INXS - Kick (Atlantic 75)
INXS has never been a go-to band for me. They’re poppy as hell, know their way around a hook, and this is probably their commercial peak.
That said, despite Chris Thomas at the board, and Bob Clearmountain mixing, this feels…too programmed. You just don’t feel people playing those hooks, and Hutchence always feels like he’s imitating Mick Jagger.
Do we need a 45RPM audiophile pressing of that?
@dnanian "Listen Like Thieves" all day. I like Kick too. But I'll always turn to Listen Like Thieves first. 🦘 🔊
Never got a chance to see them live. Could've seen them on that odd bill with Guns N Roses at Texas Stadium. But Texas Stadium was where acoustics went to die.
Guilty pleasure was that INXS Rock Star reality. It was such a train wreck. Reality TV is the Texas Stadium of TV.
@pabloniusmonk Both are fine. I even like the debut. But it’s just kinda hollow.
I mean, dance music is fine, but even then you need a little more something. The funk they’re chasing…I mean, compare to, say, The Time, or even Parliament / Funkadelic.
The Time is all Prince, sure, but it doesn’t *sound* like it’s all metronomically programmed. The grooves just don’t feel human…there’s no real sense of musicians doing their thing, and no…swing.
@dnanian No "Swing" - I see what your did there, Dave 😁.
I thought they were pretty funky. But what does a guy from the 'burbs know about funk anyway? 🎷
I've never heard funkier Aussies FWIW.
@pabloniusmonk OK, here is Prince's Housequake, which is a nonsense dance song, and a tribute to James Brown, and entirely funky. Studio version (which is basically just Prince):
Live version:
Both versions have what INXS - Kick's "funk" does not.
I'm sure @octothorpe has even better examples.
@vandal @agiletortoise Guys, we’re losing the plot about what's wrong with the album. ;-)
But, I suppose we could say "the inauthenticity of the BS skater on the cover perfectly conveys the sterile pseudo-funk within”.
Dave Nanian
Pablonius Monk 🇺🇦
Luc Vandal
Greg Pierce
Chancerubbage
Matt Godden