Body Language

by

Kylie Minogue

Edit

It's surely tough to follow up on a smash album but on Body Language, Kylie has demonstated that it might not always be so. Fever (and its predecessor Light Years) preyed upon the recognizable cross-hybrid of retro/electronic pop and turned out great, giving her career a well-needed boost. With this album, Kylie has decided to turn another direction, for you'll find more street cred and funky urban beats to gyrate to.

When Slow was released as the first single, many were shocked. Where was the Can't Get You Out Of My Head? But then this was a great move. Slow is a piece of sensual and overtly sexual masterpiece with an orgasm-inducing video (found on the enhanced portion of this CD). Nothing has come so steamy in music since Madonna's days of Erotica/Justify My Love. Certainly there are many more - Red Blooded Woman with its funky and urban rhythm, Obsession with the same intensity of Destiny Child's Jumpin' Jumpin' and the delicious Chocolate which proves to be a worthy continuation of Slow with its ultra sexy hook. The latter will make any of Janet Jackson's past sex-themed songs seem like child's play.

Through all these, production plays a very important and turns Kylie's vocal limitation to an alluring purr most suited for these songs. For dance fans, fret not. there's the Air soundalike Still Standing that will keep you happy.

This effort may not be a sequel to 2001's hit Fever but is definitely a great follow up. May need some getting used to for some, but it's rewarding no less for Language is a pretty good pop album.

With the momentum generated by "Can't Get You Out Of My Head," and the album "Fever," I wouldn't think this is a good way to follow up and capitalize on that success. I've listened and listened...nothing nearly as catchy or infectuous as anything on its predecessor. "Fever" made me go out and by "Light Years." "Body Language," on the other hand, has me looking forward to the next release with a lot more caution. Someone else commented that the songs on "BL" seem more suited to sister Dannii. From what I've listened to of Dannii's music, I agree... and you'll notice Dannii still hasn't found mainstream success in the US.

From reading the other reviews, this album has found an audience, but I seriously doubt if a single song on it will come anywhere near making the impact that "Can't Get You Out..." did, or even that of any of the follow up singles from "Fever." Even "Light Years" had a US club hit ("Spinning Around"), and while the rest of its tracks were vastly diverse in feel, it was a very bouyant, fun, energetic album. "Body Language" isn't speaking to mine.