Kylie Minogue Week: Discography Part 1 - PWL Era

*four-hand post by moi and the ho*

I'm aware some of the readers here don't know Kylie discography. So here are mini-reviews for each of her PWL albums.

*Year-Album [Label]*

1988 - Kylie [PWL]

Moi: A pure 80's album, Kylie's debut sometimes sounds like the Teen Pop's stemcell. Kylie was only 18 when she flew from Australia to London to seal a record deal with the SAW trio, who owned PWL. The Loco-Motion cover was a hit in Australia and I Should Be So Lucky had the same destiny in the UK afterwards. Some songs sound too silly nowadays, but most of it is lovely fun, if you like the 80's, of course.

PS: about the hat: "it's infamously funny, therefore I love it."

The Ho: The tiny Aussie debuted with what SHOULD be a quintessential 80's album. All the elements of the era are included here: a fun, campy pop album that somehow feels as if it's segued together, making for a hell of a party that really sends you back in time. But beware: even at the very start Kylie was tricking us by delivering some of the most heartbreaking songs ever; just listen to the hopeful angst of Turn It Into Love and the slightly delusional "I Should Be So Lucky" to find someone who cured her heartbreak with dancing. Despite of this the album's mood is best summarized in a line from one of her most famous hits "it even makes you happy when you’re feeling blue".

PS: about the hat: "I think it's the worst thing that ever happened to her. It looks like it was added later, 'cause she has a gorgeous smile and nobody would be smiling with that thing in their head."

Top 5: 5. The Loco-Motion; 4. Got To Be Certain; 3. I Should Be So Lucky; 2. Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi; 1. Turn It Into Love.

1989 - Enjoy Yourself [PWL]

Moi: This album has a lot of retro elements; I could go anachronic and say she's previewing the retro fever of this decade, but Kylie still had little control over her recording process. So, EY follows the same formula from her debut, but still it's an album that has highlights: for me it's Hand On Your Heart and Never Too Late. Honorable mention: Especially For You [a duet with Jason Danovan, a bonus track on the Land-Down-Under's edition].

The Ho: The opener "Hand on Your Heart" should be named official anthem for those of us who reject rejection. This is my least favorite Kylie album because it often feels like a mix tape (surely because of a sophomore rush); one part has a retro Kylie singing big band songs atop a piano, while the other has her partying like it was 1989. The concepts never fit together but just as we’re about to dismiss the album as a whole, the closing number Enjoy Yourself (which feels like a sarcastic remark considering how dull the middle gets) is enough to make us forget most of it and is promising enough to prepare us for the bliss that would come next.

Top 5: 5. I'm Over Dreaming (Over You); 4. Enjoy Yourself; 3. Never Too Late; 2. Wouldn't Change A Thing; 1. Hand On Your Heart.

1990 - Rhythm Of Love [PWL]

Moi: If you manage to keep yourself stopped through the majority of this album, congratulations you're a soul-less rock. In ROL Kylie starts to coyly take control over her creative process, writing some songs. But the strongest pieces of this album are unfrotunately not written by Miss Minogue. This album, that tends to be most fans' favorite, is filled with her biggest hits, or at least best disco anthems. Besides, her happy tune/gloomy lyrics syndrome is in full mode; c'mon y'all, there's nothing sadder than Better The Devil You Know and What Do I Have To Do?!

The Ho: Kylie’s first "mature" album opens with a holy trinity; "Better the Devil You Know" is arguably the greatest song she has ever done and now affirming what would be her trademark (sad lyrics with uplifting beats) it announced a sexier, wiser Kylie was arriving. It's followed by Step Back in Time and the stunning "What Do I Have to Do" which only lead to an exquisitely blissful record that defines pop music in the early 90s. Every track here is amazing, even the lesser ones feel good because of all the genius they're surrounded by. In the end it feels like a meta irony that in one song Kylie tells us that "when we can’t find the music, all we can do is step back in time". In these times when so much of what's going on musically is so disappointing, her affirmation feels like a prophecy that sends us dancing back to her.

Top 5: 5. Always Find The Time; 4. Step Back In Time; 3. Shocked; 2. What Do I Have To Do?; 1. Better The Devil You Know

1991 - Let's Get To It [PWL]

Moi: My favorite album from the PWL era. Here Kylie goes urban introducing herself to the real 90's era; most of the songs are R&B/urban clichés that are still so lovely and constructed in an enchanting way I simply cannot ignore, even if I'm not much of an urban fan. I really love each track from this underrated marvel [by the fans, the critics loved it], except the If You Were With Me Now duet, that happens to be the only Kylie song I really hate. Aside the singles, the highlights for me are Too Much Of A Good Thing and Let's Get To It.

The Ho: Truth be told I find this album almost completely inconsequential in Kylie's career. Most of it feels as if she was trying to leave a whole era behind and say everything she needed to say about synthpop, 80's music and corny ballads (which is why most songs feel like different versions of the others, making the whole instantly forgettable). Which is why the only highlights for me here are Give Me Just a Little More Time with its insanely romantic, retro mood and the masterpiece that is Finer Feelings, find me a song that better aims at making peace with our animalistic and sentimental sides and I will give you an award.

Top 5: 5. Word Is Out; 4. Too Much Of A Good Thing; 3. Let's Get To It; 2. Give M Just A Little More Time; 1. Finer Feelings