Rotation

As such, it's nothing short of a joy to hear "The Vines" wind itself into an unlikely anthem for day laborers and "John Lennon" conclude as a hilarious coming-of-age comedy of errors. And there, for just a few minutes, is Hamell and the "little bit of wood and little bit of wire" he brags about on the CD-closing "The Meeting." That the song is truly a masterpiece only leaves you hoping that what preceded it is just a frustrating sophomore slump; it's also more evidence (as if any were needed) that sometimes concepts can be mightier than the product they inspire. (**)

-- Andy Langer

INXS
Elegantly Wasted
Mercury

Michael Hutchence's looks might have won him the attention over the years, but it's the Farris brothers -- Tim, Andrew and Jon -- who are the glue that holds the sound of INXS together. Jon's rock-solid beats have kept the rhythms sharp and danceable, while guitarists Andrew and Tim always drop in leads and riffs that seem to fit perfectly within each song.

Elegantly Wasted's title track is a perfect example of this musical synergy: The brothers lock tightly into the song's groove, creating a sparse, edgy rhythm. Adding to this breathy vocals by Hutchence and a sweeping chorus elevates the song to the kind of slinky soul-rock the band perfected years ago on "Need You Tonight." Given that INXS has always relied heavily on keyboards and synthesizers to enhance their sound, you might figure that they'd hook up with a hotshot techo-junkie like Tricky to pull their music headlong into the electronica storm. Instead, they turn the other way, stripping away the usual dense layers of keyboards and taking a less-is-more approach. The CD's opening track, "Show Me (Cherry Baby)," features some atypically raw, aggressive guitar work, while only an acoustic guitar and saxophone carry the melodic "I'm Just a Man." But the secret weapon on Elegantly Wasted is producer Bruce Fairbain, the man partially responsible for Aerosmith's re-ascension. Providing the music with a glimmery sheen, he adds his own sound sparkle to the propulsive "She Is Rising" and "Don't Lose Your Head."

Though INXS has recorded some quality music over the past decade, for the most part, after breaking through with 1987's Kick, they let their pretensions get the best of them: X was too dark, Welcome to Wherever You Are too ambitious and Full Moon, Dirty Hearts simply a mess. None of these problems plague Elegantly Wasted. On this CD the band sounds revitalized, and finally ready for the next century. (***) -- David Whitman

CDs rated on a one to five star scale.