AN ELECTROPOP DELIGHT: BIONIC

SCORE: 98/100. NEAR PERFECTION, BUT PACE FALLS SLIGHTLY NEAR THE END OF THE ALBUM - BRINGING THE SCORE FROM THE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT 100 TO A 98.

Christina is a singer that I have always liked, her voice sticks out from the rest by a large margin - and this album is something one wouldn't necessarily expect from her. The album immediately starts with a delightfully wonky and tastefully produced electropop sound, drifting away from her more traditional pop roots and moving into something both more mature and artistically & sonically interesting.

Experimentation worked in her favor here, for a sixth studio album, this sounds incredibly fresh and new. It doesn't sound like a previous teenage popstar trying to stay relevant and in the mainstream - it sounds like a genuine, fresh approach at making an album that cares more about the sound and precision of production than the charts and radio airplay. The electropop sound slightly reminds me of Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds', with rich, groovy production that uses both new and old electronic sounds to create a perfect blend that any electronic fans could get behind.

This album feels like it was perfectly catered to my music palate, and I wasn't expecting this to be nearly as enjoyable and well produced as it is. I was expecting a dragging album - a problem that a LOT of pop albums have, but this album is the complete opposite of boring. This album keeps the pace and the energy going, opening up a dancefloor with the booming, boastful production and variation throughout tracks.

'Bionic' is a genuine contender for one of the best electropop albums of all time, and it feels very similar to Britney Spears' iconic 2007 album, 'Blackout'. Spears and Aguilera have been compared to one another for decades, and this album makes it clear to see why. I think Britney has stronger songs overall through her discography, but Christina has a more impressive vocal range with her distinct sound and high notes.

Vocally, the album drifts away from what one might expect from Christina, using more mellow vocals rather than showing off her high notes and range on every song. This is incredibly refreshing - 'Bionic' is a more production-fronted album that focuses more on the heavy electronic sounds than Christina's ability as a singer. The album doesn't feel like one big promotional ad going "HEY! This is a singer that you all know!!", it rather feels like a fresh, blooming project that has stayed fresh for over a decade. The album feels like it's genuinely trying to make genuinely, fully fleshed out music - for the sake of the music, not for the sake of sales.

'Bionic' proves the point that great pop music is achieved with experimentation a lot of the time. Sure, the chart-focused pop music can generate some incredible songs - some of which that shifted the mainstream sound by a large margin, but this album isn't trying too hard to be mainstream - in fact, it isn't trying at all to be mainstream in the slightest. The production is wonky, each song is something new and exciting, and there's a distinct sound that you won't get anywhere else. There are albums that sound very similar to those found throughout 'Bionic', but this album is its own breed.

"With this new album, I wanted to go in a completely opposite direction – a very futuristic, robotic sound and computer-sounding vocals. I'm experimenting with my voice in ways I've never done before, almost like a technical, computer-generated sound, which is different for me because I'm the type of vocalist that just belts. I'm always inspired by new things because I get bored."

Femininity is on full display throughout 'Bionic', an album that is all about "being unabashedly YOU". The songs share a similar theme - further reminding me of those found on 'FutureSex/LoveSounds', the content and sounds/styles are very similar on the two albums. Another album I am reminded of by this one is Nelly Furtado's 'Loose'. It's rare that I find myself reminded by other artists or albums when listening to music, but this album had a lot of moments that reminded me of other projects I have heard - something I found to be incredibly enjoyable.

'Bionic' is an incredibly fun and sexy album. It's dirty to the core, and Christina has no shame or shyness about her desires and feelings. Christina uses elements from her previous projects while leaving her past behind and taking on a new persona for the public. This album shows that she grew into a changed woman. The elements of Spanish in 'Desnudate' are well incorporated and fit into the soundscape of the album incredibly well, it doesn't feel out of place, and the mix of Spanish and English in the song was incredibly well executed.

'Glam' feels almost like a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community with the ballroom, vouge influenced sound. It's like a modern, electronic version of Madonna's 'Vouge', and has a somewhat similar feel to some of the tracks on Lady Gaga's 2013 album 'ARTPOP'. The chorus also reminds me heavily of J.Lo's 'Let's Get Loud'.

This album is a nonstop collection of absolutely incredible tracks, and it's near impossible to pick out specific highlights or favorites when all of the tracks are so well done. Every song is so incredibly different from the last, and the next will leave you surprised every single time the songs end.

The production on this album is absolutely mindboggling, and for an album that is over a decade old - sounds incredibly fresh. This album is and was ahead of its time, and it will forever remain a timeless classic. If you aren't a fan of the more electronic pop sound from Christina - don't fret, because the second half of this album starting with the sensual, seductive & sultry introduction, 'Morning Dessert', is more full of ballads and softer songs.

'Bionic' makes ballads seem more interesting than they usually are, and Christina's vocals are utilized incredibly well. It shows off her incredible vocal skills and range while still flaunting rich, lush production. The ballads have more of a light sound to them while still having texture and plenty of different elements to go around - and this half didn't drag the album down like I thought it might do.

Fans of Janet Jackson's sultry sound will without a doubt enjoy the seductive 'Sex for Breakfast'. Christina's vocals are layered incredibly well, and the Janet comparisons aren't just thrown around without reason. The sound of both the production and vocals is very similar to what you would find on a Janet Jackson album - a sound that not just anyone could accomplish and pull off as well as Christina did. The introduction leading into the track made it so that the album was broken up appropriately - making the shift in sound flow into the rest of the tracklist naturally and with ease.

The ballads presented on 'Bionic' are more personal and reflect on Christina's life, feelings, and experiences. 'Life Me Up' is an incredibly touching power ballad that has some elements of 80s rock with the guitars and piano mixed together. The soft guitar riffs add an extra layer into the production that gives the track that extra glitz - just one layer in production can make or break a song, and this guitar makes it.

18 tracks has never felt so needed & natural before.

'Bionic' more than exceeded my expectations - it's a must-hear for any fans of electropop, or even just standard pop. There's something for everyone on this album, and the production is so incredibly rich and full. It does so much without feeling like it's trying too hard - and Christina made what is probably her best album with this one.

I do personally feel as if the ballad tracks could've been left to a separate album, since some of them feel ever so slightly out of place, but the pacing of the album and how it is arranged makes up for this small fault.