INXS – 'Switch' (Enhanced) Released 16/10/06

What a group INXS are! What a triumph of lyric and form and…oh its not worth it. They really arent all that any more. They purportedly have an enormous, millions strong fan base, or at least the total number of people who turned out for their shows this year was about half a million. Good for them.

So does this album of funky tricks support their level of fame? Hmm, well nearly. Certainly they have a requisite funk level, and a sense of beat which is up to snuff. They have also been going for 25 years. While, true it is there are many singers and groups out there who have also survived for multiple decades with a certain level of success, we feel that INXS has cheated slightly with their continuance. Basically after the death of Michael Hutchence, the group toured with a selection of alternative lead singers. Then in 2004 they did a reality show a la X Factor to get a permanent frontman. Whereupon they were delivered one JD Fortune. Yes, the guy can sing, but he could do so much more with his time. Like forming a band with his other contestants and make INXS find something better to do.

This album is slightly different to some of their older ones, which is only to be expected. Comparisons can be and have been made by fans, but really this album is capable of standing on its own without all the hype and the name supporting it. It isnt entirely crap. But you can easily spot how carefully polished and tidied it has been on the mixing desk, with warbles removed where the ear expects them and other little technical devices that again, borders slightly on cheating. They are saved however by being pretty competant musicians, and reports are that their live shows are somewhat better than any of their albums. Isn’t it always the way?