Day 101: Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs...

Album 311/1031

Culture Club - Colour by Numbers (1983)

All tracks composed by O'Dowd/Moss/Craig/Hay, except "Karma Chameleon" and "It's a Miracle" composed by O'Dowd/Moss/Craig/Hay/Pickett.

Side one

1. "Karma Chameleon" – 4:12
2. "It's a Miracle" – 3:25
3. "Black Money" – 5:19
4. "Changing Every Day" – 3:17
5. "That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You)" – 2:45

Side two

6. "Church of the Poison Mind" – 3:30
7. "Miss Me Blind" – 4:30
8. "Mister Man" – 3:36
9. "Stormkeeper" – 2:46
10. "Victims" – 4:55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_by_Numbers

Golf's verdict: As this list and challenge is predominantly driven by music, I am a little bemused as to why CC are included. Despite Wikipedia describing them as a New Wave band, their records were always diluted white-boy reggae for me. Surely it was (and still is) all about the look of Boy George and his (still caustic and entertaining) personality? Still, 'Church of the Poisoned Mind' and 'Victims' are pretty good tunes, though if I never got to hear 'Karma Chameleon' again it would be no hardship.

Maire's verdict: I'm not a fan by any stretch of the imagination but leaving that to one side I just don't understand why this has been included. The music is run of the mill and, in my opinion, rather boring.

Album 312/1031

Hanoi Rocks - Back to Mystery City (1983)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Strange Boys Play Weird Openings"	Andy McCoy	0:42
2.	"Malibu Beach Nightmare"	Andy McCoy	2:46
3.	"Mental Beat"	Andy McCoy	5:04
4.	"Tooting Bec Wreck"	Andy McCoy	6:11
5.	"Until I Get You"	Andy McCoy	4:37
6.	"Sailing Down the Tears"	Andy McCoy	4:09
7.	"Lick Summer Love"	Andy McCoy	4:21
8.	"Beating Gets Faster"	Andy McCoy, Michael Monroe	3:51
9.	"Ice Cream Summer"	Andy McCoy	5:11
10.	"Back to Mystery City"	Andy McCoy	5:02

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_Mystery_City

Golf's verdict: Finland's answer to Guns n' Roses (and one of that band's acknowledged influences). This is hair-metal turned up to 11. It's pretty inoffensive and owes a great deal to Alice Cooper and 70s glam rock. The most entertaining thing about this album was that - when it was over - Spotify began playing random Scandinavian hair-metal bands for me, including a mob called Crazy Lixx (yes, double or even triple x and k is de rigeur for this genre. You can enjoy them below:

Maire's verdict: The first track had me wanting to turn it off immediately. It improved, thank Christ, but it's in no way a great (or even good) album. Too much screeching.

Album 313/1031

The Pretenders - Pretenders (1980)

All songs written by Chrissie Hynde except where noted.

Side one

1. "Precious" – 3:36
2. "The Phone Call" – 2:29
3. "Up the Neck" – 4:27
4. "Tattooed Love Boys" – 2:59
5. "Space Invader" (Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott) – 3:26
6. "The Wait" (Hynde, Farndon) – 3:35
7. "Stop Your Sobbing" (Ray Davies) – 2:38

Side two

8. "Kid" – 3:06
9. "Private Life" – 6:25
10. "Brass in Pocket" (Honeyman-Scott, Hynde) – 3:04
11. "Lovers of Today" – 5:51
12. "Mystery Achievement" – 5:23

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretenders_(album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! You'll know 'Brass in Pocket' but this debut album is full of great tunes, including a cracking cover of The Kinks' 'Stop Your Sobbing'. 

Maire's verdict: I'm not a big fan but enjoyed this a lot more than I expected; impressive, particularly as I'm in a pretty grumpy mood today.