INXS

A staunch Michael Hutchence fan, I must confess I was not entirely looking forward to hearing what JD Fortune had to offer, despite the rave reviews I had been hearing of his efforts to resurrect the frontman role for INXS, resulting in their first studio album in nine years.

However, tragedies happen and life goes on, or so they say. So rather than hang up their instruments, INXS decided to do what any credible rock band would do, and exploit this requirement via a reality TV show to find themselves a singer.

Enter JD Fortune (great name, my doubts over whether it is real or not). And I have to say, either that man has an uncanny natural vocal resemblance to Hutchence or he has spent his life trying to develop one. Either way, it works.

He has the same sensual, husky voice and an almost-as-good range, with his voice catching in all the right places.

The songs are fine, delivering as solid an album of classic rock tracks as one would hope for from INXS. However, the fact that some tracks sound almost a bit too Kick or X-y makes me wonder if this band might be a bit dated compared to today’s new acts. There is a combination of nice bluesy guitar anthems, some excellent sax work by Kirk Pengilly and the key changes have been installed at the predictable points to good effect.

The first single, ballad 'Afterglow’ is a mild disappointment. After nine years of waiting I would expect something a bit stronger from the guys, but I can’t help but think that this album is almost an 'INXS by numbers’ with all the efforts being made over the last nine years to a) accept and mourn the loss of one of rock’s greatest front men, and undoubtedly one of their best friends and b) turn that loss into a potential (monetary) gain by tapping into the reality TV market. Well, who hasn’t?? (Sorry, am I sounding cynical?)

Most of the songs sound like album fillers rather than singles, there is a nice melting pot of influences, from the catchy openers 'Devil’s Party’ and 'Pretty Vegas’ to the anthemic 'Hungry’, via 'Remember Who’s Your Man’, which would be totally IN place on a Lenny Kravitz album. They instil a few ska beats on 'Like it or Not and bring in the female vocal of Suzie McNeil, who also auditioned for the role landed by JD on 'Us’.

This album, produced by Guy Chambers, has not a sniff of Robbie Williams (thankfully), and will be a great prelude to anyone going to see them live. Hutchence might be gone, but INXS will now live on well into their next phase. I doubt very much they will ever re-create their original success, but those who miss the bands and the quality rock they put out will welcome the comeback.