Underneath the Colours (1981)
Underneath the Colours is a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses. The album still showcases the band's early sound, which combines post-punk, new wave, and pop sensibilities. Although on this record, the band ventures away from the post-punk and ska styles from their debut, and embrace a more cleaner and tighter sound. While some tracks on the album are engaging, most are right down the middle average, and some others just fall flat, resulting in an inconsistent listening experience.
One of the standout tracks on the album is the opening cut, "Stay Young." With its driving bass line, infectious chorus, and propulsive rhythm, the song is a perfect example of the band's transitioning pop sound. “Fair Weather Ahead” is the only other standout on the record. It has a great funky bass line and guitar hook. The song is texturized and catchy making it the most memorable of the album.
Aside from the two standouts noted above, the rest of the songs on ‘Underneath the Colours’ are nowhere near as successful. "Barbarian", “What Would You Do", “All Those Years of Learning”, and “Follow” all suffer from forgettable melodies and uninspired lyrics, making them the weakest points on the album. Additionally, "Big Go Go" feels like a missed opportunity, as the song's funky rhythm and catchy chorus are marred by repetitive lyrics and uninspired, lackluster instrumentation.
Despite these shortcomings, ‘Underneath the Colours’ showcases the band's early potential. While most tracks fall short, some demonstrate the band's knack for crafting catchy, energetic pop songs that show signs of what is yet to come. Fans of INXS's later, more polished sound may find this album a bit rough around the edges, but for those interested in the band's early evolution, ‘Underneath the Colours’ is worth listening to for the context. It is not at all as hard to get through as the bands Debut
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Highlight Songs
Fair Weather Ahead
Stay Young
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Unless you’re an INXS completist, I would stick to streaming this one. The two songs I like are two song that are worth giving a listen to and the rest of the album is a solid showcase of what the band was before stardom.
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Overall Rating:
3 Stars
