It's amazing how many established acts have come roaring back with strong, vital releases this year. Add INXS to the list which includes Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and yes, Neil Diamond.

I'm not comparing INXS to Neil Diamond other than to say that like Diamond, INXS delivers a CD that is instantly recognizable with the best of their past work. If you wonder where INXS was going with "Full Moon Dirty Hearts" or "Elegantly Wasted," the answer is: back home where they could create "Switch."

My suggestion for a worthy example of their homecoming would be the song "Perfect Strangers." Specifically, just wait until Kirk Pengilly signs in with his brilliant signature saxophone. It's an INXS song that could easily have been found on "Kick" "X" or "Welcome to Wherever You Are."

There's a healthy mix of ballads that are equally INXS-strong. "Remember Who's Your Man" could have well been sung by Michael Hutchence (and it would have been great). However it isn't sung by Michael: and in my opinion, it's equally great. Newcomer JD Fortune nails it.

Yes he won his job on a reality TV show. I'm fascinated by people that discredit this process, when at the end of the day, what it amounted to for INXS was ultimately the longest audition process in rock and roll history. (Anyone who knows of a band that spent more time with as many singers please correct me.)

JD sounds here like the JD of the television show- his range is impressive, his attitude is sexual and arrogant and everything right about INXS and what Michael Hutchence exuded on songs like "Devil Inside" and "Need You Tonight." If you watched the show, you'll likely agree that INXS made the right choice and Mr. Fortune is "Roit For Our Band: INXS."

"Switch" is also roit for OB: INXS. Welcome home boys.

WOW the new front man is really close to what the band use to sound like. I am impressed. Thier first release sounds just like the band when it was in thier prime. Here is to a comeback! There are a couple of songs on the album that take the band away from thier big hit days, but who cares. At least they are still trying to slip in a little innovation. THis is a great album if you love the sound of the 80's INXS. THEY'RE BACK!

I've been a fan of INXS since their breakthrough hit "What You Need" back in 1986, becoming my favorite rock band almost immediately afterward. Their lyrics, their hooks, their considerable skill and charisma....the whole package. The death of Hutch was a devastating loss, keeping me away from INXS music for a time (too painful to listen to it). Eventually, I came back to the band through "Shine Like It Does" (the greatest hits CDs) and the wonderful DVD collection of their music videos (recommended!), so you can imagine how intrigued I was by the "Rockstar: INXS" series last summer.

As I got into watching the show, it was great seeing "The Boys" again, having always perceived INXS as so much more than just Michael Hutchence. Having these talented creators "silenced" for seven or eight years added to the tragedy of Hutch's death. As "Rockstar" progressed, I was really pulling for Marty Casey and (as the producers probably intended) saw J.D. Fortune as an irritation (the pre-requisite "villain" for all reality TV shows). For the first half of the series, J.D. came off as a joke with no hope of winning the prize....but he came on much stronger the final weeks of the competition. So strong, in fact, I was pretty conflicted about sticking to the "J.D.'s a jerk" sentiment. Right up to the finale, I was hoping Marty would pull it off, while at the same time realizing that J.D. really DID have the chops to do INXS-style music.

And so it was. J.D. won, and here I am listening to the first new INXS CD in over eight years. I've gotta say it was quite a moving experience hearing the style of music I'd loved so much working in new, contemporary directions....with a new lead singer who absolutely deserves to be there.

Really.

J.D. Fortune is fantastic. True, he echoes some of Hutch's characteristics, but at the same time it never feels like a hollow imitation or cynical rip-off. It's simply the kind of delivery INXS music demands, a delivery that I sense fits Fortune like a glove without sounding forced or fighting against his natural gifts. Welcome to INXS, J.D. You bugged me at first, but you're the best guy for the job, plain and simple. I can't wait to see you and the guys in concert early in 2006!

Tracks:

1. Devil's Party: Smooth, laid-back "cool" INXS has always been known for. Probably not the track I'd have started the CD with, but it's still got a nice driving beat.

2. Pretty Vegas: What can I say? It was the song that told me this whole "J.D. Fortune" thing would probably work out afterall. His performance of the song on "Rockstar" pretty much cemented my growing feeling he'd be the winner, meshing perfectly with the INXS sound. And hey....the megaphone.

3. Afterglow: My straight-up favorite song on this CD. Incredibly moving, powerful stuff. It works well on so many different levels, I find myself listening to it more than any other track on "Switch". J.D. really stepped it up a notch for this one, though I'm sure he learned this new bag of tricks under the guidance of the rest of INXS.

4. Hot Girls: Quirky and mischievous. The lyrics didn't do much for me, but the unusual music kept my interest.

5. Perfect Strangers: Probably the weakest track of "Switch". Some interesting riffs here and there, but the "storyline" of the song just came off as kinda sleazy (not INXS cool) and meandering.

6. Remember Who's Your Man: A beautiful, enchanting groove and an amazingly soulful perforance by J.D. makes this the perfect song to unwind to. It needs four or five listens just to appreciate all of the warm subtleties of the song.

7. Hungry: An urgent, driving song that starts out smoldering, then erupts into a sustained emotional blast of regret and realization.

8. Never Let You Go: A mellow reggae-flavored groove with some clever (autobiographical?) lyrics

9. Like It Or Not: A wonderful "fake-out" beginning, with a pensive drum-keyboard conversation blasting into a fast-driving hook, complete with a cool backup "humming chorus" from the rest of the guys. More "INXS cool" with a 21st century spin.

10. US: I've never been one for "We Are the World" type songs, and this one's no exception. A little too earnest and 'Hallmarky" for my tastes, despite a valiant musical effort. Perhaps it will grow on me, but at this point "US" is a miss for me.

11. God's Top Ten: Hey! Suzie! Great to hear your beautiful voice again! A great opening to a beautiful, brooding tribute to (I assume) Michael Hutchence, and the perfect way to end the first "Post-Hutch" INXS release. A respectful good-bye to an old friend and brother. Perfect.

Overall, despite a couple of "clinker" songs, I've gotta rate "Switch" a full five stars. Considering everything that was on the line with the whole "Rockstar" angle (a tremendous career risk I don't think many people fully appreciate), "Switch" is the home-run INXS deserves after their long climb up from Hutch's death. I can't think of a more talented and classy group of entertainers than INXS, and I welcome J.D. Fortune as their new front man.

I never was a fan of INXS in the 1980's because I found their sound to much of pop and too less rock. This album is the flip side and with J.D. Fortune at the driver's seat, this is a fantastic sound. Rock is back on the radio. Here are the reviews judged on structure and content of each song, because I don't know too much about the band so I can't compare this CD to previous ones. All I can offer is an honest review to a casual or first time fan:

Devil's Party (3:26) - Fantastic opener. High energy from the whole band. Extremely catchy and reminds me how rock music should sound. Addicted to the sound as of writing this as I keep hitting the repeat button.

Pretty Vegas (3:25) - Easily the favorite of anyone picking up this CD. Sounds close to Devil's Party, but different in enough to make it an equal stand-out.

Afterglow (4:09) - Hit me blindside as a slower song after two huge energetic songs at first. Opening reminds me of U2's "With Or Without You." This track gets high praise for not allowing the listener to fall asleep through the slow music, but to just "drift away." Excellent Song.

(By Now, I Say To Myself, "Keep These Awesome Songs Coming...")

Hot Girls (3:33) - Judging by the title, I expected this song to be fun. I was happy to see that is was just that and never sappy or sugar-coated. To me, this was the lowest point at first listen (which is not bad at all because the lowest song on the CD is probably a 9.5/10) but it is one to grow on you. Two or three spins will have this song stuck in your head and you will be singing along.

Perfect Strangers (4:12) - By this song, I am in love with the smoothness and slight edge to JD Fortune's vocals. This is another upbeat song. Good, biting lyrics and I could have swore I heard a saxaphone someone in there. Good chorus in this one as it keeps my attention and I have yet to hit the Skip button. Good job so far guys, let's hope the other half of the CD is just as good as the first half.

Remember, Who's Your Man (3:28) - Very good song that shows off how versatile the singer's voice is. The soft drum beats keep a very good tempto. The lyrics could have easily been really pop-ish and cheesy, but were not and I found myself listening to this song over and over.

Hungry (4:47) - Pretty neutral on this song. It starts off with some good lyrics but not a whole lot of singing. Then it kicks in to a fantastic beat and extremely catchy lyrics. Then it goes into a soft sound again. Then back into the whole cycle. I would have liked it stayed upbeat and rocking, but when it did, it was a great song. People are either going to love this song or hate it. (Unless they fall in between like me)

Never Let You Go (4:19) - Sounded trpoical and like reggae at first and that is a plus. Probably one of my favorite songs on the CD. It isn't fast or slow, but a little of both. Fortune's vocals are so smooth on this song and glide easily from line to line without any sour or flat notes. I really like this song.

Like It Or Not (3:44) - Starts off sounding like the first two tracks. Biting lyrics and nice guitar working in the background with the drumming holding it together. It seems to have some ties with Never Let You Go as both songs seem to have the same feel and influence in sound. Since I liked the previous song, I had no trouble or complaints with this dynamite song.

US (4:07) - Heard this song on their Rock Star: INXS show. Didn't really care for it then, but it was a little better this time around. The lyrics are a little boring familar with the whole love and peace concept, but not damaging enough to earn this song anything lower then an B+.

God's Top Ten (4:54) - I thought this song was going to be something pretty strange and I was kinda right. A female began to sing at first, and I don't know who she was but she sounded like the one girl from the Rock Star: INXS show. I could be wrong, but it didn't really matter becuase her voice was clear and sweet sounding. A slow song, perfect fitting for a closing song.

- In conclusion, I really like this CD as it touchs on many different forms of music all conviently packaged in one album. I hope I have been of some help, because it is so refreshing to see some good old rock and roll and ballads on the radio again after the infection of bubblegum teen music and hip-hop in recent years. Good Stuff All Around ---> A-

You don't like this album, at least you're not supposed to. Every bone in your body tells you this album, on general principle should sound only moderately more pleasing than fingernails on a blackboard.

Michael Hutchence is irreplaceable. It goes without saying, and that very fact is reason number one why this album should be ignored, cast aside, and generally avoided. But for several weeks this summer, thousands of Americans watched Rockstar:INXS like Gapers at the scene of a grisly auto accident in morbid fascination as Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke hosted INXS pompous and generally overblown search for their new front man.

As the field narrowed we found ourselves left with Marty Casey and J.D. Fortune, two very different singers with very different styles, both quite talented vying for the impossible and unenviable job of filling Michael Hutchence's shoes. We watched knowing that the 2 choices would take INXS in two very different directions. J.D. was a Hutchence clone, a budget-Michael if you will. Marty Casey, the bolder of the two choices would have taken the band in a new direction, it would have shown the world that the band wasn't going to replace Michael so much as honor him and strike out in a different direction and take some chances.

In the end, they played it safe... and that choice is reason number two why this album should have gone straight to the cut-out bin, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, go directly to that purgatory of all music stores-branded with that ever so undesirable "Nice Price" sticker.

But much like the show, which was supposed to have been a ratings train wreck, being shuffled into ratings purgatory of Saturday night and quickly forgotten, this album is a surprise. The unexpected and unprecedented success of the show is the very reason INXS is selling out their 2006 World Tour and the very reason why this album is actually selling well.

In going commercial-INXS exposed themselves to a whole new audience, they did the ultimate PR move in giving the fans a say in their new lead singer, and it surprisingly paid off in spades.

Michael Hutchence will spin in his grave, die-hard INXS fans will throw tomatoes at me, they'll accuse me of blasphemy, and condemn me to the stocks-so I'll only say this once. This is the BEST INXS album since their smash hit, "Kick". That's right, as much as I want to hate this album, I find myself falling in love with it.

Despite all of the reasons not to like this album, if you listen with an open mind rather than with pre-conceived notions and the long list of reasons you're not supposed to like it-if you actually give it a chance, you might find yourself reacting the same way I did-pleasantly surprised that it IS actually that damn good!