Fever [UK]

It's more than just journalistic shorthand to refer to Kylie Minogue as the European Madonna. She's been at it as long as the Material Girl, and her mix of sexy style and dance-pop sound is very much in league with that of her American counterpart. The catch here is that, while Minogue had previously only been a star in Europe, FEVER represents her American breakthrough. Not surprisingly, the sound of FEVER will appeal to fans of Madonna's MUSIC album. It's full of bubbly synths, amiably poppy melodies, club beats and sensual vocal stylings. If anything, Minogue comes off as slightly less hard-edged than you-know-who, more concerned with immersing herself in the songs and production than in projecting her larger-than-life personality. That kind of attitude can only aid in the making of a successful pop record, which is the most accurate description of FEVER.