Listen Like Thieves

by

INXS

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"Kick" sold more copies, but "Listen Like Thieves" is the Aussie group's most consistent and enjoyable album. This disc is loaded with all the things I like in pop music: hooks galore, catchy choruses, and top-notch instrumentation. THERE ARE NO BAD SONGS ON THIS ALBUM. The disc starts moving in the right direction with the funky "What You Need," moving to the loud and fun title track, the groovy bite of "Shine Like it Does," and the solid first single "This Time." Other favorites are "Same Direction" (lifted from the 1980s Mitch Gaylord campfest "American Anthem") and "One X One." Vocalist Michael Hutchence yells, screams, and growls through each of these tunes with feeling and verve. INXS never got enough credit in their multiplatinum days, but they were a solid pop act that suffered some catty blows from petty critics. Pay them no mind. Crank this one up, and let the grooves take you back to the glory days. Party like it's 1985.

After groundbreaking albums, Shabooh Shoobah and The Swing, Listen Like Thieves seems to stagnate. To me this album does not leap forward like the previous ones and although it contains hits like What You Need, Listen Like Thieves and This Time it does not grab me and make me listen. Oddly the album does contain two outstanding tracks in Kiss The Dirt and Shine Like It Does which lift it above mediocre. One X One and Same Direction are among INXS' better rock songs. All up the band seems to have a pleasant snooze with this one between the fantastic "The Swing" and the record breaking "Kick" which is to appear two years later. A good steady album but a little below their best efforts.