Australian TV Week 24th May, 1997
Written by: Molly Meldrum
I've been guilty of knocking INXS in the past, and I don't retract a thing. But I have to admit I was shocked to read a scathing story about INXS in a Sydney paper. The article suggested the band's latest album, Elegantly Wasted, was bombing all over the world.
As I said in this column when I first heard the album a few months ago, I think Elegantly Wasted is an excellent album, fresh and full of surprises. It's not an exercise in nostalgia.
Elegantly Wasted entered the U.S. charts at number 41 - the second-highest chart debut in the group's career. The album debuted in Australia at number 14. I know we have a tall poppy thing in this country, but we have to accept that there is a place for established talent.
The reviews for INXS' American tour have been glowing. A New York newspaper said they "walloped" the crowd. The review, which highlighted the new songs, started, "The white-boy funk that propelled INXS out of the Aussie Outback and into nearly every major arena on the globe is cranking at full charge again." It ended by saying, "This tour is going to be noted as one of the top concert engagements of '97." INXS will hopefully be here at the end of the year.