Customer Reviews

Shabooh Shoobah

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Like many new wave bands, INXS seemed to get progressively blander and more radio friendly into the mid and late 80's. On Shabooh Shoobah they were at, in my opinion, their creative peak. Of course Don't Change and The One Thing are great, but as others have said EVERY song on this album is really good. They all have that great mix of being a little strange, dark and off-kilter, but still very well written and catchy(I'm a sucker for great melodies and choruses). There's also just enough of a reggae feel to some of the songs to give the whole album a cool, new wave summertime Australia vibe to it. Also,because INXS didn't go too heavy with the synths and keyboards, this album doesn't sound as dated as other albums of that era. My personal faves: Here Comes, Golden Playpen and Old World, New World. Don't miss this one.

Ah, Inxs. How we revered you. And then how we forgot you. This hidden gem, buried deep in the rubble and ruin of 80's hair & synth pop is, for my listening pleasure, one of the very finest rock albums of the 1980's. No filler, all grade A, first quality, prime rock cuts. From blazing opener The One Thing, to very Grand Finale of Don't Change, this is perhaps Inxs' finest moment (of the 80's). Perhaps only surpassed by their later album "Welcome," this is the Inxs fan's choice for 2nd best, always.

The Australian band, Inxs bursted on the American Pop Scene in 1987 with a breakthrough album called "Kick", but Inxs had been a band that had been for several years prior to that album. "Kick" was actually the sixth album by the sixsome. Prior to "Kick", Inxs had established themselves as one of Australia's great bands. The album that actually landed them on the map in Australia was their third effort (from 1982) entitled "Shabooh Shoobah". This is a terrific effort and in a lot of ways, this collection often gets forgotten about - namely because it would be several years before the American audiences would appreciate this band (namely because of lack of airplay).

One fact that I find amazing about Inxs is that this six member band stuck together from their formation in the late 1970s through Michael Hutchence's untimely death in 1997. During this period, the band would release 10 studio albums, 1 Greatest Hits album, and 1 Live album. This has allowed the band to meld together and grow professionally. Much of this is due to the fact that three band members are brothers: Andrew Farriss (Keyboards), Jon Farriss (Drums), and Tim Farriss (Guitar). The other three members also stuck tightly with the band the whole way. These members include: Michael Hutchence (Lead Vocals), Garry Gary Beers (Bass), and Kirk Pengilly (Guitar and Sax). Hutchence - known for his long hair and theatrical performances in concert often gets the most publicity. But the remaining five members all make major contributions from a musicianship standpoint. In addition, Hutchence is not just eye candy - he plays a key role with Pengilly and the Farriss Brothers in the songwriting.

I think Inxs' musical style can be considered an offshoot of the Punk and New-Wave movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s. They definitely fit in with the synth-pop movement of the early 1980s. I find there to be a good balance of guitar and keyboard work. The two distinguishing factors that give Inxs a style of their own are : 1) The infusion of Kirk Pengilly's saxophone into this punk/new-wave influenced sound; and 2) Michael Hutchence's powerful vocals really elevate the sound of the band. "Shabooh Shoobah" is most reflective of this style. In fact, this is a style that would be the foundation for Inxs' music right through the end of the 1980s. This album contains 10 tracks - most of them are very short. In fact only one song, "Don't Change" is over 4 minutes long. All of the other songs range from 2:55 to 3:50 in length. The total length of the album is only 35+ minutes. It is surprising that this album didn't get more U.S. airplay since these songs were almost tailor made for the synth-pop dominated U.S. radio stations of the early 80s. You won't have very deep lyrics on "Shabooh Shoobah" - that will come later in Inxs' career.

Perhaps this sound is heard on the collection's most popular song "The One Thing". This song reflects all of the factors above: 1) The guitar and keyboard balance; 2) The infusion of the Sax Work; 3) Terrific Vocals by Michael Hutchence. This song has more a Classic Pop sound while many of the other tracks on this album have a stronger Punk and New-Wave influence. It is still a very catchy song and one that the fans who are more familiar with the "Kick" material will relate to.

The other song that is well known is the collection's final track, "Don't Change". There song does reflect more of the New-Wave (and Punk to a lesser extent) elements. This is a song that highlights some of the outstanding guitar work by Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly. This song definitely has a catchy beat.

The collection's second track, "To Look at You" is one of the more underrated tracks. Jon Farriss provides a steady drumbeat to open the song. Garry Gary Beers' Bass work can be heard nicely. This song has more of a keyboard influence - and again Hutchence rises to the occassion by providing some outstanding vocal ranges.

My favorite song on the collection is also an underrated song called "Golden Playpen". "Golden Playpen" has that nice fusion of the Punk and New-Wave elements that form a basis of Inxs' foundation. Pengilly's sax also compliments beautifully. The lyrics aren't deep, but they are amusing. "Golden Playpen" refers to either a nightclub or bar. The song starts out "I'm Drunk, Can't See My Glass". It also has a simple, but catchy chorus that goes "Tossed Out of the Golden Playpen, Beating the Drum of Pain and Pleasure". Hutchence's gregarious and free-wheeling style make this almost seem like a real experience that happened to him.

"Jan's Song" might be have some of the best lyrics. This song seems to be a cross between New-Wave and some supper club sounding music. Pengilly's saxophone will give this song a unique feel to it. There definitely seems to be a socio-political message in these lyrics when Hutchence sings "She says she wants the world to hear, her people's needs their basic rights".

Overall there is good depth to this collection. The only weak spot I found on this collection was "Spy of Love". All of the other songs were good: "Soul Mistake" has some more great Keyboard and Guitar work; "Here Comes" and "Black and White" contain some more Punk and New-Wave elements; "Old World New World" is a nice song - some of the sax work will sound very similar to a later song - "What You Need".

The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to all of the songs. The appropriate songwriting credits are listed for each member of the band. Overall I found this a very good CD. Core Inxs fans will not be disappointed. If you liked the popular Inxs stuff from "Kick" and "X", "Shabooh Shoobah" should easily satisfy. Overall, this is highly recommended.

For 'Shabooh Shoobah,' the single 'The One Thing' was the song that broke them out of Australia and into the American charts. A classic album from 1982, it showed more depth than their previous debut self-titled album, but still had that dark and unique sound that they kept throughout the life of the band. And while not as good as their third album, 'The Swing,' the album contained many great songs, the best of which are 'Black and White,' 'Don't Change,' and of course 'The One Thing.'

Few songs remind me of junior high like that song.

I still have this tape that i bought in 1994. I cannot believe that i still have it, but it goes to show how much I love and appreciate this band. They have always been one of my favorites from the 1980's and this album rises above the rest. I was forced to make a list of my top ten songs of all time, and 'Don't Change' is up there. Why? Hard to say, suffice to say it carried the emotions I had then. Saw INXS in Omaha in 1997 - One of the best I seen ever. miss michael. love INXS. enjoy this album, truly a straight listen to CD from song one to song end. Not for everyone, but contains some fabulous music from a band that at the time, was a rebel band like U2.

The year is 1982, Australian band INXS have had moderate success with three previous studio albums. Shabooh Shoobah is released containing some of the band's boldest tracks. A broad range from classics like Don't Change, The One Thing, To Look At You and Black and White down to more soulful tunes like Old World New World and Spy Of Love. With this album the band has broken its shackles and dared to do what they wanted. The album takes the band in a new direction, away from garage rock towards pub rock. Entertaining video clips for The One Thing and To Look At you help but the band's energy push this album along. Shabooh also begins the strong writing relationship between Hutchence and Andrew Farris that will be the focal point for the remainder of their career. A great album that I still play often even after 18 years.

INXS storm the U.S. with this release. OK, maybe not storm but this was the breakthrough that created the buzz on college playlists nationwide. To me, it is still their best effort. Shabooh Shoobah lays the foundation for what is to come. Whereas later releases such as KICK and X pushed them more into the mainstream with their chart topping singles and established them as a songwriting machine, SHABOOH SHOOBAH was simply a deeper and more creative release. One spin of this classic and you'll instantly be taken back to the innocent years of INXS. Each track is a classic in itself. The ONE THING and DON'T CHANGE are the standout hits but Black & White, To Look At You, Jan's Song and the others stand the test of time.

If you don't have it, get it. I NEED YOU TONIGHT may have been the breakthrough song that established them as worldwide superstars but I think they all sound dated with a later listen. Pop on Shabooh Shoobah. It's timeless.

this is my favorite inxs album, even though it was released before i was even born. the great thing about this band is that their sound progressed with time and so they ended up a wide range by the time they released their final ablum, elegantly wasted. their first few albums had a synth-pop, new wave feel, in the middle it was really pop, and the last couple albums were really rock. their first two albums, inxs and underneath the colours, were only released in australia, so it wasnt until this album came that they were known outside their native country. Shabooh Shoobah would fit into the new wave genre but not all of the songs sound like each other. the highlights include the infectious opener "the one thing", "to look at you" and closer "dont change." the first and last songs ended up being two of the bands best songs. this a must have for any real inxs fan. i can listen to it all of the time and never grow tired of it. and isnt that effect of a great album?

This was the album that made me an INXS fan for life! Dark and moody....like every teenager at that time of my life. Perfect and haunting! Michael's vocals are wonderfully soulful and soothing! The bass and drums on this album are driving yet not overwhelming...Jon Farriss and Garry Gary Beers are an amazing rhythm section with Andrew Farriss. These guys are a powerful foundation and the strength of the INXS sound!! Tim Farriss is a very good guitarist and has some pretty amazing riffs that helped define the INXS sound. And the sax works to give them an exoctic mixture of sound....way to go Kirk. This is a must have in your collection. No INXS fan should be with out it!

Whenever people get talking about INXS they only seem to mention Listen Like Theives and Kick, and then forget about everything else. However, this relatively early album is extremely underrated.

Whenever this album is mentioned, The One Thing and Don't Change are usually mentioned (and rightly so). However, To Look At You, Here Comes, and Black and White help make this one of the best whole albums INXS ever made. It definitely has an early 80's sound, but if you want to hear good early development of one of the most influential bands of the 80's, this is a can't miss.