In case you've been hiding under a rock the past few weeks, you'd know that Kylie Minogue has returned with her 10th studio album, titled "X". As soon as "X" was released, it went straight to number 1, and is the 3rd Kylie album to debut in the top position.

If you take a look at the artwork on the cover and throughout the cd booklet, you'll notice Kylie displaying a very different style to what we are used to. It's a bold move, however it's obvious to me that she's trying to really connect with her gay fans, looking much like a drag queen (or fag hag at least) in most of the shots, with sparkles, big hair, big, bold eye shadow and face make-up in general. And for those of you interested, check out the shot on the last page of the booklet! What hair! She'd make any drag queen proud.

...it's obvious to me that she's trying to really connect with her gay fans

The opening track, and first single from the album, "2 Hearts", is a very catchy song and shows a different sound for Kylie. The clip for this is, in my opinion, one of the hottest Kylie clips there's been in a long time.

The rest of the album shows a very eclectic variety of sounds, with Like A Drug having a bit of a euro sound, and Speakerphone containing almost every vocal effect you can think of! Not to mention the whole song, including vocals, sounding like it was taken from Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor. It's mesmorising, i'll give her that, but it may suit Madge a little better. Sensitized is a little reminiscent of Cowboy Style, but still has it's own sound at the same time, being one of the rockier tracks on the album. It flows well, great lyrics and style, this is one of the best tracks on the album. Kylie is right at home, more like what fans have come to expect from her this century, but also a little outside the square.

Heart Beat Rock is a bass driven, electro and synth sound with a catchy chorus and disjointed, almost robot-like vocals. Like a couple of the songs on the album, Kylie puts her writing talents on show with this one. As well as a new sound and very new look, "X" also showcases a more arrogant side to Kylie, as she sings in I'm The One, "I'm the one, love me, love me, love me,love me" and in In My Arms, "How does it feel in my arms?", both songs also written by the Pop Princess.

No More Rain is a winner pop-song in the making. Catchy, happy, almost hippie like lyrics and a sound unsimilar to Sensitised, in that it's more of what you'd expect from Kylie, with an added pleasant change to the overall feel of it. All I See, sounds a bit like Janet Jackson, a great r&b beat and timed lyrics. And get the glitter ball back out, Stars will get you tapping those feet on a dancefloor full of lovers. Kylie can't seem to escape the great Madge (don't worry Madge, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!), as the start of Wow sounds like Madonna's Holiday (or you might as well have merged the whole of the Immaculate Collection together!). Also, the way that Nu-di-ty is produced, it sounds a little like a remix of an original song that was never made. It's a bit like White Men Can't Jump, only in this case White Women Can't R&B would be more appropriate.

The final track on the album, Cosmic, is the closest to a ballad that this album contains, and is a song Kylie wrote while staying with family in Melbourne. She had always wanted to write a song called Cosmic, and starts the song with the line "Wanted to write a song called Cosmic", and goes on to talk about the different things she's always wanted to do in her life.

The album is available in 2 formats, Standard Edition and Special Edition, which also includes a DVD (featuring an interview, photo gallery with exclusive track, 2 Hearts video, and film trailer for White Diamond) and different artwork. In the UK, it is also available on USB stick, and is the first Kylie album available this way.

"X" is available now at all music stores. For more information on Kylie, go to her Official Website.

Tags: drag queen, kylie, kylie minogue, X