The New Oldies: #8 Album of the Year 2023: Kylie Minogue – Tension

Something seems to be missing these days. It seems that record companies, radio stations, and streaming services are pushing some the great established musicians to the background. As a result these veteran artists are not getting the attention they deserve. Enter the Top 10 Album Countdown: The New Oldies. The main point is simple – to make this list you must have at least 20 years of producing established music. The album by the artist must have been released between November 1st, 2022 and October 31st, 2023.

#8 Kylie Minogue – Tension

Coming in at Number 8 on the 2023 New Oldies Countdown is Kylie Minogue’s Tension. Kylie makes her second appearance on the New Oldies list in three years. It might also seem a little unbelievable that Kylie is on a New Oldies list, but this May she will be 56 years old. At the same time, she demonstrates the same energy when we saw her burst on the scene as a 19 year old.

Tension is Kylie’s follow-up album to Disco. While Disco‘s foundation is rooted in disco music, Tension has a bit more of a smorgasbord of sound genres. At the same time, these sound genres are very much core competencies for Kylie. This includes not just disco, but EDM, synth pop, dance pop, and funk. The album brings in a team of producers matched to the individuality of each song.

The smorgasbord of sound comes alive in the opening track Padam Padam. It combines electronic music, synth pop and eurodisco elements. Other tracks that standout incorporating this smorgasbord concept include: Hold On to Now, the title track (Tension), One More Time, and Vegas High. I must note – the track Things We do for Love very much has a Taylor Swift vibe to it.

Kylie knocks it out of the park with this album. Lyrically I also found this to be one of her stronger efforts. She might be pushing 56 years old, but she is very much 19 at heart.