Disco de INXS: “Switch”

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!

I never was a fan of INXS in the 1980's because I found their sound to much of pop and too less rock. This album is the flip side and with J.D. Fortune at the driver's seat, this is a fantastic sound. Rock is back on the radio. Here are the reviews judged on structure and content of each song, because I don't know too much about the band so I can't compare this CD to previous ones. All I can offer is an honest review to a casual or first time fan:

Devil's Party (3:26) - Fantastic opener. High energy from the whole band. Extremely catchy and reminds me how rock music should sound. Addicted to the sound as of writing this as I keep hitting the repeat button.

Pretty Vegas (3:25) - Easily the favorite of anyone picking up this CD. Sounds close to Devil's Party, but different in enough to make it an equal stand-out.

Afterglow (4:09) - Hit me blindside as a slower song after two huge energetic songs at first. Opening reminds me of U2's "With Or Without You." This track gets high praise for not allowing the listener to fall asleep through the slow music, but to just "drift away." Excellent Song.

(By Now, I Say To Myself, "Keep These Awesome Songs Coming...")

Hot Girls (3:33) - Judging by the title, I expected this song to be fun. I was happy to see that is was just that and never sappy or sugar-coated. To me, this was the lowest point at first listen (which is not bad at all because the lowest song on the CD is probably a 9.5/10) but it is one to grow on you. Two or three spins will have this song stuck in your head and you will be singing along.

Perfect Strangers (4:12) - By this song, I am in love with the smoothness and slight edge to JD Fortune's vocals. This is another upbeat song. Good, biting lyrics and I could have swore I heard a saxaphone someone in there. Good chorus in this one as it keeps my attention and I have yet to hit the Skip button. Good job so far guys, let's hope the other half of the CD is just as good as the first half.

Remember, Who's Your Man (3:28) - Very good song that shows off how versatile the singer's voice is. The soft drum beats keep a very good tempto. The lyrics could have easily been really pop-ish and cheesy, but were not and I found myself listening to this song over and over.

Hungry (4:47) - Pretty neutral on this song. It starts off with some good lyrics but not a whole lot of singing. Then it kicks in to a fantastic beat and extremely catchy lyrics. Then it goes into a soft sound again. Then back into the whole cycle. I would have liked it stayed upbeat and rocking, but when it did, it was a great song. People are either going to love this song or hate it. (Unless they fall in between like me)

Never Let You Go (4:19) - Sounded trpoical and like reggae at first and that is a plus. Probably one of my favorite songs on the CD. It isn't fast or slow, but a little of both. Fortune's vocals are so smooth on this song and glide easily from line to line without any sour or flat notes. I really like this song.

Like It Or Not (3:44) - Starts off sounding like the first two tracks. Biting lyrics and nice guitar working in the background with the drumming holding it together. It seems to have some ties with Never Let You Go as both songs seem to have the same feel and influence in sound. Since I liked the previous song, I had no trouble or complaints with this dynamite song.

US (4:07) - Heard this song on their Rock Star: INXS show. Didn't really care for it then, but it was a little better this time around. The lyrics are a little boring familar with the whole love and peace concept, but not damaging enough to earn this song anything lower then an B+.

God's Top Ten (4:54) - I thought this song was going to be something pretty strange and I was kinda right. A female began to sing at first, and I don't know who she was but she sounded like the one girl from the Rock Star: INXS show. I could be wrong, but it didn't really matter becuase her voice was clear and sweet sounding. A slow song, perfect fitting for a closing song.

- In conclusion, I really like this CD as it touchs on many different forms of music all conviently packaged in one album. I hope I have been of some help, because it is so refreshing to see some good old rock and roll and ballads on the radio again after the infection of bubblegum teen music and hip-hop in recent years. Good Stuff All Around ---> A-

I can't say I have ever been a huge INXS fan. To me, they were just another band with videos on MTV (back in the old days when MTV still showed videos...ah yes, a simpler time...), and I found it quite strange that they would choose the unusual route of reality TV to find a new lead singer, although the criticism leveled at them for this seemed just as strange. I mean, wasn't that Bob Dylan I saw in a Victoria's Secret commercial?

However, I became intrigued in SWITCH when I saw the bands' performance on Letterman. I thought the song AFTERGLOW was great. I then did something I haven't done in well over a year; I purchased the CD new (I usually by my CD's used) and was genuinely surprised at how good this CD is. Every song is strong and there is definitely that INXS sound I remember from the past soundtrack of my life.

Yes, at times J.D. Fortune sounds amazingly like Michael Hutchence, (just listen to the first track DEVIL'S PARTY) and I think that's to be expected to a certain extent. Put away any pre-conceived notions you might have and give this one a listen, I think you'll enjoy it.

In the eight years since Elegantly Wasted and subsequent passing of Michael Hutchence, INXS (minus JD Fortune, of course) has been brewing up some great tunes. If you can't come up with something after an 8 year hiatus, then you don't deserve any previous accolades. But INXS comes up big on "Switch" - and yes, JD Fortune was the right choice for the new lead. Fortune sings as though Hutchence is eerily being channeled through him. If you never learned of Hutchence's passing, and you listened to "Devil's Party" - no mental red flags would be raised over the recording and who it is. Having said that, there should be no doubt as to Fortune's ability to cover the old hits while on any future tour appearances.

Every song on this album is nothing short of perfection, leaving "Full Moon" and "Elegantly Wasted" in the dust. Had this CD failed in anyway, you would have to attribute the past success to Hutchence, but for the remaining members, that is not the case. Their talent was just as much a part as MH. I look forward to the continued success/CD's of JD Fortune and the rest of the boys.

Yes, I too was a little apprehensive about buying Switch. I really liked Rock Star: INXS and was into Pretty Vegas, but all the negative press I was hearing about J.D. being a "poser" and how this was an obvious sell-out - not worthy to the INXS standard - scared me off a little bit. But after giving Switch a couple of spins, I was very surprised as to how consistently good it was. There are no duds in the bunch.

Now don't get me wrong, it's certainly not on the same level as say, Kick or Listen Like Thieves. It's a little formulaic, but at least it's consistently good. It's definitely way better than the mid 90's clunkers Full Moon, Dirty Hearts and Elegantly Wasted. The guys seem hungry and happy to be making quality music and it permeates the vibe of the whole CD.

I agree with the other reviewers that J.D. does a commendable job and that they made the right choice in Rock Star. He doesn't have the range that Michael did, but he does a good voice, projecting sexness and confidence the same way Michael did. He's a decent songwriter as well, and look forward to more compostitons from J.D. on the next CD.

So I guess I was worried for nothing. I'd say it probably ranks as a mid-level INXS CD, on par with say Welcome to Wherever You Are or Shabooh Shoobah in terms of a consistently enjoyable listen with a few excellent tracks, but certainly not a career-defining masterpiece. But seeing as to how INXS was going before Michael died, this is a great return to form.

Oh, and as to the previous reviewer who couldn't think of bands besides Van Halen and AC/DC who cahnged lead singers and stayed successful, there were also Genesis (Peter Gabriel to Phil Collins) and Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green to Nicks, Buckingham, and company), both whom became even more successful with their new singers. I'd say INXS is on their way to joining this illustrious company.