INXS stopped recording new, meaningful music in 1996, after the album Elegantly Wasted, around which time their singer, Michael Hutchence, died of what was most likely suicide. And yet, I wager that everyone reading this, everyone in this group, is familiar with at least two INXS songs. And those probably come from this album.
Maybe its nostalgia, but I simply view Kick as a masterpiece. This is Hutchence at the height of his charisma and sexiness. Every dumb lyric (and there are quite a few!) are redeemed because, man, this guy fucking wants you to believe it.
Buried inside it all is the incredible songwriting of the three Farriss brothers who make up the brains of the band. It’s easy to hear songs like "New Sensation" or "Need You Tonight" or "Never Tear Us Apart" a million times and just kind of chalk them up to some random pop band, but there is a catchy brilliance to these riffs. Tell me you haven't thought about the guitar part on "Devil Inside" for a few days after listening to it and I will call you a liar. And one of the brothers just plays the SAXOPHONE.
This album is a moment in time. It can never be recreated, as much as the 1975 may want to. This band is unabashedly just trying to make you dance, make you love, make you fuck. And there’s something to be said about knowing exactly what you are. INXS knew what they were: fucking great.
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