Search - Kylie Minogue :: Fever (Bonus CD)

This ain't no "Loco-motion"

11/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To American audiences, Kylie Minogue is one of those attractive one-hit wonders; one who cranked out a less-than-stellar, and otherwise unnecessary remake of Little Eva's "Loco-Motion" as the 1980s drew to a close. Sadly, she never caught on in the U.S., despite the fact that her early singles were fun and frothy little tunes, if not earth-shattering.// After cranking out hits as part of a hit factory in the 1980s and suffering a commercial and critical dismissal in the 1990s, Kylie Minogue's dues were finally declared paid in 2000 when she launched an unlikely comeback to rival that of Tina Turner in 1984. She guested on albums by artists ranging from Robbie Williams to the Pet Shop Boys and ultimately released her campy disco album "Light Years," and it clicked--it was fun, it was just retro enough to be hip, and most of all, it was mighty good. Suddenly, it was okay to take her seriously.// To follow up, she's dropped a spectacular album on the market, and in doing so, reversed her musical direction and rendered herself a truly "serious" artist--essentially, more than a decade after we first heard from her, she has finally hit her career peak creatively and commercially.// How good is this album? It's sterling. There's not a weak track among the bunch. She doesn't resort to sliding a ballad in among the tracks, and that pays off--she sets a mood. Kylie came to dance, and dance she does.// The tracks pull from current music trends and classic disco (think disco supergroup Chic), but instead of sounding like a derivative of what's popular now, it's more like an integration of new sounds. There are hints of Daft Punk, Modjo, Fragma, and DJ Spiller in the music, but Kylie brings her pop sensibilites to the table with a verse-chorus-verse lyrical scheme and more vocal growth. In doing so, she manages to carve out a niche for herself, which is something she's rarely been able to claim in the past. She becomes more than just "Kylie Minogue, pop singer." At this point, she's created a pop/dance sound that will ultimately be replicated by many more.// Minogue has co-written several of the tracks, as has a long-absent Cathy Dennis--of "Touch Me (All Night Long)" fame--and this only underscores Kylie's growth as an artist. "Fever" is much more stripped down than her previous effort, "Light Years," and as such, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. They both stand on their own as milestones in a long career and offer a promise of great things to come.// "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" is an obvious high point, but "Come Into My World" is a track in the same vein. If you like one, you'll like the other. She also treads into classic New Order territory with "Fever." "Fragile" is a sweeping mood piece with understated, breathy vocals that play off of her girl-next-door charm. One track toward the end of the album, "Dancefloor," leans toward the big disco beats of "Light Years," but doesn't sound out of place here.// For the part of the American public that has an ear for European dance music, this album does not disappoint. It's a shame, though, that this style has made so little headway in the mainstream. In a market crowded with a slew of soundalike rock bands, "Fever" would be a welcome breath of fresh air."

Can't get her out of your head

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 05/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kylie Minogue re-broke into pop stardom with "Fever," her eighth studio album. And it's somehow not surprising -- "Fever" is infectious, dancey and perpetually catchy. Despite the "lovey" tone of the songs, Kylie's album is dancepop in its purest form, and is probably the best example of the type.



It starts off on a rather middling note with the fast-paced "More More More," before launching into the sparkling "Love At First Sight," a more complex dance song that is surprisingly infectious. ("And everything went from wrong to right/the stars came up and filled up the sky/the music you were playin' nearly blew my mind/it was love at first sight!")



Things coast on from there, including the infuritatingly entertaining "Can't Get You Out of My Head," the funk-edged "Give It To Me," and the sultry "Love Affair." She also dabbles in softer electropop, in songs like the swoony "Fragile" and the swirling "In Your Eyes," both of which turn down the tempo and up the emotion.



It's always sort of nice when a guilty pleasure doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is. And "Fever" has no such pretensions. It's a fun, slightly suggestive album that you can dance to, with the forgettable lyrics of dancepop, and some truly enjoyable beats that have a tendency to stick to your mind like old bubble gum.



Even her most ardent fans can't claim that Kylie has a great voice -- she has a voice that is lightweight, wispy and pretty. It matches the music, and she knows how to use it, never overtaxing the ol' vocal chords. In other words, no Britney-style chord-straining yowls or screeches. Rather than exceptional vocal quality, Kylie gets props for knowing her limits, and working with them.



And the dancepop of "Fever" also gets props for unusual complexity. Rather than repetitive beats repeated on every song, several songs from "Fever" switch tempo, switch synths, and have their highs and lows. There are some distinct flavours to some of the songs, such as funk and a bit of disco, which add extra spice and memorability.



"Fever" is a guilty pleasure, but at least it's a fun, entertaining one. One of Kylie's best, and definitely worth "spinning around.""

This "Fever" IS The Cure!!!!

Trekkie | Southern Calif. | 12/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there were ever a question such as "Why is Kylie the Queen of Pop and Dance Music," here is your answer. "Fever" sets the platinum standard for these genres with its flawless combination of Kylie's sultry, smooth and breathtaking vocal flair combined with masterful songwriting collaboration with Cathy Dennis, Rob Davis, Richard Stannard and Julian Gallagher (to name but a few). This set is a deejay's best friend. Kylie has the knack for turning up the heat with stunning results.



Prime examples of Kylie's genius and talent break forward on tracks such as "Fever," "In Your Eyes" and "Dancefloor" (sultry and purely alluring with dance syncopation that gets to your soul). "Love At First Sight" is yet another diamond in this set with its pure EuroDance flair and, as always, smooth polish of Kylie's spunk and verve. What's more, as a perfect pairing, "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" and "Come Into My World" both define the club anthem attitude and sound.



As "Light Years" set the stage for Kylie's continued reign into the 21st century as the pop and dance music queen, "Fever" proves that Kylie retains that title.



"Highlights include "Fragile", "Give It To Me" and "Love Affair"

"