A work colleague of mine emigrated to Australia. When he returned to the UK for a short visit he was raving about this fantastic band from Australia. Stuck in traffic on the way to the pub he insisted on playing the tape he had. It was the "Listen Like Thieves" album by INXS.
We only had to endure 5 or 6 songs before we arrived at our destination, and at the time I was generally underwhelmed by what seemed to be fairly cliched and formulaic music. Maybe I was impatient to have a drink, as hearing all three singles off the "Listen Like Thieves LP many years later I quite liked them !
The one exception was "Kissing The Dirt" which I thought was a well structured song, nicely played and with a good vocal. It was released as a single in the UK but received hardly any airplay and didn't chart. When I saw it being sold off cheap in my local record store I bought it !
Kick was the 6th album released by INXS, and their breakthrough effort in the UK, with the music press making Mick Jagger references about Micheal Hutchence but that was probably more due to his looks and dancing rather than his voice !
After several tracks were released as singles I decided to buy the album. At the time I thought it was really good and played it a lot but looking at the track listing the only non-single I could now remember was "Tiny Daggers"
The opening track "Guns In The Sky" is probably the least commercial song on "Kick". A two chord anti-war song, it starts with some annoying grunts before proceeding into a heavy metal number. It sounds more like their compatriots AC/DC !
Three singles follow. "New Sensation" with its toe-tapping funky riff and a sax solo is next. It's been called a song to dance to when no-one is looking !
"Devil Inside" has a drum intro, a great guitar riff, and guitar solo and there is another drum intro on "Need You Tonight" before the guitar chords come in, which then morphs into a funky riff.
"Mediate" is another track that starts with just drums, but features atmospheric keyboards, a rap vocal with words ending in -ate, and some smooth sax to fade at the end. It is surprisingly good and has become one of my favourite songs on the album.
"The Loved One" has a messy intro, then crashing guitar and piano over a bass line. There is a slight blues feel, and a decent chorus, which reminded me a little in parts of some of Aerosmith's ballads. A bit of the vocal also made me think of Noddy Holder of Slade. I hadn't realised it was a cover of a 1960s song, as it sounds like an INXS song, and isn't out of place here.
"Wild Life" is another song with the drums intro and a funky riff, but there is also plodding bass, and some nice keyboards in the middle. It is the closest to a filler on the album and I've already forgotten how it goes.
The epic ballad "Never Tear Us Apart" is next with a keyboards and strings intro, a great vocal, striking three note guitar and dramatic pauses before the soaring chorus. There is also magnificent saxophone solo. For such a classic song it is strange it only reached number 14 in the UK charts.
"Mystify" starts with jaunty piano then launches into a great rocker from second verse as thedrums and guitars kick in. The vocal is great too.
"Kick" is a high energy, big sounding R&B number with plenty of explosive sax and brass and "Calling All Nations" has a similar riff to "New Sensation" but the chorus is different.
"Tiny Daggers" closes the album. It's a 1980s new wave pop song, with a happy feel, a hypnotic keyboard motif and I love the guitar solo. There is also a hint of Rod Stewart's "Tonight I'm Yours" and "Young Turks" !
There is hardly a bad track on the album, if you like danceable rock n'roll. Although the five singles are all great in their own right, "Mediate" and "Tiny Daggers" are also superb songs.
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Guns In The Sky
2. New Sensation
3. Devil Inside
4. Need You Tonight
5. Mediate
6. The Loved One
1. Wild Life
2. Never Tear Us Apart
3. Mystify
4. Kick
5. Calling All Nations
6. Tiny Daggers
Released 1987
UK Chart Position : 9
Singles :
Need You Tonight ( No 2 - 1987 )
Devil Inside ( No 47 - 1988 )
New Sensation ( No 25 - 1988 )
Never Tear Us Apart ( No 24 - 1988 )
Mystify ( No 14 - 1988 )
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