Track by track:
All The Lovers – Originally released as a powerful, joyful song back in 2010, All The Lovers is the first to get the orchestra treatment for The Abbey Road Sessions. The reinterpretation could easily be misunderstood as an entirely new song by casual fans, as every inch of production is removed, creating this sublime song, worthy enough to be a Bond song. 8/10
On A Night Like This – Presented as a powerful love song, On A Night Like This is another highlight of the album. Despite keeping a lower key to the original, Kylie has no trouble hitting two killer high notes, adding a further edge to the song and excerting her vocal brilliance which dominates the entire album. 7/10
Better The Devil You Know – Though nothing beats the 1990 original, this rework comes incredibly close. A sultry Kylie belts out, “I’ll forgive and forget, if you’ll say you’ll never go”, breaking the hearts of hundreds of fans, portraying some of the deeper lyrics not easily accessible in it’s original form. An understated version, with a steady guitar beat, makes Better The Devil You Know a joy to listen to. 9/10
Hand On Your Heart – Starting of as a more upbeat song, Hand On Your Heart quickly adopts and extra depth through the raw emotion in Kylie’s voice as she urges her lover to put his hand on his heart and tell her that their love has come to an untimely conclusion. 10/10
I Believe In You – Whilst there are some clear differences, I Believe In You remains a little too similar to prior reincarnations of Kylie’s 2005 hit. Examples would be her performance on The Kylie Show in 2007; KylieX2008 in, erm, 2008 and Aphrodite Les Folies in 2011. Whilst the song does nothing to detract from the quality of the album, it doesn’t add to enjoyment and seems more of a chore to listen to in comparison to other tracks. 5/10
Come Into My World – Kylie’s vocals are beautifully smooth, harmonising brilliantly with the piano, used as the main instrument. When the tracklisting was initially announced, we were very excited over the inclusion of Come Into My World, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint! 8/10
Finer Feelings – Individually, we’re not a fan of the original Finer Feelings which appears on Kylie’s 1991 album, Let’s Get To It, but this reincarnation of the often forgotten and overlooked song, with Kylie effortlessly hitting the high notes. Another point to mention would be that Finer Feelings is one of the only songs on the album to get a large orchestral backing. It is also one of only two original singles on the collection to miss out on the top 10. 7/10
Confide In Me – Like I Believe In You, Confide In Me is getting a tad predictable, which is why we love the edgier Les Folies version! The original already had the accompaniment of instruments such as violins, making the rework all the more interesting. Whereas other versions have slowed the song right down, the Abbey Road version has quickened up the track, making it, in our opinion, all the more enjoyable. 7/10
Slow – The Abbey Road reinterpretation of Slow is the polar opposite to the 2003 production heavy original. With a mellow jazzy kick to it, Kylie effortlessly charts her way through it, which makes it one of the surprising stand out tracks. 8/10
Confide In Me – Like I Believe In You, Confide In Me is getting a tad predictable, which is why we love the edgier Les Folies version! The original already had the accompaniment of instruments such as violins, making the rework all the more interesting. Whereas other versions have slowed the song right down, the Abbey Road version has quickened up the track, making it, in our opinion, all the more enjoyable. 7/10
Slow – The Abbey Road reinterpretation of Slow is the polar opposite to the 2003 production heavy original. With a mellow jazzy kick to it, Kylie effortlessly charts her way through it, which makes it one of the surprising stand out tracks. 8/10
The Loco-Motion – Ever since the small snippet was released online through Kylie.com for a Tweet to Unlock months ago, we couldn’t wait to hear the triumphant Motown-esque Abbey Road version, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. A quick, enjoyable beat will make you want to get up and dance, reinforced by the incredibly catchy, “Do the lo, Do the lo, Do the Locomotion”! 10/10
Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Being Kylie’s signature song, Can’t Get You Out of My Head was undoubtedly going to end up on the album, worthy or not. This reincarnation of the super-cool mega hit dance track takes the song in the complete opposite direction, and it really pays off. Though dismissed by some who have heard the track through Chris Moyles’ radio show as weak, we think that it is one of the best versions of Can’t Get You Out of My Head. Ever. 8/10
Where The Wild Roses Grow – This is probably the only rather large disappointment. When we heard that Nick Cave had re-recorded his vocals especially, we were climbing the walls with excitement, unfortunately, the final product doesn’t live up to the hype. The original a orchestral based song itself, Where The Wild Roses Grow doesn’t lend itself well to the direction that the powers that be decided to take it in for The Abbey Road Sessions. Unfortunately, the Dark Prince himself, Nick Cave, also sounds older and perhaps rougher than he should to make the song really work. This doesn’t hold a candle to the original. 4/10
Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Being Kylie’s signature song, Can’t Get You Out of My Head was undoubtedly going to end up on the album, worthy or not. This reincarnation of the super-cool mega hit dance track takes the song in the complete opposite direction, and it really pays off. Though dismissed by some who have heard the track through Chris Moyles’ radio show as weak, we think that it is one of the best versions of Can’t Get You Out of My Head. Ever. 8/10
Where The Wild Roses Grow – This is probably the only rather large disappointment. When we heard that Nick Cave had re-recorded his vocals especially, we were climbing the walls with excitement, unfortunately, the final product doesn’t live up to the hype. The original a orchestral based song itself, Where The Wild Roses Grow doesn’t lend itself well to the direction that the powers that be decided to take it in for The Abbey Road Sessions. Unfortunately, the Dark Prince himself, Nick Cave, also sounds older and perhaps rougher than he should to make the song really work. This doesn’t hold a candle to the original. 4/10
Flower – The song that had been championed by the fans for a release ever since it was debuted during KylieX2008 finally was recorded for The Abbey Road Sessions, also serving as lead single. While the ballad still holds it own against the enviable pile of hits on the album, there’s something missing. Kylie’s voice is more of a whisper purposely on the Abbey Road version, but prevails as much stronger during the live KylieX2008 version, which, dare we say it, is a little better. 8/10
I Should Be So Lucky – We just love this rendition of I Should Be So Lucky. Yes, it has been done similarly before (Intimate and Live 1998), but there’s something very special about just another ‘ordinary’ PWL song being transformed into a heartbreaking ballad. 8/10
Love At First Sight – Another track pretty much guaranteed for a Kylie compilation, whether it deserves it or not, but Love At First Sight doesn’t disappoint. Whilst the live version should arguably be rested for Kylie’s next tour, this reincarnation reminds us what made the song so special in the first place. 8/10
Never Too Late – Appearing on Kylie’s second ever album, Never Too Late was originally another upbeat track dreamt up by The Hit Factory. It’s more disturbing and devastating lyrics take centre stage in this utterly amazing torch rendition which should dispell any argument about Kylie’s lack of credibility. “You can’t keep walking out on me. And even if it takes forever, your love’s better late than never”. 10/10
The vast majority of the songs are very much deserving of their place on The Abbey Road Sessions, we just wish something could have perhaps replaced I Believe In You. The version of Spinning Around debuted at Proms in the Park maybe, or a rework of Put Yourself In My Place, which would pull up the number of deConstruction era tracks on the album.
I Should Be So Lucky – We just love this rendition of I Should Be So Lucky. Yes, it has been done similarly before (Intimate and Live 1998), but there’s something very special about just another ‘ordinary’ PWL song being transformed into a heartbreaking ballad. 8/10
Love At First Sight – Another track pretty much guaranteed for a Kylie compilation, whether it deserves it or not, but Love At First Sight doesn’t disappoint. Whilst the live version should arguably be rested for Kylie’s next tour, this reincarnation reminds us what made the song so special in the first place. 8/10
Never Too Late – Appearing on Kylie’s second ever album, Never Too Late was originally another upbeat track dreamt up by The Hit Factory. It’s more disturbing and devastating lyrics take centre stage in this utterly amazing torch rendition which should dispell any argument about Kylie’s lack of credibility. “You can’t keep walking out on me. And even if it takes forever, your love’s better late than never”. 10/10
The vast majority of the songs are very much deserving of their place on The Abbey Road Sessions, we just wish something could have perhaps replaced I Believe In You. The version of Spinning Around debuted at Proms in the Park maybe, or a rework of Put Yourself In My Place, which would pull up the number of deConstruction era tracks on the album.
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