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178 of 191 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly enjoyable, fun, classic INXS, November 29, 2005
It's amazing how many established acts have come roaring back with strong, vital releases this year. Add INXS to the list which includes Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and yes, Neil Diamond.
I'm not comparing INXS to Neil Diamond other than to say that like Diamond, INXS delivers a CD that is instantly recognizable with the best of their past work. If you wonder where INXS was going with "Full Moon Dirty Hearts" or "Elegantly Wasted," the answer is: back home where they could create "Switch."
My suggestion for a worthy example of their homecoming would be the song "Perfect Strangers." Specifically, just wait until Kirk Pengilly signs in with his brilliant signature saxophone. It's an INXS song that could easily have been found on "Kick" "X" or "Welcome to Wherever You Are."
There's a healthy mix of ballads that are equally INXS-strong. "Remember Who's Your Man" could have well been sung by Michael Hutchence (and it would have been great). However it isn't sung by Michael: and in my opinion, it's equally great. Newcomer JD Fortune nails it.
Yes he won his job on a reality TV show. I'm fascinated by people that discredit this process, when at the end of the day, what it amounted to for INXS was ultimately the longest audition process in rock and roll history. (Anyone who knows of a band that spent more time with as many singers please correct me.)
JD sounds here like the JD of the television show- his range is impressive, his attitude is sexual and arrogant and everything right about INXS and what Michael Hutchence exuded on songs like "Devil Inside" and "Need You Tonight." If you watched the show, you'll likely agree that INXS made the right choice and Mr. Fortune is "Roit For Our Band: INXS."
"Switch" is also roit for OB: INXS. Welcome home boys.
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83 of 98 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOWOWOWOWOWOW, November 29, 2005
WOW the new front man is really close to what the band use to sound like. I am impressed. Thier first release sounds just like the band when it was in thier prime. Here is to a comeback! There are a couple of songs on the album that take the band away from thier big hit days, but who cares. At least they are still trying to slip in a little innovation. THis is a great album if you love the sound of the 80's INXS. THEY'RE BACK!
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
They're BACK!, December 2, 2005
I've been a fan of INXS since their breakthrough hit "What You Need" back in 1986, becoming my favorite rock band almost immediately afterward. Their lyrics, their hooks, their considerable skill and charisma....the whole package. The death of Hutch was a devastating loss, keeping me away from INXS music for a time (too painful to listen to it). Eventually, I came back to the band through "Shine Like It Does" (the greatest hits CDs) and the wonderful DVD collection of their music videos (recommended!), so you can imagine how intrigued I was by the "Rockstar: INXS" series last summer.
As I got into watching the show, it was great seeing "The Boys" again, having always perceived INXS as so much more than just Michael Hutchence. Having these talented creators "silenced" for seven or eight years added to the tragedy of Hutch's death. As "Rockstar" progressed, I was really pulling for Marty Casey and (as the producers probably intended) saw J.D. Fortune as an irritation (the pre-requisite "villain" for all reality TV shows). For the first half of the series, J.D. came off as a joke with no hope of winning the prize....but he came on much stronger the final weeks of the competition. So strong, in fact, I was pretty conflicted about sticking to the "J.D.'s a jerk" sentiment. Right up to the finale, I was hoping Marty would pull it off, while at the same time realizing that J.D. really DID have the chops to do INXS-style music.
And so it was. J.D. won, and here I am listening to the first new INXS CD in over eight years. I've gotta say it was quite a moving experience hearing the style of music I'd loved so much working in new, contemporary directions....with a new lead singer who absolutely deserves to be there.
Really.
J.D. Fortune is fantastic. True, he echoes some of Hutch's characteristics, but at the same time it never feels like a hollow imitation or cynical rip-off. It's simply the kind of delivery INXS music demands, a delivery that I sense fits Fortune like a glove without sounding forced or fighting against his natural gifts. Welcome to INXS, J.D. You bugged me at first, but you're the best guy for the job, plain and simple. I can't wait to see you and the guys in concert early in 2006!
Tracks:
1. Devil's Party: Smooth, laid-back "cool" INXS has always been known for. Probably not the track I'd have started the CD with, but it's still got a nice driving beat.
2. Pretty Vegas: What can I say? It was the song that told me this whole "J.D. Fortune" thing would probably work out afterall. His performance of the song on "Rockstar" pretty much cemented my growing feeling he'd be the winner, meshing perfectly with the INXS sound. And hey....the megaphone.
3. Afterglow: My straight-up favorite song on this CD. Incredibly moving, powerful stuff. It works well on so many different levels, I find myself listening to it more than any other track on "Switch". J.D. really stepped it up a notch for this one, though I'm sure he learned this new bag of tricks under the guidance of the rest of INXS.
4. Hot Girls: Quirky and mischievous. The lyrics didn't do much for me, but the unusual music kept my interest.
5. Perfect Strangers: Probably the weakest track of "Switch". Some interesting riffs here and there, but the "storyline" of the song just came off as kinda sleazy (not INXS cool) and meandering.
6. Remember Who's Your Man: A beautiful, enchanting groove and an amazingly soulful perforance by J.D. makes this the perfect song to unwind to. It needs four or five listens just to appreciate all of the warm subtleties of the song.
7. Hungry: An urgent, driving song that starts out smoldering, then erupts into a sustained emotional blast of regret and realization.
8. Never Let You Go: A mellow reggae-flavored groove with some clever (autobiographical?) lyrics
9. Like It Or Not: A wonderful "fake-out" beginning, with a pensive drum-keyboard conversation blasting into a fast-driving hook, complete with a cool backup "humming chorus" from the rest of the guys. More "INXS cool" with a 21st century spin.
10. US: I've never been one for "We Are the World" type songs, and this one's no exception. A little too earnest and 'Hallmarky" for my tastes, despite a valiant musical effort. Perhaps it will grow on me, but at this point "US" is a miss for me.
11. God's Top Ten: Hey! Suzie! Great to hear your beautiful voice again! A great opening to a beautiful, brooding tribute to (I assume) Michael Hutchence, and the perfect way to end the first "Post-Hutch" INXS release. A respectful good-bye to an old friend and brother. Perfect.
Overall, despite a couple of "clinker" songs, I've gotta rate "Switch" a full five stars. Considering everything that was on the line with the whole "Rockstar" angle (a tremendous career risk I don't think many people fully appreciate), "Switch" is the home-run INXS deserves after their long climb up from Hutch's death. I can't think of a more talented and classy group of entertainers than INXS, and I welcome J.D. Fortune as their new front man.
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Kirk Pengilly shares his favorite music with Amazon customers. See all artists' picks on our Music You Should Hear page.
by INXS 
