INXS - INXS - Greatest Hits

In the wake of Michael Hutchence's tragic death, INXS's Greatest Hits seems sadly ironic in that it is, in part, a fitting eulogy and biography. No doubt about it, Hutchence gave the band its charisma, its sensuality, and also its funk appeal. So what if he couldn't dance? His phrasing and sense of timing were more than half of the rhythm behind "Need You Tonight," "What You Need," and "New Sensation." He even gave Mick Jagger a run for his money with "Devil Inside" and "Suicide Blonde." As a band, INXS were a finely honed machine, even from the beginning new-wave horns of "The One Thing" to the more orchestral "Never Tear Us Apart." The collection also contains two unreleased tracks, but, interestingly enough, the transcending and powerful "Don't Change" is nowhere to be found. --Steve Gdula Amazon.com

Great music, but doesn't quite hit the spot

When you're a teenager you tend to want to classify or stereotype everything in a black & white sort of way. INXS was (for me at least) one of those bands that didn't always fit neatly into a particular style or stereotype. Yeah, they were pop, but they had such a hard-driving beat that the label didn't seem to fit very well when compared to other pop acts at the time. Yet it wasn't like it was rock either, at least not like the hair bands of the mid 80s. They sometimes had a synth-pop sound, but didn't fit in with new wave. Dance, maybe? Not always. Maybe it was the saxophone that confused me...?

But whatever it was or wherever you want to stereotype it, it was great music. I especially loved Kick and X, and saw them in concert on their X tour in 1994. It was a simple show - no pyrotechnics or overblown visuals - just the band and the music. It was great! The lights didn't even dim between the opening act and them. Everyone thought it was just the grunts tuning up the guitars when all of the sudden... that bunch of guys in t-shirts playing the songs were them! Way cool.

But I'm a little disappointed by The Greatest Hits. It probably meets my needs and expectations better than any of the other collections or compilations, but what were they thinking not including "Don't Change"? Also, "Mediate" MUST follow "Need You Tonight" just like it does on Kick - it's not even on here. And I wish they had included "Kiss The Dirt (Falling Down The Mountain)" from Listen Like Thieves. They could have eliminated 3 songs at the end - "Heaven Sent," "The Strangest Party (These Are The Times)" and "Deliver Me" - and I wouldn't have even missed them. But I was glad to see "The Stairs" which was one of my favorites, even though I don't recall it being much of a hit for them.

So, while it's a great collection from a great band (although that whole reality show thing was pretty sad) it just doesn't quite satisfy. But it probably comes closer (for me) than the others. And it may be a petty complaint, but I just don't care for the cover art. August 12, 2008

Listen Like Thieves

INXS is a respectable band. Well, the WERE a respectable band...right up until the point they went on a reality show to replace their lead singer--the late, great Michael Hutchence.

But up until that point they were as respectable as a pop group could be. They weren't groundbreaking and probably weren't influential, but they made a lot of good songs that were enjoyed by a lot of people and they weren't forgotten three years later so many of their contemporaries.

As far as their songs go, you can probably get everything you need on a compilation--there's no need to go out and find the albums. And this compilation is pretty solid. The majority of their hits and well-known songs are here.

If you're a casual fan of INXS or this style of music, then you should probably own this album. I knocked it down to three stars (from four) for three reasons, and if none of these things concern you, then you can go ahead and consider this a great compilation album.

The three things:

a) There's are a lot of extra tracks here. Either they are songs off of later albums or they were new material--I've never bothered to figure it out. In any case, they make the last half of the album a complete dud.

b) The didn't include "Mediate." It seems like they could have dumped one of the new tracks and inserted this right behind "Need You Tonight," just like it's done in the video.

c) This is the big one--they left off "Don't Change." That makes absolutely no sense to me--it was one of their first hits and one of their greatest songs. I can't fathom how they would decide to leave it off in favor of new stuff and lesser songs.

That said, everything else of note seems to be here: Need You Tonight, Suicide Blonde, Original Sin, Disappear, Devil Inside...etc...you can read the track list for yourself--you don't need my help with that. May 18, 2007

Nothing Torn Apart

There are foten times where a group isn't now what they were ack then. Nevertheless, there have been some noticible acceptions. INXS recentsly has been one of them. Nearly a decade after the tragic death of Michael Hutchence, they struck back into the industry with J.D. Fortune on their comeback record Switch. While some are welcoming his arrival, others just sometimes look at the past and what INXS had back in the 80's and 90's, and what they had was a great mix of pop & rock that was just absolutely driven into the best in music, and that stays true on this greatest hits record.

INXS 1994 Greatest Hits record is a well-recognized reflection of the group during its heyday as one of the biggest rock backs of the world. The 16 track compilation delivers quite nnicely into what is really over the top. The songs here could've been remastered a little better, but deliver a lot of great tracks like their #1 smashes Need You Tonight, the haunting and soulful Never Tear Us Apart, Suicide Blonde, Dissapear and the upbeat and delightful New Sensation which was used recently for commercials for Bally Total Fitness health club, and What You Need to name a few. The songs still are great to listen to, but there just could've been a little more that should've been added.

So many INXS fans now might be torn between this collection and the 2001 Best OF INXS record which has more songs to match, but this collection of their music uis still alright. INXS Greatest Hits is a very nice reflection from a group of Australian Suicide Blondes.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B 1/2+

Price: B+

Remastering: B-

Overall: B June 6, 2006

Great album

All my favorite songs January 16, 2006

Not all Hits included.

I own the CD with the photo showed on this Amazon page. The list of songs is wrong, and disordered.

Whatever, the real CD is this:

1- Mystify
2- Suicide blonde
3- Taste it
4- The strangest party (these are the times)
5- Need you tonight
6- Original sin
7- Haven sent
8- Disappear
9- Never tear us apart
10- The gift
11- Devil inside
12- Beautiful girl
13- Deliver me
14- New sensation
15- What you need
16- Listen like thieves
17- Bitter tears
18- Baby don't cry (with orchestral) January 9, 2006

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