Reviews (page 4 of 7)
I really like Karma Chameleon, and a little peak into the ‘80s is always fun, but overall, this album feels like being in a musty vintage shop. Some people like shopping vintage. I find the whole ordeal itchy.
Screams 80s. A couple big hits but some pretty forgettable tracks too. Nothing awful.
Karma chameleon is my shower song. Don’t know why. I don’t really even like that song.
Kasarijyystöö. Hauska muttei ehkä taidetta 3/5
Toimiva hittikimara, mutta avausraidan ulkopuolella ei ihan iske. 3/5
Another album on here for one song. It was fine.
I've got sympathy for you if you had to listen to this in the 80s, the 80s.
I was born in the mid-1990s and grew up in the 2000s, so I didn't have the baked-in nostalgia for Culture Club and their big single "Karma Chameleon". When I heard that song later, all I could say was that it was catchy but not the kind of 80s song I sought. The group garnered their fanbase, particularly with Boy George's androgynous fashion style that would certainly be influential, and I didn't mind if a song of theirs would come on the radio. Still, again it wasn't my cup of tea. So imagine my luck that I got the album with "Karma Chameleon" as the first track. Between that and the rest of side one, the production was muted and dated in its glossy presentation such that these first couple of songs lacked the punch to stand out amidst the various new wave and blue-eyed soul acts I've heard already. By the end of "That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You)" I was ready to give up on Colour By Numbers. Then side two opened with "Church of the Poison Mind" with the accented beat, harmonica soloing, and more effortful delivery from Boy George, and I awoke from the slumber I was in. Following that number with the equally groovy "Miss Me Blind", the horns and tropical vibe of "Mister Man", the surprising synthesizer sweep of "Stormkeeper", and the elegant piano ballad "Victims", and it came as a shock to me that side two was just that good. I even went back and listened to side one to see if my mind somehow changed, and no, it's just the quality of the music elevated literally after flipping the record over. I've heard of albums getting top heavy with putting the best songs near the front, but an album rarely is bottom heavy. Suffice to say, the second half of Colour By Numbers saved this album from being lost in the sea of 80s new wave acts. Your mileage may vary from my experience, but at least I enjoyed a Culture Club album, which is more than I initially expected.
Starts off with the always fun Karma Chameleon. But then it kinda drops. The rest of the album is fairly good, except the songs just get really repetitive. Change out the repetitive lyrics for something more, and you'd have a 4 of 5 here. Best song: Karma Chameleon
I remember listening to this album on vinyl in my parents' basement; it felt way cooler and awesome 20 years ago than it does this time around. But a good album, just not great. if I had just been forced to listen to 5 crappy punk albums, I'd give this a higher score, but there have been some good tracks on this list recently, and you are being unfairly compared to some greats.
Good, but not exceptional.
It's alright, got some good top 100's, but I won't be seeking it out again.
Fine. Not the worst, not the best. Just meh.
Karma Cameleon. New wave pop. Pleasant, smooth 80s pop. Not very exciting, background music.
Not bad, but one listen is more than enough
ja die 80er; ist halt top
⭐⭐⭐— — 2[.7] of 5 stars. Besides being the "one (or 'two hit' - sorry luca) hit wonder" band, I somewhat enjoyed the rest of the album and loved the mix of classic 80s synth sounds and band instruments (shoutout mr. saxophone guy!!), and the basslines & drum grooves on some of the tracks were FONKY AF. However, after the first few tracks, it quickly got a little repetitive instrumentally and vocally (especially with the lyrics), seems like they're kind of a one-trick-pony. But overall, it's a pretty non-demanding, consistent, relaxing 80s pop/rock listen. The opener's iconic, but, besides that I also liked the slower feels of "Black Money," "That's the Way," and the closer, and the saxophone (and horn/trumpet??) solos throughout a lot of the tracks were pretty cool, and the instrumental break on "Miss Me Blind" was cool af. Favourites: Karma Chameleon⭐(basic pick but whatev), Black Money, Miss Me Blind, Mister Man, Victims. Dislikes: Changing Every Day (despite the name it's prolly the most un-changing on the album lol).
Rating - 3.4/5. > Mr. Club…. SOOOOO 80s. I like their cute, softer sound, its not overly synth. Very new wave lulz. And although karma chameleon is overplayed imo, its such a cute iconic song. “Its a miracle” is cute. I like the slower vibe of “black money”. “Church of the poison mind” is prob my fav. “Miss me blind” is groovayyy (callback)!!! Ok so they have a song called Mister Man…. Fits my whole “Mr.____” theme❤️. Overall good, kept the same vibe, 80s, Shoutout boy george. > thumbs up: karma chameleon, church of the poison mind, miss me blind.
Come a come a come a come a come a chameleonnnnn
A fun album with a few classics. Easy to listen to but not something I am racing to throw on again.
Part of the soundtrrack to the mid-80s. I was never a big fan of Culture Club, but the opening track "Karma Chameleon" was a massive hit and was everywhere, so it kind of grew on you. I liked the last track "Victims", but the rest of the album is meh.
Day 87 - Feb 9th, 2025 Eh? 3/5
Surprisingly political! Boy George, I had no idea. It's a little "Feed the World" as far as its message but hearts (and vocals) are in the right place.
a really fun album that combines funk, soul, electronica, and other elements into an enjoyable listening experience throughout.
Not great
-2021 me jumped for joy when this album came up, I was obsessed with Karma Chameleon then but never really listened to anything else by Culture Club -I’m honestly ready to defend this album after listening to it, it’s a little corny but there are some very fun and even beautiful songs on here. just the right amount of campy… somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars -Favorites are Karma Chameleon, Miss Me Blind, and Mister Man
6/10 I knew the singles of the album already and liked those. The album i good, but a lot of the same. Songs sound very similar. The album closer isn't good in comparison to the other songs, due to this it doesnt end on a strong note Good listen but will not return to it in my free time.
More island vibes than I was expecting.
#478. This is one where you'd definitely need the associated nostalgia to really like it. No one really needs to hear this one because if you're listening to it for the first time now, it's too late, you're not going to like it. 3/5: ok?
okay 80s slay
okay, not really my kind of music.
i was expecting more and maybe thats my fault
Other than the hit single it was meh. Background music
Starting off with a legendary track, to fall into oblivion with some light hearted and easy to listen tracks. An easy 2 with an extra point.
Liked this, poppier new order sorta vibe
if i could give this 3,5 i would
it was alright, not something to call your friends about
had to bring out my dad's vinyl record of this one for the deluxe experience!!!! It's a fairly jazzy album that does an upbeat, lovey sound pretty well, but then beats it to death with repetitive choruses and indistinguishable songs. That's my main gripe with this album, although it is still pretty good. Karma Chameleon is Oliver music, although their deep cuts, especially the instrumental bridge of Miss Me Blind kinda pop off. Victims is low-key fire.
5.5/10
still January 12, 2025 HL: “Karma Chameleon”, “Miss Me Blind”, “It’s a Miracle”, “Stormkeeper” 3.5 I didn’t go into this a huge Culture Club fan, and two full listens later I’m still not in da club but I do appreciate its hooks & general cheesiness. “Karma Chameleon” is one of the best songs of its time though, I’ll give Boy George that. “Miss Me Blind” is a song I wasn’t keen on, but I somehow never noticed that synth/guitar break 3 mins in before today. It makes the whole song, imo
this album is so 80s. honestly a few bops but it gave me a headache after a while- the album felt too long. I'd give it a 6/10
Boy George sure was ahead of his time. Must've be wild being so expressive back then. I like the playful tone through the songs. Nothing to groundbreaking in the sound i guess, but the style bumps them up
A melting pot of disco synth pop new wave and soul with incredibly neon 80s production and some gale force full blown diva vocals. Fun and sad and idealistic. At its best in radio pop hit and dance club banger modes - less strong on the ballads.
Great, fun, interesting Good pop songs. High 3 low 4
vou fazer um abaixo assinado para o aplicativo colocar meias estrelas!!!!
J’ai été étonnée de constater que le reste de la discographie du band qui a sortit le hit joyeux et entraînant Kakakakakarma Chameleon était étonnamment…mou? J’ai jamais sentie un tel niveau de désintérêt et d’indifférence dans la voix d’un chanteur de musique pop-dance.
Karma Chameleon is amazing, rest of the album fall short for me
Pretty all over the place, with some bewildering lyrics and darker themes. I only really enjoyed the first hit track, but I'll give them credit for making me feel weird and give it a three.
Nothing particularly differentiates this from any other 80s pop. Mediocre.
first listen it's definitely groovy
Ok fun album. Seem to recall gifting this on cassette to my 12 year old sister who gave it back to me unopened on my birthday 2 days later.
This had some great hits in it that I knew but didn't attribute to Culture Club. Everyone know Karma Chameleon but a real new is Church of the Poison Mind. Great listen from a great 80s band.
Well, the album opens strong at least. "Karma Chameleon" is a stone classic, and without a doubt the best song here. That harmonica line it has does so much for me, whether it's fake or not. As for the rest of the album, though... I wouldn't go so far as to call it bad — the 1's and 2's I've seen people give it are a bit too harsh — I wouldn't exactly day I was all that interested in it, either. Over the rest of its runtime, I found it very easy to space out and let my mind drift elsewhere. And unlike other albums, where I feel very bad about doing that sort of thing... Not here. Besides "Karma Chameleon" and "Victims" (which I managed to rejoin the album in time for; I think it's a nice ballad), nothing here sounds terribly special to me. Like, jeez, at least RIO had hooks, y'know? I'm at a 3 with this. I don't think it deserves lower. Like, maybe without "Karma Chameleon" to kick down the door... But still, nothing here's that offensive to my sensibilities, so... Yeah. I like y'wears at least, Boy George. Y'did real good with y'did there.
Not quite what I expected.
Catchy and fun. Very 80s. Not something I would seek out, but a fun listen regardless. Very funky beats that lead into clever hooks.
I really like it, its very 80s like I said for like half of my albums. It's so fun and colorful.
fun album with 80s pop and interesting instrumentals
A thoroughly unremarkable ‘80’s pop album if not for 2 things: Karma Chameleon, which is a great song and Boy George’s vocals. It’s light and enjoyable but nothing more than that.
Karma Karma Karma 3 stars!
I'm gonna try to be brief on this one for once because I have to go somewhere soon. This one's good. It's very 80s, especially in the sound department. "Karma Chameleon" is a pretty fun song that is simultaneously ahead of its time and very dated. The other ones aren't as interesting, but are still solid. The singing is quite fitting. The writing is also alright. It's very funny that, between Funkadelic yesterday, and the band that Boy George was in today, I got two artists in a row that were referenced in Gex. The album's solid, but it's not my favorite. I wish I could say more. Strong 3/5.
ボ ー ゲイ Okay, because of the cover I expected something truly disgusting, but it opened with a really catchy pop song. All is forgiven Was fine
The first 7 inch record I remember owning was Karma Chameleon so I really wanted to like this one. The production is overly sweet and more than a few songs edge a little too close to George Michael territory.
Karma Chameleon is an all-time ear worm. The rest of the album follows suit style-wise but is inevitably downhill from its initial zenith. A bit weird and VERY 80's
Karma Chameleon pretty good, the rest of this was very forgettable
Great songs on here. The 80s were something else man, so much good stuff.
This album seems a lot less fun once you know that Boy George imprisoned and beat a male escort. If we focus just on the music, it's fun overall but it gets pretty samey fast. Like, really samey However, the doo-wap influences are fun. 3/5
It's fine
When I first showed this to my parents, my father said this was “terrible” and my mother said I would hate it. What a great first impression! Parents aside, this album is unabashedly 80s sounding. Reverb drums and all, it’s a good example of pop music at the time, however that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have faults. It’s sappy and very cheesy sometimes, and some tracks aren’t that memorable. The vocals from Boy George, a few catchy songs, and the lyrics save this from being a loss though. If you like the 80s sound and cheesy stuff, i’d recommend this. :
***An ok album
Quite enjoyable although every song sounds the same. Can’t give it higher than a 3.
A poor man’s wham/george Michael. This was fine, inoffensive 80s pop, but lacking the real heart and soul of George Michael and the fun of wham.
not as bad as people said, but not impressive either
3.5
Favorite Track: Miss Me Blind
I loved the radio hits on this album when they came out when I was a kid. Pop with a little bit of soul and Caribbean flavors sprinkled in.
3.5 stars, really. Still fun, in small doses.
Culture Club was an interesting band from the 80s. Lots of pastels, lots of gender bending confusion for conservatives, and lots of soul from a bunch of English white guys.
I like a lot of music from the '80s, generally, and I was familiar with three or four songs from this album, but I never thought about going any deeper with Culture Club, because for me, even though they are so quintessentially 80s, their music is not anything that I ever felt too strongly about. Boy George and the whole androgyny thing was such a big component of the visual arts of '80s pop culture, though. Well, now I can say but I've listened to a full album. All in all, I think I'm good with just staying with the singles. Although I was kind of surprised and intrigued to hear a little bossa nova flavor on one song, there were too many sleepy slow jams for my taste. The female backup vocalist was quite powerful and at times rather overshadowed the main vocals. Seemed like kind of a "light" album overall-- nothing too heavy going on.
Wasn't sure what to make of this! It was quite fun but there was that weird song about mixing races to get coffee coloured people. Not sure what to make of that. Overall it didn't leave much of an impression on me
2.5☆/5 09.17.2024
“Karma Chameleon “ was stuck in my 10-year-old’s the rest of the day after listening to this album with me. I hate that he was tortured like that. The rest of the album isn’t bad. The sad I’m cover kills me.
Not bad
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background When it comes to Culture Club, I'm really only familiar with the huge radio hits. (Karma Chameleon, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me). They're fine for what they are, and the album itself goes down fairly easily, but I don't hear much that is going to make me want to return.
As someone born in 1972, it might be a shock to some that I've never been a fan of 80s pop music. And, most of it hasn't held up well over time. I didn't like Culture Club when they hit in the 80s and I still don't. However, I have to give a tip of the hat to Boy George as he did deliver solid vocals for the group and often times his tone reminded me a little of George Michael.
Enjoyable but it contains Karma Chameleon so I have to cut some stars. Karma Chameleon is a musical disgrace.
"Colour by Numbers" is the second album by British new wave group Culture Club. New wave and blue-eyed soul are the listed genres. Hmmmm...I might go pop instead of new wave but whatever. The band does include members beyond lead singer Boy George who are Roy Hay (guitars, piano, electric sitar), Mike Craig (bass) and Jon Moss (drums). The album did well commercially hitting #1 in the UK and #2 in the US and received mostly positive reviews. "Karma Chameleon" has a very nice intro with guitar/bass to drums to harmonica. Boy George has clear and loud vocals. A very catchy chorus accentuated by the harmonica. It's about being afraid of standing up for something, being a suck-up and getting paid back for that. Oh, and it was a very big single. The fifth single "It's a Miracle" has a synth and horns open. A funky/dance beat. It's bouncey and happy. Great backing vocals by Helen Terry. Speaking of great backing vocals by Helen Terry, "Church of the Poison Mind" opens the second side. An organ and a blasting harmonica. Great lead vocals and chorus as well; this time accentuated by horns. Ummm..probably my favorite Culture Club song. Vocals come in right away in "Miss Me Blind." Very 80's and easy sounding although Boy George is telling someone that they'll miss him. The album closes with a melancholy ballad "Victums." A different ending, dramatic with strings and drums. The music on this album is happy, light, poppy and has catchy choruses. Great vocals by Boy George and Helen Terry. Very nice of use the harmonica and horns and, therefore, great production by Steve Levine. There's some filler songs but half the album had hit songs and those songs still stand up today. So, I think you'll know if you'd like this album.
Nice slice of the 80s
It came and went.
It comes and goes.
it came and went
a banger followed by a bunch of snoozers
Was it good? Arguably - it was at least well-executed with tight production and a clear vision for what it wanted to be as an album. Was it ageless/timeless? …please refer to the cover art.
Oh man, the second ‘Karma Chameleon’ played I was transported to just about every family party/event I have ever been to. It might actually be one of my most listened to songs, and that stat has the context of it being completely against my will. Not that it’s a bad song - I can see why it was a hit. But the fact it continues to dominate in the wedding/christening/birthday circles to this day kind of amazes me. It’s also a reason why I was ready to write this album off, to be honest. But it actually surprised me. Boy George has a pretty good voice. He really shines in the ballads: Changing Every Day’, ‘That’s The Way’ (with Helen Terry absolutely killing it, as well), Victims - are all phenomenal tracks in their own right with very well written lyrics to back them up. But I find where this album stumbles is in its more up tempo tracks. Sure, ‘Karma Chameleon’ has somehow stood the test of the time. But the rest of the selection on this tracklist has not particularly aged well. They’re enjoyable, but you wouldn’t exactly need to be asking the question “what decade are these songs are from?”. It’s a total product of its time, and I think there’s other artists/bands who moreso deserve some of the recognition for the popularisation of this sound. Overall it’s a decent album. If you’re a fan of that pure 80’s pop flavour, you’ll definitely find it here. I can personally appreciate it on some level as an overall project, even if it’s not completely for me.
Boy George, mir bleibt auch nichts erspart. Aber wenigsten keine 68er Schrammelmusik oder 90er Grunge/Alternative-Bands, die aus gutem Grund heute vergessen sind. Dachte ich. Keine Ahnung was zwischen 1983 und heute passiert ist. Oder ob es an meiner momentanen Corona-Erkrankung bzw. am Fieber liegt: hat mir gut gefallen und hat meine Laune eindeutig verbessert.
Fun and energetic, but nothing super crazy. Some songs were overly repetitive and got annoying.
6/10. A bit corny. But I can appreciate it. The background singing and saxophone were enjoyable as well.
Karma Chameleon is such an 80s staple, and I was hoping this album would just knock my slouchy socks off. My socks stayed in tact, but it was still catchy and fun and got better on the second listen.
Peaked at the first song
The hits are hits, the rest of the album is fine. Probably more significant for really introducing the world to Boy George.
Karma Chameleon is of course a huge track. I didn't know any of the other songs, but it's an easy, fun listen. I was surprised how many tracks had that "soul" singer featured.
i love Miss Me Blind DOWNNN 80s pop they could never make me hate you
STANDOUTS: Karma Chameleon Mister Man OVERALL: 3/5; I'll take this over bad grunge dad garage music ANY day, even if it isn't a solid album.
could i write poetry to this? n
Better than I thought it was going to be. I bet if I give this another listen I'll like it more. I started off not caring for each song, and liking it by the end.
So very 80's High nostalgia value
Fun
Ofboðslega gaman að fá smá Culture Club skammt en mikið rosalega eru lögin þeirra mikil endurtekning á sömu frösunum aftur og aftur og aftur. Maður vissi allaveganna hvaða lag maður var að hlusta á
没啥感觉
I found this ok, I was expecting it to be horrendous
Much better than I was expecting. Quite enjoyable.
Meh! This was fine. Nothing much to complain about but likely won’t listen again 3.0
decent album, a bit dated. But Karma Chameleon lives on!
Un album d’Anglais fascinés par les musiques des Amériques, avec des synthétiseurs accrocheurs. Une bonne pop de l’époque
Growing up, my parents had this album on vinyl. I don’t remember them ever putting it on, but I was familiar with “Karma Chameleon,” a song which I still enjoy today. At some point, I became familiar with “Church of the Poison Mind” as well, which I also like. Even though I like those two songs, I don’t have high hopes for the rest of this album, but I’ve been surprised before, so we’ll see. I wound up liking this album more than I thought I would. There’s a little bit of everything on here as far as eighties pop music is concerned: upbeat earworms, synthesizers, touches of world music, and some pretty decent ballads. Boy George’s vocals are fantastic throughout the album, and Helen Terry provides some fantastic backing vocals. The musical arrangements are best on “Karma Chameleon,” “Church of the Poison Mind,” and “It’s a Miracle,” but with the exception of some great bass grooves throughout the album, a lot of the songs were a touch boring to me musically. Still, there’s a lot of deep emotions conveyed by Boy George’s singing, and his persona as a pop star was massive during Culture Club’s peak popularity. This is a pretty good and fun album, where the vocals and emotional lyrics really shine. I can’t see myself listening to the whole album again, but “Karma Chameleon” is still an absolute blast, and it barely beats “Church of the Poison Mind” as the best song on the album.
sooooo 80s. some good songs
Solid if somewhat maudlin white boy soul - possibly the origin of what followed. Good bass and whilst his voice gets tiring, the Boy can sing Won't be listening again
There’s a cool, jazzy feel to this that separates it from a lot of other 80s pop albums, and Boy George has a great voice.
I can’t be too bothered with most of the songs, but there are a few decent pop songs that hold up. Karma Chameleon is impossibly catchy.
I wasn't looking forward to this album at all. Karma Chameleon just isn't my jam... That being said, it's the opener on this record. To me, the record started off poorly. But I was pleasantly surprised that other songs were pretty decent. Nothing special. But poppy, and akin to Wham! I dislike New Wave type music... And I feel like Culture Club may be one of the last New Wave artists that really had a successful career. Of course other New Wave bands are successful.. But I feel like Culter Club had huge, quick success. I really really really dislike Boy George. From interviews I've seen, live banter over the years, I think he is an asshole. So, to not let the artist influence my thoughts on the music, I tried being as objective as possible. The best song on this record is the closer. It's instrumental (which, as I dislike New Wave singers - yes, they all sounds similar... But actually Boy George probably has the best voice comparatively to other new wave singers) - very beautiful string arrangements. I give huge props for anyone who is stigmatized for their personal lives, and that they have to go above and beyond to be accepted by bigot societies. The fact that Boy George and the drummer, Jon Moss were both homosexual, they already had a target on their backs but on the contrary, they had a huge fanbase within the LGBTQ community. But to have a number 1 hit in the 80s, where people's sexuality were scrutinized, and judged... This is pretty incredible. Anyways, not to make this a political rant... This album was better than I thought. Not my 'cupatee' but there were moments of well written pieces of music.
I enjoyed this more than I expected to
Synth pop with some blue eyed soul and funk. It's fine, it's very flamboyant, and contains plenty of 80s tropes. I really like the singer they got for a few songs to act as a foil to Boy George. I enjoyed it a lot more than most of the 80s stuff on this list, but it's still nothing insane. Favorite tracks: "Church Of the Poison Mind", "Victims", "Mister Man"
Im sure this didn't sit well with some of our American brethren but this was writ large over my 80's UK based childhood so it left me with a lovely wave of nostalgia. The opening track is obviously a pop classic but the rest of the album didn't fall off a cliff. The surprising orchestral piece at the end was a welcome addition as well. This isn't going to rock many worlds but a solid three is always welcome.
A whole album of Culture Club is just a bit too much 80's pop. That being said, some good songs, always loved Church of Poison Mind.
Perfectly fine 80s pop. I liked it enough. My daughter was singing Karma Chameleon for two days after.
pop-wrapped social commentary. let's dance while the world falls apart! some very good songs. some very boring ones as well. so very uneven. But I will give +10 points for the spelling of "Colour"
Es una banda bien pop/rock de los 80s. Tiene unos temitas que suenan muy bien con el saxo característico de época y buenos arreglitos.
Not my thing really
Fairly generic 80's pop for most of the album, very in line with wham or george michael. Enjoyable album that definitely starts off with its best song. Not sure if I would put the whole album on again but Karma Chameleon is a bop.
First song is a banger and there's some decent stuff spread throughout the album, but it was just a bit long and never reached the heights of the opener again.
Iconic and clearly a hit for the early 80's
Colourful romantic pop from the 80's.
Low 3. 50/100
Pretty good if you like New Wave
Fun and silly.
Fun album that goes on for way too long
Karma Chameleon is an amazing song as far as I'm concerned. The rest is pretty okay-ish.
- This is very much not my speed, but I do have to give credit for some catchy tunes. More of a fan of the songs with the more mournful tones ("Black Money" and "That's The Way"), though that honestly may be more of a result of the inclusion of the gospel singer. Also found "Miss Me Blind" to be more what I wanted. - "Karma karma karma karm--" noooooope. - The harmonica is driving me up the wall a little bit. Sounds like it belongs on an 80s children's special.
fun album. boy george comes across as a more flamboyant poor man’s version of george michael. didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it either.
This was actually a lot of fun.
Karma Chameleon. What a goofy song. If I wanted to encapsulate everything about the pop 80s sound that I dislike, I'd be hard pressed to find a better candidate. Cheesy ass backing synths, overly bright and forward vocal harmonization, fucking harmonica, fake as hell bass interludes, and strange tempo breakdowns. As much as I don't like these things, it is a goddamned catchy chorus. Gotta say, while I hate cheesy synth horns, It's A Miracle is a damned fun song. The drums in particular provide a great element to root into. Also the bass (while cheesy in tone) is pretty funky in its progression. I have no business enjoying this as much as I am. For all the 80s blunders that are on here in the mix, a lot of the songs are catchy and there are a few (mostly near the front end) that were downright entertaining. I would say that this is a low 3 with little actual replay potential for me.
Holy hell Karma Chameleon is such a bop, I never thought that this song would show up. These songs are all catchy as hell thats for sure. I really like the two singers being used in most of the songs. Wouldn't normally think I would like this music, but I could not help but tap my foot in enjoyment pretty much throughout the whole album.
It's fun but what's it doing in this list?
I appreciate it more now than I did at the time. Boy George is one of the more underrated soul singers of his time.
I was intrigued, as (like most people) I only know Karma Chameleon. I'm not going to say I really enjoyed this album, but I certainly didn't hate it, and never felt like skipping any songs. It was quintessential 80s, but never hyper.
Soooo 80s, in a good way. But kind of one-note.
I was dreading this one. Turns out...not too bad! Someone needed to say no to the harmonica though!
I was grooving to this but most of the songs sounded basically the same to me. 3.5 rounded down to 3.
The most 3/5 album ever made. Pleasant to listen to, short, completely forgettable, ugly as fuck album cover. Just a perfect example of mediocrity.
Eh. Not bad but not great. A lot of the songs are pretty repetitive. But some of them are pretty good. Nothing too out there or interesting just some solid early 80s bops. Songs added to Spotify: 1
Ok. A couple good songs and one great one
Fun album.
Un poco rollo. Pero bueno, tiene la mítica Karma Chameleon, y es Culture Club.
Never had any interest in this album but once again after giving it a try it I was surprised by how much i enjoyed it. A really fun Pop album that has some really solid songs. Church of the Poison Mind really stood out for me here.
Light and poppy, recognized Karma Chameleon
Really just one good song
Pleasant listening, smooth jazzy pop type stuff. Not exceptional, but reasonably enjoyable.
Good production and catchy, just not my vibe
It's a time capsule!
Karma Chameleon is easily the album highlight, but the rest is perfectly fine synth pop. Pleasant and sunny.
Campy and soulful. Great backing vocals and bossa nova vibes, with urprisingly fresh RnB pop melodies that sound more recent than 1983. But then other tracks sound dated. I kept trying to imagine when I'd play this album. Maybe as a background to a pleasant dinner.
Iconic 80s sound. But not a real fan of the album in its entirety. Feels a little flat.
I don't quite get what Culture Club are trying to do here, but it is admittedly groovy at times. Also, it doesn't help with the confusion that Boy George and George Michael have extremely similar vocals.
I would never in a million year pick up a record with that album cover. It’s horrible - but what a banger opening! The second half is better than the first, but all in all it’s just fun and quite catchy. Just good times at your aunt’s dance party.
This had really strong potential to be another tainted love soft cell album where there’s one classic banger and the rest is lame trash but it managed to rise above that if only barely. Every song is still super simplistic and catchy but there was just enough for me to not want it to be over after karma chameleon. There was a great guitar solo in miss me blind but other than that it was just fine. Karma chameleon isn’t enough to get it above a 3 in the same way take on me got its album above a 2.
Okay
# 165 : A happy album, but one banger doesn't make a good album, basically 2-3 good songs and a bunch of filler. Fav Track : Karma Chameleon
Somehow I missed the fact that Boy George is the lead singer of Culture Club. TIL. While "Karma Chameleon" is obviously a classic, I could take or leave the rest of the album. I fucking love this album cover, though. The colours, the clothing, the facial expressions, the random kanji. It's perfect. It perfectly encapsulates everything I love about the 80s.
Too 80s for me thanks
No esta mal, pero suena igual que mucha música. Los coros son pegadizos pero me parece que es mas merito de lo repetitivo que de una buena melodía. El sonido queda anticuado.
Not normally my sort of album or music, but there is no denying this has some huge eighties moments on it. Colour by Numbers is packed with that unmistakable early eighties pop sound. Bright, melodic and full of personality. At times it feels very much of its era, which is probably why I am not sure I would return to it often. Karma Chameleon is superb. An absolute classic and still incredibly catchy. It carries the album for me and reminds you why Culture Club were so massive at the time. Beyond that, several of the other tracks feel very eighties and slightly forgettable. Favourite song: Karma Chameleon Least favourite: A few of the deeper tracks blend together Album artwork: Bold, colourful and completely reflective of the era
I like the horns all over the place, but Karma Chameleon is really the only above average track.
Fyrsta lagið er banger þótt ég myndi setja meiri kraft í flutninginn ef ég væri að pródúcera það. Hin lögin fara inn um annað og út um hitt við fyrstu hlustun og mér finnst ég ekki þurfa að hlusta aftur.
I remember dismissing this band when it first came out. It seemed so poppy, and I didn't like Boy George's voice and persona. Now it sounds better, and I'm wiser and don't judge outward appearances like I used to. His voice is still not my favorite but it's pretty good. The band is great, song arrangements are fun and very 1980s with a reggae feel. It will never be a favorite, but I appreciate it now.
It was fine. I thought it would better but it became a safer album as it went.
I think there a reason everyone only remembers the first track on the album
More like 2.5
Karma Chameleon reste un bon morceau qu’il est impossible de ne pas chanter en choeur. Les autres titres sont plus conventionnels, pas forcément désagréables, reflets d’une période et des orchestrations en vigueur à l’époque. Pas renversant mais au final sympathique.
Karma Chameleon and Church of the Poison Mind are both absolute bangers. Album wasn’t terrible
Karma Chameleon always gets stuck in my head to the point where I skip it if it appears on a playlist, but the album itself isn’t bad.
Nice
saw karma chameleon and was excited to listen, ended up being an album that just uses the new-wave formula with nothing unique and had a lot of filler. completely average.
A lot more bluesy and soulful than expected. I think I would've liked it more if it was just a full album of Karma Chameleon soundalikes.
Not exactly my cup of tea but a couple songs got my head bopping.
Pretty solid 80s pop. What would it be like if this was the sound of my thoughts? What would it be like if this was my what my brain craved to listen to? Who would I be? It’s groovy
First listen - meh. Second listen - a lot better. I don't think it's an album I can keep coming back to, but it's energetic and joyful. It epitomizes the early 80s, which is probably why it made the list. But it's not bad. Fun or emotional beats, good harmonies, and pretty smooth. And it's certainly more than just Karma Chameleon - It's a Miracle is an even better fun one, Church of the Poison Mind is their deepest or most complete one (beats, lyrics, vocals), and That's the Way and Victims are two good piano-heavy softer yet soaring songs.
Mostly pretty bland, although a few of the songs are great dance music, and there are some cool synth moments (like in "Miss Me Blind"). Also, why is a random upbeat pop-soul track called "Church of the Poison Mind"?
Karma chameleon rips tho
"Church of the Poisoned Mind" is probably my favorite Culture Club song, but the rest are from Kissing to be Clever and "Karma Chameleon" is definitely not one of them. I certainly wanted to love this album, but I just didn't. It's mostly of an ooey gooey 80s style I don't enjoy. "Church of the Poisoned Mind" gets a five but the rest is a miss.
Pretty solid pop, catchy, good voice. Not my thing but it's pretty good. 3.2
It was an interesting album. not my style but I can see the allure.
Karma Chameleon doing a lot of heavy lifting on this rating
Overall good but a lot of songs ended with repetition of a line for 1-2 minutes which made it annoying after a while.
Cant fucking believe I'll be doing this shit for 3 more months. 4 3
Soft 3
Well crafted '80s pop with a good measure of sould and a gospel tinge on numbers like That's the Way and Church of the Poison Mind, which for me is the strongest song on the album. 3.5 stars
I don't understand the appeal of Karma Chameleon, and I don't understand the appeal of this album.
Ville godt kunne lide det men sagde mig ikke så meget. Gled lidt i baggrunden på en ok måde, men synes ikke rigtig det hookede
Am I the only person that thinks George Michael and Boy George are the same person with different wardrobes? Fine 80s approximation of soul. Nothing astounding.
Karma Khameleon is a great song but the rest didn't really stand out to me
Every now and then I encounter a new quintessential album of the 80s, and after few days I see another ultimate record with 80s tunes. And Culture Club is so much formed by this decade, that it's hard to analyse the music from a neutral perspective. In my opinion - too much 80s is not a good thing.
Un poco rollo. Pero bueno, tiene la mítica Karma Chameleon, y es Culture Club.
Fun in parts
Interesting American influences. Fun music and Karma Chameleon is a an 80s classic.
sassy and fun I hope a definite bop. 3 stars. If I'm feeling more generous later maybe it'll be 4.
I love a good generic 80s pop album it’s generic and such a light lift to listen to
Omg perongeluk bij het vorige gecomment wat hier moest, nouja ik rate ze toch allebei hetzelfde dus het maakt niet uit
This is a pretty good album but its dated AF and makes me long for the heady carefree days of Thatcher's Britain. 3/5
Mwah , poppie sound
Några rätt skapliga låtar, annars lite fånigt.
5/10. It had Karma Chameleon on it.
It was a relatively short album. I knew at least a couple of songs. It was enjoyable but I don't see myself revisiting the entire album again.
That songs that go, GO.
Almost TOO 80s
I only knew Karma Chameleon before listening to this today. It's kind of like background music. There are some catchy tunes here, but nothing stands out and wows me. It's pretty average overall.
Great 80's album. Karma Chameleon is a very catch tune.
A fun pop record! Also really involved piano songs. Not too dissimilar to Queen ballads.
A bit catchier than I expected. 2.5/5
7/10 Kinda fun. Obviously couldn't come out of anything else than the 80s. A pretty good pop album that does what it's set out to do and doesn't disappoint.
The old problem of the first song. It gives the vibe to the whole album, but it just doesn't go on. There are moments of said "vibe" throughout the tracks, but non of them are a banger.
This is what the 80s sound like. It's over-the-top production is fast enough to dance to, and slow at times to sing to. It's full of cheesy post-disco riffs, minimalist piano ballads, gospel back vocals, and an unauthentic vocal style. I think he's trying to imitate MJ and Duran Duran simultaneously. There are a lot of shit songs on here, especially the bonus tracks (except maybe "Mystery Boy"), but there are also quite a few excellent tracks that nail the synth-led disco sound they're going for. "Karma Chameleon" and "Miss Me Blind" are our catchy bangers. Most of the rock-oriented tracks on here sound like they're part of some action movie soundtrack. Fairly inoffensive, but I can't say any of them besides the two top singles are particularly outstanding.
Seemed better in the 80s.
Catchy, kitschy, and enjoyable, but… kind of one long song.
u nalbum correct pour mes gouts. La toune karmaleon est bonne pour vrai c'Est un ver d'oreille. A part cela je sais que ca a eu un impact a l'Époque mais c'est correct. 3
I have no objections to this, but it’s all pretty similar after the first track.
Unfortunately, there’s only one good song on this album.
I was shocked to see that “Karma Chameleon” didn’t show up in the soundtrack of a single eighties movie. It just sounds too much like Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear, or maybe Anthony Michael Hall creating a girlfriend for himself. It was also the only Culture Club song I knew going into this listen, and based on the other tracks on Colour By Numbers, I’m not surprised why. The album is quintessential eighties pop, but as dynamic of a genre as eighties pop is, it isn’t near the top of my list. “Karma Chameleon” is the only song that really stands out to me, and at least none of the rest turn me away, so I can only give this album three stars.
Artist was not bad just did not do it for me while driving to work. I may need to try this album again.
Un poco rollo. Pero bueno, tiene la mítica Karma Chameleon, y es Culture Club.
Far more tolerable than I was expecting. Even pretty enjoyable at times. Karma Chameleon is a certified banger. I wish they would be a little bit more explicit in their lyrics though, how exactly do you destroy a baby?
Alright, could've been a bit more upbeat
I’m reminded of a charming anecdote about my Grandad who “thought Boy George was a straight guy”. You can already imagine how that turned out. 3.5 stars.
Moni arvostelee tämän sen takia mitä tämä oli.. meikämanne arvostelen sen mitä tämä on, jos tätä ei olisi ikinä ollut.. Hyvä albumi...
Karma Chameleon is an all time banger and the rest of the songs held up pretty well too
Better than I expected/remembered. George's tone is mellifluous and the backing singers are excellent. Suffers from 80s bass/keyboards and production however.
Decent 80s album.
Enjoyable 80s pop however in the end, just not providing enough stand-out material to warrant more than 3 stars
Pop. Sin más.
The singles are strong, along with a couple of the other numbers.
Good bops, but too many ballads. Love this garbage though
me when i come and go
Several of the album tracks are actually better than that single everybody knows
I actually quite enjoyed this one. Very upbeat 80s sounding songs that got me in a good mood. Somewhat loses steam by the end.
C'est très ok comme album. C'est loin d'être mauvais, mais je trouvais ça un peu trop safe et pareil d'une chanson à l'autre. Un peu trop pastel à mon goût. 5/10
Pretty good pop music.
80s could be a two
New wave - pop. Un megahit. Ni fu ni fa.
Probably the best Culture Club album. I'm not entirely huge on them as a band but their hits are great. The things between the hits I could take or leave, they kinda drag a bit and get muddled in 80s noise
A very 80s album, very synth heavy but still an enjoyable listen.
3.7 - Goofy but well-intentioned and ultimately endearing. I agree with Christgau that Boy George’s croon is clumsy. And the carribean/African/tropical horn-drum backing tracks burn garishly in neons and pastels. But, still, I like the positivity, the pleas for tolerance and the high-energy hopefulness. Extra points for the album cover that reminds me of the graphics on the “Girl Talk” board game.
A gem of a new wave feel. Boy George and crew craft some lovely almost island infused pop that sits in between a bunch of different genres. Never quite finding comfort or a home in any of them. It fizzles slightly in between track one and track ten.
Solid 80s with some Psych nostalgia, but a bit more ballad-y than I like
Karma Chameleon is a banger! These are the sounds of my early years. Mr George's voice is very good. Love a good bit of 80s harmonica. Couple of bangers, everything else solid. Good listen. 3 / 5 stars.
J'ai passé tout l'album à chercher à qui la voix du chanteur du groupe Culture Club ressemblait, malheureusement sans succès.
Ik hou van het 80s geluid, en sommige nummers zijn echt heel sterk en poppy. Maar word ik hier als mens nou echt beter van? Mwa.
Karma chameleon, amazing of course, and it's repetitive but still pleasant. Man, that was an indicator of things to come. Some of the other songs just feel like a line on repeat. Gets a bit droning.
Oh dopo 'Karma Chameleon' non c'è nulla
not bad
Not all of the 80's was amazing was it? There are tribes in the Brazilian rainforest that have heard "Karma Chameleon" and "Church of the Poison Mind" is an absolute banger. The rest? A blur of synth, sax and Boy George.
College Flashback!
I feel this album has earned its place on this list, and I didn't mind hearing it again after such a long time, I don't think I'll be listening to it again
Karma Chameleon will always remind me of that episode of TV my brothers and I made where we acted smart and took dance breaks. Beyond that, this felt like a one hit wonder album from the UK which is to say it’s just right there in that middling middle
I was like "ew another new wave" when I saw the oversaturated cover which with some Japanese characters thrown in for... aesthetics? (a move which I've always thought is cringe, even for the '80s). But setting those aside, this is '80s new wave at its poppiest and catchiest. While I'm not a big fan of those very British vocals, I like how it's handled here and I also like his personality. Overall, while it's just some generic new wave with some decent singles, it still surprised me in a pleasant way.
2/3
This was massive way back in it's time. Relistening now there's 4 distinct hits which are out and out pop with a soul slant (thanks to Helen Terry). It's only really worth listening for nostalgia as it's so 80s. Still, variety is the spice of life and all that......
Goddamn songs were long in the 80s. Pop hits though. Some really cool harmonies. The lyrics are just okay, they're not particularly sticky nor do they seem to mean much, but they generally work. It's incredibly listenable, though there are more than a few throwaways - I could do without the ballads on this album.
Harmless 80s pop album that doesn’t belong on this list. The choruses are all really basic but catchy, the songs are all mostly upbeat. I like the more unique elements such as the harmonica on Karma Chameleon and the synthesizer on Miss Me Blind, but overall a pretty paint-by-numbers album.
Just couldnt quite get into it
Church of the poisoned mind is a better song than karma chameleon. There were some decent songs I’d never heard before here but also too much saxophone.
Quick, important side not about yesterday’s Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young and Crazy Horse. I remembered the album Live Rust, which is amazing and definitely a hands down, no shit 5 star. Now you may rest easy. Whew! Culture Club is a textbook definition of 80s new wave/pop. Not my genre. Karma Chameleon is fun and the rest of the album is a mix of corny, some fun, and not too cheesy 80s sound such that I’d be OK having it on in the background.
Solid
You can't get much more iconic 80s than Culture Club. Just look at that album cover - if you've got an 80s dress-up party just go as one of those guys! Apart from Karma Chameleon, the overall album wasn't that great. Yes Boy George has a great and varied voice, but there wasn't much that grabbed me throughout, even with the other singles. Best: Karma Chameleon Worst: Man Shake
Entertaining solid pop band fronted by a good singer. The songs are mixed, some bouncy, many fun and few with a distorted view.
Another 80s classic. Not a particular fan of Culture Club and my favourites of theirs weren’t on this album. It was a nostalgic trip but unremarkable. Pleasant enough to listen to so 3*
Better than expected. Obviously Karma Chamaleon is a banger but enjoyed some of the others as well.
Boy George proving that drag is not even remotely new.
I prefer George Michael for this sort of thing.
80s as all hell in the worst way. This is why people say "I hate 80s music". Beyond that... it's fine but oof, not my thing.
I mean this album has Krama Cameleon so if the rest of it sucks this guarantee's that it gets a least a 2/5. This is very indicative of the sound that pop songs had in the early 80's/ late 70's. You can hear the influence of Motown, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. It's ok. I don't love it, but it's not bad. There are a few songs that are alright, but they don't carry the album. 3/5
yea okay karma chameleon was a bop, but the rest was just whatever
слишком поп 80х, даже карма хамелеон слишком поп
3/5 Liked the songs I knew. Didn't like the others. Too woke. To fake and poetic. Meh
Meh. Another problematic artist this week but that aside this album was... okay. The opening track was of course the high point and it just kind of meandered in mediocrity from there. Seemed like the group had some things to say and was perhaps very "woke" and ahead of it's time? Unsure given I wasn't even born when it was released. Doubt I'll revisit but it wasn't horrific.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I don’t imagine I will listen to this again.
It was a good album; I have many fond memories from this time period.
Also a classic album. contains a few extraordinary songs, the rest is however just average. Though important in the context of music history, not one of the best albums.
Karma Chameleon and other songs by the band that did Karma Chameleon on the album with Karma Chameleon
Love supporting my LGBTQ+ friends, but 1 banger and a bunch of snoozers does not an essential album make.
Pretty good
Great 80s stuff
too much cluberrs
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...
Good singer and I listened to the radio his hit "Karma Chameleon".
Such a strong opening, rest is listenable.
It was fine, like spending an hour listening to Magic FM.
Some good tunes on here, was pleasantly surprised
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.
Didn't enjoy it, +1 bump for bad behaviour from Boy George
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.
Really not bad but a bit too easy. Karma Chameleon is a huge hit though.
3 1/2