Musical chairs

These two established, bona fide stars of the recording industry have new CDs out, and while one may think their genres of music are firmly established, it’s interesting to note how they still manage to try and reinvent themselves; or at very least, make a knowing nod to current musical trends. Successful in doing so, or not? That would be up to us listeners.

Christina Aguilera — Bi-on-ic (Sony BMG). With five Grammys and over 30 million albums sold, you’d think Aguilera would know what kind of music butters her bread; and yet, on the CD, she seems to be channeling Madonna and Lady Gaga on some numbers. For those who love the “old” Christina, they can be thankful there is something of a schizoid quality to this album. Motherhood and family seem to be strong elements on the section that has a direct link to the Christina we’re familiar with, ballads such as Lift Me Up, I Am and You Lost Me being the choice cuts here. It’s the songs like Glam (a salute to Madonna’s Vogue) and the derivative Gaga-ish tracks that make me wonder if this will sit well with her legion of fans. Still, there is a lot of good music on this album.

Miley Cyrus — Can’t Be Tamed (MCA Music, Inc.). Precocious to the max, and out to prove she’s all grown up and has shaken off her Hannah Montana persona, Miley has a grand time on the CD channeling Britney Spears. The musical arrangements, the shifts from smooth country rockers to more dance-oriented tracks all slide by easily in this collage of songs and concert videos. Her recent O2 London concerts make up the DVD bonus that’s to be found on the deluxe edition of the CD, and the fact that there’s extensive footage of Miley shopping, her talking to the camera while en route to the concerts, make this more than just your average concert DVD. Songs like Robot and Two More Lonely People seem destined for extensive airplay.