Stripped
Underneath all Christine Aguilera's coy affectations and vocal gymnastics lurks a rare talent. With her second album, Aguilera allows it to flower by abandoning all pretense at courting the teenage market.Strippedis a seemingly effortless move into weightier adult territory. Using her extraordinary voice as a much subtler instrument, Aguilera sings movingly and with grit and anger about the disintegration of a relationship; she's ultimately stronger for the pain. But that's not her whole agenda. Aguilera also extols the power of women on "Can't Hold Us Down," which featuresLil' Kim. Other guests includeDave Navarro,Redman, andAlicia Keys. Aguilera cowrote most of the songs on the disc and produced one cut. She also partnered with former4 Non Blondesleader andPinkcollaboratorLinda Perryon four songs, which gives Aguilera a rock edge that she has never before displayed.--Jaan Uhelszki