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When INXS strutted into the spotlight with their fourth studio album X in 1990, they were already riding the crest of a wave that had begun with 1987's monumentally successful Kick. That album had transformed the Sydney sextet from antipodean also-rans into genuine global superstars, with Michael Hutchence's serpentine stage presence and the band's intoxicating blend of rock swagger and dance-floor sensuality conquering MTV and radio stations worldwide. The pressure to follow up such a career-defining statement could have crushed a lesser band, but INXS approached the challenge with the confidence of rock royalty at their absolute peak.

Recorded primarily at Rhinoceros Studios in Sydney with producer Chris Thomas – the man behind classics by the Sex Pistols and Roxy Music – X finds the band doubling down on the formula that made Kick such a phenomenon while simultaneously pushing their sound into more adventurous territory. The result is an album that feels both familiar and refreshingly bold, a tightrope walk between commercial accessibility and artistic ambition that few bands could have pulled off with such aplomb.

Musically, X represents INXS at their most cohesive and confident. The album seamlessly weaves together the band's trademark ingredients – Tim Farriss's chiming guitar work, Garry Gary Beers's elastic basslines, Jon Farriss's thunderous drumming, and Kirk Pengilly's atmospheric saxophone and guitar flourishes – into a sonic tapestry that's undeniably their own. Yet there's an experimental edge here that wasn't always present on Kick, with the band incorporating elements of funk, blues, and even hints of industrial music into their polished rock framework.

The album's crown jewel is undoubtedly "Suicide Blonde," a slinky, predatory groove that showcases Hutchence at his most magnetic. Built around a hypnotic guitar riff and propelled by a rhythm section that locks into an irresistible pocket, the song perfectly encapsulates everything that made INXS special – sex, danger, and an undeniable pop sensibility wrapped in leather pants and attitude. It's no surprise it became their biggest hit in several territories.

"Disappear" offers a more introspective moment, its shimmering guitars and Hutchence's vulnerable vocal delivery creating an atmosphere of melancholic beauty that proves the band's emotional range extended far beyond mere rock posturing. The song's gradual build from whispered confession to soaring anthem demonstrates the kind of dynamic songcraft that separated INXS from their contemporaries.

Elsewhere, "Bitter Tears" unleashes a torrent of righteous anger over a grinding, almost industrial backdrop, while "By My Side" strips things back to reveal the tender heart beating beneath the band's leather-clad exterior. "Faith in Each Other" closes the album on a note of cautious optimism, its gospel-tinged chorus and layered harmonies suggesting a band comfortable enough in their own skin to show genuine vulnerability.

What makes X particularly compelling is how it captures INXS at a crucial crossroads. This was a band that had achieved everything they'd ever dreamed of – global stardom, critical acclaim, and the kind of cultural cachet that made them genuine icons. Yet rather than simply repeating the Kick formula, they chose to challenge themselves and their audience, crafting an album that rewards both casual listeners and devoted fans willing to dig deeper into its layered compositions.

The production deserves special mention, with Thomas helping the band achieve a sound that's both massive and intimate, polished yet retaining the raw energy that made their live performances legendary. Every element sits perfectly in the mix, from Pengilly's swooping saxophone lines to the subtle keyboard textures that add depth without cluttering the sonic landscape.

Three decades on, X stands as perhaps INXS's most underrated achievement. While it may not have spawned as many radio staples as its predecessor, it represents the band at their creative and commercial peak, confident enough to take risks while still delivering the goods that made them superstars. In an era when rock bands were either going grunge or going home, INXS proved there was still room for sophisticated, sexy rock music that didn't apologize for its ambitions.

For those who experienced INXS's imperial phase firsthand, X remains a thrilling reminder of when rock music could be both intelligent and utterly irresistible. For newcomers, it serves as the perfect entry point into the catalog of one of the '80s and '90s most essential