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When INXS imploded in spectacular fashion following Michael Hutchence's tragic death in 1997, music critics and fans alike began the inevitable process of reassessing their catalog, searching for the moment when Australia's most charismatic rock export truly announced themselves to the world. That moment, it turns out, wasn't their MTV-conquering later work, but rather a scrappy, swaggering album from 1982 that most Americans had never heard of: "Shabooh Shoobah."

Released at a time when new wave was fragmenting into a thousand different directions and post-punk was beginning to flirt with dance floors, "Shabooh Shoobah" captured INXS at their most raw and unfiltered. This was the album that transformed six guys from Sydney's working-class suburbs into legitimate rock stars, even if the rest of the world wouldn't catch on for another few years. It's a record that crackles with the energy of a band that knows they're onto something special but hasn't yet been polished by major label machinery.

The origins of "Shabooh Shoobah" trace back to the band's frustration with their previous efforts. After two albums that showed promise but lacked focus, the Farriss brothers – Andrew, Jon, and Tim – along with Hutchence, bassist Garry Gary Beers, and drummer Jon Farriss, decamped to Rhinoceros Studios with producer Mark Opitz. What emerged was a sonic statement that bridged the gap between their pub rock roots and the more sophisticated pop sensibilities that would later make them superstars.

Musically, the album is a thrilling hybrid that defies easy categorization. It's part new wave urgency, part funk-rock groove, and part straight-ahead rock and roll, all filtered through a distinctly Australian sensibility that was equal parts cheeky and sincere. The production is crisp without being sterile, allowing each instrument to breathe while maintaining the cohesive sound of a band firing on all cylinders. Hutchence's vocals, still developing the sultry croon that would become his trademark, alternate between sneering punk attitude and surprisingly tender moments.

The album's crown jewel is undoubtedly "The One Thing," a track that perfectly encapsulates everything INXS would become. Built around a hypnotic guitar riff and propelled by a rhythm section that's impossibly tight, it's a masterclass in how to make dance-rock that doesn't sacrifice either element. Hutchence delivers the lyrics with a confidence that borders on arrogance, but it's the kind of swagger that makes you want to move rather than roll your eyes. The song would later become their first major international hit, but even in its original context, it stands out as something special.

"Don't Change" serves as the album's emotional centerpiece, a surprisingly vulnerable plea wrapped in jangly guitars and a melody that burrows into your brain and refuses to leave. It's the kind of song that sounds simple until you try to write one yourself, revealing layers of sophistication beneath its seemingly straightforward surface. Meanwhile, tracks like "Black and White" and "Golden Playpen" showcase the band's ability to craft tight, punchy rockers that never overstay their welcome.

The real revelation, however, is how well the album works as a complete statement. In an era when bands were increasingly focused on singles, "Shabooh Shoobah" unfolds like a cohesive journey, with each track building on the last to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Even the deeper cuts like "Soul Mistake" and "Here Comes" feel essential rather than filler.

Today, "Shabooh Shoobah" stands as perhaps INXS's most essential album, the moment when all their various influences coalesced into something uniquely their own. While later albums like "Listen Like Thieves" and "Kick" would bring them greater commercial success, this earlier work captures them at their most vital and uncompromising. It's the sound of a band discovering their identity in real time, and the excitement is palpable.

In the context of early '80s rock, the album feels both of its time and timeless, a snapshot of a moment when rock music was expanding its boundaries without losing its essential spirit. For a band that would later become synonymous with glossy MTV videos and stadium-sized hooks, "Shabooh Shoobah" serves as a reminder that their greatness was always rooted in something more substantial than mere style.