KYLIE 2014-15 : The Kiss Me Once Era

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 2:18am

This is the thread wherein we discuss Grammy Award winning Aussie pop sensation, Kylie Minogue, her new album Kiss Me Once (KM1) and all KM1 related topics including, but not limited to, singles, videos, tv appearances, live appearances, Kylie fashion, endorsement deals, possible vegan dinner dates with Beyoncé, The Voice UK and, eventually, what we're looking forward to from Kylie from in 2016 and beyond.

Let's proceed...

****KM1****KM1****KM1****KM1****KM1****KM1****KM1***

As VeraCharles3 so kindly notified us in the "Into the Blue" thread, earlier today, Kylie posted a megamix sampler for the album on YouTube with 30-60 sec samples of each track--link(s) below. After hearing the YT mix I felt a bit underwhelmed and it looked like we might have a mixed bag on our hands. Not a huge shock considering the number of producers/songwriters generally involved in a pop album. However, later in the day, eagle-eyed Kylie fans saw that full 90 second samples of the album's songs (plus two bonus tracks) had been uploaded to iTunes. After hearing these longer samples, I've gone from thinking we had an album with 4 or 5 excellent tracks and the rest a mess of muddled rubbish to thinking we may have a near perfect Kylie album that sounds like it could be a perfect synthesis of the best of Fever, Body Language, X and Aphrodite.

I'm genuinely impressed and eagerly anticipating this album now. Some things I'm pleasantly surprised by:

• -RocNation's influence is clearly felt, but Kylie and Sia (her exec producer) have managed to make an album that sounds unmistakably "Kylie" while also feeling very big, anthemic and multi-nation radio-friendly. A lot of it also feels stronger and more muscular than a typical Kylie song, but she never gets overwhelmed by the sound. There are several potential singles, but to my ears, "If Only" just screams out to be a single.
  



• -The only track that I think is a total dud is the embarrassingly titled dubsteppy "Sexercise" which feels even more forced than "Red Blooded Woman" from Body Language. Even the Enrique duet seems to fit in. Otherwise, every single other track is either a complete winner or very close.



• -Sia and her fellow producers have made better use of Kylie's voice than any of her prior producers. She is never going to be known as a powerhouse vocalist, but she knows how to deploy her small, but effective voice very well and this album plays up her strengths and adds some vocal coloring and shading missing from Aphrodite. I love that album, but she was getting a bit helium balloon/Alivin & the Chipmunks there.



• -While the lyrics to the bonus track "Mr. President" are a bit questionable, the song is such a fun banger. Surprised it didn't make it onto the album.

So, thoughts? How's this shaping up for you? Any standout tracks?

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 02:18 AM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 2:20am

90 sec. album samplers from iTunes (other than "Into the Blue" which is available in full now):

"Million Miles":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-million-miles

"I Was Gonna Cancel":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-i-was-gonna

"Sexy Love":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-sexy-love

"Sexercise":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-sexcercise

"Feels So Good":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-feels-so-good

"If Only"
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-if-only-snippet

"Les Sex":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-les-sex-snippet

"Kiss Me Once":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-kiss-me-once-1

"Beautiful" (feat. Enrique I.):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4SEdqeiRM8

"Fine":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-fine-snippet

Bonus: "Mr. President":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-mr-president

Bonus: "Sleeping with the Enemy":
https://soundcloud.com/sexodus/kylie-minogue-sleeping-with

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 2:37am

And there are two more bonus tracks on the Japanese release (of course, grr it's hard being a collector.)

I need to give these longer samples a proper listen, but I mostly loved the sampler. I admit, I tend to prefer when an album is overseen by one producer (like Aphrodite was) but that's not the norm, and overall I like the sound of this.

And in a MasterCard promo Kylie surprised a fan with a performance at the gym... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWkV44Rzln4&feature=youtu.be

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 2:58am

I do agree in regards to the producers and her vocals (and that they were a bit too high for Aprhodite, as much as I loved it.) Though I think her 2 Deconstruction albums certainly showed off what she could do with her voice, as well.

I'm surprised the Greg Kurstin track (one of my fave current producers--I've loved his stuff ever since the surprise Canadian hit single from his flop band Peach Union, On My Own way back) is a bonus only.

Yes I agree about sexcercise. Oh well, what would a Kylie album be without one of these "Why?" tracks...

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 3:22am

Oh gosh. That Mastercard surprise was both wonderful and horrifying all at once. Ha.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 6:05pm

know many Kylie fans weren't fans (it grew on me) but I expected "Buzz single" Skirt from last Summer to be at least on one of the special editions.

And I had the exact same reaction to that Kylie video

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 6:13pm

"Skirt" grew on me as well, but I'm glad we didn't get a dubstep album from her. Ha.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 10:43pm

"Skirt" never grew on me.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/19/14 at 3:00am

Well you're not alone there. I just like the chorus and the build in the extended version.

Apparently Sia wrote Sexcercise. Surprised.

Feels So Good is a cover of a song by some indie guy Tom Aspaul--here's his version (called Indiana for some reason) https://soundcloud.com/tom_aspaul/indiana

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/19/14 at 3:03am

And the Guardian gives it a great review http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/17/first-listen-kylies-kiss-me-once

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 2/19/14 at 3:18am

Thanks HorseTears for starting a new thread and the name check

Thanks Eric for the Guardian link - this all looks so promising.

I am really looking forward to getting the CD.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/19/14 at 4:14pm

Thanks for the Guardian review, Eric. Can't wait to hear the whole thing.

If the goal of signing with RocNation was to maintain her success in Europe and to finally "break" the US, the one song that screams out to be the next single is "If Only". I honestly could imagine that song--with a few small tweaks--appearing on a Beyonce or Katy Perry or, God forbid, Mylie Cyrus album and yet still feels utterly Kylie. And I could imagine it doing equally well in the US as it would do in Europe. Kylie's voice sounds amazing on that instant, big, anthemic chorus that just hits you like a wave. The song also has a maturity to it that we don't get from Kylie. I still love "Les Sex", but it's awfully camp and the core audience for that song is still going to be buying her album.

I was surprised to hear that Sia co-wrote "Sexercise" as well. To my ears, it remains the weakest track. But, hey, one dud out of 10 album tracks isn' too bad. I'm shocked to admit that the rather banal Enrique duet even seems to fit in, so Sia's done a very nice job exec producing the whole affair.

I knew I'd heard "Feels So Good" somewhere before, but couldn't pin it. Tom Aspaul. Nice. I like his original, "Indiana", but I prefer what Kylie and team did with it.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 7:29pm

Kylie had an exclusive interview with Idolator today....


Kylie Minogue Discusses Pharrell, Sia And New Album ‘Kiss Me Once’: Idolator Interview

Pop Kylie. Indie Kylie. Sex Kylie. Goddess Kylie. Over the decades, the musical force that is Kylie Minogue has offered us one variation or another of her on-stage image while still maintaining enough of a “girl next door” likeability that we truly wish she would just move in down the block already. Listening to her upcoming 12th album Kiss Me Once (out March 1, however, conjures up a new persona for the Australian pop queen: Comforting Kylie.

Making the album wasn’t an easy road for the singer, by her own admission. And once countless tracks were done after a year of working with a multitude of collaborators, there came the arduous task of whittling them all down to one cohesive, Kylie-worthy set. Knowledge of that melts away, though, when listening to the record, as what ultimately shines through on Kiss Me Once is the radiant positivity, particularly with the optimistic lyrics that fill songs like lead single “Into The Blue,” the uplifting Ariel Rechtshaid composition “If Only” and the album’s title track, on which Minogue worked with the LP’s executive producer Sia Furler.

Kylie spent time cluing us in to what the process of piecing together her first studio album in four years was like, from switching her management over to Roc Nation to working with talents ranging from hit maker Pharrell Williams to French actor Clément Sibony. Head below for the full Idolator interview with Kylie Minogue.


(Also, no idea why this post is entirely bolded. I didn't add that formatting)

CLICKY HERE -- Kylie interview at Idolator Updated On: 2/26/14 at 07:29 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 8:12pm

I was just going to post that!!

Apparently the album should leak at any moment since the lyrics are all out there.

Kylie is one of the few acts I always collect the physical copies of -- even when it's a pain, and try to wait to get my copy on CD before playing it (though I often cheat and hear a few songs, plus any lie performances :P .) Since she has no physical singles with b-sides anymore, that does make my purchasing much cheaper :P I've decided not to get her special silly limited edition with all the extra stuff that I would never use anyway, so pre-ordered the Japanese edition since it has the bonus tracks of the deluxe CD/DVD version, has the DVD and has 2 more exclusive bonus tracks. They probably suck (though sometimes they don't--ie the brilliant Tightrope which was a b-side and a bonus track on the Ozzie Fever,) but I can't help myself. Found it on Yesasia for $32 bucks and free shipping which isn't all that bad for a Japanese CD.

(Just felt I had to share.) It's released right around my birthday, so I felt I deserved it :P

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 8:17pm

I love that there are music fans as passionate as you, Eric. I haven't bought a physical CD in at least 3 years. But can't wait to DL from iTunes!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 8:25pm

Ha it's actually kinda a bad thing--I have no room for more CDs or vinyl but it's the collector mentality (plus I do honestly love blasting an actual CD...) And the Japanese bonus tracks aren't even on iTunes (though the others are as is, I believe the video content which is pretty basic: the first video, making of the video, a photo shoot and 15 mins of Kylie talking about the songs. Which I sometimes find fascinating -- the Pet Shop Boys always do good ones, and Kylie's with Stuart Price for Aphrodite had some interesting tid-bits, but if it's just Kylie this time discussing the songs alone, and since she only has co-credit on one, it probably won't be. Still I'm sure I'll watch it dozens of times :P ).

And at least you're getting it legally! (I am sure you can get the Japanese tracks some other way :P )

[Jay Lerner-Z]

#16KYLIE 2014-15 : The Kiss Me Once Era

Posted: 2/26/14 at 10:10pm

Apologies, I have nothing to add, I just wanted to see if my post is bold too. I guess BWW instintcively recognizes the importance of Ms.Minogue.

I'll for sure get the physical CD - I haven't listened to any of the snippets either. New Kylie albums don't come around every day and I want to do it properly.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 10:13pm

Well, that's just rude.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 10:40pm

HA

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:16pm

Ha! Aww. Jay, it's a positive! You helped break the random bold curse. I don't know how you can resist listening to the samples. If you break, and want just one song to check out, I'd say go with "Les Sex". It's just... so Kylie.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:46pm

Right, and you can hear the full thing (in so so quality) performed live so it's not technically like listening to Les Sex's CD recording. I do allow myself to listen to the samples. We'll se what happens when the album leaks though...

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 5:30am

Kylie did a pub gig in Sydney on Tuesday night

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 4:54pm

Must look for fan videos. I'm enjoying all these impromptu concerts. She's often in New York, I wonder if she'd do one there. So far I know of London, Paris and now Sydney.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 5:01pm

My friend Patrick, authority on all things Kylie, just told me that Kylie is apparently filming videos (as in multiple vids) for... "Sexercise". I sincerely hope that is a joke. That embarrassment cannot be the next single, can it? God I hope not.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 5:10pm

Oh dear. She often makes odd second single choices (only to usually remedy that with one of the later single choices, but mainstream radio tends to be off the album by then...)

Maybe the person confused it with Les Sex?? I mean I can only hope... And she's filming a gay version for the clubs and a more mainstream one? Based on the samples I personally would release Les Sex to that first marketplace and simultaneously release a different track to radio (not Sexcercise, though it could be worse--originally they had a guest rapper, just like Chocolate originally did, who was removed last minute.)