Listen Like Thieves
by INXS

It becomes obvious with the first track "What You Need" that INXS was shooting for international superstardom with Listen Like Thieves. "What You Need" was after all their first American Top 10 Hit in 1986, peaking at #6 on the Billboard charts. The title track and "Kiss The Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain" (one of their best tracks they ever recorded) continue this winning streak, however beyond these tracks it becomes apparent that the band's Aussie edge has been tempered somewhat. As a result the remainder of the album is a hit or miss affair. The hits ("Shine Like It Does," "Biting Bullets," "This Time" and "Red Red Sun") are memorable while the misses, while not bad, are somewhat less memorable. More success would be in store for the group with the follow-up Kick.

From Brad1770 TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/29/2021 22:48 | #276886 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Through their previous three albums ‘Underneath the Colours’, ‘Shabooh Shoobah’ and most notable ‘The Swing’ INXS had slowly built their reputation to become one of Australia’s premier bands. So when ‘Listen Like Thieves’ hit in 1985 with its suit of smash hit singles there was no debate - INXS had risen to undeniably without question become Australia’s number one artist
I recall seeing INXS on the Listen Like Thieves tour and by then they were playing massive outdoor theatres playing to 50,000 having well and truely outgrown any indoor venues

However this album was INXS’ breakthrough album in America eventually cracking the US top 10 and setting the scene for superstardom with follow up ‘ Kick’

My favourite INXS album except for the filler instrumental track “ Three Sisters” ( what were they thinking?)

From paladisiac TOP 100 COMMENTER 01/17/2012 17:43 | #35384 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

The breakthrough album for INXS buoyed by hit "what you need", "listen like thieves" would become the template of the inxs sound for the next couple albums. "Listen like thieves", "shine like it does", "this time" and "one x one" along with the aforementioned hit could've all been mistaken for coming from follow-ups "kick" or "x". There is a let down in pop focus near the end of the album that continued growth would eliminate come "kick".

The album from the time I got into INXS and probably the most listened to after Kick. More of a straight up rock album that still sounds good today. The four singles are obvious highlights but Shine Like It Does is my personal favourite. Although Kick was my favourite album full-stop for a long while I think other INXS albums (this one included) have aged better.

From junodog4 TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/22/2014 20:54 | #107188 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Not quite on the level of Kick and X, but still worthwhile. INXS has found their sound, but aren't as confident as they were on Kick.