INXS — Switch

Poor INXS. In the late '80s, for a brief moment, they were the biggest band in the world, with a penchant for slick dance songs grounded in bluesy rock. But they stumbled in the '90s and grew stale, unable to evolve their sound. When singer Michael Hutchence died, that should have been the end.

The band's new album, Switch is a sad attempt at reclaiming past glory with a new singer, Canadian J. D. Fortune, who was selected on a ridiculous (yet popular) reality television show. Fortune has a good voice and the band even let him share writing duties on a few songs. But there's nothing here that repeats the energy of early singles like "New Sensation," just faint echoes, such as the mildly enjoyable "Hungry." Other songs, like "Devils Party," sound like rehashed old material.

Hardcore fans can indulge their nostalgia, but sometimes it's better to leave the past alone.

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