Customer Reviews

Kick

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been a huge fan of INXS--and "Kick", in particular--for a long time now. Often, I have felt the need to defend my passion for this album to music purists who are turned-off by the band's huge commercial success.

A decade-and-a-half after it's original release, I believe "Kick" has stood the test of time. The song-writing and performances are entirely spot-on throughout. While I concede that the production sounds somewhat dated, it should be remembered that any album is a product of it's time. With its sly references to excess ("Devil Inside"), global tension ("Guns in the Sky") and apartheid ("Mediate"), "Kick" manages to sum up much of western civilization as it exited the 80's.

Since I already owned this album on CD, I was curious as to how the sonic experts of Rhino could improve upon a recording that was recorded in the digital age. Turns out "Kick" is even more powerful in this new transfer. The mix is more spacious; it sounds like the instruments are actually spaced further apart. If you only want to hear "Kick" sound better than ever before, you should definitely buy this reissue.

But if you were looking for the album's B-sides, you won't find them here. The only bonus tracks are a handful of demos whose inclusion here is baffling. Perhaps the producer wanted these awful tracks included as evidence of miracles he performed behind-the-scenes.

Surely there had to be better demos for this album that what is included here. "Jesus Was a Man" is most motley of the bunch. On it, Hutchence howls in obvious drunken stupor. Given the descent into chemical abuse that led to his untimely death, the inclusion of this track is inappropriate and an insult to his memory.

In conclusion, the new mix sounds fantastic, but the bonus demos are bad enough to make me question their inclusion here.

INXS took a major shift in their approach to the sound of their best album. Instead of the often smothering layers of sound that were the calling card of most of their prior albums, the band stripped the sound down to its bare bones. "Guns In The Sky" detonates with lead singer Michael Hutchence grunting over the crash of Jon Farris' drumbeat. A power riff worthy of fellow Aussies AC/DC begins cutting in and the band then tears into a plaint on the Star Wars global arm race.

Things just got better from there. "Kick" was INXS's crowning achievement in the studio, showing off a funkier, more confident band. The American breakout hit, "Need You Tonight," was beat driven enough to find a home on the dance floors (along with it's Dylanesque coda, "Mediate"), while the Stonesy howl of "Devil Inside" put some heavy duty spark on 1987/88 rock radio. This was a radio watershed album, with "I Need You Tonight," "New Sensation" "Devil Inside" and the soul-blues of "Never Tear Us Apart" becoming inescapable party songs and great videos before MTV abandoned music. There isn't a wasted song on "Kick." The remastered sound makes it even more punchy than the original CD.

But the re-issue suffers from real drag bonus cuts. The song "Jesus Was A Man" is an out take and SOUNDS it. The demo of "Mystify" is somewhat interesting, but the remaining tracks were unreleased for a reason. Better to just remaster the disc in its perfection than smear it with these leftover chunks of sonic vegetable matter. Michael Hutchence deserves better.

This was one of my very favorite albums of the 1980's, and now that I've got in on a digitally remastered CD, I'm remembering why.

Kick is vigorous power pop, start to finish, an album complete with rhytmic hooks, melodic choruses, and superstar sound and production. With this release, INXS was a band at the pinnacle of fame, playing for sold-out crowds in arenas all over the world. I had the privilege of seeing Michael and the guys when they came to my hometown, and they put on an excellent show. Demonstrating genuine talent, this band was better live than recorded.

INXS wasn't able to sustain the commercial success of Kick (if they had, the band would have been on par with many of the greatest rock bands of all time), but you will still find some stellar tracks on subsequent releases. Michael Hutchence's suicide at age 37 brought a tragic close to the life of a man who always had something interesting to express through his music.

This is one of my all-time favorite CDs. I was fortunate enough to see INXS in concert in 1988, and it was one of the best concerts I have ever attended. I feel fortunate to have seen Michael Hutchence before his untimely death. This is an awesome CD. It's timeless.

Inxs had experienced some success in the US starting with Shabooh Shabaah in 1983 and Listen Like Thieves in 1985 (Which produced the top ten hit "What You Need"), but 1987's Kick made them into superstars. The band had the great ability to make rock music that a dance sensibility. Kick's twelve songs crystallized this style. The album's first single "Need You Tonight" was built around a simple riff that shuffled along, but was filled with a powerful vocal. The song became the band's only number one single. "Need You Tonight" merges directly into "Mediate" which is a stream of conscious song in the vein of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (which the video for the song imitated). Even better is the throbbing "Devil Inside" which pounds along an aching pace before exploding in a fury at the end. "Guns In The Sky" is a strong rocker that opens the album and slides into the hyper kinetic "New Sensation". "Never Tear Us Apart" is a brooding song that conveys a sense of obsession. The album peaked at number three, but produced four top ten hits ("Need You Tonight", "Devil Inside", "New Sensation" which topped out at numbers one, two and three respectively and "Never Tear Us Apart" which hit number seven) and the band received massive airplay on MTV.

Firstly, I rebought this album when the deluxe, 2 cd version came out [also available on this site]. The deluxe edition isn't really a must buy, and I think you can do with the original release unless you are a die-hard fan [I didn't have a copy of the original when I bought the deluxe version, and the deluxe version was dirt cheap too].

I think this album is worth 5 stars because it has such a strong line up of songs-very few albums can match it, song for song. As an Australian, I think that often the Australian songs that chart in the US by great bands aren't necessarily their best ones. That goes here too. My favourite songs on this album are Guns In The Sky, and Never Tear Us Apart. The former features the grunting of the lead singer, and kicking drums and a dirty, classic guitar riff. Powerful stuff. The latter is a gorgeous ballad, featuring an orchestra or something-definitly violins in there, and a cool bass riff. These two songs are up there with INXS' best.

The songs that Americans most probably like the best, like Need You Tonight and New Sensation, are not as good, in my opinion, but they are of a standard which makes this album a 5 star album...i.e. they may not be great, but they are much more than filler.

This album also includes a cover of the classic Australian song "The loved one". INXS do a good cover of this. It must be said, though, that the original is still the definitive version [by The Loved Ones]. Haven't heard The Easybeats' version of "Good Times", but I'm pretty sure that INXS and Jimmy Barnes did THE definitive version of that song, in their duet.

The other songs which are more than filler and just plain good are:

Mediate
Mystify
Kick

The first has some cool drumming, which references the drums in Need You Tonight. It has a cool vibe to it, and is a bit poetic. Sort of like reading poetry to a cool drum beat.

The second is a piano and finger clicking song-a bit swingy and slow.
Perhaps the song Kick is the best song on this album apart from Guns and Never Tear Us Apart. Features a fine sax sound and a big beat.

Back to why this album gets five stars from me-the first six songs on this album are all of a good standard. In Australia, any of those six songs have gotten airplay here, or still do. Now, if the seventh song is a disappointent, in not being as good as the first six, the eighth song just raises the bar even higher for this album-Never Tear Us Apart would have to be one of my favourite INXS songs ever.

From memory, the last song features a melody in the introduction, perhaps, very similar to Rod Stewart's classic song Young Turks.

Having had this album and Listen Like Thieves on cassette at one time, and having read the track listings for Listen Like Thieves recently, I'm leaning on saying that Kick is INXS SECOND best album, with Listen Like Thieves being their best. I do plan on re-buying that album some time soon and letting you know whether I still think that is the case.

Basically, if you are into pop/rock, with killer guitar riffs, great drum beats and something a little bit different [i.e. sax sounds, violins etc], then Kick is a can't go wrong album. I don't think even The Beatles ever released an album as strong as this [and yes, I have heard Sgt Pepper...that's over-rated, in my view...Magical Mystery Tour is my favourite Beatles album].

*** Other Australian cds I've reviewed at this site:

INXS: "Listen like thieves" and "Anthology"

Skyhooks: The collection

Midnight Oil: "10,...,1" and "Diesel and dust" and others

John Farnham: The great Australian songbook

Johnny O'Keefe: Birth of Australian rock'n'roll

Alex Lloyd: Amazing-The best of

The Saints: Know your product-the best of

Rogue Traders: Here comes the drums

This is it people, 'the album'. This is the album tha broke them successfully in the states and made them popular.
Michael Hutchence had charisma and already had but I think this is the album that truly brought out the best in Michael as a frontman.

A phenominal album this is and their best.

"New Sensation" is a brilliant song to dance to because its so uplifting.

'Kick' is INXS' most commercially successful album, and one of their best. While it doesn't quite match the creativity of their early New Wave classics like 'The Swing', it is still a very strong collection. The album builds on the more conventional pop/funk/rock direction of 'What You Need', but what stands out the most with 'Kick' is the consistency. Whereas 'What You Need' had some great singles and some flat spots, every song on 'Kick' is memorable. It's no surprise the album kept throwing off singles; nearly everything here would be worthy of single release.

'Guns In The Sky': INXS never went in for social commentary, but there is a definite political message in this opener. Yet the band still make the song catchy, with a stomping rock riff. Musically, this is one of the more straightforward rock songs here.

'New Sensation': the perfect INXS single; a funky rhythm, infectious guitar riff, some raw leads from Tim Farriss, sax blasts, and a great vocal performance from Hutchence. A deserved hit.

'Devil Inside': sultry, funky song that gives Hutchence a chance to play up his sex-God persona. Quite subdued musically (until the final part of the song), which only amplifies Hutchence's seductive vocals.

'Need You Tonight': another funky song with even more seductive vocals than 'Devil Inside', but the song is really driven by the sharp guitar stabs. The song leads directly into 'Mediate'

'Mediate': musical extension of 'Need You Tonight', with Hutchence reciting a list of "-ates" ("liberate, fascinate, mediate...") in a vaguely rap style. Famous for its "Subterranean Homesick Blues" style video.

'The Loved One': this cover of The Loved Ones' classic apparently dates from the early 80's, but it is a great take on the song and fits the rock feel of the album.

'Wild Life': probably the closest thing to a weak song here. A funky rocker in the mould of 'New Sensation'.

'Never Tear Us Apart': simple, string-tinged ballad has become one of the band's best known songs. Doesn't really deviate too much from the rock ballad formula, but it works thanks to Hutchence's surprisingly passionate and sensitive vocals. Also famous for Kirk's out-of-nowhere sax solo.

'Mystify': this keyboard-driven pop/rock song is my personal favourite and the hidden gem of the album. Highlight is the simple but anthemic chorus and the shift into the more urgent bridge.

'Kick': the title track is one of the more straightforward rockers, although driven as much by Kirk's sax as by the guitats. Great performance from Hutchence, too.

'Calling All Nations': another song containing a vaguely social/political message. Still, it's surprisingly sexy and funky, as Hutchence calls on all nations to "come on down to the party!"

'Tiny Daggers': another of the more rock-oriented songs, with surprisingly barbed, pointed lyrics. "Who put those tiny daggers in your heart?" Hutchence demands over the rock riffs.

Fans of INXS' early work may be a little disappointed at the more streamlined sound on display, and I personally believe 'The Swing' just shades this album for that reason. But most people would regard 'Kick' as INXS' best album, and the band would never again reach this level of consistency and focus. Highly recommended for dedicated and casual INXS fans alike.

Five stars.

Hey everybody, this is a great CD beginning to end. For your information wozamoya from Chicago, IL "Kick" was released in 1987 not 1988.

If you're looking for a great year of music look no further than 1987. Besides INXS' "Kick", U2 released "Joshua Tree", Aerosmith released "Permanent Vacation" and Guns N' Roses released "Appetite for Destruction."

Peace!

Nineteen Eighty-Eight was a huge year for Aussie rock. There was this album by INXS, Midnight Oil's Diesel and Dust, and The Church's Starfish. But seeing as I was already familiar with INXS and not the other two bands, this was the recording that was first on my "must buy" list, and it came out right at the beginning of '88.
"Guns in the Sky" is a powerful kick-start to the album, INXS' foray into socially conscious music. But thankfully they left most of that to bands like Midnight Oil. INXS was a party band first and foremost. Side one is top heavy with their hit singles, "New Sensation," "Devil Inside" and "Need You Tonight." The latter song is obviously the song the band is best remembered for, but the former two tracks are great guitar rock songs. "Devil Inside" especially has a great hook and also has some social insight. These six guys were great songwriters and musicians, and Michael Hutchence had a perfect pop voice.
"Mediate" is a captivating play on rhyme. Somehow the words all fit, managing to be a commentary on politics, society and your personal worldview. To me it matches R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It" and Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." The next single from Kick was on side two, "Never Tear Us Apart," a smart ballad. INXS even tried their hand at early rap-rock on "Calling All Nations." All in all a superb album.