Customer Reviews

U Can Never Be 2 Straight

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This unplugged CD contains some of George's best songwriting. At my first glance at the tracklisting, I was disappointed to see George re-releasing old songs on here, but after popping the CD in my car and taking a drive, I got George's concept. Much like Madonna's "Something To Remember" CD, this CD isolates the acoustic ballads from the rock and pop tracks on previous albums, and the result is a very moving album.

The new material is some of his strongest: standouts include the tear-jerker "Wrong" and the inspired poetry of "The Deal." "Losing Control" is a complete overhaul (or possibly the original demo?) of an old dance track he released 10 years ago under the moniker Jesus Loves You, and this interpretation brings out all the emotion that the previous version's deep house beats smothered.

Be sure to keep listening for the album's hidden gem: after the last listed track, there is a 16th song (although it's not separated from the 15th track on this CD - so if you want to jump right to it, you have to fast-forward through Bow Down Mister, which gets annoying after a while -- why not just list it as Track 16?). The hidden track is "Out of Fashion," one of his most haunting cautionary tales yet. The role of advice-dispensing balladeer is one that suits George's personna well: "Too much jealousy will make you crazy/ Too much ego makes you ugly/ Desperation pushes love away..." The song unravels and gets under your skin.

While I also enjoyed another new track, "Julian," I can't help but notice that George's voice is getting awfully raspy. Other fans have commented on this, too. I don't want to sound like his mother, but George, please stop smoking... we want you and your beautiful voice to be around for a long time.

Gender-bender is back with the comeback of the summer. After a short stint at deejaying for clubheads and co-writing his London musical "Taboo," the frontman of Culture Club is done with trying to rekindle the band's former success with bound-for-failure reunions, and back as a solo artist and a talent in his own right. Boy George - real name George O'Dowd - approaches heteronormity, trans-issues and childhood memories all with his distinctly witty and confessional lyrics with, surprisingly, a very acoustic ambiance to the sound of "You Can Never B2 Straight." The album is a definite grower, however, and some tracks stick out from the first listening like the latin-flavored "She Was Never He"and the sorrowful "Letter To A School Friend." This album will probably be forgotten considering the market - but if so, it will be one of the most underrated albums of the year.

I am taken aback by some of the other reviews. Possibly because I am not a major fan of this artist, I approached the CD with less preconceived expectations. This is one of the best CDs of 2003 in my book. Almost every track is excellent. The acoustic based productions not only are superb, they allow Mr.O'Dowd's rich voice to shine. There is also a tremendous amout of diversity in the songs. I never new he was such an accomplished songwriter. The lyrics are well crafted. Give it a try!

I want to get this CD so I can listen to it on my new headphones. I was a little bit disappointed to see George rerelease old songs. This CD is done acoustic, country style. I will say that the hidden track on the CD which he performs at his club Ronnie Scott's, ''Out of Fashion,'' is absolutely beautiful. It sounds like a Patti Austin song. How about a ''U Can Never B2 Straight 2?'' That would be even better. It would be nice if he does his classic Culture Club tunes acoustic.

Every record reviewer who thought the "beauty" side of "Cheapness and Beauty" deserved more attention will be delighted by this record. For anyone who hasn't heard George's work in awhile will be blown away by the record, which is awesome in its own right, while the die hard fan (myself included) will be a little bummed that there isn't more new material UNTIL they've listened to it a few times. I find that its the only CD I grab now and the reworkings of the songs make them more cohesive, so the every track goes seamlessly one into the other and in the end, it is a great CD - an emotional journey from an exceptional talent.

You expect a Boy George album to be camp and full of homosexual references and it's a shame we still live in a world where the subject matter in itself is enough to discredit any body of work.
Such is the case with "Straight" or any Boy George album for that matter. Unfortunately this time (again) it may overshadow beautiful songwriting and clever, thoughtful lyrics that showcase the Boy at his best.
Stripped down, catchy tunes remind us again of how mesmorizing George's voice is and how emotionally tugging the music is (Il Adore, If I Could Fly).
So I say bring on all your preconceived notions on what a Boy George album sounds like, but be warned. You just might be surprised by the strong songwriting and musical diversity of "Straight". A very pleasant surpise.

Yes, some may find it disappointing to hear some old stuff here...but this is a concept album, so they really fit into it.
And the new material is great, incluiding the magnificent new version of 'Losing Control', wich always had been a so so for me, but now I can't stop hearing it.
Besides it takes a brave artist to be this honest, no matter what everybody can think.
So if you rather prefer honesty than hipocresy, this kind of great music is for you.

I found out about this cd just a few weeks ago and since I did, I can't stop listening to it! absolutely amazing.

Length:: 1:16 Mins

Yeah what can i say. Probably the best album by Boy George next to the Jesus Loves you album. It brought me back into following George on his musical journey.