "give a fuck" what people think. A wise attitude from a woman who's been out of the music scene for a long time and whose future success rests firmly with the well-being of this album's sales. 'WooHoo' is a surprise on first listen. The haunting electro inspired build up bursts into a jungle drum/hip-hop bouncing club thumper, produced by Polow da Don who has worked with the likes of Ciara and Kelis. Perhaps one of the albums standout tracks and its second US single, 'WooHoo' is cheeky, naughty and damn dirty. From what I can gather, it's about going down on a girl. That's the Xtina we grew to love! 'Elastic Love', penned by MIA, is infectious and hollers back to the writer's Kala album. Tricky produced 'Glamour segue' featuring 'Glam' and 'Prima Donna', seems pointless in light of some of the strong songwriting credits on previous tracks.  'Glam' sounds like a reject from the Sex and City Soundtrack and a bad attempt at rewriting 'Vogue'. Thankfully the album is about to regain its foot hold.

'Sex for Breakfast' is one of the most charming songs I've encountered on a Christina album. It's melodic, her voice sounds fantastic and it's one big wink at the listener. Harking back to Stripped, Christina ropes in the wonderful talents of Linda Perry (Beautiful) and the result is superb. 'Lift Me Up' (sadly the only Perry penned track here) sounds a bit like the ballads of Stripped but new enough not to sound like a duplicate. "When you see me crashing, And theres nowhere left to fall, Will you lift me even higher, To rise above this all", 'Lift Me Up' displays the best vocal performance on the entire album; less shouting, more harmony. Three more ballads follow in this latter stage of the album (all with songwriting from the immensely talented Sia Furler), 'All I Need' is a song about the importance of baby Aguilera in his mother's survival and sanity. 'I Am', one of my favourites from the track listing, sounds like it would fit nicely onto Sia's startling album Colour the Small One. 'You Lost Me' is a strong ballad but pales in the shadow of the stunning 'I Am' and 'Lift Me Up'.

Bi~on~ic closes with a brilliant duet with the controversial lyricist Peaches. 'My Girls' is basically a rowdy Ladies Night esque track and the combination of Xtina and Peaches seems like a match made in provocative heaven. Final track (if you don't have the deluxe edition) 'Vanity' is in one word, hilarious. I don't mean it's bad and funny as a result, far from it. It's probably the catchiest song Christina's ever done. Hardly lyrically challenging, but so funky it, kind of, hurts. "I'm not cocky, I just love myself, bitch!" 'Vanity' is brimming with the attitude I hoped to see on Bi~on~ic. Xtina returns with BIG balls, singing to the bum-bumdedum of wedding music, "I take myself to be my lawfully wedded bitch".

Bi~on~ic is definitely not a failed comeback. Since Stripped, Christina's been acclaimed for song writing and her significant input into her own music. This 2010 onslaught is packed with juicy morsels of pop-tasticness. It may be a bit contrived at times and the album is just a little too long, but there's enough substance to outweigh the filler. Keeping vocal collaborations to a minimum the album sounds like Christina and nothing like the Gaga copy we were promised by critics and Gaga fanatics. The production is pretty damn amazing, with the likes of Le Tigre, Samuel Dixon and Linda Perry tweaking their knobs. Reigning in Sia Furler, Linda Perry, Peaches and MIA cements Christina's position as a respected and intimidating contemporary pop-force.