CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Liberation
No longer a coach on the US version of The Voice— hence an explanation for the title of this album?—former Mickey Mouser Aguilera has had time and headspace to work on her sixth studio album, her first in six years. Liberation showcases a few stand-out singles. There is the big vocalled #Metoo duet with Demi Lovato, “Fall in Line”, a performance of which rocked the crowd at the May 21 Billboard Music Awards. Then there is the catchy up tempo “Accelerate”, bringing Aguilera into the hip-hop cred zone with assists from Ty Dolla $ign and 2Chainz. And for the real big gun: Kanye West produced “Maria”, which borrows from both Michael Jackson and the Sound of Music. It’s an eclectic but interesting album. (Out Fri., June 15)