Liberation

by Christina Aguilera

Overview

Liberation arrives in 2018, six years after Lotus, by far the longest stretch of time between Christina Aguilera albums. During that hiatus Aguilera wasn't exactly in hibernation but she wasn't prominent, taking a couple of seasons off from the televised singing competition The Voice to raise a child and spending as much time onscreen as she did on-stage when she re-emerged in the middle of the 2010s. Aguilera may have been omnipresent in showbiz but she was largely absent from the pop charts. Save a handful of duets -- "Moves Like Jagger," which appeared in 2011 in the first flush of The Voice's success; "Feel This Moment," a 2013 Pitbull hit; "Say Something," a 2013 Great Big World single featuring Christina on vocals -- Aguilera hadn't reached the American Top Ten since 2008's "Keeps Gettin' Better," fanbait added to her hits collection of the same name. Lotus was designed to reverse this downward trajectory, but despite having its share of gleaming dance-pop, it didn't generate a pop hit. Liberation seems to be constructed as a response to its failure, as it finds Aguilera abandoning shiny hooks for hip-hop beats and smoldering ballads. Despite the fleeting presence of Kanye West and Anderson .Paak, who are both credited as producers, Liberation isn't a record designed for the clubs. Much of the album is devoted to moody moments of self-reflection and anthems of empowerment, giving the distinct impression that Aguilera is figuring out how to mature within the confines of chart-oriented music. Certainly, Christina spends a fair amount of time singing about lasting love and motherhood, even offering a MeToo anthem in the form of "Fall in Line," a dense, angry duet with Demi Lovato. Such reflection and measured outrage lend Liberation a gravity lacking in other Aguilera records, and its sober perspective carries over to "Sick of Sittin'," an infectious piece of diamond-hard funk that finds Aguilera leaning into a newfound rasp in her voice. Christina's growth as a writer and singer helps balance her lingering sentimental streak, a tendency that can occasionally curdle into the saccharine. This stickiness can be a shade too mawkish, but the greater flaw of Liberation is how its blend of R&B reflection and tense testifying doesn't seem to be an easy fit on any format in 2018. This weakness is also a strength, as it shows that Aguilera didn't take an easy route with Liberation: she instead found a hybrid between the personal and commercial, which makes the record resonate emotionally no matter what success it may or may not have. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/15/2018
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0190758538020
Rank:	189041

Tracks

1. Liberation
2. Searching for Maria
3. Maria
4. Sick of Sittin'
5. Dreamers
6. Fall in Line
7. Right Moves
8. Like I Do
9. Deserve
10. Twice
11. I Don't Need It Anymore (Interlude)
12. Accelerate
13. Pipe
14. Masochist
15. Unless It's With You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Christina Aguilera   Primary Artist
Shenseea   Vocals,Featured Artist
Aria Sage   Spoken Word
Ashley Morente   Spoken Word
Charlotte Elder Groebe   Spoken Word
Lily Bratman   Spoken Word
Sofia Bratman   Spoken Word
Summer Rain Rutler   Spoken Word
Audra Mae   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Caitlin Sullivan   Cello
Ty Dolla $ign   Featured Artist
Jairus Mozee   Guitar
2 Chainz   Featured Artist
MNEK   Vocals
Jon Bellion   Vocals (Background)
Ryan Svendsen   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Ricky Reed   Guitar
Roget Chahayed   Piano
Nicholas Britell   Piano
Elizabeth Komba   Vocals (Background)
Kirby Lauryen   Vocals
Anderson .Paak   Vocals (Background)
Tayla Parx   Vocals (Background)
Tim Fain   Violin
Rob Moose   Viola,Violin,Octave Bass
Carlitos Del Puerto   Bass
Kelda   Vocals
Vinnie Colaiuta   Drums
Lauren Evans   Vocals (Background)
Keida   Vocals,Featured Artist
Demi Lovato   Featured Artist
Ilsey Juber   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Raul Cubina   Composer,Producer
Scott Desmarais   Assistant
Chinsea Lee   Composer
Pro Logic   Vocal Engineer
Makeida Beckford   Composer
Kosine   Producer
Rene Hilt   Composer
Sang Hyeon Lee   Composer
BRLLNT   Producer
Bryan "Composer" Nelson   Composer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Jonny Simpson   Composer
Mell Beats   Producer
Scott Robinson   Vocal Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Tom Peyton   Composer
Ernest Brown   Composer
Eric Frederic   Composer
Mark Williams   Composer,Producer
Audra Mae   Composer
Julia Michaels   Composer
Carlton Mays Jr.   Composer
Brandon Anderson   Composer
Uzoechi Emenike   Composer
Jonathan Park   Composer
Sango   Producer
Tauheed Epps   Composer
MNEK   Engineer,Producer,Programming
Sean Seaton   Composer
Ross Birchard   Composer
Jon Bellion   Composer,Producer
Darhyl Camper   Composer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Tim Anderson   Producer,Composer
Rene "Snaz" Hill   Composer
Ricky Reed   Producer,Programming
LunchMoney Lewis   Composer
Nicholas Britell   Composer,Producer,String Arrangements
Whitney Phillips   Composer
Kirby Lauryen   Composer,Producer
Anderson .Paak   Composer,Producer
Jonathan Simpson   Composer,Engineer
Charlie Heat   Producer
Bibi Bourelly   Composer
Robin Florent   Assistant
D'Anthony Carlos   Composer
Kai Wright   Composer
Tayla Parx   Composer,Engineer
Jahron Brathwaite   Composer
Allen Story   Composer
Che Pope   Composer,Producer
Dylan Dresdow   Mixing
Janne Schaffer   Composer
Horgay Gordy   Composer
Kanye West   Composer,Producer
Mike Dean   Composer,Producer
Oscar Ramirez   Vocal Engineer
Mitch Allan   Vocal Producer
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Noah Goldstein   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Additional Production
Sandy Chila   Additional Production
Bill Malina   Engineer
Christina Aguilera   A&R,Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Linda Glover   Composer
Melvin Henderson   Composer
Justin Tranter   Composer
Teddy Geiger   Composer
Bryan Nelson   Composer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Ilsey Juber   Composer
Chris Galland   Mixing Engineer
Neenyo   Producer
Marcos Palacios   Composer
Tyrone Griffin   Composer
Ronald Brown   Composer
David Kutch   Mastering
Keith Naftaly   A&R
Melbeatz   Producer
Erik Hassle   Composer
Eric Danchick   Additional Production
Hudson Mohawke   Producer
DaHonorable C.N.O.T.E.   Producer
Lawrence Brown   Composer
Dumbfoundead   Additional Production