ARTIST: Christina Aguilera
TITLE: “Keeps Gettin’ Better”
WEB DEBUT: Sept. 5, 2008

ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: When I saw Christina Aguilera at the Video Music Awards pregame yesterday, she mentioned that in contrast to the retro-heavy Back To Basics, her forthcoming material would be more informed by “the future.” Apparently, the future was envisioned by Gary Glitter back in 1973, because like many other singles^* of recent vintage, “Keeps Gettin’ Better” is a muscular, percussive arena-ready song that has some semi-controversial lyrics (Christina saying that she can, in fact, be a “superbitch” sometimes) and lots of opportunities for fist-waving. There are a few space-age sounds dropped in here and there, which I guess is the “future” part shining through.

WHERE TO FIND IT: New York’s very own Z100.

^* In the case of the Fall Out Boy track, the jock-jam structure seems to be deliberate, in order to contrast with the wild narcissism of the lyrics. But the aesthetic point still stands.