After a six-year hiatus, Christina Aguilera returns with a new single, “Accelerate,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz. “Accelerate” serves as the promo single for the highly-anticipated ‘Liberation.’ 

Six years.  That’s how long it has been since the prodigiously talented Christina Aguilera released a new studio album.  Unfortunately for Aguilera, Lotus (2012) wasn’t a big hit.  Honestly, Aguilera has struggled in the 10s to find the same degree of commercial success she once experienced.  Her last truly notable album was Back to Basics, which was released in 2006! Can Aguilera make a big comeback with the arrival of Liberation? Time will tell, but we get a sampling of what new C.A. sounds like with single “Accelerate,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz.

From the start of “Accelerate,” it’s clear that Christina Aguilera isn’t going for a traditional pop record.  This record sounds gimmicky and ‘broken into pieces’ as opposed to being straightforward. The modus operandi is to be expected, as a six-year gap between albums in an eternity for a pop artist, where trends tend to fuel the sound.  Naturally, Aguilera, always attuned to the sound of the times, indeed embraces modern pop, with its clichés, and employs two of hip-hop’s most notable collaborators. Vocally, gimmicks and trends aside, Aguilera is still among the best vocalists in the game.

Moving to the collaborators. Ty Dolla $ign sounds coarser and raspier than ever.  Yes, it’s by design for the ‘vibe,’ but it’s more of an acquired taste. Honestly, it’s as if he’s went a bridge too far with his vocal range… just saying.  As for 2 Chainz, he’s strong, getting the benefit of a production switch featuring a soulful sample, and those marvelous trap drums.

Final Thoughts

All in all, “Accelerate” is a big fat pop mess – there’s no other way around it.  That said, as messy as it is, it’s definitely an interesting listen.  There’s no depth or any real purpose behind it, so songwriting isn’t a strong suit, but the sound is, well, interesting.  Likely, “Accelerate” won’t win back fans that left Christina Aguilera long ago as “Accelerate” is starkly different from the likes of “Reflection”, “Beautiful”, or “Ain’t No Other Man”. Some’ll like it, others, not so much.

Christina Aguilera • Liberation • RCA • Release: 6.15.18

Photo Credit: RCA