Impossible Princess | ||||
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Studio album by Kylie Minogue | ||||
Released | 22 October 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1995–97 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 49:57 | |||
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Producer |
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Kylie Minogue chronology | ||||
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Singles from Impossible Princess | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
The Age | (positive) |
Digital Spy | |
Herald Sun | |
NME | 4/10 |
Q | |
Slant Magazine | |
Who | 8/10 |
Impossible Princess (retitled Kylie Minogue in the UK and Europe for a temporary period, following the death of Princess Diana) is the sixth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, released on 22 October 1997, by Sony BMG and Deconstruction in Japan. Minogue had co-written all the songs on the album, with additional credits in production and composition; the album was also assisted by Dave Ball, Ingo Vauk, Brothers in Rhythm, Manic Street Preachers and Rob Dougan, among others. Musically, the album was inspired by the techno and brit-pop revolution during the late 1990s, and incorporates musical elements of trip-hop, dance music, rock, and electronica. Lyrically, it focuses on Minogue's relationships, self-discovery, and a variety of emotions.
Impossible Princess received a polarized response from music critics. American and Australian critics noted Minogue's involvement in the production, whilst the sound and experimentation were commended. Conversely, British press criticized these points. Additionally, the records attracted controversy by the public, which was ambivalent towards Minogue's sonic and visual development. Commercially, the album reached the top 10 in Australia, Scotland and the United Kingdom, but was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for physical shipments of 70,000 units. The lack of commercial success prompted further tabloid exploitation of Minogue and the album, with formal comments added by the producers and management of Deconstruction.
Five singles were released off the album: "Some Kind of Bliss", "Did It Again", "Breathe", and "Cowboy Style", all of which experienced moderate success. The fifth single, "Too Far", was distributed in the US and UK to promote the album. After a promotional tour in 1997, Minogue went on her Intimate and Live tour in Australia and the UK the following year, which was a commercial and critical success. Since the album's release, it has been recognized by publications as one of Minogue's key "re-inventions". In retrospect, Minogue labelled the Impossible Princess period as the lowest point of her career.