If you would've said five years ago that we'd still be talking about Kylie Minogue, chances are you would've been laughed out of the conversation. It's easy to forget that indeed, her career seemed to be over at the end of the 90s. Perhaps it would have been, if "Can't Get You Out of My Head" didn't became the biggest hit of her career, and one of the defining songs of the new millennium. "Fever", the accompanying album that confirmed her new status as an electro-disco queen, did its job as well, becoming her first record to crack the US top ten. Now with this re-opened window, Kylie takes no risks with the follow-up, 2003's "Body Language". Nearly every aspect of this record was meant to ride her early decade success, from once again working with new collaborators, as well as a definite genre shift. While Kylie doesn't stray from electronica, she does step away from the retro-disco that made her comeback, and instead chooses a sound that's straight 2003. This means more elements of Urban, Contemporary R&B, and even some lite hip/hop throughout songs like "Chocolate" and "Secret (Take You Home)". This ultimately makes "Body Language" more musically diverse than "Fever", and Kylie pulls it all off. She starts things off with the truly fantastic electro-jam "Slow", which no doubt sets the pace for the rest of the album. Gone are the brisk BPMs and runway show aesthetics, and in their place is a strong equality of substance and style. This would, in theory, make this a superior record to "Fever", although there is once again a critical factor that thwarts perfection. This time around, "Body Language" works well as a piece, it's surprisingly hip and can appeal to many audiences, but not in the way it's supposed to. This is a pop record, that features its fair share of dance-able tracks, but as a pure dance-pop product, it doesn't suit the bill. Most of the songs are too progressive, too placid to truly get people moving. Rather, it's for the chill-out period at a club, and by all means could work as great radio-fare as well. It's too bad that "Body Language" doesn't ever fully realize this, because if it had, it would've been perfect pop product, that's not only smart, but sexy. But, for all intents and purposes, Kylie does get the job done of expanding and refining her music, keeping her at the top of the electronic pack.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Slow 2. Still Standing 3. Secret (Take You Home)
4. Promises 5. Sweet Music 6. Red Blooded Woman
7. Chocolate 8. Obsession 9. I Feel 4 U
10. Someday 11. Loving Days 12. After Dark
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