Christina Aguilera has returned to her roots of soulful numbers and striking ballads on 'Liberation,' her eighth studio album.

On her final, posthumously released album, Jones alternates powerful ballads with the upbeat dance numbers that were staples of her live shows, confirming her stature a contemporary soul-music icon.

The Colombian-American singer Kali Uchis, who plays Bowery Ballroom on Oct. 20 and the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Oct. 21, revives the sound with magnetic, achy soul ballads free of pop glisten.