The Boy's Back (Don't Mind If I Do - Culture Club)

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Product:	Don't Mind If I Do - Culture Club
Date:	17/01/02 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: George's amazing voice, Good range of songs, Great lyrics and music

Disadvantages: None

Culture Club, fronted by the formidable Boy George released this album in 1999, thirteen years after their last studio release.
The fact that they had re-united for what was probably a financially motivated tour and released this album due to the repspone they had from their audience would probably make you belive that this album would be a sub-standard attempt to recreate their halcyon days in the eighties. You would be very wrong!
The music is far superior to anything they produced at the height of their success and George's voice has matured being now more soulful and controlled, yet losing none of its vulnerability or charm.

The first track was thier 'comeback' single 'I just wanna be loved' which is a sweet reggae-ish number, could it also be a plea from George and the guys to the record buying public?

'Cold Shoulder' is a sweet ballad about rejection with George hitting and sustaining some notes that modern-day pop pretenders could only reach in their dreams.

'Maybe I'm a fool' is a mid-paced number, not reall all that outstanding, but pleasant enough nonetheless.

'Sign language' is a song about wanting to have areason for carrying on with a relationship. Once again George's voice is outstanding and this song boasts a great bass line and fantastic bridge.

'Mirror'has agospel feel to it with soulful backing vocals and George singing in a lower register than normal- a great feel good song to sing along to.

'Black comedy' as the title suggests it is abouthumour and tragedy at the same time! An up-tempo number its ideal to boogie roung the living room to!

"Your kisses are charity' is somewhat strange. It's a pleasant enough song and if they had released it in the eighties it would have been massive. It sounds like a line-dancing song and is very jolly but somewhat out of place with the rest of the songs on the al
bum.

'Weep for the child' has an amzing piano intro that leads into an amazing song. Once again this song has a reggae beat. The song is all about looking after the child inside yourself.

'See thru' is darker number , as usual George is singing about lost or problematic love and you can really feel the emotion in his voice on this track.

'Strange Voodoo' is great slowie about being drawn to someone but not knowing why they have such a hold over you.

'Truth beinhd her smile' is the albums tenderest moment. George's voice is absoluteyl beautiful on this with very little musical accompaniment. The subject of thsi song is obiously some enigmatic woman and it is a very touching song.

'Fat cat' finds George in accusatory mood with strong lyrics and vocals.

'Confidence trick' is a great slow song about refusing to be taken for a ride. The osng almost has a slow glam rock feel in parts and George's voice is ver strong on this track.

'Starman' is stunning! a cover of the Bowie classic, George and the band cover this amazingly well. It really shows that George is a huge Bowie fan as I have never known a civer version be better than the original, but this truly is.

The final track 'Less than perfect' is a beautiful number with stunning orchestration and vocals it is all about admitting that you are not perfect and is probably one of the best songs Culture Club have ever produced.

To summarise thsi album has nothing even remotely reminiscent of 'Karma chameleon'. the band has matured emotionally and musically since then and this album should have been a far bigger hit than it was- it really is THAT good!

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