schnetzka Reviews Random Albums

[schnetzka]

schnetzka Reviews Random Albums

I have been reviewing each of Shania Twain's songs for a while now and decided it was time to start reviewing full albums of other artists I enjoy. Shoutout to bboat11 for starting album reviews because it made me want to to do it too.

There will be no rhyme or reason which albums I decide to review. I will most likely be going through entire discographies of artists I enjoy. I will start with Christina Aguilera as she is my second favorite artist behind Shania. And then we will go from there.

I will be giving each song on each album a score out of ten and then will average those out to score the album out of 100. Multiple elements go into those scores (such as production, lyrics, vocals, etc.). I will be using a chart to display this information.

My first album review is already complete. Let's go on this journey together, shall we...!

*Not sure if anybody would be interested but if anybody wants to be tagged in future posts on this thread, please let me know :)*

[schnetzka]

Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera

Released: August 24, 1999

Track #	Song Title	Production	Writing	Vocals	Overall
1	"Genie in a Bottle"	10	9	10	9.7
2	"What a Girl Wants"	10	8	10	9.4
3	"I Turn to You"	9	9	10	9.4
4	"So Emotional"	10	10	10	10
5	"Come on Over (All I Want Is You)"	7	8	9	8
6	"Reflection"	8	9	10	9
7	"Love for All Seasons"	6	8	9	7.7
8	"Somebody's Somebody"	4	5	7	5.3
9	"When You Put Your Hands on Me"	7	8	8	7.7
10	"Blessed"	6	7	8	7
11	"Love Will Find a Way"	8	8	9	8.3
12	"Obvious"	7	7	7	7
13	"Don't Make Me Love You" (Bonus Track)	10	9	10	9.6
Overall	-	7.8	8.1	9	7.8

Christina Aguilera's debut album opens with one of my favorite songs from the project, the iconic "Genie in a Bottle". It was released as the first single on May 11, 1999. I was only 15 months old then, and I obviously didn't discover Christina until years later, but I was thrilled when I did. Christina herself hasn't been the biggest fan of this song over the years, but she has since come around and now includes a remixed version in her concerts. The music video, featuring scenes of Christina on the beach interspersed with dance sequences, captures the essence of late 90s pop aesthetics. For a late 90s music video, I think it was alright.

Following the debut single, "What a Girl Wants" was released as single #2 and is also a classic that solidifies Christina's as a teen pop icon. The riffs and runs she displays are incredible and have continued to evolve throughout her career. While the sound might be considered dated today, I have always enjoyed the teen pop vibe from the late 90s/early 2000s that Christina, Britney, and a few other artists had. The music video focuses more on dancing and less on storyline, but I think it suits the song perfectly.

The album's first ballad, "I Turn to You," is one of my favorites from the project. This third single showcases Christina's ability to deliver a powerful vocal performance with an understated climax. I particularly enjoy the "for the one who I can run to" part where her voice goes high. The music video, featuring Christina with straightened hair and a narrative storyline, is my favorite from this era.

"So Emotional," a non-single track that I believe absolutely should have been one, comes next. In my opinion, it would have been a hit alongside the other singles of the project. The melody, riffs, runs, and background vocals all make for an outstanding song. This is definitely my favorite non-single from the album.

The fourth and final single, "Come on Over (All I Want Is You)," is my least favorite single released from the album. The chorus is catchy, and the beat is nice, but something about it doesn't pull me in like the rest of the singles. I am also not a fan of the very abrupt ending of the song. The music video has nice colors, but it's a little been there, done that, as it is mostly just Christina dancing again.

"Reflection" is track six on the album and was released as part of the Mulan soundtrack. Confession time: as of writing this review, I have never seen Mulan. The song itself is great, and I also enjoy the re-recorded version. The music video for the song, which features scenes of Christina singing and scenes from the movie, was filmed before all the other videos on the album.

"Love for All Seasons" is the next track. I like the way her voice sounds and the melody in the chorus, but this track is similar to "Come on Over (All I Want Is You)" for me, where something feels like it's missing. Track eight, "Somebody's Somebody," is probably my least favorite song on the album. Honestly, I don't have much to say about this song other than her voice sounds great as always. This is the part of the album that starts losing me.

"When You Put Your Hands on Me" continues that downward trajectory. I appreciate the cohesiveness, but I think there needed to be more of a change-up. Also, the random use of autotune sounds so out of place. Next, we have "Blessed," another song that feels unmemorable to me. I like the chorus, but outside of that, I don't find the song too remarkable.

There is a slight return to form with "Love Will Find a Way." It reminds me of "Come on Over (All I Want Is You)," but I like this one a little better. The last song on the standard edition is "Obvious." It is not a very memorable ending to me, and I would classify it as one of my least favorites. Christina almost sounds bored on the track, so that doesn't help.

The bonus track, "Don't Make Me Love You," is one that I've never heard before doing this review. That is a shame because I absolutely love the beat. Why wasn't this on the standard edition? I would replace "Obvious" with this song as the last track.

Final Score: 78/100

[bboat11]

Definitely feel free to tag me in here, as well as Shania if you'd like! You support me, so I'll gladly support you!

[schnetzka]

Katy Perry - One of the Boys

Released: June 17, 2008

Track #	Song Title	Production	Writing	Vocals	Overall
1	"One of the Boys"	10	9	7	8.7
2	"I Kissed a Girl"	9	8	8	8.3
3	"Waking Up in Vegas"	10	10	9	9.7
4	"Thinking of You"	9	10	8	9
5	"Mannequin"	8	7	6	7
6	"Ur So Gay"	8	3	8	6.3
7	"Hot n Cold"	10	10	10	10
8	"If You Can Afford Me"	8	7	7	7.3
9	"Lost"	9	8	6	7.6
10	"Self Inflicted"	10	8	7	8.3
11	"I'm Still Breathing"	8	7	4	6.3
12	"Fingertips"	8	7	6	7
13	"A Cup of Coffee" (Bonus Track)	7	7	7	7
14	"I Think I'm Ready" (Bonus Track)	8	8	6	7.3
Overall	-	8.7	7.8	7.1	7.8

One of the Boys by Katy Perry was released on June 17, 2008. At a time when pop rock and pop punk were popular with artists like Hilary Duff and Avril Lavigne, this album fit seamlessly into that era. The title track, "One of the Boys," is one of my favorites from the project. In my opinion, it should have been released as a single. While Katy's vocals on this album, including the title track, were not her best, she has undoubtedly evolved since then.

The first single, "I Kissed a Girl," is the second track on the album and has become iconic. Despite its initial controversy for its content, the song eventually received praise for introducing LGBTQ+ topics into mainstream music. Its catchy nature certainly contributed to its success. "Waking Up in Vegas," the fourth and final single, is another standout track with excellent production. The music video enhances the song's appeal and goes with the saying, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

"Thinking of You," released as the third single, remains a fan favorite and is one of Katy's best ballads in my opinion. Although it was the only single to not reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, its positive reception highlighted Katy's songwriting skills, having penned it herself in 2002. Despite some inconsistencies in her writing, this track proves she has the potential to craft a great song.

"Mannequin," the fifth track, evokes mixed feelings in me. While the rock production is enjoyable, Katy's vocals can be grating. However, her delivery of the "such a fool" part is noteworthy. Overall, it's not my favorite. The album's most controversial song, "Ur So Gay," has interesting production but problematic lyrics that come across as homophobic. Thankfully, Katy has since shown support for the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the poor word choice, the lyrics are at least creative.

"Hot n Cold," the second single and seventh track, is a highlight of the album. Its energetic sound and relatable lyrics about turbulent relationships, coupled with a memorable music video, make it a standout. An album with more songs in this vein would have been equally enjoyable.

The remaining tracks stayed as album cuts. "If You Can Afford Me" has nice production but suffers with vocal downfalls (especially how she pronounces "maintenance"). The lyrics are decent, but other tracks are preferable. "Lost" features strong production, though her vocals continue to be less appealing. The writing helps compensate for this.

"Self Inflicted" boasts excellent drum work that remains impressive. It's one of my favorite non-singles, though her vocals slightly detract from it. "I'm Still Breathing" has a commendable vulnerability, but once again, her vocals hinder its impact, placing it lower on the list. The standard edition's final track, "Fingerprints," is another mixed bag. The song starts off weak but improves with the chorus.

The bonus tracks, "A Cup of Coffee" and "I Think I'm Ready," offer additional content. "A Cup of Coffee," initially a Walmart and France digital exclusive, would have fit well on the regular album but has less appealing production. "I Think I'm Ready" is the shortest song on the album and the one I have heard the least. It features pretty production and decent lyrics but failed to make a lasting impression.

Final Score: 78/100

---

Tags: bboat11