X

The title "X" represents the roman numeral "10" for the 10th anniversary of INXS' first album.
INXS: Michael Hutchence (vocals); Kirk Pengilly (guitar, saxophone, background vocals); Andrew Farriss (guitar, keyboards); Tim Farriss (guitar); John Farriss (keyboards, drums); Garry Gary Beers (bass).
Additional personnel: Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica).
Recorded at Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney, Australia. Originally released on Atlantic (82140). Includes liner notes by Chris Thomas.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Following up an album as huge-selling and pop-culturally omnipresent as INXS's 1987 breakthrough KICK was a daunting proposition. But, possibly because most of KICK's best moments were killed by overexposure, X stands the test of time better than its predecessor.
Opening with the hypnotic, twitchy "Suicide Blonde," one of the band's finest singles, X careens through 11 unpretentious Stones-meet-techno dance-rock tracks, including the fine rocker "Disappear" and the impressive, emotional ballad "Bitter Tears." While INXS should be applauded simply for not making KICK PART II, X is a great album in its own right.