Ultimate Kylie [CD]

Fans might be disappointed that 'Ultimate Kylie' doesn't quite live up to its name as some of the pop siren's smaller hits have been left off this best of package. Which is a shame as 'Word is out' and 'Finer feelings' are top drawer Stock Aitken & Waterman tunes, while 'Some kind of bliss' (Kylie's smallest hit to date at n#22) is arguably the best song the Manic Street Preachers have ever written!! Nevertheless, there's no faulting the brilliance of 'Confide in me', 'Spinning around' and the almighty 'Can't get you out of my head'. Some of the SAW tunes may sound a bit dated today, but with a back catalogue that includes 'Better the devil you know', 'Step back in time' and 'Shocked', resistance is futile. Of the two new tracks, 'I believe in you' is the one to watch. Co-written by Jake Shears and Babydaddy of the Scissor Sisters, the track grows on you after every listen. There has been many Kylie Minogue greatest hits packages released in recent years, but if you need to pick one, plump for 'Ultimate Kylie'.

...THIS SHOULD BE IT!

OK, a few 'Greatest Hits' packages have been released during Kylie's time as Princess Of Pop, but they have pretty much been about her old record labels cashing in on her renewed success. This CD, on the other hand, charts her music career right from the beginning to the present, and not only is it endorsed by Ms Minogue but it also features a couple of new tracks (including the spellbinding "I Believe In You").

This is truly what pop music is about. The oldest stuff from the PWL days is cheesy, melodic, simple and just great fun ('Hand On Your Heart' is post-Abba singalong cheese at its best), though if you want depth and enlightenment this may not be your cup of tea. As the 90s dawned and she began to assert a more mature image her music was allowed to evolve with her (enter "Better The Devil You Know", one of the high points in the history of pop), and she even managed to incorporate a rap on 'Shocked' :-).

Eventually the constraints of PWL became too much, and off to indie label DeConstruction she went. Though commercial success somewhat eluded her during this phase, the actual records themselves were brilliant, particularly the hypnotic 'Confide In Me' and the trancy 'Breathe' (and it should be noted that many of the other tracks from her two DeConstruction albums are excellent too, even though they haven't made it on to this compilation - worth looking into...).

But of course, the Kylie we know and love today rediscovered her pop roots after her relationship with DeConstruction came to an end. Parlophone signed her, they had a mutual vision of where she should go, and voila, she was back at the top of the charts (with the help of a pair of gold hotpants). The 'Light Years' album was a return to pure pop, but with a noticeably more mature sound and a styling with which Kylie was clearly very comfortable. The singles were great, and did the job of telling the world that she was back, but in my opinion it is a crime against all that is good and proper that the album track 'Your Disco Needs You' has not made it on to this compilation, given that it has become a firm favourite amongst her fans.

It was the next project that launched her into the stratosphere, and also managed to finally break her in the USA (well, at least as something other than 'the Locomotion girl'). 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' was the perfect fusion of song, star and video, and for me it provided a very welcome boost in the gloom of September 2001. The 'Fever' album contained brilliant pop tunes and a fantastically mature sound, and the four singles went down a storm on the radio (as they did on MTV, now that some serious effort was being put into the videos). 'In Your Eyes' is just pure futuristic disco, 'Love At First Sight' is so utterly joyful, and 'Come Into My World' gradually captivates you with its brilliance.

After a bit of a break (and the enormously successful Fever Tour) she released 'Body Language'. With this album and it's #1 lead-off single 'Slow', Kylie tried an 80s-revival-with-a-modern-twist thing. Though it wasn't a commercial smash like its predeccesor it did at least show her critics that she wasn't going to get pigeonholed in the sort of sound that characterised 'Fever'. The singles provided a welcome relief from the manufactured pap being churned out by Simon Cowell and his ilk, and of course we got to see Kylie 'covering up' for her latest incarnation as Brigitte Bardot.

For the die-hard fans this album will only provide the two additional tracks as everything else is covered on her albums (though again I must point out just how brilliant 'I Believe In You' is!), but for everyone else this is the chance to add some of the best pop music ever created to your CD collection.

Has Kylie ever truly been given recognition for the sheer quality of music she has released over the last 17 or so years? I don't think so - but this compilation should put all that to rest. But, I already have a Kylie greatest Hits you cry! It's true; there are probably no less than 4 different compilation cd's of hers. Why should you buy this one then?
As the title suggests, this is the Ultimate version. It is the only compilation of hers to cover all 3 record labels, meaning you get hits from every stage of her career in one box!
The early years; 'Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi', 'Got To Be Certain', the 'locomotion' and of course 'I Should Be So lucky' are very 'twee', however these songs really defined the era when PWL ruled the charts. No matter what people think of the PWL years, Kylie released some true pop classics in that time, such as 'What Do I Have To Do', 'Better The Devil You Know' and 'Shocked'. A startling omission from the PWL period is 'Finer Feelings' - a true fan favourite...
She left PWL for the 'cool 'DeConstruction label, and this is where Kylie really started to blossom. The truly stunning 'Confide In Me' & 'Put Yourself In My Place' are without doubt stand out tracks - no matter who would have recorded them. Her second album with this label produced perhaps some of the coolest tracks of her career, yet at the time was not recognised as such. 'Did It Again' and 'Breathe' are included here, but 'Some Kind Of Bliss' is strangely not? However, her incredible duet with Nick Cave, 'Where the wild roses grow' IS included thankfully.
After the disappointing sales of that album, Kylie was without a record label for a while. Would she revive her career?
ABSOLUTELY. Kylie came back with some of the strongest material of her career bringing her back onto the dance floor where she belonged; 'Spinning Around', duetting with Robbie Williams on 'Kids', the extraordinary 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' 'Love at First Sight', and 'In Your Eyes'.
Then she did it again (no pun intended). As with her 'Impossible Princess' album, she decided to change direction. It didn't quite work for the general music buying market, but the stunning electo pop 'Slow' and gorgeous, sumptuous and very sultry 'Chocolate' were definate highlights.
She has included 2 brand new tracks for this compilation. one of which is without a doubt, in the top 3 Kylie singles of all time. 'I Believe In You', her collaboration with The Scissor Sisters is an absolute classic and a return to her true pop roots which she had abandoned on her last album.
This is truly an extraordinary collection, and maybe this is the time her contribution to the world of music is finally recognised. There are a couple of glaring omissions, but that can't stop anyone buying and thoroughly enjoying this cd.
AMAZING