Review

Just Be Free (2008)

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SHOULD'VE BEEN 'FREE' Aguilera kept this album under wraps for good reason

Christina Aguilera: David Anderson/Headpress/Retna

Credits

Lead Performance: Christina Aguilera; Genre: Pop

By David Browne

David Browne

David Browne is EW's music critic and author of ''Dream Brother: The Lives & Music of Jeff & Tim Buckley'' (HarperCollins)

For those who've ever wondered what Aguilera was doing four years ago, here's the answer: applying her nascent pipes to low-budget, cookie-cutter house tracks. As she informs us in her disclaimer-heavy liner notes, these recordings (the release of which she initially attempted to block) were ''a possible stepping stone'' and never intended to come out. Now we know why. Historical reference point: The way the 14-year-old Aguilera tepidly growls lines like ''Why don't you stay with me tonight?'' clearly set the stage for her teen-jailbait persona.

Posted Sep 03, 2001

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