Kylie Minogue
X
X :Remixes
www.Kylie.com
Launching her first commercial album since being diagnosed with cancer several years ago, Aussie heroine and disco diva (in the dee-lightful sense) Kylie Minogue breaks out X and X :Remixes with plenty of sensual seductiveness and dancefloor promise. If both Mariah Carey and Madonna weren’t also promoting their works - both geniuses at that, Kylie would be all we’d be talking about – well, almost all. She’s super-femme, super fab and everything lovely and sexy you could ever want in a pop-diva. My picks: “2 Hearts,” “Like a Drug,” “Speakerphone,” “Sensitized,” “Heart Beat Rock,” “All I See” and “Nu-di-ty”. On the remixes album, two versions each of three songs (including “In My Arms” and “Wow”) should satiate those who love the upbeat moves and grooves. “2 Hearts” (Alan Braxe remix) and “2 Hearts” (Mark Brown Pacha Ibiza Upper Terrace remix) are both superb.

Leona Lewis
Spirit
“Bleeding Love” Remixes
DiscoverLeonaLewis.com
The Brits have The X Factor, which seems to be their version of American Idol, and is produced by Simon Cowell and crew. The third season winner was Islington (London) singer-songwriter Leona Lewis who, for simplicity, is a breathy and grounded diva with the fierceness of a Mariah Carey without the added bizarre antics, at least for now. She is classically trained and her exotic features can be traced to her Irish Italian Guyanese heritage. Her debut album Spirit launches with the single “Bleeding Love,” which I’m proud to say I found all on my own not having Clue One who she was. I’m quite used to finding supremely amazing singers no one’s ever heard of, but it’s nice to be validated. The single is uber diva drama and sultry romance just dripping for slow and intense moments, and now the remixes by Moto Blanco, The Shapeshifters and Jason Nevins bring all the power and passion to the dancefloor as well.
My pick is “The Shapeshifters Vocal Club Mix,” but do check out the original as well. On Sprit, her debut album, you can see why the Brits ate her up with a spoon - they l-o-v-e sappy love songs that you can sing with and have some music video of romantic bliss going on in their heads. We love Kate Bush, but at least she knew she was camptastic. Anyway, the album is actually quite good, and I’m sure remixes will liberate some of the more mundane into stellar dance tracks. Her voice is superb, so just wait until she’s fully unleashed. My picks: “Bleeding Love,” “Better in Time,” “Forgive Me,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Yesterday,” “Whatever It Takes” and “Take a Bow”.

Angie Stone
The Art of Love & War
“Baby” (featuring Betty Wright) Remixes
www.AngieStoneOnline.Net
Southern belle RnB neo-soul diva of soul and sometimes actress Angie Stone is due for more mainstream recognition, and her fourth studio album might be part of that success, although she veers into churchified territory, much like Aretha Franklin and so many others. Her simmering grooves and self-assured sassy-sexy voice are at once commanding and comforting; think every hip “oh no you didn’t song you’ve ever heard” and slap some bass beats and a sleazy groove and you start to get the picture. She’s just incredible and deserving of the Grammy for her duet with Betty Wright for the hit single “Baby” for which they were recently nominated. Filled with slow jams and sly songs, she flies through the air with delicious no nonsense ease. My top picks: “Baby” (featuring Betty Wright), “Make It Last,” “Go Back to Your Life,” “My People,” “Sit Down,” “Play wit It,” “Pop Pop”. “Baby” (featuring Betty Wright) has be treated to no less than nine remixes by Craig C Master, Morgan Page, Matty’s Gott Summin 4 Ya, Angel Manuel and Matty’s Soulflower with my top picks Morgan Page’s Club mix, Angel Manuel’s Club Mix and Matty’s Soulflower radio edit.

Mariah Carey
“Touch My Body” Remixes
www.MariahCarey.com
Unless you’ve been unplugged for the last few weeks you’re probably aware that Mariah Carey has launched her latest album E=MC2 (emancipation equals Mariah Carey to the next power - based on her last stellar album the Emancipation of Mimi). But did you see her on Oprah! Queen meets princess alert, not every guest jumps in the pool to show off her new body and exercise tips and also gives a private tour of her lingerie closet. If you had a closet full of teddy’s and nighties, would you? ... OK, forget it. People reading this have their own closets full of toys, so I’m preaching to the choir here. Anyway, the single unseats Elvis from the top spot on number of Number One’s on the Billboard Hot 100 being Mariah’s 18th hit to do so with only the Beatles having more Number One’s. It’s sexy hip, and the ladies love the song, and now that we have remixes the rest of us can dig it too. My top picks are: Subkulcha radio edit, Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel club remix, Craig C club remix and the Subkulcha remix.