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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Kylie and Dannii Minogue _ X @ X ● The Album
Posted by: liamk97 30th November 2017, 08:54 PM
It's 10 years since the release of X, Kylie's 10th studio album. Originally titled Magnetic Electric, the title was changed as fans were referring to it as 'Album X' during the production period, in reference to the album being Kylie's 10th, and seemed like an appropriate, celebratory title to mark Kylie's return to music. It's also been noted that the album shares the same title as INXS' 1990 album, which features the song 'Suicide Blonde' (written about Kylie), and was released 10 years to the week since Michael Hutchence's death.
During her recovery from cancer treatment, Kylie started the initial writing process by jotting down lyrics, influenced by both doubts and aspirations for the future. The project was paused for the resumption of the newly titled Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour but truly went underway once the tour was completed. Demand to work with Kylie was high, particularly after Parlophone's A&R sent out briefs to various artists, writers and producers of various notability. The music produced was largely electro pop, but influences of rock, R&B and disco can be heard too. It was a sound that was generally praised by critics and most agreed it was a triumphant return to the pop scene, with the commercial success supporting this.
Today, X remains one of the most loved Kylie albums by fans, with even the songs that didn't make the final cut considered among her best. As X reaches its 10th anniversary, let's celebrate this mighty album, bursting with innovative, energetic music that carries the same passionate, refreshed spirit Kylie injected into making it.
Tracking List
01. 2 Hearts
02. Like a Drug
03. In My Arms
04. Speakerphone
05. Sensitized
06. Heart Beat Rock
07. The One
08. No More Rain
09. All I See
10. Stars
11. Wow
12. Nu-Di-Ty
13. Cosmic
Posted by: Red Blooded Man 1st December 2017, 06:41 AM
I have a mixed feeling about the album. The first half of the album is amazing but the second half sounds like b-side fillers except WOW and Stars.
Some other tracks should've been included, like Lose Control and Magnetic Electric.
It's still mind-boggling why Nu-di-ty and Cosmic were included, they sound like unfinished demos.
The megamix released prior to the album release sounds amazing.
Posted by: liamk97 3rd December 2017, 02:04 PM
This album, even in its final form, ranks as one of my favourites from Kylie. You can tell she was buzzing with ideas after not being in the studio for so long and created some fresh and sophisticated pop music alongside the happy, playful songs. There is a little bit of filler but even then I enjoy them - the problem lies more with the standard of the songs that were left off the album. Songs like 'Wow' B-sides, 'I Don't Know What It Is' and 'Magnetic Electric' are fantastic and it's such a shame they didn't make it to the final tracking list. Parlophone should have released an X: 10th Anniversary edition and added a disc of bonus content!
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 3rd December 2017, 08:57 PM
I still remember buying the Deluxe edition of it on release day, 10 years seems mental.
I look back on the era fondly, the album has some gems but I really think had the likes of Rippin' Up The Disco, Fall For You, Magnetic Electric, Do It Again etc. been included on the tracklist over deadwood like Heart Beat Rock, All I See, Cosmic etc. it'd have been a more perfect, cohesive collection. Still a fab album though, just wish more thought would have been given to the tracklist.
Posted by: Red Blooded Man 5th December 2017, 06:41 AM
I have to say the much of artwork from X era is pretty awful.
My track list:
01. 2 Hearts
02. Like a Drug
03. In My Arms
04. Speakerphone
05. Sensitized
06. Lose Control
07. The One
08. No More Rain
09. Fall For You
10. Stars
11. Wow
12. Rippin' Up the Disco
13. King or Queen
Posted by: HerbieHollywood 5th December 2017, 06:53 AM
I agree about the artwork. I know it sounds superficial but I can’t think of x without thinking how much I hate the cover and her looks in the videos.
I’m in the camp that doesn’t like two hearts either so this also set a bum note from the outset. But I agree many of the other tracks are sublime. I will never understand why the one failed to fire. It was a turning point as from then on it seemed kylie was no longe guaranteed hits, no matter how good the material.
Posted by: liamk97 5th December 2017, 04:09 PM
Here is the list of all songs from the X Sessions (to my knowledge at least). I've not included earlier demos, neither for those that actually made the final tracking list or for those that remained off the album (there were two versions of 'Fall For You', for instance).
Album Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGU-vdXoVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI5_DWMHxgk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_tuovj6Pp0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8e4EyGpzro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj6IKIPteuE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jynamJOK6nc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxhkxgn3OuI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5dfBamn294
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld8dczO7J1w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzAkOmENcsc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg3zIsC6DPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGxn2jIKiR4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL2HKKrY7sM
Bonus Tracks / B-sides
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_-NDTmMNro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p06SM1DOcMQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxKJQnVDItw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ore8i0_f0_s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhtwKsp_aY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3qF-kqkEnE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RPJv46tztc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeQsUJ_16nM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DRQNGdqvc8
Unreleased / Demos (sung by Kylie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DqwWMpsSoU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTAU6UrRjJI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj0S7dQIWjM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HJ0KAW5MD0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHIYL6Zngag
https://www.youtu%20%20be.com/watch?v=Ju8iNE3EQLk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbquh_TDQzM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz2_xuVUXxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riq3OQq7Ma0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxdzcMO10Qs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdAEBQULMyw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36LyuHp3PqE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCdutV3XOSk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R5-RCsw8uI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRnKf3C7Kf0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTrQ5MxesjI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilrqImj4Tec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB74bOODG7k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZvwRW5P4CE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uodzoAO9PAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRrt2oW1GEI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgwAzWzGLCc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns3WjXLSYe0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udQB0IWlX7o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNOBIIddAnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxyYm3TcZt4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1byovOTth4
Demos (sung by other artists)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTrhkn9W1R0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpx5iiciSrA
https://youtu.be/CVP-DygIidI?t=2738
https://youtu.be/CVP-DygIidI?t=2964
https://youtu.be/CVP-DygIidI?t=2478
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81tHOjycD8A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9YW99KwwI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=png8QAjc2No
Other
Boys Boys Boys (Cathy Dennis, Mark Ronson)
Deepest Blue (Karen Poole, Greg Kurstin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8QJKyLZYMg - live version, later recorded for The Abbey Road Sessions
Hush Hush (Steven Anderson) - this could be 'Sexual Gold'
Singing in My Sleep (Scissor Sisters)
Tell It Like It Is (Richard Stannard, Stuart Crichton)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16n1342ZDWo - live version
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 5th December 2017, 10:55 PM
Because they cancelled the physical single at the last minute, and in 2008 as a 4th single from the album she pretty much solely relied on those.
Posted by: Red Blooded Man 6th December 2017, 01:18 AM
Sounds like the dumbest move I've ever heard...
Posted by: liamk97 8th December 2017, 02:10 PM
Yep, such a shame about the cancelled physical release. Probably wouldn't have given it that much longevity, not without promo at least, but physicals could easily have boosted the song into the Top 20 for a week. For a song that is so fondly regarded by fans, a Top 20 peak would have been much more reflective of that. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason given as to why the physical was cancelled.
Posted by: liamk97 28th December 2017, 11:58 AM
I've only just realised but, as well as the mess of the release of 'The One', Kylie was pushing three singles at once back in Q1 2008: the videos for 'Wow' and 'In My Arms' were both released at the tail end of January, with 'Wow' pushed in Australia and the UK and 'In My Arms' pushed in various European countries in February, then 'All I See' was promoted in the US. I didn't realise just how messy it was! Perhaps 'In My Arms' would have fared better in the UK if its release wasn't dampened by being promoted elsewhere in the world a couple of months earlier.
Posted by: slowdown73 29th December 2017, 12:24 AM
I actually liked the album cover but as an album, x is a very mixed affair for me. There are a handful of strong songs - it was criminal though to overlook the release of like a drug as a single and leaving the one until the 4th single - it should have been released earlier & supported by a physical release and better video. X contains quite a few mediocre songs including no more rain, sensitised, all I see and in my arms. It also includes the dreadful nu-di-ty and boring lifeless song speakerphone.
There are a number of songs which didn’t make the album which are far stronger than some of the album tracks. Lose control, white diamond, spell of desire, magnetic electric, I’m ready and I’m in the mood for love were all great tracks. At least magnetic electric appeared on the Asian reissue CD.
In my view, they tried to experiment with too many different styles and the end result is a mix mash of songs which aren’t fluid together or consistent in quality. Some of the tracks sounded dated and less credible and innovative than her earlier parlophone albums like light years.
Posted by: Euphorique 30th December 2017, 12:03 AM
Speakerphone, Wow, Stars and Nu-Di-Ty were my jams back then.
Posted by: Regina 30th December 2017, 12:08 AM
Pretty sure Boombox is a Body Language era song and Everything I Know is from the same time as I Believe In You.
Posted by: Spiceboy 30th December 2017, 02:13 AM
I really like this album bar a few songs (Nu-di-ty and Cosmic wtf?).
I loved the artworks, it was all very different Kylie, yet very Kylie at the same time. I thought it was a really triumphant return for her, just a shame she didn't manage to get a #1 single out of it, that would have been the cherry on the top of the cake.
I as originally quite meh with the album title, I loved 'Heartbeat Rock' as a potential title, and I quite like Magnetic Electric too. However once I understood the reasoning I thought it was actually quite an apt title really.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 30th December 2017, 02:58 AM
There are a number of songs which didn’t make the album which are far stronger than some of the album tracks. Lose control, white diamond, spell of desire, magnetic electric, I’m ready and I’m in the mood for love were all great tracks. At least magnetic electric appeared on the Asian reissue CD.
In my view, they tried to experiment with too many different styles and the end result is a mix mash of songs which aren’t fluid together or consistent in quality. Some of the tracks sounded dated and less credible and innovative than her earlier parlophone albums like light years.
I couldnt agree more.
Posted by: Hide&Seek 30th December 2017, 04:48 PM
I didn't know that Excuse My French & When The Cat's Away are someone else's voice . 
All this time I've been enjoying them as if they were Kylie.
I'll still enjoy them, but..... 
Posted by: liamk97 31st December 2017, 02:02 PM
I love a lot of the styling from this era. She seemed to experiment a lot more than she has done in the past or since and it just makes the X era that bit more special and unique. I always thought she was channelling a Bowie-esque image in the album cover, plus I really love those bouncy curls she has in the '2 Hearts' video.
Think you could be right, I just went with what the uploader said tbh. 'Boombox' does sound very Body Language actually.
All this time I've been enjoying them as if they were Kylie.I'll still enjoy them, but.....
Tbf the demo singer has got Kylie's style down to a tee.
Posted by: SamJudd 3rd May 2018, 05:43 PM
I made my own version of X, I've changed it a few times over the years, but now I think I've come up with a tracklist that I am happy with, and would like to see what everybody else thinks =
02. Like A Drug
03. In My Arms
04. Speakerphone
05. Magnetic Electric *
06. Sexual Gold *
07. The One
08. Cherry Bomb *
09. Lose Control *
10. Rippin' Up The Disco *
11. Wow
12. Fall For You *
13. No More Rain
14. Stars
Deluxe Edition
15. Ruffle My Feathers *
16. White Diamond *
I have scrapped 'Sensitized', 'Heart Beat Rock', 'All I See', 'Cosmic' & 'Nu-Di-Ty', not saying that they're all bad (apart from the last 2), but to be honest I think the first 2 are more b-side material and 'AIS' doesn't belong on the album at all.
I've tried not to make too overlong as there are several unreleased tracks that are amazing, and it took me forever to come up with a condensed tracklist. 14 for the standard edition is enough and added another 2 for the deluxe edition and I know not all of them are cohesive, however keeping a few personal moments such as 'NMR' & 'Stars' and including 'WD' Is just a nice little touch in my opinion and offers a break from the uptempo electro bangers.
Posted by: blacksquare 3rd May 2018, 06:15 PM
What are we thinking about Two Hearts ten years on?
Always seemed like such a misfire, especially with In My Arms and Wow sitting right there. They then suffered from messy releases and being held back.
Posted by: pippa 3rd May 2018, 06:18 PM
10 years on i would stand my my original views and say it was the incorrect choice of lead single. Separately,its a song i rarely revisit.
Posted by: blacksquare 3rd May 2018, 06:19 PM
My issue with the album was always how disjointed it felt. She had this futuristic artwork and then led with Two Hearts, even though a lot of the album was at the time very modern electro-pop. It didn't go together.
2 Hearts, Sensitized, No More Rain, and Cosmic sound like they're from a different album. All I See sounded like some basic Janet Jackson leftover.
Posted by: blacksquare 15th August 2018, 12:32 PM
Does anyone remember how disappointed they felt the first time they heard 2 Hearts?
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 15th August 2018, 12:48 PM
I remember the wide-eyed expression I had very well.
Posted by: pippa 15th August 2018, 01:34 PM
It was a disappointing time and later a frustrating time when i heard the material on X.
Posted by: Spiceboy 15th August 2018, 02:36 PM
I actually love 2 Hearts but I agree it wasn't the best idea for the first single.
In my arms screamed big comeback to me, I was so disappointed that it wasn't a huge hit when it finally did get a release. I'm one of the few who is not a fan of Wow tbh though, yet that was clearly a good single choice.
Posted by: SamJudd 15th August 2018, 05:59 PM
x [Standard Edition]
01. Magnetic Electric
02. Like A Drug
03. In My Arms
04. The One
05. Speakerphone
06. Sexual Gold
07. Rippin' Up The Disco
08. Cherry Bomb
09. Lose Control
10. Ruffle My Feathers
11. Wow
12. Fall For You
13. No More Rain
14. Stars
Deluxe Edition
15. Do It Again
16. King or Queen
UK/Europe Singles:
"THE ONE"
"LIKE A DRUG"
"WOW"
"IN MY ARMS"
"CHERRY BOMB"
USA
"SPEAKERPHONE"
"THE ONE"
"IN MY ARMS" or "MAGNETIC ELECTRIC"
Posted by: pippa 15th August 2018, 07:16 PM
In my arms screamed big comeback to me, I was so disappointed that it wasn't a huge hit when it finally did get a release. I'm one of the few who is not a fan of Wow tbh though, yet that was clearly a good single choice.
I do believe Kylie worked with Calvin Harris too early.
Had she worked with him a few years later she would have likely had a much bigger hit with the name association.
Posted by: blacksquare 16th August 2018, 05:06 PM
Had she worked with him a few years later she would have likely had a much bigger hit with the name association.
Of course, but had she waited she probably wouldn't have been able to get a Calvin Harris production.
In My Arms could have been massive as a lead single. Oh well.
Posted by: pippa 16th August 2018, 06:34 PM
I don't believe In My Arms would be any where strong enough for a lead single but it would still be better than 2 Hearts.
In My Arms is the ideal 3rd single as it was, or 4th if needed be.
Posted by: ___∆___ 29th May 2019, 06:36 PM
Just listening to X now and I have to say I hate some of the single choices so much! I know X was successful but I think it could have been a lot bigger with a different lead - if there is one set of singles I could change it would be those from this album, I’d have gone with -
1. The One
2. In My Arms
3. Stars
4. Wow
5. No More Rain
Posted by: pippa 29th May 2019, 06:38 PM
No More Rain is a wonderful track but falls into the category of better of as a strong album track rather than a single.
Posted by: Medellíam 29th May 2019, 07:15 PM
I love '2 Hearts' but it's clear 'The One' is the song most fans would agree should have been lead single. I can't deny 'Wow' and 'In My Arms' as singles two and three; both are brilliant, I'd just give them one focused release at a time rather than both being promoted in different countries and then switching around.
I'm unsure about anything else from the standard album being released. 'Like a Drug', 'Speakerphone' and 'Sensitized' are all fab but I don't know if they sound like singles. I'd probably have to have a re-jig of the tracking list and get 'Magnetic Electric' and 'Cherry Bomb' on there as I feel either of them could work.
EDIT: Actually, listening to 'Speakerphone' now and I think, with proper support, it could have worked. It might have been a single that became more respected as time went on for being so different. Could have had some brilliant remixes too, so yeah:
1) The One
2) Wow
3) In My Arms
4) Speakerphone
Posted by: pippa 29th May 2019, 07:25 PM
I think 10 years later it is very clear The One would have made the best lead single.
I would have this for the lead followed by:
2nd Like A Drug
3rd Wow
4th In My Arms.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 29th May 2019, 07:37 PM
No More Rain?! 
I feel like 'Like a Drug' was the only real key single missed, 'Stars' (much as I adore it) wouldn't have worked.
Posted by: Medellíam 29th May 2019, 07:41 PM
Tbh I feel like the singles were the least problematic thing about the era. If they gave careful attention and focus for the singles they had then they would have fared better.
Posted by: pippa 29th May 2019, 07:54 PM
Like A Drug was definitely the key single missed out on.
The One at the least got some form of release.
X had huge potential but the track selection and the order/choices of singles was handled badly.
As we have said before in previous posts, X feels like one good album and one bad album mixed together and this spoils the good side of the album.
That said, had the album launched with The One, X would at the least have gone Top 3 and sold more or possibly Number 1.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 29th May 2019, 09:55 PM
I prefer like a drug to the one and I'm a big fan of the one. 10 years ago like a drug would have made a brilliant single. These would have been the first 2 singles for me and if they had been I think x at the least would have went double platinum.
Posted by: SamJudd 29th May 2019, 11:24 PM
01. Magnetic Electric*
02. Like A Drug
03. In My Arms
04. Speakerphone
05. Sexual Gold*
06. The One
07. Heart Beat Rock
08. Rippin' Up The Disco*
09. Cherry Bomb*
10. Lose Control*
11. Wow
12. Fall For You*
13. Do It Again*
14. Stars
Deluxe/Bonus
15. Ruffle My Feathers*
16. I Don't Know What It Is*
17. White Diamond*
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 30th May 2019, 12:26 AM
So many left off tracks were miles better than some that made it. With x,overall the artwork was very disappointing too.
Posted by: Dannyboy 30th May 2019, 05:06 AM
I actually think it’s very best album cover
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 30th May 2019, 08:16 AM
I loved the artwork from this era! 
(Although using a screenshot from the video for 'In My Arms' on the single cover was a bit unimaginative)
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 30th May 2019, 08:23 AM
I mean...
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 30th May 2019, 09:38 AM
In my arms cover is the only cover I really really like from the x era.
Posted by: pippa 30th May 2019, 01:31 PM
Some of the artwork is quirky.
Wow had a terrible cover but the others were more catchy and also different for Kylie.
At that time, i would believe Kylie was also trying to find her image again as she had just recovered from cancer.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever 2nd June 2019, 04:17 PM
True about her image plus kylie really wanted to experiment.
Posted by: Michael Andrew 2nd June 2019, 04:33 PM
I also like the art direction on the X era, broadly speaking.
For me though, the colour palette of the album cover is quite unpleasant and discordant. '2 Hearts' cover is better in that respect. But I preferred the neon blues and pinks that were used elsewhere - such as in the calendar.
Posted by: pippa 3rd June 2019, 02:49 PM
Clearly alot of work went into the imagery of the X campaign.
Once again a si mentioned in another thread about Impossible Princess, some of the material on this album is very personal to Kylie.
I would feel some songs from X and Impossible Princess would rate high on Kylie;s list of her own best songs and likely the singles may not be the songs she would pick.
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