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The tragic end came crashing down like a house of cards in 1997 when Michael Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room, effectively ending one of Australia's greatest rock exports. But rewind twelve years earlier to 1985, and INXS was just hitting their stride with "Listen Like Thieves," the album that would catapult them from antipodean upstarts to global superstars and set the stage for their eventual world domination with "Kick" three years later.

Today, "Listen Like Thieves" stands as a perfect snapshot of a band caught between worlds – still hungry enough to take risks, yet polished enough to craft radio-ready anthems that could fill stadiums. It's the sound of INXS discovering they could be both art-school cool and massively commercial, a balancing act that few bands have ever managed with such effortless swagger.

By 1985, the Farriss brothers – Tim, Andrew, and Jon – along with Hutchence, Garry Gary Beers, and Kirk Pengilly had already released four albums, steadily building their reputation as Australia's answer to the new wave explosion. They'd been grinding it out since 1977, playing sweaty pub gigs and gradually refining their sound from punk-influenced rock toward something more sophisticated and groove-oriented. The breakthrough came when they hooked up with producer Chris Thomas, the man behind classic albums by the Sex Pistols, Roxy Music, and Pink Floyd. Thomas understood how to capture the band's live energy while adding the sonic sheen necessary for international success.

Musically, "Listen Like Thieves" finds INXS perfecting their signature blend of rock, funk, and new wave – a sound that was uniquely their own in an era dominated by synth-pop and hair metal. Hutchence's vocals had evolved from the sneering punk attitude of their early work into something far more sensual and dynamic, capable of tender vulnerability one moment and stadium-sized bombast the next. The Farriss brothers created a rhythmic foundation that was both danceable and guitar-driven, while Pengilly's saxophone added that distinctly Australian pub-rock flavor that set them apart from their British and American contemporaries.

The album's crown jewel is undoubtedly "What You Need," a masterclass in controlled tension that builds from a whispered come-on to an explosive chorus that practically demands to be shouted along with. It's Hutchence at his most magnetic, delivering lines like "I'm not selling security" with the kind of knowing smirk that made him irresistible to audiences worldwide. The song's success on MTV and radio proved that INXS could compete with anyone in the increasingly globalized music market.

"Listen Like Thieves" itself is another standout, driven by one of the most distinctive guitar riffs of the '80s – a hypnotic, Middle Eastern-influenced line that Tim Farriss claimed came to him in a dream. The song's paranoid lyrics about surveillance and conformity feel remarkably prescient in our current digital age, while the groove remains utterly infectious. It's the kind of track that sounds equally at home blasting from car speakers or filling an arena.

The deep cuts reveal a band unafraid to experiment. "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)" showcases their funkier side with a bass line that could make Prince jealous, while "Red Red Sun" demonstrates their ability to craft atmospheric, almost cinematic soundscapes. "This Time" serves up pure pop perfection, proving they could write hooks as sharp as any of their new wave contemporaries.

What makes "Listen Like Thieves" so enduring is how it captures INXS at their creative peak – confident enough to take chances, yet focused enough to deliver consistent quality across eleven tracks. The production has aged remarkably well, avoiding the over-processed sound that dates many '80s albums. Thomas and the band found the sweet spot between raw and refined, creating something that sounds both timeless and distinctly of its era.

The album's legacy is secure as the crucial stepping stone between INXS's promising early work and their massive commercial breakthrough with "Kick." It proved they weren't just another new wave flash in the pan, but a band capable of growth and longevity. In the context of Hutchence's eventual tragic fate, "Listen Like Thieves" serves as a poignant reminder of what made INXS special – their ability to make music that was simultaneously intelligent and visceral, exotic and familiar, rebellious and irresistible