INXS Album: “The Best of INXS”
 Description :
INXS: Kirk Pengilly (vocals, guitar, saxophone); Michael Hutchence (vocals); Andrew Farriss (guitar, keyboards); Garry Gary Beers (bass); Jon Farriss (drums).
<p>Compilation producers: INXS, David McLees, Emily Cagan, Karen Ahmed, David Edwards.
<p>All tracks have been digitally remastered.
<p>Even though it encompasses only one disc, BEST OF INXS is a fairly comprehensive, 21-track offering that hits on virtually all of the group's well known high points and visits some more obscure material as well. In light of singer Michael Hutchence's tragic suicide, it's tempting to look on the Australian band's oeuvre through a gray mist, but that would be to deny everything Hutchence, the Farriss brothers, and the rest of the INXS boys were about. As this disc shows, they were a high-energy party band with one foot in Stones-influenced rock (Hutchence's strutting stage presence gave Mick Jagger a run for his money) and frothy, new wave-flavored dance-pop. From the darkly majestic early hit "The One Thing" through the heartfelt romanticism of "This Time" and the pumping, danceable "Listen Like Thieves" and "Devil Inside" INXS placed entertainment value above all else. BEST OF INXS is an effective showcase for the canny popcraft of a band whose career was stalled too soon.
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Track Listing :
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Album Information :
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UPC:081227825126
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Format:CD
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Type:Performer
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Genre:Rock & Pop
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Artist:INXS
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Label:Rhino Records (USA)
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Distributed:WEA (distr)
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Release Date:2002/10/15
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Original Release Year:2002
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Discs:1
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Mono / Stereo:Stereo
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Studio / Live:Studio
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
- A good anthology - but better can be found.
As an Australian, I was privileged to grow up with some solid & honest rock music through the 80s from a wave of Australian bands including Midnight Oil, (early) Crowded House, and of course INXS. This release for the US market is bursting with some of their biggest local and worldwide hits and a couple of "fillers" from their later and slightly disappointing albums. It is good to see some of the earlier singles included such as Original Sin, Listen Like Thieves and Don't Change that were big hits here in Australia, but were probably lesser known in other markets until their big breakthrough single What You Need hit the American charts. I would urge any INXS fan from foreign lands to search and secure a copy of the Australian release of the Definitive Collection. It is a 2 disc compilation with 41 tracks, and from a Australian perspective, every song was a well-known hit single. Look out for earlier 80s singles like Burn For You, I Send A Message, and Dancing on the Jetty, and even some of the late 80s early 90s singles such as Disappear, Shine Like It Does, Baby Don't Cry and Kick (which I thought was a strange omission from the US release).
Whilst this US release on offer is a good summary of INXS and the raw power and emotion their music evokes, the 2 disc Australian collection is a must for any true INXS fan who wishes to discover the journey of Australia's foremost rock band from humble beginnings in local pubs to packed out arenas across the world.
Customer review - May 09, 2003
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
- Beware.... Edited!
While this is a great CD, in that INXS has produced great music, the creators of this compilation did us all a disservice by cutting out chunks of certain songs... I imagine in the interest of cramming more songs on there. One of the best lines INXS created ('it's hard to believe we need a place called hell..'), and a lovely bridge out of "Beautiful Girl" have simply disappeared. outrage! I suppose there are others I have not caught yet, as well.... 10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
- Great Compilation, but...
...it's still missing some songs, some of the tracks are single edits, and I don't like the non-chronological track listing. Here's what should have been:
1. The One Thing
Customer review - October 17, 2002
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
- Awesome Collection!
Thank goodness for this new CD! This is far superior to the "Greatest Hits" collection that came out many years ago. This has a much better package overall, nice pictures, great quotes from each of the band members, overall a fitting tribute to one of my favorite bands in the world. And a better track listing, not to mention. How can you have a greatest hits package without "Don't Change"! The remastering on the songs make them sound better than ever. If you're an INXS fan like me, throw out your "Greatest Hits" (probably pictured directly to the left) with the pseudo-Michael on the front (no, that's not him...) and replace it with this awesome collection. And don't forget the amazing reissues of "X," "Kick," and "Welcome To Wherever You Are" that just came out too... 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
- A Must for INXS Fans
If you are a new INXS fan this CD will introduce you to the hits that made INXS one of the best bands ever. But don't listen only to this CD as there are many other songs that make INXS so great. If you are an old INXS fan you probably have everything on this CD, but it is worth buying to hear some of the different mixes. The bonus tracks are definitely INXS, but they are at best "B" side tracks that need a lot of polishing. INXS would have done better to add two more classic INXS tracks to the CD such as Heaven Sent and Mediate. Overall, not disappointing, but could have been a little better. |
