CD Review: INXS - Switch

CD Review: INXS – Switch

I was an INXS tragic from the time they released “The Swing”. I remember listening to it over and over until the cassette tape (original, mind you) started to squeak and squeal on certain tracks because of overuse. From “Melting in the Sun” to “Original Sin” this was ground breaking rock. The hooks, the riffs and especially the skewed delivery of the vocals which only Michael Hutchence could do so well. Those were the good old days, that is, until I could afford to buy “Kick” on vinyl.

“Kick” upped the ante and remains to this day, my all time favourite INXS album. By the time “X” was released, cd players were the rage and hearing those crystal clear vocals, tingly guitars and gut-wrenching saxophone was memorable. “Live Baby Live” was good on the large speakers with surround but sadly that was when the now famous decline started.

“Welcome to Wherever You Are” was a new direction and also the first time I felt that there were fillers in the album. I was less enthusiastic about later releases and only picked them up at bargain basement deals. Then Hutchence died.

My point? Well, the last sentence sums it up for me. Hutchence died and with him INXS. So why am I reviewing “Switch”? Because I’m moving on and getting over the fact that Hutchence died.

So is this album any good? In bits and pieces and not at all if you still wish Hutchence were alive. The trademark INXS hooks are there, guitar hooks and saxophone solos (Devil’s Party) and even some U2 type moments (Afterglow).

There is no denying that new lead vocalist J.D. Fortune has the range and ability. He is pretty convincing on “Hot Girls”, “Perfect Strangers” and of course “Pretty Vegas”. But tracks such as “Remember, Who’s Your Man” sound drab and lifeless. As much as I want to like this reincarnation of INXS, there is not enough soul in it to make me declare that INXS “are back!”

Switch does have the ability to grow on you after a couple of listens though, and has enough variety to appeal to a wide range of new and old fans. The aptly titled “Like It or Not” will polarize fans in the sense that it sounds like a tribute to the INXS of old. All the hooks are there, vocal harmonies, saxophone solos and a dance / rock ethic that keeps the track upbeat and interesting. Since I’m moving on, I’ll vote in the positive and give it a thumbs up.

My verdict, if I were to ditch my cynicism and ignore the whole INXS Rock Star reality show publicity stunt and the obvious cash grab by a band obviously in their twilight (have a look at the pic, Kirk Pengilly looks downright creepy), would be that this is a catchy and at times, a pretty good album. New fans crossing over from the reality show will no doubt enjoy it, as will some older fans.

The producer has done a great job of capturing the INXS of yore and mixing it with new sounds and directions. J.D. Fortune sounds better than Jon Stevens any day and I look forward to the next album where he should be more involved.

Musically, this is decent effort although it comes off sounding like a debut by an Australian Idol winner at times. Some tracks just don’t work which is why the second album is worth looking forward to.

The final track does the right thing in paying tribute to Michael Hutchence. Featuring Suzie McNeil, the last contestant voted off the INXS island, “Gods Top Ten” is a haunting piece that signals that the band will always have the spectre of Hutchence watching over it.

Score: 6.5 / 10