Customer Reviews

Aphrodite

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For unabashed, unapologetic pop music fun Kylie Minogue albums are often the answer. With the Aussie singer's 11th album "Aphrodite" this fact is blissfully reaffirmed.

Precision-tooled to blare out of speakers everywhere from San Diego BMWs to overpriced Parisian boutiques to Caribbean nightclubs, this clever, infectious baker's dozen of pop tunes flies out of the oven aimed squarely at the pleasure zone of Minogue's core audience. It is a thing of beauty.

The album has a very appealing sonic marriage of 2002's heavy-handed dance of "Fever" with the upbeat yet cool-as-cucumber lounge-ready pop of hits such as "I Believe In You" and "Chocolate." The result is an uptempo but unserious sound that is often quite European and always danceable.

Lead single "All the Lovers" is an ideal example. Its ceaseless beats have the resonance of disco yet are laser-like and modern. As with other key tracks such as the blissful eureka moment of "Everything Is Beautiful" or the high-BPM "Put Your Hands Up," a confident kiss goodbye to sadness courtesy of the dance floor, the song has a smart, sunny Euro-pop sheen that immediately ingratiates itself. Minogue's smooth, sweet, feminine vocals lead the way.

The diva-comeback theme of the cheeky, delightful, softly rambunctious title track can be seen coming from a mile away, but this upfront lack of pretense is part of Minogue's effortless charm. "Better Than Today" also impresses with its sharply-chiseled synthesizers buoying her jubilant vocals.

Unlike 2007's "X," there is a track or two that do not impress as much as those that surround. Although its lyrics are well-written, "Closer" is essentially a less appealing sequel to 2004's slick, sexy "Slow" and the closing "Can't Beat the Feeling" flies by without calling attention to itself.

"Get Outta My Way," the album's high point, is a declaration of intentions to savor all of life's transient pleasures whether or not company joins in. Its frenetic energy and sugary-sweet pop hook make it destined for the upper reaches of the charts, although comparisons to Minogue's 2000 hit "Spinning Around" are certainly justified from the title alone.

"Put your hands up if you feel love tonight," "Take a chance tonight and try something new," "I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty, I'm an aphrodite" and "Can you feel me in the stereo?" are some of the album's best lines and indication of themes listeners will find and enjoy.

"Aphrodite" is expertly crafted, low-brow yet sophisticated and endlessly listenable. What more can a pop music fan ask for?

Foreword

It was 1988 when one Kylie Minogue first made her presence felt in the pop world but it was not until 2000 - 12 years later that she finally came into her own. Following four successful albums under manufactured pop gurus- Stock, Aitken & Waterman, she severed ties with her mentors in 1992 in favour of creative independence and new horizons.

The albums that followed- 1994's `Kylie Minogue' & 1997's `Impossible Princess' (both on Deconstruction Records) whilst containing a handful of great songs - most notably on her `94 effort, were ultimately misguided and patchy affairs which failed to live up to expectations. By the late 90's, and now having passed the age of 30, it seemed KM's career in pop music was all but over.

Yet it would be the Noughties in which the Aussie star truly shined. Returning to her Dance-Pop roots for new single `Spinning Around' in 2000, the song was paired with an eye popping video in which she wore a pair of gold hot pants - helping to send it to the top of the charts in the UK & Australia. The rest as they say is history.

Here's a brief recap of The Princess of Pop's output over the last 10 years-

Light Years (2000) `70's Disco meets early Noughties Dance-Pop on Kylie's big comeback album for the new century. Light Years ft. some great singles in `Spinning Around' `On a Night like This' & `Please Stay' but it all gets a bit too camp in the middle and the majority of the album is forgettable. Light Years marked the first album in a long and successful relationship with Parlophone Records.
5/10

Fever (2001) Not only her best album musically speaking, but also the most commercially successful release - Fever is the center piece of the KM discography. Unlike `Light Years' the 1970's disco is minimal, and the camp silliness entirely absent. This album sounds like it belongs in the 21st century; - blending pop with dance & Electro instead of with disco and crappy 90's dance beats. By this point KM had perfected her vocal delivery for maximum effectiveness. As well as her default singing voice she now also possessed a very sexy almost whispered tone which would be used more heavily on follow-up Body Language. These elements combined with the fact that a number of songs are about lust/sex makes Fever feel like the first adult KM album. All the songs are good, and the production dazzling. Highlights include- `Love at First Sight', `Come Into My World' & the monstrous global smash- `Can't Get You Out of My Head', which, similar to Cannibal Corpse's `Hammer Smashed Face' is this artists defining moment.
9/10

Body Language (2003) More stripped down and laid back than the dance orientated Fever - Body Language is KM at the top of her game. The minimalistic sound of the album is an unexpected yet welcome dynamic and some tracks even ft. traces of hip hop. What makes it all gel is that most of the songs are built around a great hook or catchy melody and every component from the lyrics, vocal arrangements & production - right down to the chic Bardot-inspired snaps and cover font is effortlessly cool. Killer cuts- `Secret (Take You Home)', `Red Blooded Woman' & the sexy `After Dark'.
8/10

X (2007) Following a break from the pop world after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and going on to beat it, KM triumphantly returned to the charts in 2007 with `X'- her 10th studio album. Easily the most diverse album to date with multiple styles explored, that is, within the safe confines of what could still be considered pop music. `Heart Beat Rock's Electro riff gets stuck in your head, the unexpected pseudo Rock of `Stars' works well (though it would have worked better with a slightly heavier guitar tone- but that would never happen on a KM album), Kylie meets J-Pop on `Nu-di-ty' another cool track and there's even an R&B number in `All I See' which is a nice romantic one. X has also got a few duds, lead single `2 Hearts' goes nowhere and is a bore but overall X is more good than bad.
7/10

So here we are- 2010 and it's time for album No11- Aphrodite. Named after the goddess of love, Aphrodite debuted at No 1 in the UK albums chart on it's week of release and also marked the singer's 5th No 1 album in the UK. Let's take a closer look.

Review

All the Lovers (3:20) Reasonably catchy mid paced opener in a wishy washy kind of way. A slightly odd choice for a first single but then I would say the same of the first singles from BL & X.
5/10

Get Outta My Way (3:39) This is more like it - an up tempo and very catchy tune. The chorus is a totally huge and really sucks you into the song. Great track.
10/10

Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) (3:38) The title says it all, this one is a feel good number and is very simple maintaining the same rhythm throughout. It's not one of the standout tracks and the vocals don't do anything interesting.
5/10

Closer (3:09) This one is pretty cool. It starts off with what sounds like a Harpsichord and a simple drumbeat as synthesizers build to a big pulsating chorus. The vocal patterns and repeating lyrics gives the track a robotic quality which makes for an appealing dynamic against the subject matter. 7/10

Everything Is Beautiful (3:26) One of the album highlights, this one has a nice laid back groove which is like getting a relaxing massage after a hard day at work. The vocals and percussion work particularly great together to sooth away your stresses. 9/10

Aphrodite (3:46) Best song on the album. This one is everything a good pop song should be- catchy; uplifting & it gets you pumped while the lyrics are basically a celebration of Kylie being a badass. 10/10

Illusion (3:22) starts off with layered harmonized vocals as mid paced beat begins which is backed up with a deep groove and some satisfying `whoa-oh's. Another catchy song which like most on Aphrodite, if you pay attention - multiple layers of instrumentation can be detected amongst the slick production. 7/10

Better than Today (3:26) 3rd single from the album is classic Kylie fare and another highlight. This one is light and fun with a message for everyone to forget their woes and let go and dance. Good Times! 8/10

Too Much (3:16) lyrically `Too Much' expresses the excitement of a connection with another person. The song has an almost early 90's dance feel to it, which is cool in a retro kind of way but it's also one of the weaker tracks on offer. 6/10

Cupid Boy (4:27) One of Aphrodite's best songs, Cupid Boy whips along like an exhilarating fair ground ride set against a fireworks lit sky. Really catchy, gets stuck in your head, awesome. 10/10

Looking for an Angel (3:50) features a string section, is the lightest sounding song on the album and similar to `Too Much', if any could be described as filler this would be one of them. 5/10

Can't Beat the Feeling (4:11) like many KM songs this one is about the euphoric feeling of time spent with that special someone, and like her best is up-tempo and contains a positive charge that seduces the listener and makes you feel good. A fitting album closer. 8/10

Kylie has never been a great singer or dancer; instead you could say she is capable & well trained in these areas. She has however always been rather easy on the eyes and if you combine all these elements you have one hell of a recipe for a pop star. The other area in which she is blessed is in having a team of great songwriters and producers behind her who understand her range and construct music that best highlights her talents. Her sweet spot is up-tempo or mid paced pop tunes. That's were her voice works best and her natural charisma really shines through.

Aphrodite is a welcome return to a more traditional style of radio pop, and of all her past works is most similar to Fever. The songs are very catchy and they sound huge. The last two albums- Body Language & X, seemed to have quite specific styles they were shooting for, but with Aphrodite it appears the primary goal was to just to write & record some great pop tunes. As a result it's hard not to view this as the strongest album since Fever; I'd probably tie it with Body Language as her joint second best. Ultimately Aphrodite is another great effort from the one and only KM. Ooh-rah!
5 stars / 8/10.

Fans and critics often consider Kylie's golden period to be between the years of 1998-2002, encompassing the albums "Impossible Princess" (a leap into more adventurous territory), "Light Years" (a reimagining of retro disco), and "Fever" (transitioning to deeper club grooves, and a U.S. crossover smash).

After what some observers believe to be a few years in the wilderness, Kylie aims to recapture the spark that was seen occasionally in more recent times (especially evident in such songs as "I Believe In You" and "White Diamond"), but burned most brightly during the era of "Fever".

When I heard "Aphrodite" in full for the first time, I had mixed feelings. Yes, it sounds great on the surface - it's all very immaculately produced and is quite consistent. But hasn't Kylie done this all before, perhaps better? And considering everything she's been through, where's the lyrical and emotional depth?

Over a period of listening and absorbing the work, I've found that even though there is enough surface sparkle to immediately catch the attention, there's also an underlying vitality that begins to emerge upon further plays. Track 2, "Get Outta My Way", has a massive double chorus that is balanced out by surprisingly dialled-down verses, giving a counterpoint to the bluster and adding interest while still maintaining the momentum.

The first song to really capture me on a deeper level has been track 4, "Closer". Off-kilter synth drones, baroque style harpsichord, and a steadily building rhythm, around which Kylie cryptically intones: "We'll redesign / Where we combine / To be divine / Love in us", before pulling the listener into a chorus of disembodied yearning, reminiscent of ethereal music such as Delerium (circa "Poem").

Following this comes "Everything Is Beautiful". A song which might easily be overlooked on initial listening, it eventually reveals itself as a gorgeous highlight. Produced to sound like a veritable fantasy realm, with tinkling piano, billowing synths and layered vocal sighs, it's dream-pop at its finest, at times recalling the lushest moments of Fleetwood Mac's "Tango in the Night" album. There are some rather evocative vocals, lyrics and melodies that almost could've come from Billy Corgan during the "Adore" era: "Pulling the ripcord I dive / It's a cardboard kingdom / But it makes me feel / That if I lie with you long enough / I can see the things I'm dreaming of / Let's go through the ritual / Until everything is beautiful".

Completing this mid-album epiphany is "Aphrodite" - the title track itself. And it's powerful. It makes a grand entrance with the sound of insistent marching drums and aerial whooshes, followed by Kylie's near military cadence. It then explodes into a commanding chorus, brimming with a strength of will that is certain to boost the confidence of anyone who follows in step: "I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty / I'm a golden girl / I'm an Aphrodite / Alright!".

Another high point comes in the form of "Better Than Today", which, along with the title track, was written by Nerina Pallot (who worked with the aforementioned Delerium, and is surely an artist to keep an eye on). With lyrics such as: "I know life is hard / So we're living for the weekend / You can hurt or take heart / I guess it really depends", the song takes a philosophical stance and calls on people to let loose: "You've got to lose it / Use it / Know the chance to do it / What's the point in living / If you don't want to dance?"

And yes, there are many pure dance tracks - make no mistake, they are the driving force behind this project. However, it is far from the inanity that some may mistake it for; rather, it is smart enough to know not to overcomplicate itself, where simple pleasure is a distilled quality. Tracks such as "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)", and "Too Much" tap into the giddy, playful excitement of the "Fever" era, and more specifically expands on a hidden gem of that period, the outtake "Whenever You Feel Like It" - whereas songs like "All The Lovers" and "Illusion" build upon the atmospheric, danceable melancholy of another buried "Fever" era treasure, "Tightrope".

So what are the problems, if any? "Illusion" may well be shoehorned into a dance track from what could've been a pretty ballad, "Looking For An Angel" comes across as slight and "Cupid Boy" manages the trick of sounding progressive without really going anywhere. But these tracks are still quite pretty and help to flesh out the album's tone. Perhaps the addition of the lovely bonus track "Mighty Rivers" onto the album proper would have added a little more dimension as well. Regardless, the album could be considered a letdown only if a quantum leap in artistic ambition is expected. And it is clear that she has the ability to deliver more brilliant performances; to this day, 1994's "Confide In Me" remains unmatched.

If anything, this album makes me excited again for Kylie's future potential. It seems to have opened her up and allowed her to invest her entire being into a project again. It is clear that Kylie has locked onto a singular vision. It is uplifting euphoria both as a concept and in execution. When Kylie sings such simple lines as "We've got an energy / Burning like I've never seen / Bringing us to life", she not only means it; she feels it, and wants us to feel it too.

The first time I listened to this album, I liked it. The second time, I loved it. NPR had been previewing the album on-line before its release, I heard it then. It sounded nice enough, kind of like some of her other music, but didn't grab my attention as much I would have liked. When the CD arrived, though, it was like a whole different thing: All the intangibles that turn good songs into great ones were there, and it became apparent very quickly that this is one special album. The quality of the sound from the CD allowed me to hear all the wonderful production touches that fill this entire album.

The first single, All the Lovers, is an instant classic, right up there with other Kylie hits. As of this writing, I can only guess what the other singles will be. There are simply too many great, euphoric dance songs here, with catchy hooks, interesting production, and lyrics about (what else?) love, sex, and dancing. Kylie and her production team self-consciously reference her brilliant Light Years and Fever albums, creating electro-disco dance pop that no one has done better than Kylie over the past decade. (Madonna's a riskier artist than Kylie, but her output is uneven, and the new breed of Lady Gaga et al. can't even come close to this quality).

Aphrodite is another high water mark in the pop superstar's career. The songs, production, and performances are as good as they've ever been. Even the packaging is a step up, with a nice hard-back cd book and a series of pictures. I can't wait to see what she does for the inevitable concerts (and concert dvd) to follow. For Kylie fans, and fans of wonderful, upbeat, uplifting music, I couldn't recommend this more highly.

This is one of the best Kylie Minogue albums I have heard in awhile since "Fever". I didn't really like "Body Language" or "X" that was previously released before this album but when I heard the MP3 clips, it sounded like Kylie got her true mojo back. After looking in every store that sold music in town, I finally bought this album at Barnes & Nobles for a pricy $18 and it is well worth the money. It has the elements that "Fever" had but her sound is incredibly fresh and enticing in every track. She amazes you with her signature catchy beats and rhythms and the lyrics absolutely tingle your senses. This is definitely an album you want to have in your collection.

I held off on buying this because on initial listen, the lead off single and audio snippets of the entire album did not draw me in. But being a huge fan and not finding any good music to buy out there currently, I caved in. Just so that you know where I'm coming from I found Kylie's "X" to be not only her crowning achievement but also one of the 10 best albums of the past decade. I thoroughly enjoyed her X tour live in the States a few years back as well. "Aphrodite" plays like a sequel to that masterpiece or maybe even can be titled "X-Lite." But that may be being too generous to this CD. In fact, half the tracks seem like they were rejected cuts for "X." As another reviewer astutely pointed out, they are boring and offer very little other than a serviceable dance beat. A DJ can put this on and take an hour break and not worry about a thing because the record will keep the patrons dancing. But as far as killer cuts go there are only about 2 or 3. The first 4 tracks are very good but after that, make sure you listen to the rest of the CD when you are wide awake during the day if you don't want to miss anything. Putting tracks 5-12 on at night would be a surefire cure for insomnia. I have to revise my stance on "All The Lovers." 8 months ago I wasn't impressed but now I think it is pure pop perfection. It is one of her best songs in the last 10 years. "Closer" is also very wicked as is "Get Out Of My Way." The album might have worked better with different sequencing and spreading these tracks throughout the CD rather than bunch them up all in the beginning. Because after track 4 there is nothing to look forward to. Still, compared to today's standards this album is not too bad. In my opinion it is better than "Body Language"(2 stars) by a hair and falls slightly below "Light Years"(4 stars) and "Fever"(4 stars). My desert island CD would still be "X"(5 stars).

O--M--G!!! That is all I can say! Speaking as an African American female, it has been a little difficult to admit that I took an interest in Kylie. Due to my ethnic background, I felt a little pressure from my race that prevented me from admitting that I enjoyed her music. I am not trying to imply any disrespect towards my race, but I truly feel that if another African American steps "outside of the box" or is unique with no boundaries, they are looked down upon because they are misunderstood. Well..I am here to say that I stopped caring about the pressure from some of my African American peers and I learned to establish my individualism because thats what human beings should all do. The first album that I purchased from Kylie was "Fever" due to the catchy lyrics of "Cant Get You Out Of My Head" and I have been HOOKED on her music every since! Since the purchase of my first Kylie cd, I not only started to take an interest in her earlier work, but I also started to anticipate her newer music as well. After continuously playing her album "X," I anxiously anticipated "Aphrodite" when I heard the news about the future release. I must say....every since I got hooked on Kylie, she has yet to disappoint me! The upbeat tempo that she carries in all of her lyrics not only supports dancing, but also working out (believe me, Aphrodite is perfect if you are working out). Kylie has supported my personal restoration of music and she has yet to let me down! Aphrodite appears to make a statement from Kylie; a statement that says "I am back, I am bold, I know my fans have missed me and I am here to give them something to smile about!" My personal favorites on this album were:

"All the Lovers (even though I was not a fan of the video....)"
"Get Outta My Way"
"Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)"
"Everything Is Beautiful"
"Aphrodite"
"Too Much"
"Cupid Boy (my absolute FAVORITE song on the album)"
"Looking For an Angel"
"Cant Beat the Feeling"

There is only one song that I really do not care for, but will listen to it, and that happens to be "Better Than Today." Other than that, I absolutely LOVE this album! If you enjoyed "Body Language, Fever, or X," then "Aphrodite" will not disappoint you! Many people try to disrespect Kylie by stating she emulates the style of Lady Gaga. WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THEY GET THAT IDEA?! Kylie (IN MY PERSONAL OPINION) holds two titles: "The queen of the dance genre" and "The queen of originality," and I am confident she will hold those two titles strong until the day she no longer makes music! Wonderful job Kylie! I look forward to your new album....whenever that may be :D

Great summer Dance/Pop album...nothing serious or innovative...but still catchy as hell! All tracks keep a positive mood and they are sure to motivate you to want to go out and dance. If I could use one word to describe this album it would be "Euphoric", which is a pleasant departure from the dark electro pop being purged by Xtina A. and Lady Gaga. It's nice to have something uplifting to listen to in this rough economy. Best Kylie album since Fever era!

the packing wasnt ruined, the timing was perfect. i opened it and it was in great condition. I love every single song except for the album title track Aphrodite. But every other song is amazing! I already know all the lyrics!

This album is magical! I am a huge Kylie fan, and this is one of her best albums yet. The fantastic mix of electropop and dance is pure pop perfection. There isn't a single bad track on this album. My personal favourite is the 80's sounding "Closer". It should have been a single!

"Aphrodite" includes hit singles "All The Lovers", "Get Outta My Way", "Better Than Today" and "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)". All dance-pop lovers must buy this, now!