X

After the massive breakthrough success of Kick, INXS decided to stick close to that sound and to make sure their songs were ready for radio, dance floors, and arenas on their seventh studio album, 1990’s X. (It was named for the 10 years that had passed since their debut album was released in 1980.) For the third consecutive INXS album, producer Chris Thomas (Sex Pistols, Pretenders) worked behind the board while Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss primarily tended to the songwriting. The album features four hit singles: "Suicide Blonde” (with its sample of harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite), “Disappear” (written by Hutchence and Jon Farriss), “Bitter Tears,” and “By My Side” (with Chris Thomas sharing a songwriting credit). The album has a hypercharged excitement to it. The band knew what worked, and by playing to these strengths they could give the fans exactly what they wanted. X is often considered “Son of Kick.”