INXS faded into the shadows with the suicide of lead singer Michael Hutchence.
The Australian new wave band left the world with scads of hit singles from the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Their roots lie in Sydney during 1977 when a group of high school buddies got together to make music. The six friends adopted the name INXS during that year and just one year later were signed to a music deal.
Throughout the band’s twenty years, the six members remained intact. Most people think of Hutchence’s good looks, silky voice, and pompous swagger. But, keep in mind that the other members, Andrew Farriss (keyboard, guitar), Garry Gary Beers (bass), Tim Farriss (guitar), and Kirk Pengilly (guitar, saxophone) were individually just as important to the whole. Most notable is Pengilly’s signature saxophone…a strange and welcome oddity in rock music.
After releasing a few somewhat obscure albums, INXS gained notoriety with 1985’s Listen Like Theives. But, it wasn’t until their next effort that critics and fans united to hail the band as near musical geniuses. Kick, released in 1987, spawned four amazing hit singles. ”Need You Tonight”, ”New Sensation”, ”Never Tear Us Apart” and my favorite ”Devil Inside” all went top ten.
Kick really was the band’s only huge hit. It’s followup, 1990’s X was largely panned by critics despite a few moderate hits. By the 1992, INXS toured in support of Welcome To Wherever You Are. Despite favorable reviews, they were ignored by most people. After one more miserably ill-received album, the band left their label.
Before Hutchence hanged himself, the band released just one more album. Elegantly Wasted connected with a larger audience than the previous two albums, but still wasn’t enough for INXS to regain their place at the musical apex. Hutchence ended his life on November 22 of 1997. He also succeeded in ending the careers of his five band mates.
In 1994, INXS released a The Greatest Hits. A retrospective of the band’s most popular songs, this is a very complete and darned near perfect album. With sixteen songs, the album borders on being too long. Fortunately, INXS has plenty of material to fill in the slots. Of the songs, fourteen are hits and two are previously unreleased tracks. Basically what that means is that it’s okay to turn off the CD after track fourteen. Listeners won’t be missing out on ‘classic’ INXS.
The songs are arranged chronologically on The Greatest Hits. The first song is ”The One Thing” from 1982’s Shabooh Shoobah. The beats sound very much like songs from Duran Duran during that same musical era. The only thing that really distinguishes INXS from the new wave movement are Hutchence’s soulful vocals.
”Original Sin” from 1984’s The Swing is the first truly classic INXS track. Listeners everywhere should recall one very poignant line from this track…Dream on white boy…dream on black girl…and wake up to a brand new day Don’t miss out on this great song that also happens to be a great example of an entire new wave movement.
1985’s Listen Like Thieves was the first time that INXS really got attention. This was mostly as a result of ”What You Need”. A great pop-rock track with a bluesy groove thanks to the saxophone, Hutchence’s strong vocals, and really heavy drums and guitars. This is what INXS is known for. Great songs and great melodies. Also included from this album are the less popular let no less grand ”Listen Like Thieves” and ”Shine Like It Does”.
As I already mentioned, INXS really came into their own with 1987’s chart topping Kick. ”Need You Tonight” is a clap-along classic while ”Devil Inside” remains my favorite INXS track of all time. I probably enjoy the latter so much because the band was experimenting with percussion and rock guitars while maintaining their pop roots. ”New Sensation” is upbeat and lyrically fun. This combination is the reason why the song proved so popular almost fifteen years ago. Finally, ”Never Tear Us Apart” exposes the tender and delicate parts of INXS. There are beautiful stringed instruments. The band’s usual guitars and keyboards aren’t nearly so apparent. The center of this song is truly Hutchence. He shines beautifully on this track.
”Suicide Blonde” remains the most popular track from X. Reminiscent of earlier successes, the song is fun and frantic. So far as pop music goes, this is as good as it gets. The boy bands of today could use a listen to INXS for inspiration. ”Disappear” is understated and simple while ”The Stairs” builds tone upon tone until the song’s complete picture is finally visible.
The final two songs previously released are both from 1992’s Welcome to Wherever You Are. Neither strikes me as particularly special, but to both are likely INXS fan favorites. ”Heaven Sent” is rock-tinged pop. The sound is a bit tinny as compared to some of the more whole sounding tracks earlier on this compilation. ”Beautiful Girl” begins with a very annoying and truly awful keyboard. It immediately turns me off.
Both of the unreleased tracks are fine, but they don’t stand out as especially good examples of music from INXS. My suggestion is to just skip them and relisten to the other better songs.
Overall, this is a great album. It shines in comparison to other sad examples of Greatest Hits albums from less talented acts. INXS will be remembered for years to come as a result of the fourteen classic tracks contained on this album. Their music appeals to a broad range of listeners. I find merit in their innovation with instruments and Hutchence’s lovely vocal stylings. Other listeners may enjoy their new wave feel. However you slice it, INXS is embedded into the 1980’s psyche for good reason.
I give this album a deserved 4/5 stars. I had to mark down because of a few mediocre songs and the unreleased tracks at the end of the album. The Greatest Hits is a must-own album for any fan of INXS, for any child of the 1980’s, and for any listener of good music. If nothing else, these songs will bring back great memories.
Track Listing:
1. One Thing, The [Shabooh Shoobah – 1982]
2. Original Sin [The Swing – 1984]
3. What You Need [Listen Like Thieves – 1985]
4. Listen Like Thieves [Listen Like Thieves – 1985]
5. Shine Like It Does [Listen Like Thieves – 1985]
6. Need You Tonight [Kick – 1987]
7. Devil Inside [Kick – 1987]
8. New Sensation [Kick – 1987]
9. Never Tear Us Apart [Kick – 1987]
10. Suicide Blonde [X – 1990]
11. Disappear [X – 1990]
12. Stairs, The [X – 1990]
13. Heaven Sent [Welcome To Wherever You Are – 1992]
14. Beautiful Girl [Welcome To Wherever You Are – 1992]
15. Strangest Party (These Are The Times) [previously unreleased]
16. Deliver Me [previously unreleased]
Sidenote: I am proud, yet a bit embarrassed, to say that I saw INXS in concert and at their worst in 1994 following the release of their failed album Full Moon, Dirty Hearts. Few people were in the crowd and even fewer enjoyed the music. It’s too bad that the band never had a chance to redeem themselves.
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