Disco de Kylie Minogue: “Body Language [Japan Bonus Tracks]”

Many die-hard old-school Kylie fans (both the pre & post deconstruction varieties--for the three people in america that will know what the frick that means!) have been rather critical of this album. I can certainly see that if one is particularly attached to a particular incarnation of Kylie's public persona, that a shift, even as small as this one, could be troubling. But then again she is a pop star, and that's what they do...and she does it better than any I might ad.

This album turned me on to Kylie. I had originally been interested in it after seeing her performance of Slow at the Euro-VMA's back around October of '03 and was blown away...both visually and musically. So I purchased the disc on a whim a few months later, when it was released in america. While listening with a good set of headphones I noticed the brilliant production...which, if you look inside to see who did it it reads like a who's who of Italy, the UK, and other of Europe's finest, makes sense. I typically hate assembled pop music, and so it blew me away as to how exceptionally good it was...not to mention that I had to overcome my own pop prejudice (though i won't be buying britney spears tickets anytime soon!). Then I started really enjoying the music, bought a bunch of CD's, DVD's, Remixes, ETC. and have come to respect her professinally as an artist, performer,incredibly hard worker, & well, muse.

Body Language is certainly a shift from Fever. Both have a certain electronic nostalgia...for disco-pop and early 80's electro, respectively. But Fever was a shift from Light Years, which was a sort of blend of Fever and Impossible Princes...a transition...sorta. Anyway her new style has a heavy R&B influence as well with a nice deep funk feel to it. One of the best examples of this is actually a B-Side not on the album called "Almost a Lover." My favourite track, musically, is "Secret/Take You Home," though the lyrics are kinda stupid. They sound great though, which brings me to another new and different thing she does on this album: there's a lot of whisper over dubs on many tracks...especially "Chocolate." This paired with a generally new, very sensously sexy style of tone and inflection make her singing on this album interesting and enjoyable. Her generally singing style is still there (like the way she makes her "oo" sounds) and this evolution has complimented them.

Where were we...oh yes, now I'll take you through some of the highlights of the tracks, for the American release anyway.

The vocal production of "Slow" is different than on all the other tracks, but it fits with the retroelectrovibe goin' on. The extended mix on the early Japanese single is really good too..so is the B-Side "Soul on Fire." Oh yeah, and the song is just sexy. Classy sexy.

I already covered "Secret" above, but I'll add that the beat really gets you movin'...for some reason especially when you're driving...go figure.

"Sweet Music" is great muscially and lyrically...she even mentions a fairlight...which increases its resonance at that point in the song. Whole song is pretty good, but the 'new sensation part' is a bit cheesy. In all honesty, the best Kylie lyrics are almost always the ones she writes herself...She is given writing credit on about 1/2 the work on this album, including the song in question.

"Red Blooded Women" is quite bitchin' musically. The 'boy...boy' stuff can sometimes be annoying, but easily overlooked if you just think of the words as jibberist and her voice as an instrument...then it sounds great. Its Australian single has a different version of "Cruise Control" than on the american release (it wasn't on the Australian or UK releases).

"Chocolate" is amazing in every respect and worth getting this album for...as well as the single as there is an exceptional trance mix on it, as well as my favourite video she's done :)

"Obsession" is great musically. The lyrics are intelligent and tell an interesting story and the mantra like 'obsession is a dangerous state of mind' will hopefully subconsciously fend of future stalkers for the impossible princess.

"I feel for you" is very sweet lyrically.

"Loving Days" is another one worth buying this album for. Lyrically and Musically it beautifully conveys that overwhelmingly great high when your with someone that you're just falling in love with...and not in a cheesy britney pop way either...it is a truly moving and beautiful song. I always feel sad and lonely after a listen, but its worth if for the art appreciation.

"After Dark" contains the best sex euphemism i've ever heard, 'I wanna make some honey.' It also starts out with this great, slow, funky groove that the early lyrics lay nicely over.

"You make me feel" is supa-nice...VERY deep rolling base...definately recommend a good sub for this.

There's many, many more highlights on this CD (especially the video of the Money Can't Buy performance), but there's enough here to decide if you want the thing. My favourite Kyle CD is Impossible Princess so I have to plug it. Sorry for the length, and thanks for reading.

Forget Fever already, it WAS a good album, but Listen to Body Language it is a million times better, hands down. Every song is well thought out and has a darker, sexier edge than Fever. Fever is just fluff compaired to this album. Those of you that think that she should have stuck with the sound from Fever are all wrong....an artist should grow and change with each and every album (as Madonna does). Kylie has it all right here is so many ways....Fever was a great tounge in check sugar-pop album, and Body language is a Sexy, sassy pop album with an edge. Some reviewers have said that all the songs sound the same, NOT TRUE....ARE you people deaf??? Also, Slow is a great song but surely NOT the best song on the CD as many have said (think for yourself at least once in your life...just because it was a hit, doesn't make it the best song. Quit being a follower and use your own head, no, no,no to sheep...don't be one.) , "I Feel for You" is the best song in my eyes, fun sexy and catchy. "After Dark" is another great track one of her best songs EVER!!!!!! Kylie has made a perfect record, and I hope she makes more and more. I hope she changes with each and every album...because that is what keeps people intrested. Thanks Kylie you ROCK!!!!!!

Well, Body Language is another step forward for Kylie Minogue. . . (Congratulations on her Grammy for Fever's Come Into My World, by the way.)

It's not Light Years, and it's not Fever. It's different, but not that much more so. It's 80s influenced, and mature, daring, and classy . Some tracks are more R'n'B, some are a bit hip hop, but some are definitely dance. They're all pop. There are the uptempo tracks, there are the midtempo tracks... You can dance, you can relax, or, you can take a drive, as some other people have recommended. This album has got to have something that you want.

Slow is her debut single from the album, which divided her fans upon release -- you either loved it, or hated it upon first listen. But after more listens, some eventually grew to like this sexy, down-tempo, stripped-down electro song that was dubbed a "bold move" on Kylie's part.

Still Standing, which she used as the opening to her Money Can't Buy show in the UK November 2003. "I'm still standing / Keeping you dancing..." Hey, who do you think the lyrics in this dance track are talking about?

Secret (Take You Home) is very catchy in each and every part, and very fun. She raps in this song, but it's all for fun, and not meant to be serious. Not a bad attempt either.

Promises has a cool beat and a catchy chorus. My favorite part: "And the rest is silent..." ...silence... and then it jumps back to the chorus.

Sweet Music is the song about...writing a song. But this is indeed so nicely written and nicely done, that you've got to get up! and start dancing! Even if you didn't like Still Standing, this one has to get you.

Red Blooded Woman is the second single, and it's r'n'b (but that doesn't mean Kylie is ditching her pop). This single is currently having better reception than Slow. It has a faster tempo, and more things going on. The lyrics are about the devil and the angel on your shoulder type deal -- you've been hurt in love before...but I don't care! It also references two of her past singles (Spinning Around, Can't Get You Out Of My Head) and Dead Or Alive's You Spin Me Right Round.

Chocolate features slower, breathy vocals and well-written, more thoughtful lyrics that make it very sexy. Also a favorite with many fans. "...melt me slowly down..." And it feels just exactly like that.

Obsession is my favorite track. It's sung in a lower range, with lyrics about a self-centered ex. The end fades out with the repetitive line, "obsession is a dangerous state of mind..."

I Feel For You was produced by Kurtis Mantronik. It's...unusual, both musically and lyrically. Colorful words, though, and the thunder and the rain in the beginning and end of this song are a nice touch. Another song that I guess can grow on you.

Someday is a slower song; I like the lyrics but could do without some of the weird synthesizer sounds. It features some nice vocals by Green Gartside...

Loving Days is a slowly, ballad-y track that conjures up some nice imagery. If you know the story behind it, you'll understand -- she wrote it after taking a vacation with her boyfriend, Olivier, where they went sailing. Good lyrics, good vocals.

After Dark is a sexy midtempo track... Hmm, I don't know what to say for it, except that I like it.

The US version also features two bonus tracks, Cruise Control and You Make Me Feel (both co-written by Kylie), but I haven't listened to them enough to write them into the review. But, upon the first few listens, I can say this: not bad, not bad...

There are also the two videos on the enhanced CD. There's the music video for Slow, and the Money Can't Buy performance for Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

Body Language -- it's catchy, it's different, it's...wonderfully Kylie. Go buy it, now! :p

Perhaps the biggest dissapointment for Kylie Minogue is the simple fact that the U.S. has shunned accpeting her as a legitimate and upstanding creative popstar. Fever, her first full length album to reach the U.S., was a smash, and brought her back from one hit wonderdom. It also rectified her talent, seemingly scarce to Americans due to the bubble gum remake of Loco-Motion. With Body Language, Kylie exudes a sexual confidence in and about herself. You won't see her exchanging spit with other fading pop divas anytime soon, and with such fresh and simple material as this, she will never have to resort to lame publicity stunts. Her sumptuous first single, "Slow", is a lucious mix of sex kitten attitude and a throbbing, trancey beat. Equally impressive are the tinges of R&B flavor found on tracks such as, "Red Blooded Woman", and the electro funk melting within "Secret (Take You Home.)" Another track, which, unless you nabbed the Australian version you'll never hear, is "Slo-Motion", an eerie dance-ballad that shows Kylie's versatility, confidently showing that she can do any kind of song successfully. Body Language is a true triumph, and hopefully will allow Kylie a long, vital career in the American market.

Highlights:

Slow- a delicious track full of sensuality

Fillers-

Still Standing- the track outwardly annoys me and is the only truly bad song on the album

Clif D "Clif", A Kid's Review,Adaman "adaman" I got two words for ya, YALL SUCK. Yall wouldn't now good taste if it was pumped into your mouth. If you don't like rap or electronica no one in that genre is for you. Even my dog knows that, Kylie Minogue is a 100 out of 10.