Search - Kylie Minogue :: X

An Open Letter to Capitol Records/Astralwerks

Rudy Palma | NJ | 06/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dear Capitol Records/Astralwerks,



I have been reviewing records for a while now, and have a strong grasp on what the American public enjoys as far as Top 40 radio and pop music.



You have the hit of the summer on your hands with Kylie Minogue's "All I See," a breezy, sun-glossed classic pop record, which your label had the correct instinct to release as the lead stateside single to "X," her appropriately-titled 10th studio album.



Just what are you doing about it? The answer, thus far, is very little.



Musically speaking, there is no explanation for the low US sales of "X." Every track is delicious, unabashed pop with memorable choruses, sexy vocals and easy, relatable lyrics. This is what people look for in pop music, and in the English-language market Minogue is the only seasoned artist who consistently delivers true to form pop albums, "X" of which is her most solid to date. From the propulsive, gyrating "Stars" to the infectious, slinky "Like a Drug" to the effervescent, ultra-hooky "Wow," each of these tracks packs combustible heat and explosive energy. This is pop music at its absolute zenith, with talented tunesmiths and a world-class entertainer delivering them. Each song is easy to listen to and difficult to turn off.



"Heavy Promo, Light Sales For Minogue" was a headline I came across after the album's dismal debut at no. 159 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Appearances like the ones Minogue did on the "Today Show" and "Dancing with the Stars" are crucial, but only a small handful of such promotional endeavors was embarked upon. The former did not even include a performance.



Furthermore, the album's release overseas nearly half a year prior to its April 1 US release, as well as an inexplicable early release to stateside digital retail outlets, only aggravated the lukewarm greeting the album received upon its debut in record stores. Even a small child could make such a prediction. By the time it officially hit record stores, the album itself was already yesterday's news to Minogue's core fan base. Why set an album heavy with potential hits sung by an international superstar up to fail?



Straight-edged, dance floor ready pop has taken a backseat at US Top 40 radio to increasingly urban sounds. However, lead single "All I See" has that problem covered with its light, crunchy production, complete with the all-important handclap sound to win over radio listeners, not to mention easy young love and girls' night out themes. It's breezy, it's hooky, it's sexy, it's mellow, it's memorable, it's cool-as-a-cucumber - does it need to bite you in the rear before you realize that it is the consummate summer hit?



Better yet, an alternate version featuring an intelligent, well-delivered rap by Mims has been released as a US bonus track. Paired with the original, these tracks should by the time of this writing have become inescapable. What is the problem?



Minogue may no longer be freshly post-adolescent, and while every track on "X" is fantastic not every one would work on stateside radio, mostly because the majority of them lack contemporary (read: urban) flavor. However, Minogue is in the shape of her life both physically and as a performer. She has come back from cancer with the most solid album of her career and is continuing to fill stadiums overseas. All this, along with "All I See," a pop hit in the vein of Cher's "Believe" or Beyonce and Jay-Z's "Crazy In Love," should warrant sufficient promotion to make it the hit it deserves, spurning formidable album and single sales and perhaps even paving the way for a US leg of KYLIEX2008, Minogue's current tour.



It is because of this that a recent walk in Times Square left me completely annoyed. Hanging above Virgin Megastore, next to tremendous billboards advertising recent albums, was one of Minogue. However, it was not advertising "X," the most impressive LP of pop tunes I have heard in years, but instead a clothing designer whose name I have already forgotten.



It's like staring down a mountain of profits and saying "no thanks."



Sincerely yours,

Rudy Palma"

Great Import- Just as great in the States release... almost

Chad E. Munn | Canton, GA. United States | 04/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As this is Kylie's tenth album but only her third notable release in the US- many new listeners may think that she's still 'new' to the music biz or that this is some sort of 'come back'. This album should put that straight quickly. The album is a great piece of music from start to finish (almost) that quickly shows Kylie's place as a long time vet who knows how to make a GREAT pop album. The typical variety of slow and fast songs aren't really present in this album- the only real 'soft' song is Cosmic... but that happens to be my favorite track on the whole thing! That's not to say the album doesn't offer some different feels- but most of them have you dancing (and rightfully so).



The only down side to the US release is a rather... (frankly)- horrible remix of one of the albums better songs- "All I See". Some record producer thought they needed to make Kylie 'relate' to the US audience by putting some *sigh* rapper in the beginning and middle of her song. It's not like they even do a duet- this irritating rap junk just comes in at unfortunate times and soils the song. It doesn't work on any level- it's just some half hearted DJ attempt to put two artists together that don't mix on ANY level other than tempo. The main issue with it is that it's the last thing you'll hear on the album... it's a parting shot that leaves a very weak impression on an otherwise very strong album. I'd recommend skipping this last song and end the album on Cosmic the way it was intended."

Xtermination

Dogville | Sunny Island | 04/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kylie Minogue's 10th long player, aptly titled X is a celebrated affair, her first record after recovery from breast cancer and reportedly her last album before retirement. There's a lot going on. Kylie delivers her best record since Fever. X is a pompous mixture of glam electronica and dance. The very Goldfrapp-meets-Blondie first single Two Hearts takes a slow but steady trip into your head with its "two hearts beating together...I'm in love...ooh" chorus. The One unabashedly pays tribute to 80's dance, Giorgio Moroder style. Sensitized and Stars sound like well-constructed continuation of Fever. All I See is probably the most telling tribute to Janet in the early 90's with its "get together-have fun-while-the-DJ-is-spinning-that-song" lyrics. That's also Speakerphone which I foresee would be used by one of the major phone manufacturers as their next funky ad tune.



Bonus tracks like Rippin' up the Dancefloor and White Diamond (Film Version) could have fitted on the main disc. Two excellent Mylo-produced tracks In The Mood for Love and Spell of Desire are mysteriously left out.



Well there's too much of X to write about, but the record moves fluidly from one track to another, creating a segue of great dance pop. The lyrics might just be inanely fun at times but then again, besides her shifting styles, that's one of Kylie's biggest assets.



US version contains an obligatory rap intro by US label mate Mims on the bonus All I See, which is really more superfluous than anything."