Surprise No. 1: Boy George has a new album out. Surprise No. 2: It's good. Very good.

U Can Never b2 Straight contains neither the fluff-pop of Culture Club nor the cliche deejay mixes he's been churning out lately.

Instead, this 15-song disc is the equivalent of Boy George Unplugged. Usually backed by just a strummy acoustic guitar, George convincingly presents himself as a singer-songwriter, smoothly crooning a handful of old tracks (including five from 1995's Cheapness and Beauty) and a batch of strongly melodic, disarmingly personal new tracks about drugs, heartache and sexual confusion.

The wildest track? The wickedly decadent Cabaret-style opener (and showstopper) Ich Bin Kunst. "I am art," proclaims George. "I blow your mind."

Surprise No. 3: He's right.

Track Listing
1. Ich Bin Kunst
2. St. Christopher
3. She Was Never He
4. Cheapness And Beauty
5. Fat Cat
6. If I Could Fly
7. Unfinished Business
8. Julian
9. Wrong
10. Letter To A School Friend
11. The Deal
12. Losing Control
13. Same Thing In Reverse
14. Il Adore
15. Bow Down Mister