In a stroke of cosmic irony, Australian cutie-pies Natalie Imbruglia and Kylie Minogue… In a stroke of cosmic irony, Australian cutie-pies Natalie Imbruglia and Kylie Minogue recently released albums in America within weeks of each other.

What’s intriguing about this coincidence is that Imbruglia and Minogue have both starred on “Neighbours,” an immensely popular Australian soap opera. Both began recording careers after their time on the show, but they went in completely different directions in terms of their music.

Imbruglia has positioned herself to be Australia’s answer to Alanis Morissette: a brooding, introspective singer-songwriter. Minogue is something completely different and entirely unique, a gigantic dance-pop star everywhere but America. They’ve grown as artists, but how successful they’ve been at their respective styles is a different story.