Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
1983
Album Summary
Colour by Numbers is the second album by the British new wave group Culture Club, released in October 1983. Preceded by the hit single "Karma Chameleon", which reached number one in several countries, the album reached number one in the UK and has sold 10 million copies worldwide. It has been certified triple platinum in the UK and quadruple platinum in the US. It was ranked #96 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s.
WikipediaPOV: you're at a family function and your aunt is trying to pull you onto the dance floor as Karma Chameleon starts playing. The 45-year old function DJ flicks through his CD wallet looking for George Michael. Yer da is shuffling awkwardly near the buffet. 3 stars.
A fine example of 80s pop. I'm not sure what makes it an "unmissable" album, though
How revolutionary was Boy George as the leader of the biggest group in the world? Gender non-conformity is still mocked and misunderstood today...to think this was 40 years ago. Wish I had the same appreciation for this album but it's basically 2-3 good songs and a bunch of filler.
That sure was sappy. I don't even like the big hit Karma Chameleon although I can't stop humming the chorus. They should have been in the TV commercial jingle business. One positive comment is that Boy George ventured in new territory by dressing so feminine. Doing this in 1983 was a big deal and could have had a bad ending. I know in the prior decade the New York Dolls et al were gender bending trailblazers in another way by dressing in drag but I still view Boy G as a pioneer since he was trying to get (and succeeded at getting) mainstream audiences to buy his records and go to his concerts. I'll give him +1 for pulling it off but the music really does suck.
I have listened to this album twice now and I just don't get the generally positive reviews. The album actually makes me almost angry, that's how much I disliked it. This is the epitome of what was wrong in the 80's (even though there also was a lot of great music). It sniffed New Wave but doesn't seem to get it, saw soul from a distance, uses filler sounds like a trumpet or harmonica to make the music sound smarter than it is. Ugh.
Wonderful, imaginative, catchy, sunny record which brings happiness and joy at every listen
Karma Chameleon is a certified jam. Second half is better than the first. Standout tracks: Church of the Poison Mind, Mister Man, Victims, Melting Pot.
Even the hit isn't good, I'm not coming back to this one anytime soon.
It still slaps, and there isn't one skippable song. That's right, the album tracks are just as good as the singles - and there were a ton of singles released from this gem. In the interest of full disclosure, 13 year old me wore the shit out of this record, which might play into my continued appreciation for it. Interesting how "Church Of The Poisoned Mind" has become more of a legacy song for Culture Club over "Karma Chamelon". The secret weapon is backup singer Helen Terry, whose voice perfectly complements Boy George's blue-eyed soul. The epitome of a great pop album. Anyone who disagrees secretly has a problem with androgynous people.
So I'm enjoying the first few songs, then on comes That's The Way, where Helen Terry flexes her vocal muscles. This then leads into The Church of the Poisoned Mind, where the band rips into this bouncy, irresistible tune where Helen once again soars. Those two songs are worth the price of admission. This is a perfectly designed album, with a natural flow that is perfectly signed off by Victims, a song that deserves greater recognition for it's clever mix of big ballad and minor key sadness.
This has been a favourite since the day it came out. Glad for an excuse to listen to it :)
Love this album so much! I used to steal it from my mom's collection all the time so I could listen to it in my room.
Quite pop-ish, not my usual choice, but better now than when it first came out, improved with age.
hurch of the Poison Mind" Released: 1 April 1983 (UK) 22 October 1983 (US) "Karma Chameleon" Released: 6 September 1983 (UK), 3 December 1983 (US) "Victims" Released: November 1983 (UK) "Miss Me Blind" Released: 14 February 1984 (US) "It's a Miracle" Released: April 1984 (UK), 12 May 1984 (US)
Groaned at this, and thought it would be dated, but I admit it's a great pop album. Hasn't dated at all.
surprisngly good, didn't realize the karma chameleon song was on this album
Erg leuk album. Zeker voor die tijd. Karma Chameleon doet het nog altijd goed op elk feestje. Tevens een extra ster voor Boy George. Wat een stijlicoon! Love it!
Colour by Numbers is the second album by the British new wave group Culture Club, released in October 1983. Preceded by the hit single "Karma Chameleon", which reached number one in several countries, the album reached number one in the UK and has sold 10 million copies worldwide
Classic POP. Excellent. 4/5. Standouts: Victims. That's the Way. Karma Chameleon. Church of the Poison Mind, Miss Me Blind. It's A Miracle...
This album is better than the total listens given on Spotify. "Its A Miracle" is the best song on the album, IMHO. "Miss Me Blind" is also great. 7/10.
ну местами норм попчик, и это я не про хитяру Карма хамелеон. В общем то слушатебельно и аранжировки ничо
My boyfriend had a Twitter fight with boy George anyway this album is pretty good
I wasn't ready for this one. Like most people, I associated Culture Club with the iconic persona of Boy George, a couple of sweet MTV videos, and generally appreciated them for a couple of light, poppy hits. But listening to this album in full and on repeat, I'm realizing there was so much more under the surface here. The 80s sound is known for a lot of kitschy reverb snare and overly produced synth, but in the midst of that, we had bands like The Jam, Style Council and Culture Club that just took pop seriously enough to treat it right. This LP is packed with quality cuts and covers an incredible range of styles: disco, jazz, soul, reggae, bossanova...each one executed with skill and love. Very colorful and I'm happy to be surprised by this one.
Gran disco de pop. Conocía el hit del disco pero me sorprendió mucho todas las otras canciones.
When Karma Chameleon hit the eardrums, I suspected that the rest of the album will hit the same lane: poppy, accessible, carefree. And it is that, but it can also reach areas that you wouldn't expect Culture Club to talk about. Maybe I'm dumb, maybe I'm ill informed about this band, maybe I should do more research. But this album is great. Culture Club can be more than expected. Favorites: Karma Chameleon, Black Money, Changing Every Day, That's the Way - I'm Only Trying to Help You, Church of the Poison Mind, Miss Me Blind, Stormkeeper, Victims, Colour by Numbers, Romance Revisited.
Ok, I enjoyed this top to bottom. Despite the obvious flaws like thin voice, dated production and cheesyness, it makes up for a lot with lots of hooks, earnest effort, compositional creativity, and some je ne sais quoi I can only call charisma. Sam Smith is awesome, but I hope it’s safe to say it helps to have blue-eyed soul like this to stand on and move ever forward.
This album is a great mix of New Wave and pop. I was truly expecting to dislike this album but it was catchy enough to keep my attention. The music is firmly within the pop traditions and oscillates between how much new wave is thrown in. There are moments that are pure power pop and moments where the post punk/new wave influence is apparent. Some of the arrangements on this album predict the rise of boy/girl bands in the 90s and really contextualized for me where that music came from.
Hmm. This may be an interesting experience. Karma Chameleon is a time-honoured classic, but while the rest of the album is good, I can't ever imagine a situation where I'd play it again.
Mér þykir mjög vænt um Culture Club og þessi plata er mjög góð. Nokkrar perlur á henni. Mæli með.
This brings back some great memories. The album and its songs were popular at a time when I thought myself a macho teenage guy, into hard rock, too cool for pop, and really stupidly ignorant about sexuality and gender. Despite my own self-manufactured idiocy, I loved these songs then and love them now, and found myself truly enjoying Boy George's bravery and entertaining fun. Looking back, of course, I wish I had been stronger about standing up for those amongst me who are "different" from what I had been conditioned to support. What's done is done and I can only move forward, as I have been for decades, and I must continue to learn and grow to recognize and push through any remaining prejudices, biases, and societal expectations. Back to the music. I had forgotten that this was an early 80s album, not later in the decade as my memory had categorized it, which makes it even more remarkable to me because I think there's a good argument that Culture Club, especially Boy George, really paved the way for many to follow. These are well-written, well-performed, and genuinely engaging songs. Boy's voice is outstanding. I remember especially loving "That's The Way" with his voice and Helen Terry's just soaring. I used to listen to that one in my headphones over and over. Love him and love his work.
Surprised me. Expected a nothing album but the music and lyrical content along with the delivery nailed it.
Blue-eyed soul done right early 80s style. Boy George is a great songwriter and his production value in this (especially with powerhouse supporting vocals by Helen Terry) augment the album fully..
More than just Karma Chameleon, this is a really nice soulful pop record. No weak tracks and Boy George's voice is lush. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Karma Chameleon Date listened: 15/09/22
Some classic pop, but especially the last track is also a bit more serious. All in all, very nice.
A lot better than I remember it back when it was released. Back then I was into heavier music and this was worse than bubblegum pop, it was the pits, however with my maturity and time it seems now that I can listen to it and appreciate it a little more. It’s still not something I would have as a saved album on my Spotify though but worth of more than 3 stars
When this album came out I totally dismissed it as bubblegum pop and never listened to it. Forty years later, I sincerely thank this 1001 album generator for making sure I had it on my list. This album is really good!
culture club! but hmmm i think i know why karma chameleon lang yung most famous... i generally liked the other songs tho, they're just not that remarkable
The album never really hits the highs that their most famous song, Karma Chameleon does, but it is a fun 80s album. Reminds me a lot of Wham
Cero ganas de escuchar esto. Madre mía qué portada. Pues no está mal, un disco más Soul que pop ochentero a pesar de que empieza con un hit de los 80. Más parecido a Stevie Wonder o Simple Red que a otra música de esa época.
Un mega temazo increíble, y me han gustado las voces femeninas, el acompañamiento. Bien
Hmm, quite a generic 80s music. However that doesn´t mean I did not enjoyed it, some of the songs were really catchy.
An iconic album of the era, but one that doesn't have the most lasting songs. It serve as a valuable insight into the time it was made though.
I’m embarrassed that I didn’t hate this one. And I knew more songs than I expected. My kids even liked it!
eu nunca ouvi nada deles além de karma chameleon, foi divertido, mas não é grandes coisas
It's pretty queer and gender bending. I think Boy George kinda wants to be an English version Prince but he's not quite that talented.
Pure 80's Sound. (He sounds a little bit like George Micheal, didn't he?) Karma Chameleon is a certified hit single. Second half is better than the first. (6/10) Favorite Tracks: Church of the Poison Mind, Mister Man, Melting Pot
-"Karma Chameleon" is good and catchy. I can tell why it was the hit from this album -"It's A Miracle," "Church Of The Poison Mind," "Man-Shake," "Melting Pot," -"Melting Pot" is my favorite track. It seems live, has trumpets, good guitar riffs and bass riffs.
Ik kan deze artiest niet meer luisteren zonder aan Beavis & Butthead te denken. Zij zeggen in een van hun afleveringen "Haha, he is not a man, haha" als Boy George zingt "I'm a maaaannnnn". De muziek zelf is stiekem best leuk en veel nummers ken ik ook al. Het is echte disco uit de jaren 80. Ik voel een "guilty pleasure" of "foute vrijdag" opkomen. De toppers zijn de bekende nummers "Its A Miracle" en "Church Of The Poison Mind". De ballad "Victims" heeft ook wel wat. Op den duur voelt het album wel als een eenheidsworst en beginnen alle nummers op elkaar te lijken. Muzikaal zit het wel steengoed in elkaar allemaal. Ik bombardeer het album dan ook als lekker maar niet opwindend. Geef mij maar een echte vrouw ;-).
Leuk om eens te horen, ik ken er stiekem meer nummers van als ik dacht 😊 Als 5-jarig meisje toch al veel muziek gehoord, blijkbaar 😃
Pretty cool little synth pop album. Soulful at times. Karma Chameleon is a certified banger.
Not bad, but way way way too much filler. This could have been 10/11 tracks. Towards the end the songs all blended together as one.
This is better than I remember it being in the 80s. Perhaps I'm clouded by nostalgia. There is some really good pop here, lots of variety, lots of things that at the time were quite experimental. An enjoyable listen.
I was surprised I recognized so many songs on this this album! I accused my co-judge of owning it and then she counter-accused… Anyway, BG has a lovely voice, Karma Chameleon is a great radio-pop song and there’s a handful of others I like. Helen Terry on backup vocals is a big plus and adds to the soulfulness. The schmaltzy production I don’t like.
Decent album, not only Karma Chameleon is worth the listen (which I do not like at all). Moss Me Blind is a huge tune from my toddler years, still rocks the hell
I was prepared to dump all over this album, but I like it. I'd be fine if I never heard Karma Chameleon ever again. But there's no denying there's a few very good songs including the afore mentioned mega hit. That's The Way and Church of The Pouson Mind being standouts. A real snapshot of what hit music was in the 1980s. 3.5 🌟
Good clean singalong 80s pop/soul, and if you have a few drinks and squint hard enough Boy George does a passable George Michael impersonation. But it's Helen Terry who is the albums secret weapon and her huge voice elevates every song that she appears on. Yeh, this record is a bit too earnest in parts, but mostly it's a lot of fun.
Not bad at all. Some cool beats. Found the vocals to be pretty similar in places with not a lot of variety but the instrumentation and effects made up for it. Fave tracks: Karma Chameleon, Church of the Poision Mind, Stormkeeper
Karma Chameleon -- duh Black Money -- I like the chorus Changing Every Day -- funky arrangement
A fun enough album, with a unique sound. That sound gets kinda samey during the back half though.
This album is probably the best album that Culture Club ever did. It has a few quite good pop songs, with some excellent singles. I think it could have been improved by dropping a couple of songs. This is one of those bands that had a lot of potential, but ended up falling far off the radar, both from their own personal problems and the whims of pop music. That's too bad, because Boy George in particular had so much talent. I forgot what a pretty voice he had. Fave Songs: Karma Chameleon, It's a Miracle, That's the Way, Church of the Poison Mind, Stormkeeper
Karma Chameleon and Church of the Poison Mind are two classic 5* songs - the other singles and album tracks are in the range of 2*-3*.
I am very familiar with the band CULTURE CLUB and the album COLOUR BY NUMBERS. I have CULTURE CLUB’s first three albums: 1) KISSING TO BE CLEVER (1982); 2) COLOUR BY NUMBERS (1983); 3) WAKING UP WITH THE HOUSE ON FIRE (1984). I liked COLOUR BY NUMBERS for the hit songs that it had. BOY GEORGE and CULTURE CLUB were groundbreaking for presenting androgynous dressing style, sexual ambiguity and reggae infused pop to the masses in the early/mid 80’s. After listening to COLOUR BY NUMBERS, it is not bad at all, but the big problem for me, since I’m an album-oriented person, is that the album itself is very inconsistent. It has four very great hit singles: “KARMA CHAMELEON”; “CHURCH OF THE POISON MIND” ; “MISS ME BLIND” and “IT’S A MIRACLE”. For me, CULTURE CLUB is a singles band because the rest of the songs are filler, with the possible addition of “THAT'S THE WAY (I'M ONLY TRYING TO HELP YOU)”. Because of the band’s lack of strong songs that were not singles, they are the perfect band to get a compilation album of greatest hits: CULTURE CLUB – THIS TIME - TWELVE WORLDWIDE HITS - THE FIRST FOUR YEARS. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, COLOUR BY NUMBERS is their one and only entry. Rate Artist: CULTURE CLUB (3.5) Rate Album (Year): COLOUR BY NUMBERS (1983 Original) (3.5) Rate Album (Year): COLOUR BY NUMBERS (2003 Reissue (5 Bonus Tracks)) (3)
I liked this more than I expected to. I've found that I've not really loved or hated most of the recent albums.
It was better than I expected, but expectations were low. Some good singing and there was certainly some heart put into it.
It took about half of the album for my brain to say "oh, this is campy, and that's why I want to listen to it," and from that point on I really enjoyed it.
Hits hits hits. Of its time, and was a huge hit. Enjoyable if not my usual cup of tea
I feel that someone put the 80s in a mixer and just put the result in my ears. The worst part is that I kinda liked this amorphous slime of nostalgia.
Meh, not really a fan. I liked their two hits but never really got into them. Weird thing was I bought this album in HS. Also, Boy George had some issues. Chaining an escort to a wall and beating him with a chain? Weird shit man. He's like the Rick James of the British Empire.
Genre: New Romantic 3/5 In this episode of Bland Pop Album, we have Culture Club aka Boy George's album Colour by Numbers, an album that flew by rather gleefully. Now, Boy George's false imprisonment conviction story aside, I had absolutely no desire to listen to this, and was fully anticipating a mighty stinker. However, this remained joyful and fast-paced enough that its runtime never felt too long and nothing overstayed its welcome. Led by the mega-hit Karma Chameleon, a totally gutless, bland, but totally inoffensive pop song, it does pretty much the same thing track to track. Nonetheless, its energy and constant flow kept it pretty engaging and entertaining. Synths and electronic drum patterns stay busy and active throughout, with the usual tinny 80s production and some standard pop arrangements, but all done flamboyantly and with a certain unwaverable quirkiness that keeps each song peppy in its own way. It's a Miracle and Miss Me Blind were two other decent pop songs, with some decent lead vocal performances from Boy George, and some uneventful, but playful synth-pop arrangements. It's no masterpiece, but it has no right being this enjoyable. Didn't hate this nearly as much as I wanted to, and while I don't think I need to revisit this again, this should provide mild entertainment to 80s heads and pop fans alike. Not bad, George.
Colour By Numbers is a bit like a mix bag of lollies (candy, sweets, or any other term for confectionery). There are a few favourites that make your day, one or two you would happily throw to a pigeon or some other scavanger bird, and the rest are some nice filler. I didn't hate a particular song, but there were some elements I could have metaphorically binned. Not a massive fan of some of the sax for instance. Karma Chameleon was the only song I knew beforehand and always viewed it as something pleasant. I did like the stretch between Church of the Poison Mind and Mister Man a lot though. Victims was a nice closer too. Rest were filler.
Of course, Culture Club is already iconic thanks to Boy George, not to mention their jazz-pop gay club anthems. (Listening to That's The Way) I'm only a quarter of the way in right now and I can hear how much they influenced artists like Scissor Sisters and Autoheart. I also wasn't expecting the exquisite pipes of a black female backing vocalist throughout. (Listening to Mister Man) Ooh digging the reggae vibes on this one. Unfortunately the variety of synth sounds *really* sounds like someone playing with their new keyboard on Christmas morning. Looking at you, Sir Paul. (Listening to Stormkeeper) George's vocal range is pretty limited, isn't it? I'm never noticed. (Listening to Mystery Boy) This is a lot of fun. I can easily picture myself in an 80s club bouncing around to this one. (Listening to Colour By Numbers) Interesting to see the title track practically at the end, but I see why. Very chill and jazzy. Okay, this was alright. I can easily see the huge, huge influence they were on a horde of artists that followed. But I think from a personal preference standpoint, it was alright.
There was a time when you could pick up multiple copies of this on vinyl in any and every charity shop in England... I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Strange to listen to early 80s pop in the fullness of time and be impressed by how well the songs are crafted and performed. At the time the visuals via Top Of The Pops, Saturday morning TV, etc were so front and centre. Did think that if you slowed it down a bit, the vocals would sounds like Alison Moyet...
Definitely a very 80s pop album. Karma chameleon is catchy but didn't think there were any other hits on the album. Not a bad sound overall though
karma karma karma karma karma chameleon.... I listened to that song for the first time in what seems like forever and realized there's a lot to that song I do not recall...and after listening again, I still don't remember it.
Un poco rollo. Pero bueno, tiene la mítica Karma Chameleon, y es Culture Club.
Opens with perhaps one of the most perfect pop songs of all time. Your gran can dance to it at a wedding yet has a subversive streak. Rest of the album tries to keep up the energy but gets boring. However that song is so ubiquitous for the 80s it's deserved.
classique album pop des années 80 à la pochette douteuse auquel on se sent obligée de mettre 3 étoiles pour le one hit wonder sur lequel on s'est époumonée quelques fois après le verre de trop
This album is the quintessential example of 80s new wave music. Karma Chameleon was the most famous hit off this album.
So I only know the hits, and let me just say that this didn’t sound how I was expecting. Way more soulful than I thought it would be, and I also wasn’t expecting Boy George to share the limelight with a gospel singer. It’s almost like if Hall & Oates joined the Human League, which is interesting, but still not exactly my thing. C
Though I was not a Culture Club fan in my youth, I cannot deny the delicious pop candy that is Karma Chameleon. It is a great song. After that, Miss Me Blind is also pretty good, but then it drops pretty precipitously for me. The songs are generally okay, but doesn't shine too brightly.
Tough to rate this one. One can argue "Kissing to be Clever" was the more impactful album, and the one that put them on the map. Does this carry further, than say, Buena Vista Social Club? Decidely so. I would rank it higher only on a forced ranking system. Maybe I should go back and do a forced ranking of all the albums?
I've always loved a bit of Karma Chameleon since it was number one the day I was born. This album itself has quite a fun easy-going sound to it.
This is a borderline album for the list. It's got some big hits, it's got Boy George who gender-bending display brought Culture Club friends and foes. But does any of that make this album a must listen? I'd say no, the album itself does not wave a flag or carry a meaning. Its just 80s new wave synth pop that hasn't aged too well. 3/5.
Another one of those albums that's fine, nothing bad about it, a couple songs I like, a couple I don't like, and a bunch I'm indifferent about. Not sure why it's on the list - I guess Culture Club was on the forefront of some sort of trend? 3 stars.
Really not bad but a bit too easy. Karma Chameleon is a huge hit though.
So. I sort of knew that Karma Chameleon, Victims, and Church of the Poison Mind must have had a parent. But I'd never for a moment thought to seek it out. AS an aside – this is only the second 80s pop album I've been recommended thus far, after more than a year. We already know that "random" is infused with a dose of ... something (cc. Depeche Mode and The Smiths) . So... (Actually, I'm barking up the wrong tree here. Lets try again.) I can't be bothered going through the original list, but there's a bit of a bias here. The 80s are the decade where pop music became proper legit cultural capital, and 80s pop... (actually, I'm barking up another wrong tree.) Never ever saw this one at Our Price. Jolly good fun, neither disposable pop nor brooding over seriousness.
Expected to hate it after disliking all CC singles that I’ve heard. Skipped track 1 but enjoyed most of the album, decent enough background music with some nice surprises. Probably won’t listen to it again but it’s definitely improved my opinion of them.
Never knowingly listened to a Culture Club album before. This is enjoyable, the best songs are the singles, especially Victims, the Miracle and, obvs, Karma Chameleon. Some fillers too...
Heute hab ich etwas gelernt, was ich eigentlich nicht wissen wollte. Ein Lied, dessen Band ich bewusst nie nachgeschlagen habe. Musikalisch durch nichts überzeugend. Der Gesang ist kein Teil der Musik, sondern ein Sprachkanal. Der Text wirkte auf mich stellenweise dümmlich. Keine gute Mischung. Sound of the 80s? Klingt mir zu fröhlich, aber ich kann mir vorstellen zum Rhythmus mitzuwippen, wenn es im Radio liefe. Deswegen höre ich kein Radio. Moving on!
80s style music. Karma Chameleon definitely the most famous song. Boy George sure seems like a character
There are some pretty snappy numbers on this but also some terrible ones.
I was really hoping this wouldn’t be an entire album of Karma Chameleon clones..... and that’s basically what this is. So incredibly cheesy and utterly bland that it honestly was hard to get through. Glad I at least heard the orchestral piece at the end, because that made the suffering a little more worth it. Favorite Track(s): “Romance Revisited”
Why do people like this. Why do people listen to this. Why. Why. It's still incomparably better than something like Wu-Tang Clan or Bob Marley though.
This is a fun album. I probably will never listen to it again, but I dig it.
A šta ja znam, moglo je definitivno bolje. Zaboravljiv album više manje. Ne želim biti pregrub, al tako je. Već sam tako nešta čuo, vrišti 80te ali ne i kvaliteta. Prva i zadnja pjesma su dobre, prva je klasika od pjesme, a zadnja je fin završetak.
A decent 80's pop album. Certainly a product of it's time and something that doesn't sound great going to listen to it now, but I can see how it was popular. Some of the songs could just get annoying and repetitive.
Het doet mij erg weinig. Lijkt voor mij op George Michael meets club tropicana.
I can't believe I had to listen to a whole Culture Club album just to realize that "Karma Chameleon", the first song and their biggest hit, was the best.
Give Boy George credit for being a trans gender pioneer and having a sweet pop voice. But this album is just too sachrinne sweet for me and not my jam.
2 stars. A few OK tracks but nothing to write home about. Not entirely sure why it’s on this list?
80s pop that came and went for me. Not much I would go back to on here, not even the hit single. Favorites: It's a Miracle, Changing Every Day
One Banger and then a load of bang average filler. But I dare you not to wear out your carpet dancing to Karma Chameleon. I bloody Dare you! 2/5
It's tempting to make a crack about this music being by the numbers, but it's just not true. Colour By Numbers is easily identifiable as 80s pop no doubt, but Culture Club is very much its own thing. It's definitely not punk and it's not new wave. It's unabashed, pure pop. It's slick and heavily produced, but the synths are mostly in the background. It avoids instrumental textures that smack of darkness or depravity--cotton candy all the way. The vocals by Boy George are...oh, no! Is that supposed to be...soul???? Good Lord. Okay, there's a long history of non-black performers who attempt soul vocals and they sound like anything but. That doesn't mean that they're terrible, they just kind of accidentally create a new genre. And that's what's happening here. The tipoff is the background vocals by Helen Terry, who halfway kinda pulls off soul shouting. Colour By Numbers is kind of hard for me to evaluate. I wouldn't listen to this music on my own initiative in a million years--I generally don't like pure pop, and pseudo-soul-pop even less. But I'd be lying if I said that the arrangements, performances, or production were incompetent. You also can't fault the catchiness of Karma Chameleon. Do I hate it? Yes. I find Colour By Numbers tasteless and disposable. But on the level of craft, it isn't bad at all.
This is absolutely not for me. I didn't enjoy a single minute of this, apart from "Church of the Poisoned Mind", which almost came together for me before falling apart, which is even worse than just not coming together at all IMO. The only reason this is 2 stars instead of 1 is that it is definitely a competent album; well played, well written, well produced, and you can tell they are having fun. I just didn't have any fun with them lol.
Nothing extraordinary. Upbeat eighties pop including karma chameleon. Nice harmonies but basic/kitschy lyrics.
New wave albums tend to coast through my ears, but the fakeness of the instruments in Karma Chameleon balanced out my familiarity with the single. There are a few highs elsewhere, but they are packed at the end and the whole thing is just a touch too fun for its own good. Not a bad listen, but bad for the list.
Didn't need a re-listen. It annoyed me when it was released, just as annoying now. Still a very solid album, just a little to "uppy" for me.
This is fine.. feels too long. But maybe I listened to an extended version.
Eehh wasn't super into this. I didn't find it to be necessarily bad, just not really my thing. The music was a bit too upbeat and twinkly-sounding for me. Reminiscent of foggy dream sequence in a movie with a lot of lens flairs or something, not sure how else to describe it. Karma Chameleon is definitely a classic tune though, and I'm glad this album is included, if only for that. Fav Tracks: Karma Chameleon
There's some solid hits on this new wave album led by Boy George, however I will be an infrequent re-visitor to this one. The vast majority of these tracks are emotional, and meant to evoke similar feelings in the listener; it feels a bit put-on and cliche. Got pretty bored while listening to be frank. There is some good incorporation of strings at times and synth-y beats, but overall I do not operate on the same wavelength as this album. Fave tracks: Karma Chameleon, Black Money
2nd May 2022 Listened in the morning on the way to work. Met Gareth and Ben to watch Liverpool Villarreal champs league semi where we won 2-3. Quite enjoyed this, but not as much as Cyndi Lauper. Had some good tracks but felt a bit lightweight for me. 2.5 if I could.
TBH it's pretty inoffensive lightweight 80s pop (though I am a miserablist) Not a big fan of the main backing singer whose tones grate on me. The lyrics are all a bit simple/banal. 4 hits though and I rather like (bit OTT, and orchestral) Victims which finishes it all off...2.5
Are we just reaching for that 1001 number at this point? Okay, not painful to listen to, which is how I dictate what gets a 1, but not much fun either. It's just mediocre. Mediocre voices, mediocre backing instrumentals, mediocre lyrics. I suppose they all match each other nicely that way. Is this the kind of music you put on for your kid to entertain them? That's what the first song felt like for sure.
A pretty standard 1980s pop album that has a couple of pretty good tracks, but ultimately just blends in sonically with the rest of what came out at that time. 2.5/5
An album I would argue that is carried by the first song. Song is infamous but really doesn't do it for me but I would still rank it high than most of the other songs. 1. Mystery Boy (Suntori Hot Whiskey Song) 2. Stormkeeper 3. Karma Chameleon
This is a pretty superfluous album. Ubiquitous 80s pop, and not of the remarkable sort. There are a couple of decent tracks but not enough to make this an album you MUST listen to. Boy George’s pioneering fashion seals a two star verdict.