keepers 3
keeper avg .300
This is the early 80's, so spare guitars and lots of keyboard are the order of the day, though lead single "The One Thing"****, the first of several credited to keyboardist (later guitarist) Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, features one of the band's signature guitar riffs. Slow-burner "To Look At You"**** shows life in the almost goth-y chorus driven by angular guitar, and tribal drums and a swift 60's pop tempo elevate side 2 opener "Black And White." The sporadic stabs of keyboard and guitar noise in "Spy Of Love" sure do sound dated, contrasting with the subdued "Soul Mistake", a probable blueprint for the later hit "Devil Inside", lazily (sensuously?) crooned by Hutchence. Most of the other songs are basic new-wave rockers, drawing elements similar to U2, Midnight Oil, and the Police, especially "Here Comes". The only real clunker is "Old World New World," with the least interesting hook on the album. But fortunately they save the best for last, the driving full-band collaboration "Don't Change"*****. Though not the best-known single in the catalog, this is the track that none other than 'The Boss' chose to pay homage to INXS in 2014 in Australia. I second that choice, Bruce.
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