Culture Club - Greatest Hits

Who doesn’t love Culture Club? Ok, fine. I don’t want to hear it. Suffice to say, everyone I know loves Culture Club. So what tickles me more pink than to find a compilation that has all of the fab songs I remember from my misspent youth but never had the cash to purchase? Very little dear friends, very little. There’s not much I need to say. They’re all here: “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me,” a mainstay of any 80s mix worth its salt, “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” with its fabulous latin beat and hand clapping (the image of this total closet case doing his best Boy George impression to this song at a talent contest in school will never leave me), “Miss Me Blind,” one of my personal favorites, and, of course, “Karma Chameleon.” Could you just die!? Right, giddiness aside, this UK band ushered in a whole new wave of completely melodic yet alternative pop that appealed to kids, teens, young adults and even parents. There was nothing threatening about the exquisite songs they put out, and they stand the test of time as outstanding pop tunes that are without compare. But there are people who got hung up on Boy George and his outrageousness. Yes, we Americans do know a good drag queen when we see one (Grammy’s acceptance speech, kids), but thankfully, we were not so repressed as to deny artisanship simply because a lad liked to put on more makeup than Aunt Ethel. Bottom line is that he has one of the best voices in modern pop. What’s also nice is that some lesser known songs make it on this modest comp too, including a dance mix of “White Boys,” the poignant “Victims,” and a song I adore but rarely hear, “Mistake Number 3.” What might not appeal to the novice Culture Club fan, however is how the second half of the comp goes decidedly downtempo. The first half is amazingly upbeat, and I couldn't sit still, but the second half had me feeling really sort of depressed. There's a time and a place for both, but I felt I had to warn you that it's not all bouncy. But really, I know that you’re not going to go get this album if you aren’t riding the current (nu)wave of nostalgia anyway. If you’re a Korn fan, you will not buy this record. And that’s ok. That’s the great thing about music – something for everyone. [www.culture-club.co.uk]