Dannii Minogue: Unleashed
Monday, 05 Nov 2007 12:15
The X Factor judge releases a collection of remixes and rarities.
Warner Music, out now.
In a nutshell...
Below average party-powered dance
What's it about?
Dannii Minogue presents an album predominately featuring dance tracks, mostly featuring lyrics of a sexual content. With a slightly newer flavour to her previous work, as she steps up the tempo with songs that would, if of a slightly better quality, be music that clubbers dance wildly to. The album introduces 18 up-to-date beats that borderline house music.
Who is it by?
The younger sister of superstar Kylie Minogue, Dannii is probably better recognised for her non-musical roles. Australian-born Dannii has not had a sustainable music career, but manages to creep out of the woodwork now and again gaining media attention.
The 37-year-old looks good for her age but her current employ as mentor to the Boys group on ITV1 talent show the X Factor is far more likely to keep her in the public eye than her below average dance output. The likes of Put the Needle On It and Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling have managed to maintain a wholly mediocre musical career.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
It will be a miracle if Unleashed makes a trip out of the record shop.
As an example...
"Put the needle on it, I'll tell you where I want it/Come on and spin me on it/All my freaks say."-Put the Needle On It (Cicada Vocal Edit)
So is it any good?
Unfortunately, Dannii will never be in the same league as her sister. This album can safely be stacked away on an out-of reach shelf collecting dust, or worse still would probably serve best as door stop. Dannii's vocals are unbearable. This little lady should stick to modelling as she demonstrates that she simply cannot sing in almost every track on this album.
Trying to find a positive is quite a struggle. However, there is one justified hit song on this pretty torturous CD. Tapping your foot to the trendy dance beats is often rudely interrupted by Dannii's squeaking excuse for singing. But a revelation hidden towards the end of the album reveals that if Dannii doesn't attempt to sing, she can create relatively catchy, club classics. Put the Needle on it is a sensational party track and the Cicada Vocal Edit included on the album should guarantee a deserved residence in DJ booths. Here is a song that doesn't have tone-deaf Dannii singing. Instead, and hands up to the producer, Dannii talks in a seductive voice whilst a funky backbeat accompanies her only good effort on her album.
A more appropriate title for Unleashed would be Lock Me Up Somewhere No One Can Hear Me.
3/10
Alicia Francis
"I think this review is awful. I actually quite like the album and think Dannii has the flavour when it comes to music. The album has urban/dance sounds that would blend perfectly for a summer party. No Romeo is one of the tracks that stands out the most. Great album and worth the buy." - Kelly Slayton
"Your comments about Dannii Minogue's musical talents not being of the standard to maintain a full-time musical career are spot on. This couldn't even be maintained hanging on the skirt-tails of her sister. When I listened to Dannii sing, she actually did, at times, sound very much like her sister. he lyrics are very similar, all about girls sexualizing themslelves on the dance floor in order to get a man. Kylie's latest offering X, is mainly on this theme too. I wonder if the Minogue sisters have yet to realize that there is more to being a woman than showing off your tits and bum? It's all they ever sing about. What about a woman's intelligence, achievements, personality and relationships (and I don't mean sex)? But I guess it is sex that sells so that's where they concentrate. Danger is that as they both near 40, the pussycat, pop princess image is going to literally "bite them on the bum", as they become victims of the very stereotype of womanhood they have promoted. And as for Dannii Minogue being a judge on a talent show, that is laughable. Maybe she could sing a number and the contestants could rate her! Interesting thing is that both Minogue sisters, while having some popularity in their home country, are very much bigger in the UK. Interesting." - Aussie Girl
"Dannii Minogue can sing, the problem is everyone is used to Kylie's tuneless breathing and aren't able to cope with the idea that a Minogue can sing. Search YouTube for the video of Dannii Minogue singing Live For The One I Love live. See, Kylie sounds crap in comparison doesn't she?" - SD
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