I've liked some of the inxs songs I've heard on the radio but never wanted to listen to a whole album. Reflecting on this I think it's because I first heard them when they were already famous. MH was a rockstar and it all felt obvious and cliche and I was a bit of a snob. I've been meaning to take another listen because @BlueHammer85 keeps going on about them
Yes, that’s right, 10 high, 1 low.Hi, Rob. If 1 = Clown Shoes and 10 equates to Life Changing Classic (lol), it's a 6.5 rounded to 7 from me. I haven't heard the full album in close to 40 years. Some good songs and memories. Good choice. BTW, I just liked your Lonesome Jubilee review. I need to keep up!
No doubt that Kick is my favourite album, but “Mediate” is pretty throwaway in the grand scheme of things.If this was Kick I'd be scoring it a lot higher. I've had two listens now and nothing has really grabbed me apart from the drum pattern from Western Promise by Ultravox appearing in Kiss The Dirt. Ish.
I've never been a fan of this sort of middle of the road rock. I suppose what made Kick stand out was the heavier production and the different styles. This album just seems to be rambling on and on with little or no shocks. There's no Never Tear Us Apart, there's no Guns In The Sky, no Need You Tonight, even no Mediate, songs that were evenly placed in Kick to move it up a notch.
It will get one more listen tomorrow, when I'm all relaxed and mellow...
Probably in the same boat re. perception of them, but off the back of this pick it's been quite interesting reading about their rise to fame and about MH himself who though I was obviously aware of him I knew very little of. The only thing of theirs I was familiar with was Kick which I seem to remember at the time I thought was overblown and soulless. As big as that album was this is more pleasing to my ears.
I can do Wednesday.Thread News
Gornik has asked to be put further down the list so I'll need one of the following to step in this Wednesday if that's OK?
I suspect as BlueHammer is only returning from holiday today he won't be ready, but I've included him just in case.
Note that however this pans out, everybody will be bumped one week earlier anyway.
@BlueHammer85
@bennyboy
@OB1
OK, you're officially on for Wednesday. Thanks.I can do Wednesday.
That’s good as I’ve not started my review yet; although I’ve picked an album.OK, you're officially on for Wednesday. Thanks.
To me, when I first heard Kick, it sounded like nothing else. On that album, INXS blended rock with danceable/funky riffs. And they had somebody who didn't mumble in a microphone backed by a band who delivered a meaty live performance. They definitely had a lot going for them that I didn't hear anywhere else but I guess that's the thing about any type of music: if you don't like it, they sound the same as those other guys you don't like.I am glad we have a three listen format. Because, at first listen, this would have got Bimboed to fuck, I'd have probably been pushing it with a 3.
But now three listens in I can just about generously stretch it to a 5.
So much is made of them being 'Australian'. Am I missing something, is that meant to be some discerning thing? Because they sound as generic as any other such 80s band from the States or the UK. If their only distinguishing feature, is that people can claim they are Australian, kind of says it all for me.
I am maybe being too harsh, due to some real hope and expectation here.
There is nothing really wrong with it at all. Pleasant 80s man in touch with his softer side voice, tick. Musicians thay can play their instruments to a proficcient level, tick. Poppy catchy tunes, you can clap your hands to, tick. Some nicely written bits of songs, tick. A little bit 'rocky', without ever disrupting or upsetting anything, synthy enough to be relevant. Throw in a sax too, flavour of the times.
There are comparisons to make with Del Amitri, Deacon Blue there, or even maybe Big Country here and there. And maybe I would have even liked this a bit more a couple of decades ago. But now, perhaps just this particular week, I find it one of so many interchangable bands of its time.
The strongest thing about it, is the bass, hands down. It is what carries it right through. I'll give it an extra point for that.
Red Red Sun is the best song for me, the only one that moved me a little. The rest, fone to listen to but nothing that caught me, and I really wanted it to. A 6 all in I guess then. I plan to return to it in a few weeks, just in case it is a timing issue here catching me in an odd mood, or if that first impression has just left too strong a taste I haven't been able to shift.