City Games
Release 17th November 2003 (UK/Europe/Australia)
US release date TBC (edit dana: februar 2004 erwartet)
A second leaked tracklist for the upcoming album has been sent to us, and we've decided to post it as there are certain definite elements to it which hint at it being genuine - or at least in part. It claims the album is to be called City Games for sure, and contains 11 tracks, Kylie co-writing 9 of these. There is also a co-write with sister Dannii.
Slow
(Kylie Minogue/Emiliana Torrini/Mr Dan)
Produced by Emiliana Torrini and Mr Dan
To be honest, I found this track an odd choice for lead single. Many of the other tracks are far more instantaneous and memorable. This song is cool, very subtle, whispery vocals, foreign/exotic-esque production. The next CGYOOMH it isn't. But it doesn't claim to be. It's a subtle, electro, R&B-tinged track. Definately the 'coolest' sounding thing she's done since the DeCon days. I can't see it being a huge, huge hit though. 8/10
City Games
(Kylie Minogue/Richard Stannard/Julian Gallagher/Dave Morgan/Karen Poole)
Produced by Richard `Biff’ Stannard & Julian Gallagher
This song is the most poppy/dance-orientated track on the album. It has a kinda summary vibe to it. It has an almost drum and bass beat but with a rather casual, poppy melody... dare I say a little Motown! Nice fun track! 8/10
You Make Me Feel
(Kylie Minogue/Tommy D/Marius DeVries/Felix Howard)
Produced by Tommy D & Marius DeVries
Kylie's vocals sound unreal on this one! The chorus is the best thing about it. She sings in a very high register in the verses, almost doing vocal acrobatics in a way we've never heard from her in the past. Got a kind of R&B beat with good use of strings. One of the most catchy on a first listen. A good US single too! A fave of mine. 9.5/10
E-Z St
(Pharrell Williams/Chad Hugo/Stevie Wonder)
Produced by Pharrell Williams
A breezey, fun, hip-pop record... If I had to liken it to anything it'd be Cowboy Style from the Fever tour! It's got that kinda breakdancing beat with whistful vocals and a great, great bassline! Not very Neptunes sounding at all. Has Kylie written all over it. R&B influenced but still pop! 9.5/10
In The Dark
(Kylie Minogue/Emiliana Torrini/Dan Carey)
Produced by Emiliana Torrini & Mr Dan
I think this song is about James Gooding... it's not very subtle in it's content, that's for sure ("You left me in the dark / How am I supposed to trust you now?"). The song itself is quite dark... dare I say quite IP-ish. It has a Too Far-esque piano part on the second verse which rocks! And Kylie must've written the lyrics because they seem very personal! One of my favourites. 10/10
How Can You Say No?
(Kylie Minogue/Dannii Minogue/Kurtis Mantronik)
Produced by Kurtis Mantronik
This is the song she wrote with Dannii and is an improvement on Love Traffic. It's quite electro sounding with a very bizarre sounding loop repeated throughout - couldn't for the life of me make out what it was! Like a cross between Dannii's Creep and a Janet Jackson eighties track! 7.5/10
Second Thoughts
(Tommy D/Marius DeVries)
Produced by Tommy D & Marius DeVries
A Kylie ballad. Need I say anymore? 4/10
Heavy Handed
(Kylie Minogue/Cathy Dennis/Kurtis Mantronik)
Produced by Kurtis Mantronik
This song is cool! It's kinda rocky R&B! Think Janet Jackson's Black Cat crossed with an En Vogue number. I was worried when it opened that it'd turn into a Xtina-type Fighter piece of drivel, but it's far superior to that. It has a hell of a lot of attitude. Almost reminiscent of an updated version of Dan's Get Into You. But not. 9/10
Fly
(Kylie Minogue/Kurtis Mantronik/Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson)
Produced by Kurtis Mantronik
This songs my favourite. Up there with Dreams, CGYOOMH and Limbo being an all time fave. It has a great guitar hook that is repeated throughout... it's very melancholic sounding, very cool - would've been the perfect lead single IMO! She speaks some parts of the song which probably sounds really early-nineties/Victoria Beckham-ish but it's not like that at all. Elegant, infectious, warm and classy. 10/10
Attention Seeker
(Kylie Minogue/Richard Stannard/Julian Gallagher/Dave Morgan)
Produced by Richard `Biff’ Stannard & Julian Gallagher
This song kinda stands out like a sore thumb. It's kinda dance-orientated. Imagine Love Takes Over Me with the beat of Confide In Me. It has lots of futuristic electro sounds - a bit Neon Nights-ish... A cool track, probably the most European thing on the album! Will please non-R&B lovers among us! 8/10
That Certain Something
(Chris Braide)
Produced by Emiliana Torrini & Mr Dan
Beat U
(Kylie Minogue/Pharrell Williams)
Produced by Pharrell Williams.
A great way to end the album! Shockingly R&B for Kylie! Some fans will loathe this track. Personally I love it. It has a heavy bass hook repeated throughout (the kind you find yourself humming after about 30 seconds). Imagine a cross between Britney's Slave and one of the Michael Jackson rip-off tracks from Justified. I can guarentee this'll be a US single. A highlight in the career of the Neptunes that's for sure... and the perfect way to end this album! 9.5/10
.........................................................
Overall: This album is a mixed bag.
Not in terms of quality - there are no half-baked, cringe-inducing fillers here (Dancefloor's or Fragile's aren't anywhere to be seen).
But the style sounds like it's desperately trying to cater for an American urban market -
but without sounding out-and-out R&B.
As a result we're left with an album with intrigueing results.
The only track which is full out R&B is Beat U - which by the way, is one of my personal favourites. I just know some fans will loathe this track because of that. Although I can assure you she pulls R&B off with a hell of a lot more class, soul and sophistication.
Some tracks, like the awesome
You Make Me Feel,
Heavy Handed
and
E-Z St
are undisputedly R&B-tinged but could also easily appeal to her pop/dance fans as well.
On the other end of the spectrum, tracks like
Attention Seeker,
In The Dark
and the divine
Fly
sound like they could've been written in 1997. Everything from the way the songs are structured to the lyrics and production suggests that she's edging towards a darker, more un-commercial sound.