This is a great album, but those who liked the fuzzy, cutesy pop of Culture Club or the grinding beat of dance music may be disappointed with "Cheapness and Beauty". However, if you are a fan of 70s glitter rock a la Lou/Iggy/Queen/Bowie and frank, brutal storytelling, I think you'll be surprised at how George adapts to the genre. There's glam, ballads and even a country-tinged tune, but it all holds together musically.
As for the album's theme, it's as if a shrink told George to exorcise his demons by making a tell-all album of his high-flying days after the initial success of Culture Club. And anyone who glanced at the tabloid covers in that period knew George was up to a lot - much of it no good. On "C&B", he pulls no punches and spares no one in his skewering, least of all himself ("mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the biggest hypocrite of all?" he sings on "Sad").
All are original compositions, except for "Funtime", a brilliantly executed cover of the Iggy/Bowie tune from "The Idiot". Without changing any lyrics, George makes this track take on a whole new meaning where his life was concerned. For Iggy, it was a celebration of modern excesses; here, it a reflection of those excesses becoming pedestrian and harmful. It was perfect as the opening track for "C&B".
The songs also point out all the destructive excesses of 80s club `n' drug culture, sort of a precursor to 90s "circuit queens". The closer, "Il Adore" is a heartbreaking lament of a friend dying of AIDS.
So, there's a lot going on with "Cheapness and Beauty". It's an album nobody was expecting from Boy George, let alone one anybody thought he could make. It's a slap of reality, but a fun ride nonetheless. It's among my top 20 most played CDs.

If you were looking for a statement, here it is.
If you were looking for a contorversial whirlwind, here it is.
If you were looking for exciting, cutting-edge, brilliance, here it is.

Looking back on all the recordings I've purchased in the last eight years, this one still comes to the forefront. This is the ONLY CD I've had to replace due to the fact that I simply wore it out - no lie!

This album is the pinnacle of Boy George's lyrical skill, music writing ability, storytelling and stereotype breaking. I am still in awe how he crafts lyrics so cleverly you just sit back and go "Wow". The lyrical triumps on this album are: Evil Is So Civilized, Same Thing In Reverse, Il Adore, Cheapness & Beauty and Sad. His music writing ability is shown on: Satan's Butterfly Ball, Evil Is So Civilized, Cheapness & Beauty, Your Love Is What I Am and Il Adore.

If you love the Boy's lyrics, it is mandatory you check out his London premiered musical "Taboo". You'll find more of his outstanding writing and some nice comical pieces too.

I write this review, with a smile, on the 8th anniversary of its release. I tip my hat to you, Boy.

Boy George suffered the same fate Cyndi Lauper did--the two were supremely talented artists whose gifts were obscured and eventually overshadowed by their showy stage antics.
Boy George possesses one of the best blue-eyed soul voices in the past 20 years. On this record, he uses his gorgeous tenor, on tracks that range from metal-tinged glam rock, to folksy pop-ballads.
As a lyricist, Boy George has an intelligent wit, and he can also be very stirring and affecting.
"Cheapness and Beauty" is an interesting collection. His version of the Bowie/Pop classic "Funtime," is interesting, though quite a departure from the soulful dance-pop his fans are used to.
"Satan's Butterfly Ball" and "Sad" are two fun, foot-stomping guitar power tunes. THe lyrics are sharp and witty. "Sad," is especially catty, though it would be a mistake to think that Boy George is only a bitchy, queeny song-writer. There is amazing soul and beauty in the album, too. "Same Thing in Reverse," is an upbeat, folk song about his ruminations on homosexuality, and the song is stunning in its intelligence and emotional bredth. The title track is also good, similar in style to "Same Thing." The highlite, however, is the aching and brilliantly touching piano-ballad, "Il Adore."