The Charge

Don't change for you.
Don't change a thing for me.

Opening Statement

As I write this, INXS is preparing a new reality TV show in which they search for a new lead singer. Ever since the shocking 1997 suicide of their original lead singer, the brilliant and charismatic Michael Hutchence, INXS has performed with a series of different vocalists. Now, at the same time that they prepare for a new era in the life of the band, the release of this ample two-disc video retrospective allows us to revisit the greatness of the two-decade Hutchence era. Featuring some of their most famously innovative music videos as well as previously unreleased live footage, I'm Only Looking: The Best of INXS, Part One proves that INXS didn't peak in the '80s like so many of its contemporaries but just kept (and, I hope, keeps) moving from strength to strength.

Facts of the Case

Disc One contains music videos for 25 songs, each of which is introduced by a band member:

• "Just Keep Walking"—This low-budget performance video gives no clue as to how innovative and beautifully crafted INXS's videos would become.
• "The One Thing"—This MTV hit propelled INXS into American homes with a swanky look and some of the most erotic consumption of food since Tom Jones.
• "Don't Change"—Boisterous and fun, this is a casual yet high-energy performance video for an early song that would become an enduring classic.
• "Original Sin"—A quantum leap forward in style, "Original Sin" features night filming in Tokyo with a biker gang. "The mullets are just fantastic," says Jon Farriss.
• "This Time"—This stylish concert piece is distinctive for its use of the then-new Varilite computer lighting system.
• "What You Need"—The groundbreaking use of animation, hand-painting, and other visual manipulations made this video a hit and brought acclaim to director (and frequent future collaborator) Richard Lowenstein.
• "Kiss the Dirt"—Director Alex Proyas (Dark City) focuses on the desolate beauty of the Australian outback.
• "Listen Like Thieves"—Hmm, have the boys been watching The Road Warrior? A post-apocalyptic dance party featuring fairies with flamethrowers, this definitely stands out from the crowd.
• "Need You Tonight"—A multiple award winner, this "quintessential Richard Lowenstein" video (as Jon Farriss calls it) brings the cover of the Kick album to life with a collagelike layering of images.
• "Mediate"—This coda to the previous track was filmed in an industrial setting as a nod to Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
• "Devil Inside"—Film director Joel Schumacher helms this one, a series of emotionally charged encounters at a crowded, smoke-filled biker bar.
• "Never Tear Us Apart"—Approaching the quality of a feature film in its romantic use of Prague locations, including a picturesque cemetery, this one is among the most beautiful of INXS videos.
• "New Sensation"—An outdoor night shoot on a balcony in Prague is enhanced with film manipulation for extra coolness.
• "Mystify"—Off-the-cuff black-and-white rehearsal footage makes this one a low-key pleasure.
• "Suicide Blonde"—An endless succession of faces and figures swooping toward the viewer creates a sense of high energy and nonstop motion.
• "Disappear"—Elegant black-and-white photography and glimpses of a Venetian masked ball make this one classy.
• "Bitter Tears"—In this performance-based video, black-and-white photography is sparked with colored animated touches and different forms of film manipulation to give an edgy feel.
• "By My Side"—Showing yet another side of black-and-white photography, this video uses dramatically low lighting and luminous, glowing effects for a haunting look.
• "Shining Star"—This David Mallet–directed piece takes a different approach by adding lots of visual gags and humorous stunts; it shows a series of sleazy mashers getting their comeuppance at the hands of the ladies they ogle.
• "Not Enough Time"—Described by the INXS website as the band's most ambitious video, this is a lush layering of images (of timepieces, fire, water, and what looks a lot like Victoria's Secret commercials) set to one of their sexiest songs.
• "Taste It"—This steamy, somewhat oddball take on voyeurism was originally banned by MTV.
• "Baby Don't Cry"—Stylish, dramatic use of high contrast against a stark white background complements the energy and euphoria of this song.
• "Beautiful Girl"—A tender ballad from father to daughter becomes a public service announcement for eating disorders.
• "The Gift"—Boom, baby! A literally explosive barrage of flame and motion, this will get your heart pumping and leave you breathless. This is what rock videos are all about.
• "Elegantly Wasted"—Whoever would have thought that people eyeing each other in an airport would hold so much sexual tension?

Disc Two features a varied array of goodies:

• Live versions of "Simple Simon," "Original Sin," "Listen Like Thieves," "Kick," "New Sensation," "Need You Tonight," "Mediate," "Searching," "Elegantly Wasted," and "Don't Change" (a montage of various performances), each with an introduction by either the three Farriss brothers or Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers
• Remixes of "Suicide Blonde," "The Stairs," "Bitter Tears," and "Disappear," featuring footage from original videos combined with performance clips
• "Behind the Scenes": A 20-minute documentary on the videos featuring former manager Chris Murphy and directors Richard Lowenstein and Troy Davies, as well as clips from the early "Burn for You" video
• "Welcome to Wherever You Are": An 18-minute look at a 1990 INXS charity concert at Sydney Centennial Park, featuring both concert performances ("Heaven Sent," "Taste It") and behind-the-scenes footage
• Pictures from a Full Moon: Four videos created for INXS's first video album, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts: "Time," "Make Your Peace," "I'm Only Looking," and "Please (You Got That)" (with Ray Charles)
• Rare and Unreleased: "The One Thing" (live), "The Strangest Party," "Everything," "Searching," and "Don't Lose Your Head"
• Gallery: An animated slide show of photos selected by the band that represent their changing looks over the years, accompanied by the orchestral track for "Baby Don't Cry"
• INXS Online: Preview of the INXS website and internet features accessible through DVD-ROM
• An attractive credit sequence for all the contents of the collection

The Evidence

With such a wealth of material, I have to start by saying that I'm amazed that this two-disc set represents only "Part One" of a release. Although the videos here only make up a portion of INXS's massive output in that area, there are literally hours of viewing here, and I'm dazzled at the prospect that more will be forthcoming. To tell the truth, this set alone seems like a treasure trove for the INXS fan. If you consider yourself only a casual fan and are only familiar with the band's hits, this collection will make you realize how much you've been missing. The consistently stellar quality of the songs on this lineup, some of which are pretty obscure, proves that the band has far more to offer than the hit singles. It seems that INXS kept finding more energy, more invention, more creativity as the band matured, and it's thrilling that they are still looking to develop and grow even this long after the major blow of Hutchence's death. At the same time, seeing Hutchence in these videos and performance clips saddens one anew at the realization of how much the world lost with his passing. In that respect, this collection is a moving monument to his memory as well as a fascinating and exciting document in its own right.

Although INXS is sometimes relegated by the ignorant to the status of another '80s new wave group, the reality is quite different, and a brief history will probably come in handy here. Originally known as The Farriss Brothers, INXS formed in Australia in 1977, with a lineup consisting of the brothers Andrew, Jon, and Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Beers, and Michael Hutchence. Their sound was influenced by '70s funk and early R&B more than contemporary new wave. For five years they played in pubs and clubs in Australia before finding success in America in the early '80s thanks largely to exposure on MTV. Their often groundbreaking music videos helped to keep them in the spotlight, as did the increasing media focus on Hutchence, whose powerful stage presence drew comparisons to Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison. Since Hutchence's death, the remaining band members have performed with vocalists Jimmy Barnes, Terence Trent D'Arby, and Jon Stevens, but this DVD collection extends only as far as the end of the Hutchence era.

The 25 videos on Disc One are an exciting tour through the group's development, from the very earliest days, in which we already see the raw energy and conviction they bring to performing (an approach that they learned in their early days when playing in sometimes hostile club venues), to the often polished, carefully crafted, yet fresh and innovative videos that kept them at the forefront of music video craft. Director Richard Lowenstein in particular helped make the band's videos stand out, and his long collaboration with the band made him an unofficial seventh member. His videos for "What You Need" and "Need You Tonight" in particular garnered attention and acclaim—and paved the way for many imitators. A sense of energy and vibrancy distinguishes these videos; they still seem fresh and fun all these years later. Indeed, very few of the videos on this lineup seem dated; the big hair and mullets are about the only elements that occasionally jar. As we move into the '90s we see ever-growing sophistication and even elegance, as in "By My Side" and "Not Enough Time," with lots of layering of images and other visual magic to create a kind of rock 'n' roll grandeur—this is terrific stuff. Each video's introduction provides convenient captions giving the year, director, and shooting location of the video as well as the album from which the song came, for handy reference; captions even identify which band member is speaking, which is also considerate, since some of these fellows look quite a bit different 20-plus years later.

All of the video directors are wise enough to place the band members at the fore, and one of the other things one can't help but notice over the course of the videos is that Hutchence is a natural in front of the camera. His singing talent aside (if one can put so considerable a contribution to the side, even momentarily), he brings together energy, ferocity, sexuality, swagger, and sensitivity in a powerful Byronic persona. But although Hutchence's astonishing on-camera presence and musical talent are what many people remember, the entire band is charismatic and full of personality, and this really helps to sell even the more eccentric videos, like "Listen Like Thieves" and "Taste It." The warm glints of humor and sheer enjoyment of performing that emanate from this group of friends and collaborators cement our own delight in watching them. This especially comes across in the bountiful array of live performances. Filmed in venues as varied as Japan, Sydney, and London over a range of more than 14 years, ranging from an Australian dance club to the Wembley stadium, these clips capture the exhilaration of being present at an INXS concert. The word that keeps coming to mind here is energy: One simply never gets the sense that these men are anything less than fully committed to their music and their fans. The surviving group members have praised Hutchence in particular in this regard, but all are to be credited with bringing everything they have to their performing.

There are so many gems here that it's difficult to single anything out. I was particularly delighted by the Disc Two content, which I had not expected to find so engaging. There's lots of unexpected treasure here: We see some offscreen glimpses of Hutchence in rehearsal in the "Welcome to Wherever You Are" feature—and also glimpses of his effect on the crowd, as security guards carry out a succession of women who have fainted. The video for "Please (You Got That)" is a particular pleasure since we get to experience Hutchence and Ray Charles singing together, both evidently enjoying themselves greatly. The montage of live performances of the band's anthem "Don't Change," which is seamlessly edited, provides a surprisingly moving record of the band over a 14-year period. It's especially interesting to hear director Richard Lowenstein weigh in on his collaboration with the band in the "Behind the Scenes" featurette, since his work did so much to promote INXS's popularity. There are some fun tidbits to be gleaned in all the introductory clips provided by the band members on both discs. Overall, this is a bountiful offering of great material, worthy in itself and not just for its supplemental or curiosity value.

Video quality, as one might expect from footage that spans a more than 20-year period, is not always consistent or strong; the earliest videos, like "The One Thing" and "Don't Change," are riddled with grain, speckling, and other flaws, and little or no restoration seems to have been done. Likewise, early live footage ("Simple Simon") shows the limitations of the videotaped source material. In the more recent material, however, video quality is clean and vibrant, setting off the visual innovation of the music videos beautifully, and blacks are deep and rich.

Disc One features three audio options: Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, DTS 5.1 surround, and PCM stereo; on Disc Two, only the former two options are offered. As is the case with the video quality, the early '80s materials sometimes exhibit some shortcomings as presented in both the surround tracks; nevertheless, both surround options are well mixed, created with genuine care for the music. Rather than pulling apart the different layers and capriciously isolating them, the surround mixes instead expand the stage of the vocals and instruments. Of the two surround options, the DTS is clearly superior: The highs are brighter, the percussion sharper, and Hutchence's vocals fuller and richer. The PCM stereo track is also excellent, especially in its crystalline highs and detail, in which it sometimes surpasses the DTS. Listeners who don't have a surround system will find that the PCM track provides an extremely satisfying listening experience.

The only annoyance of real note in terms of audio is the fact that the interview clips in the "Behind the Scenes" featurette are rendered in surround, and the speakers' voices aren't placed in the front speaker. Thus, the interviewees sound rather hollow, and viewers who don't have a surround setup will experience a dramatic drop in volume in the interview footage interspersed with the video clips. However, the introductory clips on both discs for the videos themselves are mixed with voices in the front speaker, which is much more pleasing and eliminates the seeming unevenness of volume.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

At first I was surprised and a bit disappointed that this set contained no feature specifically set aside in which to remember Hutchence and pay homage to his contributions to the band—as songwriter as well as singer and performer. It seemed like a rather glaring oversight. The more I reflected on this seeming omission, however, and the more of the collection I watched, the more I realized that such a memorial would have been unnecessary and even, paradoxically, out of place. This release celebrates not just one man but the entire band, after all; moreover, Hutchence's legacy is felt everywhere on these two discs, not just in performance after performance but in the comments and reflections of the band members and collaborators. To set aside a separate interview in which to discuss him would be not only redundant but intrusive, since the other members of INXS have maintained a great deal of privacy about their feelings since Hutchence's death, as is their right.

In the end, I think the band members made the appropriate choice. This release places the emphasis on the enduring creation that these six talented collaborators worked together to produce, letting us revel in the excitement and power of their music, which is exactly what it should do.

Closing Statement

It's thrilling to rediscover a band that not only endured the '80s unscathed but created music that, over two decades later, still has the power to move and excite. Even for music fans who came to INXS more recently and aren't driven by nostalgia, I'm Only Looking is both a fascinating journey and a high-powered musical experience. If you are a fan, you have no excuse for missing this DVD set. And if you consider yourself a "kind-of" fan, this collection may well convert you into complete, gushing fanhood.

The Verdict

Guilty? As if. INXS is encouraged to return to this court with Part Two of their video retrospective, but in the meantime, court is adjourned so that the justices can go mix it up on the dance floor.

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