First Listen: Lotus by Christina Aguilera

Now that she's seen weekly on NBC's hit The Voice, Christina Aguilera looks to finally release an album with some relevance for the first time in quite some time. After 2010's Bionic which wasn't very well recieved, Aguilera is back with Lotus. Here's a first listen:

1. Lotus Intro - Interesting slow jam beat mixed with Auto-tuned vocals make for an intriguing opening track. There are many references to lotus, which is all about rebirth. It's got the heavy bass to boot, and it's a slow jam that you can get into. It sets up an interesting start for the album.

2. Army of Me - Picks up right from the first track with that ominous feel. These vocals definitely sound more like Xtina. This song is a solo write by the pop star and she has described it as Fighter 2.0. That description is pretty spot-on, at least in terms of lyrics ("One of me is wiser, one of me is stronger, one of me's a fighter, and there's a thousand faces of me"). It's got a danceable beat, but it's pretty dark.

3. Red Hot Kinda Love - This song jumps right into its funky beat and it's instantly fun, more than the first two tracks. It doesn't really build from there, but it's still a ridiculously fun beat. The vocals go from belting and airy in the blink of an eye. It's just a bit more fun than the first two songs which are more mellow.

4. Make the World Move - This song also carries the light feeling of the last track. And surprise....Cee-Lo Green makes an appearance on the song! It almost kind of works because there are elements of both artists' sounds in this one song. This one has more of a universal message (let's just love each other, a'ight?) than the other tracks. It's got a driving, foot-stomp beat, and it's pretty fun, especially the breakdown on the bridge before the final chorus.

5. Your Body - The lead single off the album which hasn't done too hot on the charts, despite the fact that it should be a bonafide hit. The sound actually fits with the rest of the tracks, with those bleaker undertones. Her vocals here are on fire and perhaps the song can go higher upon the album's release and a little promotion on Xtina's side. I dig it.

6. Let There Be Love - Instantly the most club-ready song on this album, from the beat, bass, and synths to the easy-to-memorize lyrics. I've heard rumors that this is the second single on the album, and it wouldn't surprise me. In fact, if Your Body can't take off, here's hoping this song finds success. Xtina's vocals, the production, it's all screaming hit.

7. Sing for Me - A very basic ballad that showcases Xtina's vocals. Added points for the key change. But a very simple song that works after two heavy dance songs.

8. Blank Page - Another simple ballad that is a little better due to the stronger lyrics. It's obvious that this album is attempting showcase Xtina's raw vocals, and she's not disappointing. The instrumentation takes a backseat once again.

9. Cease Fire - An interesting sound. It's got a military feel to it with the bombastic drums. It's a change of sound, but I'm not sure how much I dig it. It works for Christina Aguilera, though. If anyone else tried, it may not be as successful.

10. Around the World - Another song that makes good use of the drums, but really kicks it up. It's got a fun feel to it, and Xtina sounds good. But it's still just okay to me.

11. Circles - I love the feel to this song. It's almost got an island feel to it, but it's sassy and biting. This is Xtina's song to the critics, and she's not holding back. It's the most her voice is played with on the album, but it still sounds good and fun.

12. Best of Me - Another bombastic song, and this one is a cool anthem. This is more of a confident Aguilera telling off her haters, rather than the playful one that came out in the previous track. The production has millions of layers and it's cool to see them revealed one by one.

13. Just a Fool - The album closes with one of the most different but best tracks on the album. With a feature from Blake Shelton, the song has some country influence here and it's a great ballad. Their vocals mix surprisingly well here, and the grand instrumentation certainly helps. It's a great song, surprising considering their sounds are polar opposites.

Overall, the album has some strong spots, but overall, it is just good. There are potential hits here, and Xtina's added exposure due to The Voice will certainly help.

Favorite tracks: Red Hot Kinda Love, Make the World Move, Let There Be Love, Just a Fool

What do you think of the new album? Got any favorites? Comment and let me know in the comments section below!

Evan