This Christmas season some of the biggest stars and hottest new acts are releasing albums and that means only one thing, it’s time to let OUTinPerth stuff your stocking… To win some of these fab CD gifts, visit our giveaways page!
ELECTRO-FYING
For those fluoro stockings, stuff it full of the best beats money can buy. Two perennial dance collections – (1) Ministry of Sound Annual 2009 (Ministry of Sound) and (2) Hedkandi: The Mix 2009 (Hedkandi) – are absolute musts. The Annual has become something of a yearly tradition with local heroes PNAU, Sneaky Sound System and Lovers Electric all making appearances, while Hedkandi is divided into Friday night, Saturday evening and Sunday morning mixes – weekends will never be the same. The self-titled debut Irish-Australian dance act (3) The Potbelleez (Universal) also make this year’s Christmas list, after clocking 36 weeks on the ARIA Chart. If you like things a little lo-fi, a little to the left and little bit obscure, (4) Fujiya & Miyagi (P.O.D.) are back with Lightbulbs, a cute-as-hell album which delivers more F&M toe tapping fun. But the dark horse this Christmas is (5) Rekindle (The Chandelier – Purehearts). The debut album from this ex-pat Sydney-sider is sheer electro pop genius, fusing ’80s Scritti Politti sounds with beautiful arrangements and incredibly catchy pop songs.
To commemorate the bumper year for Aussie pop OUTinPerth has a limited edition Ministry of Sound Gift Box ($99) complete with the Annual 2009 headphones and a lanyard to giveaway. Register on our giveaways page to win!
MAKE IT POP
What’s Christmas without a little pop? Damn, make that an explosion as some of the greatest release all new albums this festive season. (1) Britney‘s (Sony BMG) long awaited Circus is pure gold. It’s catchy and driven and has an abundance of dance floor (and drag diva) moments. (2) Beyonce‘s (Sony BMG) newbie, I am Sasha Fierce, sets out to achieve the same scope, but suffers slightly from being a double CD. The first CD is soft and sensitive, the second all diva and dancefloor… and more likely to be played. (3) Christina (Keeps Getting’ Better: A Decade of Hits – Sony BMG) has released a greatest hits and it’s totally ace, perfect for anyone who loves Miss A. (4) Kylie (X 2008 Tour Edition – Warner) rereleases her 10th studio album with a bonus mix disc. Not bad… not bad at all. And finally the lads from (5) Take That (The Circus – Universal) go out on a high wire with this one but prove that they’ve still got it, even after all these years.
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THE ROCK ALTERNATIVE
(1) Guns ‘n’ Roses (Universal) return with Chinese Democracy after being away for far too long. This album is a masterpiece. It fuses old skool caterwauling from Rose with some amazing songs, creating a long player well overdue but well worth the wait. Summer is here, so for some fresh summer tunes, full of sunshine straight from San Diego, (2) Jason Mraz (Warner) We Sing We Dance We Steal Things is worth ‘stealing’ for the stocking. For some alternatives of the home-grown variety, the ever eccentric (3) Sia (Some People Have Real Problems – Monkey Puzzle Records) has been making waves overseas with her warbling vocals and emotive vocals. Hidden song Buttons has become a YouTube hit and this album is well on its way to the same status. And last, but certainly never least, catch Crowded House as they cover one of America’s most lauded country songs and much, much more on (4) Triple J’s Like A Version (Vol. 4 – Universal). This compilation, as always, goes down a treat with the bonus DVD doubling the fun.
CAMP TUNES
Calling all queens, these are the tunes for you – high heels and high notes (and that’s just the blokes!). Mr Mardi Gras himself, (1) David Campbell (Good Lovin’ – Sony BMG) goes for classic camp and old-fashioned rock ‘n roll, including smashing duet with his dad Jimmy Barnes on You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin. (2) Human Nature (A Symphony of Hits – Sony BMG) puts strings to Motown and some of their most loved songs on this one for symphony queens. Other pop divas should take note from (3) Tina Arena on Songs of Love and Loss 2 (EMI) as perfect pitch blend with tonality on some of the best songs written last century. Good ole’ Uncle Walt (Disney) even gets into camp-ing with (4) High School Musical 3 (EMI), a soundtrack of rousing pop songs and ballads.
LESBIAN LOVES
Ahhhh, (1) Pink (Funhouse – Sony BMG), everybody loves you… especially the grrrls. And yes, she’s back, feistier than ever. With this album she guarantees that her forthcoming tour – due here May next year – with have all the usual grunt, swagger and blush we’ve come to expect from the rock pop leg that is Pink. And grrrls, if you missed (2) kd lang (Warner) when she stopped in Perth for the Watershed tour earlier this year, then you just must own the Live in London DVD.
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Do you hear what I hear? That’s right, it is the sound of carollers jingle bell rockin’ your block. Set the Christmas mood with the perfect soundtrack. Amid the plethora of Christmas albums knockin’ around this time of year, our favourites were the jazzy remixes of (1) Verve Christmas (Universal), the peppy pop of (2) So Fresh Christmas (Sony BMG) and the timeless (3) Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra (Sony BMG).
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Reviews compiled by Megan Smith, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Stuart Miles and Terry Larder
