Eurythmics
The Ultimate Collection
Label: Arista

That creepy cow video and Marilyn Manson are the only reasons I know Eurythmics by name. Heck, even their Web site music is “Sweet Dreams.” But with that being said, greatest hits and anthology collections are all the rage right now, and perhaps it’s time for the music lovers of my generation to give this group their due.

With 19 tracks packed onto one disc, it’s simple to hear the nuances, influences and artistic flair that helped Eurythmics build their fan base. However, the liner notes leave everything to the imagination. I expected to read about each album, why each track made the cut for this Ultimate Collection, and maybe even how the group felt about Manson giving them a second wind in the late 90s.

For not being a big Eurythmics fan, I found myself with a full hour commute and time to listen to the entire CD. I have to say that a). the band definitely has talent and deserves a place in pop history, yet b). the three top singles (the ones everyone knows) are really their best songs and stand better by themselves than as part of a group.

There are two new songs here, as well: “I’ve Got a Life” and “Was It Just Another Love Affair?” The former reminds me of what Annie Lennox was thinking last year when she decided to put out this album. The latter is a retro-70s letdown.

Overall, if you casually liked this group in the 80s, you may be surprised by some of the offerings on this ULTIMATE disc. Or maybe you’re younger like me – discovering there was more than a cow and Annie in that video during VH1’s I Love the 80s – if so, I’d just download the singles and leave the rest in the 80s to die of sweet dreams.
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Download the album here: