My love for Aussie music is nothing new. In 1982, I discovered a really cool Australian band when I heard the song, Don't Change. I was reminded of them when I saw the news they had a new lead singer, Ciaran Gribbon. I will admit I was not the slightest bit interested in the collaboration with Rock Star: INXS winner J.D. Fortune, but will be interested in checking out the sound with Gribbon. But what I remember is the bold statement the music of INXS made almost 30 years ago, and how I just immediately responded to it. So I was quite excited in 1984 when they released The Swing. I immediately had to go out and buy it!
Of course, INXS were Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, and Michael Hutchence. In fact, save for the late Hutchence, they are still together. Sexy, smart and bold, INXS had it all going on. All the boys were easy on the eyes, and had a smooth and easy personae that was quite sexy. Take a look at the first single off The Swing, Original Sin.
Somehow, they managed to take on religion and racial politics all the while remaining sultry. They maintained a Rock edge with the strong guitars, and the growl of Michael Hutchence's vocals. And for the second single, I Send A Message, the boys brought out a Pop sound that had a raw edge, with the driving guitar and sexy sax pushing the sound.
The next single, Burn For You, was a hot and sultry love song. Of course, there was a certain point when you had to admit everything Hutchence sang was given a sexy sheen by his involvement.
There is a sweet beginning to the final single off The Swing, Dancing On The Jetty. As the song builds in the first minute or so, you get a bit more, as the layered production comes together. The song moved from sweet tune to a motion for the youth to come together for world peace. And some great musical licks along the way.
For more about the band, check out their official website here. You can also find them on Facebook here, and on Twitter here. You can find their music on all the music sites. To purchase The Swing, go to iTunes here or Amazon here.
Definitely one of my favorites from that era! I saw them on the Kick tour, and Michael was one of the best frontmen I've ever seen. He moved like Jim Morrison, and he had that voice that was both smooth and rough, in all the right places. Oh yeah! What a tragic loss.
ReplyDeleteBeth, Michael was incredible - just sex on a stick, really. Yowza! They made some amazing music.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great album and maybe my fave from them! Original Sin still sounds great some 30 years later....and you are right the message is quite relevant today.
ReplyDeleteLooking at that first pic here, they were a hot bunch of guys....classic looking and their sound was also definitive 80's....but no one can really sound like them....they were rock, but they had some amazing riffs, lyrics and the delivery of Mike - unparallel!
SteveA, it was definitely a great album! They were very hot, and soulful!
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