Wed:19-11-2008

- Christina Aguilera - Album Review

Does Xtina Keep Getting Better?

Christina Aguilera's greatest hits compilation comes with few notable omissions, strangely ignoring the global hit singles 'Can't Hold Us Down' , 'The Voice Within' , and successful collaborations with Missy Elliott and Nelly. But this is still a pretty nifty package, with gorgeous comic book-inspired artwork and a bonus DVD with 10 of her videos (another gripe: Aguilera's made over 20 music videos. How hard is it to put 'em 'all' on the DVD?).

It's interesting to watch her image progress: from the uber-skank that was 'Dirrty' to the cheeky wartime brilliance of 'Candyman' . Throughout, the music's been top-shelf pop all the way; even her Ricky Martin power ballad, 'Nobody Wants To Be Lonely', has aged well.

As well as contributing two brand new songs (the title track and the sassy 'Dynamite' ), Aguilera re-recorded two of her biggest hits especially for the album: 'Genie In A Bottle' and 'Beautiful' . Both indicate that she's been listening to a lot of Goldfrapp lately. The slinky, teen pop of 'Genie' has been reinvented as an icy synth number, while 'Beautiful', that most maudlin of Linda Perry's numerous inspirational power ballads, is turned into the sort of spacious chill-out that would've sounded at home on the 'Frapp's 'Black Cherry' . Both manage to better the originals. Coupled with the news that Aguilera is about to start writing with brilliant Aussie singer Sia, this suggests her next album won't repeat the overblown excesses of her last, the ironically-titled 'Back To Basics' .

By Nick Bond

Christina Aguilera: Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade Of Hits is out now on Sony

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