INXS “KICK (30th Deluxe Edition)” is the best version of the album to date. If you want the best audio quality and an impressive “deluxe” treatment without the super high price tag, then this album is definitely worth purchasing! Recommended!
Purchase INXS (30th Deluxe Edition) from Amazon
BAND: INXS
ALBUM: KICK (30th Deluxe Edition)
FORMAT REVIEWING: DIGITAL MP3
RELEASE DATE: October 12, 2017
CD 1 – ORIGINAL ALBUM (REMASTERED IN 2017)
1. Guns In The Sky
2. New Sensation
3. Devil Inside
4. Need You Tonight
5. Mediate
6. The Loved One
7. Wild Life
8. Never Tear Us Apart
9. Mystify
10. Kick
11. Calling All Nations
12. Tiny Daggers
CD2 – DEMOS, REMIXES AND LIVE
1. Move On [Guitar Version]
2. I’m Coming (Home)
3. Mediate [Live From America]
4. Never Tear Us Apart [Live From America]
5. Kick [Live From America]
6. On The Rocks
7. Do Wot You Do
8. Mystify [Chicago Demo]
9. Jesus Was A Man [Demo]
10. The Trap [Demo]
11. Guns In The Sky [Kick Ass Remix]
12. Need You Tonight [Mendelsohn Extended Mix]
13. Move On
CD3 – MIXES
1. Never Tear Us Apart [Soul Version]
2. New Sensation [Nick 12” Mix]
3. New Sensation [Nick 7” Mix]
4. Devil Inside [Extended Remix]
5. Devil Inside [7” Version]
6. Devil Inside [Radio Edit]
7. Different World [12” Version]
8. Different World [7” Version]
9. Need You Tonight [Big Bump Mix]
10. Need You Tonight [Ben Liebrand Mix]
11. Need You Tonight [Mendelsohn 7″ Edit]
12. Guns in the Sky [Kookaburra Mix]
13. Calling All Nations [Kids On Bridges Remix]
14. Shine Like it Does [Live]
If there is one thing about my young life, if there is one music that dominated my late high school and early college years, it was music by INXS.
And if there was one album that I listened on cassette and worn out to the point I had to repurchase it again, it was the band’s sixth album “KICK”.
It was an album that I would listen to before hitting the beach to surf, it was the album I listened to constantly because every song on the album was brilliant. It was an album released the day before my birthday back in 1987.
“KICK” was INXS’ most successful studio album and was certified six time platinum by the RIAA and while it didn’t reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, it did reach No. 3. And it reached No. 1 in the band’s home country of Australia.
And while many people go by these music charts, I was biased to the KROQ 106.7 (a legendary radio station in the past known for its New Wave and Alternative Rock music) chartlist and I was stocked that “Need You Tonight” made it into the top 10 song of KROQ 106.7’s Top Songs of 1987, considering it was an awesome year for bands/groups such as The Cure, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, XTC, New Order and U2.
The band would repeat by making it to the top 10 again in KROQ 106.7’s Top Songs of 1988 with their song “Kick”.
Listening to the main tracks of the album brings back so much memories. “Guns in the Sky” before traveling to the beach to surf, “New Sensation” and “Tiny Daggers” while cruising with my friends, “Need You Tonight” and “Never Tear Us Apart” with my girlfriend. Driving to college singing “Mystify” in my car. Watching vocalist Michael Hutchence doing his Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues” tribute in the music video for “Mediate”, as he had the words on the sign (yes, I even purchased the INXS music video and live concert VHS at the time).
And here we are, 35 years later since the release of “KICK” with a “30th Deluxe Edition” which was released with a Blu-ray release. But I am reviewing the digital version only.
I have been a big fan of “SUPER DELUXE” and “DELUXE” releases of albums that I have enjoyed listening to many times and with INXS, we have a solid release.
For one thing, I have been disappointed with the “BEST” or “GREATEST” hits for digital releases because there are often songs omitted or songs that were removed in the digital releases but are found on the physical album releases.
While I would have loved to go for the “KICK (30th Deluxe Edition)” Blu-ray release, as a long time music reviewer, the mass accumulation of music has become a mountain in my home that I made a decision a few years ago to move towards digital music releases, for music purchases.
As mentioned, I owned “KICK” twice during my young surfer years and now I make a purchase of this album as a supporter of “SUPER DELUXE” and “DELUXE” releases and for “KICK”, you really can’t go wrong.
For one, it’s one of the cheaper DELUXE releases with over 35 tracks and the digital is sold for under $25 (US).
Before I review this album, I must preface that I am aware that a 25th Anniversary version of “Kick” was released which has less tracks and there are people on the fence on whether or not to spend more for this version, because they own the previous version.
The answer would be yes, because it received a brand new surround mix in Dolby Atmos courtesy of Giles Martin (yes, the audiophile known for his work on remasters from The Beatles). But then it goes back to you of how you listen to your music. Because really, you can get by with the standard “KICK” digital releases if it didn’t matter. But I assume you are reading this review because you really do care of listening to the best version of “KICK” as possible.
While I love the overall sound of the 2017 remasters of the original tracks (which I have tested on my Dolby Atmos and 7.1 setup, to numerous headphones), I am focusing on the additional content, for those who may be on the fence of whether or not to buy the 30th version.
So, one of the things that you will love about “DELUXE” or “SUPER DELUXE” releases is that you get tracks that were included in single releases and import single releases. And sometimes, you get versions which never have been released before and also live versions of the songs.
On the second disc, for example “Move On” is a fantastic song that was included on INXS’ “Need You Tonight” import 12″, but you get the normal version and the guitar version of the song which both are magnificent! As with “I’m Coming (Home)”, which was released on the “Need You Tonight” 45 record. “On the Rocks” was a B-side track for “Devil Inside”, “Do Wot You Do” was featured on the original soundtrack for the film “Pretty in Pink” (now, if they only added “Good Times” featuring INXS & Jimmy Barnes from the “The Lost Boys” movie soundtrack, that would have been awesome!). “Guns in the Sky (Kick Ass Remix)” which was included in the “New Sensation” single. As well as the Mendelsohn Extended Mix of “Need You Tonight”.
You get live from America versions of “Mediate”, “Never Tear Us Apart”, “Kick”, which were great but perhaps a little nitpicking here, but would have loved the live tracks to be separated and possibly kept on the final disc.
Demo versions of “Mystify”, “Jesus Was a Man”, “The Trap” and it’s surprising that these are demo’s, because you see differences with tracks such as “Jesus Was a Man” and “The Trap” in terms of how Hutchence delivers.
Disc 3 feature more 7″, 12″ mix versions and radio edits, remixes and a single live track ala “Shine Like It Does” (hence I wished the live tracks were moved to the final disc to keep things consistent). Now, it’s important to note that while I loved mix versions from the ’80s and ’90s during that time, but not much as today. Considering how mixes have evolved overtime, I gravitate more to the original versions these days and the mixes served its purpose that time of offering alternate versions of a song, with different styles of music and a lot of the ’80s and ’90s mix tricks of the day.
“Never Tear Us Apart (Soul Version)” is no doubt a version that people will like because it’s different with soul, saxophone vibe.
But I do feel the third disc rectified a problem which many people had with 2012’s “KICK 25” and the fact that certain mix/edit versions were not included. Fortunately, with the 30th release, Universal Music Group obviously heard the fans and added these on the third disc.
The release of INXS “KICK 30” is no doubt what people come to expect from a Deluxe or Super Deluxe release. Reviewing on the digital end of things, I’m just glad that this album was under $25 considering many Super Deluxe or Deluxe Editions range closer to $30 or more.
You get 39 tracks of awesome music featuring many versions of hit songs such as “New Sensation”, “Devil Inside”, “Need You Tonight” and more.
Now, should one upgrade from their old CD version to the 30th anniversary version? It’s all subjective, but for those who want the best audio offering of “KICK”, the 30th anniversary is a no-brainer. It’s released in Dolby Atmos and you have magnificent remasters.
Even for me, who has a disdain these days towards ’80s and ’90s remixes of songs (which I loved at the time, not much now), the additions of demo, live and alternate versions of songs I love is a major plus!
Overall, INXS “KICK (30th Deluxe Edition)” is the best version of the album to date. If you want the best audio quality and an impressive “deluxe” treatment without the super high price tag, then this album is definitely worth purchasing!
Recommended!
Purchase INXS (30th Deluxe Edition) from Amazon
