Revisiting the Classics: Kylie Minogue's "Impossible Princess"

2008 marks the tenth anniversary of Kylie Minogue's polarizing Impossible Princess album (although it was released in some areas in 1997). I say "polarizing" because IP is one of those albums that people either love or hate. I, of course, love it and think that it's Kylie's finest album.

Kylie made IP when she was on the Deconstruction label in the '90s, following her massively successful run of hits with SAW (Stock, Aitken and Waterman). At Deconstruction, Kylie opted for a more sophisticated dance-pop sound than the bubbly, sugar pop of SAW. 1994's self-titled album (her first for Deconstruction) was a glossy dance-pop affair featuring enduring Kylie singles "Confide in Me" and "Put Yourself in My Place". IP was the follow-up album; a mix of brooding techno-pop ("Too Far", "Cowboy Style", "Breathe"), and rock ("Some Kind of Bliss", "I Don't Need Anyone"). Many refer to it as the "Indie Kylie" album, where she opted for a darker, less-poppy sound. While IP is a little darker and more brooding than the typical Kylie album, it is still, essentially, a pop album, albeit, with a darker edge. Songs like the sexy mid-tempo "Breathe", the snappy "Did It Again", and the pulsating dance track "Drunk" are as catchy as any song in Kylie's catalogue. The lyrics on this album are more introspective and obscure than say those on Light Years, Fever, or Kylie's lastest, X, which all aim to be classic pop-dance albums.

With IP, Kylie got her hands dirty and tried to create something a little edgier than her pop audience was used to. She branched out by working with the Manic Street Preachers, who provided the rock-style songs including "Some Kind of Bliss", which became a moderate hit (see the video below, as well as the fabulous video of "Did It Again").

While not a flop by any means, IP received a mostly indifferent reaction when it was released in the late '90s. This reaction pretty much motivated Kylie to return to her pop roots with 2000's Light Years. However, over the years, the album has become a favourite amongst fans, many rating it her best. In 2003, a special edition of IP was released adding b-sides and remixes. For me, the original album is all you need. It's a tight collection of 12 tracks, from the mysterious opener, "Too Far" to the haunting, stunning closer "Dreams" (a true fan favourite).

If you are a Kylie fan, but have never heard this album (which was never officially released in North America), you owe it to yourself to order an import copy or download it on iTunes. It's a true masterpiece.