Published: April 30, 2008 07:32 pm      

Minogue’s ‘X’ pop music of highest order

Kylie Minogue is a bona fide pop legend. Over the years she has proved herself one of the most diverse women in music. From her ’80s hit cover of “The Locomotion” (which thrust her onto the international pop scene) to the phenomenal success of the “Fever” album, she has become an entertainer for the ages. “X” is her (you guessed it) 10th studio album and her first since in nearly five years.

Since she is splitting her time between acting and music, it would be semi-understandable if she offered a mediocre collection of songs at this point in her career, but what you get instead is arguably her most potent effort to date.

“X” has a bit of a throwback sound to it, even going one step further than the pulsating “Fever” album. While artists like Gwen Stefani and Willa Ford work hard to sound like artists did when those artists were in diapers, Kylie has lived that sound and it fits her very naturally. Her voice entices on songs like “Heartbeat Rock” and “Like a Drug” in a very Deborah Harry-“I’m innocent but not too innocent” sort of way. Another standout track is “Speakerphone,” a song that could have easily been a massive worldwide hit in 1985 with its thick synthesizers and sugary sweet hooks.

That said, there is plenty of pure “Kylie pop pop” to go around including the albums centerpiece “2 Hearts.” It’s campy, showgirl style is often imitated but rarely immortalized in the way Kylie does here. This is her best song in many, many years. “2 Hearts” oozes Vegas showgirl fun and I’ll bet live crowds everywhere will drop big money to see her do it up right.

“Sensitized,” the brilliant electronica of “The One” and “Stars” all contribute to the sassy and sweet dichotomy that is “X” as well. This album is one part over-the-top showstoppers and one part sultry vixen, and it’s a ton of fun.

Overall this is Kylie’s strongest album to date. It is pop music of the highest order, the kind that considers itself entertainment first and foremost and delivers the goods with the total package (DVD extras, a great album and cool artwork). Kylie has created an album well worth your money, whether pop is your first love or your guilty pleasure. If more people would release albums of this caliber, then more people would buy physical CDs.

Kylie’s latest album, “X,” is available everywhere now via EMI Records.