"X" is the seventh studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on September 25, 1990, through WEA in Australia and Mercury Records in Europe, with Atlantic Records handling the U.S. and Canada distribution. This album followed the massive success of their previous release, Kick, and included hit singles like "Suicide Blonde" and "Disappear," both of which reached the Top 10 in the U.S. and were featured in the soundtrack for the 1991 teen comedy Mystery Date.
Produced by Chris Thomas, X marked the band's third consecutive collaboration with him. The title, represented by the Roman numeral "X," signifies INXS's tenth anniversary since their debut in 1980. The album also features contributions from blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite, who provided a sample on "Suicide Blonde" and played on tracks like "Who Pays the Price" and "On My Way."
While "Bitter Tears" and "By My Side" were released as singles, they did not achieve the same chart success as the lead tracks. A fifth single, "The Stairs," was issued only in the Netherlands to coincide with the release of the Live Baby Live album. In 2002, a remastered version of X was released, including five previously unreleased tracks, further enhancing its legacy in the band's discography.
Following the monumental success of their previous album Kick, INXS found themselves at a crossroads as they entered the 1990s. The band, which had heavily toured in support of Kick in 1987 and 1988, took a brief hiatus in 1989 to pursue various side projects. Lead vocalist Michael Hutchence collaborated with Ian 'Ollie' Olsen in the band Max Q, stemming from their earlier work on Richard Lowenstein's film Dogs in Space.
Meanwhile, other members of INXS explored their own musical ventures. Andrew Farriss worked with Jenny Morris on her album Shiver, while bassist Garry Beers contributed to ARIA award-winning band Absent Friends, touring and recording tracks for their debut album. Drummer Jon Farriss also participated in these sessions, adding percussion to one track. Guitarist Kirk Pengilly and lead guitarist Tim Farriss helped produce an album for the local band Crash Politics.
As the band shifted into the 1990s, the pressure was on to follow up Kick with something equally impactful. In a radio interview shortly after the release of X, Hutchence expressed this sentiment, stating, "We had to follow-up (on Kick) otherwise we'd disappear." This urgency to maintain their relevance drove the creative direction for X, aiming to build on the band's established success while also experimenting with new sounds.
