Artist Playthrough #1 2025 - INXS

It has been a long time coming, but I finally got an Artist Playthrough collection together for 2025.  This week's artist is the Australian band, INXS.  I loved this band in high school and college.  The pop style was catchy and lead singer and front man, Michael Hutchence, demanded attention.  Sadly, Hutchence passed in November, 1997, but he left a legacy of excellence with a band willing to take some risks.  

Here are the albums along with my pick for top song for each:  

Kick 1987 - This album is filled with hits from Need You Tonight, New Sensation, and Devil Inside. 
However, my top song for Kick is Mystify.  The song starts off with a cool opening before kicking in to a classic pop sound.  

X  1990 - The album opens with a killer song that rides with you all day long, Suicide Blonde.  There are a few songs on this album with a driving beat that just doesn't quite kick like Suicide Blonde.  It is hard not to choose that opening song as my favorite, but after a couple reviews of this album, Bitter Tears stands out to me as the top song of this album.  The deciding factor is the passionate performance of Hutchence in the chorus.  

Welcome to Wherever You Are 1992 - The album opens to a new sound with the song Questions.  Don't be fooled, INXS pumps out a jam with Heaven Sent and the album is back on track.  My top song for Welcome to Wherever You Are is a quiet tune that will draw you in, Beautiful Girl.  

Full Moon, Dirty Hearts 1993 - A little harder, a little punk, a little blues, but still INXS.  There is a change to the INXS sound with this album, but they bring a couple features with Chrissie Hynde and Ray Charles as guest artists to a couple songs.  This album is a step to one side or the other, but it totally works for me.  My top song of this album is The Messenger.  It is a throwback to some older INXS, super catchy with a good guitar sound and commanding lead vocals.  

Eligantly Wasted 1997 - This album is quite pedestrian.  It feels like they lost their INXS sound and assimilated with the sound of the late 90's without any band identity.  There aren't any songs on this album that are a standout for me.  Clearly the magic of the late 80s are gone for the band.  

Album Playthrough Project July

It was a great month of music listening in July!  Not only did I listen to a whole bunch of albums, but I am really excited about the variety of music I was able to consume.  July was a good example of what I envisioned when I started this project because I wanted to experience a variety of artists' albums in their entirety.  Here are the albums I was able to listen to in July: 

Little Shop of Horrors (2003) Cast Album 7/1/24
Night On the Town (1990) Bruce Hornsby and the Range 7/2/24
Night Moves (1976) Bob Seger 7/3/24
The New Abnormal (2020) The Strokes 7/3/24
The Captain and Me (1973) The Doobie Brothers 7/12/24
Greatest Hits (1998) DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince 7/14/24
City Music (2017) Chris Morby 7/14/24
Older (2024) Lizzy McAlpine 7/16/24
Crowded House (1986) Crowded House 7/16/24
American Idiot (2006) Green Day 7/16/24
Go Slow Down (1993) The DoBeans 7/19/24
Dizzy Up the Girl (1998) Goo Goo Dolls 7/20/24
Quadrophenia (1973) The Who 7/20/24
Are You Experienced (1967) The Jimi Hendrix Experience 7/21/24
Dierks Bentley (2003) Dierks Bentley 7/21/24
Imploding the Mirage (2020) The Killers 7/21/24
Whatever and Ever Amen (1997) BenFolds Five 7/21/24
The Stranger (1977) Billy Joel 7/21/24
Music from Big Pink (1968) The Band 7/21/24
Some EP (2024) Deadmau5 7/22/24
90125 (1983) Yes 7/22/24
Top Gun Soundtrack (1989) Various artists 7/23/24
Invisible Touch (1986) Genesis 7/24/24
Storm Front (1989) Billy Joel 7/24/24
A Matter of Trust the Bridge to Russia Live in Moscow (2014) Billy Joel 2014 7/24/24
Good Thing (2018) Leon Bridges 8/24/24
Les Miserables (1987) original Broadway Cast 7/25/24
The Best Worst-Case Scenario (2006) Fair 7/26/24
Hamilton Mixtape (2016) Various Artists 7/27/24
Morrison Hotel (1970) The Doors 7/29/24
The World's Most Dangerous Party (2010) Paul Shaffer 7/29/24

Best Memories: Are You Experienced, Jimi Hendrix -

I did a deep dive into discovering Jimi when I was in college. This brought back stories and thoughts of friends I hadn't thought about in a very long time.

Biggest Surprise: City Music, Chris Morby -

Big, honest music in this album. Morby is quickly becoming a favorite artist.

Biggest Disappointment: The World's Most Dangerous Party, Paul Shaffer

Um...I have no idea what to say. This wasn't the Paul that I knew as musical host of David Letterman.

Perfect Moment to Listen: Good Thing, Leon Bridges

Any time you put this album on, it will be the perfect time. Super chill and funky

Most Fun: Greatest Hits, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince -

What can I say, it was a blast!

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

March

April  

May

June

Album Playthrough Project: June 2024

I am a little embarrassed with my list of albums listened to in June.  It seemed like it would be a great month for me to sit down and listen, but it seems my life picked up in the summer.  Anyway, here are the albums in which I intentionally listened.  

Shake Your Money Maker (1990) Black Crowes 6/2/24
INXS Kick (1987) INXS 6/10/24
Night Service: Live at LunAtico (2024) Jon Lampley 6/29/24
Beginnings (2017) Bruce Harris 6/29/24
True Design (2020) Giveton Gelin 6/29/24

Best Memories: Kick, INXS-

80's cool

Biggest Surprise: Night Service: Live at LunAtico, Jon Lampley -

Cool Jazz right off the stage of Late Night with Stephen Colbert!

Biggest Disappointment: I didn't choose Shake Your Money Maker as best memories -

Great album, great band, but it didn't have as much of an overall impact today as INXS. Might be different tomorrow.

Listened to Over and Over: Night Service: Live at LunAtico, Jon Lampley -

It might be the album that sabotaged my listening in June! I'm listening right now.

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

March

April  

May