Shabooh Shoobah (1982)
Shabooh Shoobah marks the real turning point for INXS—the moment they stepped away from their punkier beginnings and leaned into a sleeker, more radio-ready sound. The shift pays off. It’s cleaner, catchier, and confidently straddles the line between new wave and pop-rock without losing its edge.
Right out the gate, The One Thing sets the tone with a pulsing bassline, snappy rhythm, and Michael Hutchence doing what he does best: oozing charisma without breaking a sweat. It’s one of the band’s most iconic tracks for a reason.
There’s no shortage of standouts—To Look at You feels romantic, iconic and dreamy, riding lush production and soaring guitar lines. Don’t Change is a flat-out anthem with one of the most unforgettable choruses in their entire catalog. And Golden Playpen brings a playful new wave swagger, complete with rototoms and a sax solo that feels downright indulgent (in the best way).
Are there a few dips? Sure. Tracks like Old World New World and Here Comes sound fine on paper—solid performances, stylistically on-brand—but they lack the extra spark that makes the album’s best moments pop. That said, even the “less memorable” cuts are still good. And that’s not something you could confidently say about the band’s first two records.
Overall, Shabooh Shoobah is where INXS find their footing. The band is tighter, the songwriting sharper, and Hutchence is stepping into his frontman prime. If the first two albums were context, this is the real starting line. Whether you’re diving into INXS for the first time or tracing the roots of their global takeover, this record’s essential.
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Highlight Songs
Golden Playpen
To Look at You
Jan’s Son
Don’t Change
The One Thing
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Definitely worth owning. There are an abundance of things to love on this record and it is worth listening to all of it more than once.
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Overall Rating:
4 Stars
