This should come as a surprise to no one really, but Kylie Minogue has chosen to go ahead with the massively successful, massively talented ‘production haus’ Xenomania to pen tracks for her upcoming post-X record, due early next year.

According to an article in The Sun, Kylie’s already recorded a few tracks, including “Better Than Today,” which an exec described as an “‘awesome, Scissor Sister-style tune.’” Apparently, the Xeno team will be responsible for six tracks on the record.

I don’t give a damn if they’re everywhere on the UK scene right now–they’ve yet to disappoint. Happy days!

But–there a zinger thrown in! The writer responsible for the remainder of the album is Nerina Pallot, a BRIT-award nominated singer-songwriter who hasn’t been all that successful with her own career but is quite underrated and talented as a writer in her own right. You know, a real Alexis Strum sort of deal. (Has anyone heard from her lately?!)

Additionally, kudos to mikegray on the PopJustice! forums for drawing this possible connection: Nerina Pallot just so happens to be playing an uptempo ditty live called “Better Than Today” lately.

Think that’s a mere coincidence? Add an electro-bass line behind that guitar and tell me that’s not the slowed down version of a classic Kylie track. I mean, come on: “What’s the point of living if you don’t want to dance?” COME ON. That’s Kylie material.

Check out the thirty second taste of Girls Aloud‘s latest b-side from “Untouchable”: “It’s Your Dynamite.”

Getting a bit too noisy, don’t you think? I’m starting to worry that the Aloud have been drudging around in Cascada‘s backyard for some time now, especially considering the Radio Edit of “Untouchable.” Reel it in, Xenomania!

Alright, so the celebration is still a bit premature. Still, this is may-jah: It’s the official tracklisting to the upcoming Pet Shop Boys album, Yes!

1. Love etc.
2. All over the world
3. Beautiful people
4. Did you see me coming?
5. Vulnerable
6. More than a dream
7. Building a wall
8. King of Rome
9. Pandemonium
10. The way it used to be
11. Legacy

As we know, “Love Etc.” will be the first single off of the album, due out in February. That track, along with “More Than A Dream” and “The Way It Used To Be” have been co-written with Xenomania, and the entire album was produced by Xeno Productions as well (Brian Higgins). Pop perfection? Nearly certain!

Thanks to XO for keeping his eyes on the official site!

Thanks to PopJustice!, we now have a smattering of information regarding my favorite indie-electro, bubble-gum pop blonde star from Norway’s second release. You can read the full write-up directly from the site, or savor these deliciously summarized bullet points:

+ The new album will be called Don’t Stop.

+ She has collaborated with Xenomania, Timo, and Richard X over the past year for production.

+ Xenomania-produced “My Love Is Better” is a sure-fire hit single featuring the ladies of Girls Aloud. The song sounds like the Aloud’s “Long Hot Summer” and “You Freak Me Out.”

+ “Sweet,” another Xenomania creation, is another big one.

+ The one I’ve been dying to hear, merely for its name (“Songs Remind Me Of You”) will be finally unveiled.

+ There’s a song called “Loco” which channels some Blondie and features some silly lyrics.

+ “Heaven & Hell” sounds like Saint Etienne and features some sassy lyrics.

+ The album also features a fair share of slower, experimental tracks.

+ “When The Night” is Annie’s first power ballad.

+ “Marie Cherie” proves that Annie’s got some troubled thoughts.

+ “Take U Home” is a “gothic n’ ghostly electro-ballad.” Sounds like the theme song to my life, am I right?

+ “Misery” is another track off the album that is amazing.

+ And finally, a tracklisting (tentative):

+ Annie doesn’t know how to count, as evidenced in her 10-12 track skip on the PJ page. Stop fucking with my mind, woman.

In retrospect, I really could have linked that article and saved myself the fairly redundant posting of information. I forgive myself.

She’s back!!! After keeping us watering at the mouth for about four years, Annie‘s back with her new single, “Girlfriend” produced by Brian Higgins and Xenomania. The best thing is, there’s no “HEY HEY, YOU YOU” at the beginning of the track like other “Girlfriend” songs you may know. Just retro-friendly dance beats! It’s generally nice and flows well. The full name of the song is “I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me,” but that would give away the whole plot of the song. Basically, Annie’s being a bit of a home wrecker here. What an Anniemal, that woman.

Not only does the song pass Pop Rule Number One (“All pop from Norway and Sweden is perfection”), but passes Pop Rule Number Two with flying colors (“Songs involving phones, or merely their ring-a-dinging or ring-ringing are 99% pop perfection”).

DL: Annie – Girlfriend