Stripped

This is the album in which Christina Aguilera’s provocative personality rescued her from a lifetime of lukewarm Britney Spears comparisons. Whether indulging pop music’s fantasies on the Redman-featuring “Dirrty” or scorching former critics on the electric-guitar-heavy “Fighter”, Stripped is the sound of a woman taking control of her public image. That doesn’t mean she can’t drop her guard: inspirational ballad “Beautiful” explores the real fragility that the fierce Xtina is so keen to protect.