INXS Albums Ranked | Countdown from 10 to 1
What better way to take a look at the incredible music made by this Australian band than to rank all ten of INXS’s studio albums from 10 to 1? During the 17 years between the release of their first studio album and Michael Hutchence’s untimely passing in late 1997, the band made 10 studio albums. As well as releasing Live Baby Live from their iconic Wembley concert, and a greatest hits compilation.
So which INXS album is the best? In terms of record sales, Kick is the clear winner. But of course this list of INXS albums ranked is my personal perspective. Without giving too much away just yet, Kick isn’t my number one choice. That honour belongs to… well, you’ll have to read the following list to find out, of course.
Spoiler alert – I don’t really have a preference for the earlier or later era. So expect this countdown to jump back and forth a little, between the 1980s and 1990s.
While I’m not disputing that INXS made some good music after Hutchence left us, their post-1997 albums aren’t included here. Chronologically, the list begins with their first, self-titled album, INXS, from 1980, and ends with Elegantly Wasted from 1997.
This list is intended to provoke debate. So please do let me know in the comments, or on social media, whether or not you agree. As well as how you would rank all the INXS albums of 1980 to 1997.
Here are all the INXS albums in my order of preference. I’ve also included my favourite single and non-single track from each release.
INXS albums 1980 to 1997 ranked | My countdown from 10 to 1
10. Full Moon, Dirty Hearts [1993]
Best single: The Gift
Best non-single track: Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
It’s a gorgeous cover featuring the most photogenic band ever, but something has to come tenth in this list. And in this case it’s Full Moon, Dirty Hearts. This was their ninth studio album, and my least favourite.
Guest appearances by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders and Ray Charles aren’t enough to make me like the music on this album more than I do. Sorry boys. The Gift is my top track here, but to be honest I think even that would have been better if it was three minutes long rather than four, as it gets a little repetitive.
Click here to view Full Moon Dirty Hearts at Amazon
9. Underneath The Colours [1981]
Best single: Stay Young
Best non-single track: Horizons
I prefer INXS’s first outing to their second. Stay Young is the best of the bunch for me on this one, but it’s not an album I listen to a lot. Unlike the next eight on this list.
Maybe the band should have had more time to turn out their second album. INXS was released in 1980, so this one appearing on record shop shelves the following year meant a quick turnaround.
Click here to view Underneath The Colours at Amazon
8. INXS [1980]
Best single: Just Keep Walking
Best non-single track: Doctor
Of all INXS albums, this is the most ska in style. It’s more new wave than rock, and more synth pop that their later recordings. I find Doctor a very catchy tune indeed, and the sound reminds me of The Specials and Madness.
The cover of this one really appeals to me too, bringing to mind Sydney’s beautiful beaches and the nearby pubs where INXS played many of their first gigs. Such as Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel, my hangout during my year down under during 1996 to 1997.
Click here to view INXS: INXS on eBay
7. Shabooh Shoobah [1982]
Best single: Don’t Change
Best non-single track: Old World New World
I recently acquired the live version of this album, and now I love it even more. In some ways this feels the most political of INXS’s LPs, with tracks like Jan’s Song making something of a statement. It’s also an arty recording, and I’m not only talking about the cover.
Shabooh Shoobah was INXS’s third album, and they’re really getting into their stride here. Mr Hutchence was quite the salesperson back then, too!
Click here to view Shabooh Shoobah at Amazon
6. Listen Like Thieves [1985]
Best single: What You Need
Best non-single track: Shine Like it Does
For me, Listen Like Thieves is the most Australian of all the INXS albums. There are some serious tracks on this one, not all of which were singles. Such as Shine Like It Does, One X One and Same Direction.
What You Need is my favourite track – not least due to the tongue-in-cheek Wembley performance of the song – but it’s a close-run thing between that and the title track. I love the ‘hot traffic, red tail lights’ lyric in particular.
Click here to view Listen Like Thieves at Amazon
5. Elegantly Wasted [1997]
Best single: Elegantly Wasted
Best non-single track: Show Me (Cherry Baby)
What a shame that this was the band’s last outing with Hutchence at the helm. Before its release, the sextet had high hopes of making a big comeback with this one. And for me, the first two tracks in particular are set to impress.
I’m Just A Man is also a highlight, despite not being a single. I still find it hard to watch Hutchence singing Searching, though – he looks so desperately sad and lost.
Click here to view Elegantly Wasted at Amazon
4. Welcome To Wherever You Are [1992]
Best single: Beautiful Girl
Best non-single track: Communication
The follow-up to X marked a change in direction for INXS, to me. Hutchence took more of a back seat when this one was written – too busy with Helena Christensen, perhaps? Anyway, musically the LP doesn’t suffer for it, though in general the lyrics are less poetic due to Hutchence’s lower level of input.
I love lots of tracks from this, mainly the singles Heaven Sent, Baby Don’t Cry, Taste It, Not Enough Time and Beautiful Girl that came from it.
Click here to view Welcome To Wherever You Are at Amazon
3. The Swing [1984]
Best single: Burn For You
Best non-single track: Johnson’s Aeroplane
I love The Swing. It’s so 80s and so new wave, for starters. Just look at the cover and check out those mullets!
Burn For You and Original Sin are two of INXS’s best singles ever. As for the non-single tracks, I adore Johnson’s Aeroplane. Hutchence’s past girlfriend Ananda Braxton-Smith also gets a songwriting credit on Love Is (What I Say) – another hot track.
Click here to view The Swing at Amazon
2. Kick [1987]
Best single: Mystify
Best non-single track: Guns In The Sky
Guns In The Sky opened INXS’s set list at Wembley in 1991, and what a way to start the biggest show of their career. Though I love Kick – and it was the band’s most commercially successful album – I have a confession to make here. I rarely listen to it. Welll, relatively rarely…
Why? Because I prefer Live Baby Live, where there are more raw versions of many of the tracks. In fact only the last two songs – Calling All Nations and Tiny Daggers – were missing from the big London gig.
Click here to view Kick at Amazon
1. X [1990]
Best single: By My Side
Best non-single track: Lately
X followed hot on the heels of Kick. So it was a tough act to follow, and in fact the band’s seventh studio album didn’t manage to replicate its predecessor’s success. No matter in my eyes – X, from 1990 is my favourite of all the band’s albums. I love all five singles – Suicide Blonde, Disappear, Bitter Tears, By My Side and The Stairs – and the other six tracks too.
Chicago Blues musician Charlie Musselwhite playing harmonica on Who Pays The Price and On My Way is a highlight. Kirk’s sax solo for Lately as performed live at Wembley is also nothing short of phenomenal. Disappear, meanwhile, proved that Andrew and Michael weren’t the only Farriss – Hutchence songwriting dream team: this track was penned by drummer Jon along with lyricist and frontman Hutchence.
Click here to view X at Amazon
How would you rank these INXS albums?
Though INXS Kick makes it to the top of the list when it comes to album sales, that doesn’t mean it has to be your favourite. Or mine. What’s your number one INXS album? Whether it’s INXS Listen Like Thieves, The Swing, Shabooh Shoobah or something later from the 90s, it’s well worth delving deeper than an INXS Greatest Hits album when it comes to this band!
For more on the best band ever to grace the stage, check out my posts on Kick songs ranked, INXS Discography, post on INXS albums covers ranked, top 10 INXS tracks, X tracks ranked 11 to 1, and the full lowdown on Live Baby Live.
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