
Longtime Boy George fans are probably aware of his habit of performing new songs in his solo concerts. 10 of these songs finally make it to our CD players on this wonderful album. It's a special treat to hear a song for the first time when you're in a stadium full of other fans, but for several years, it was frustrating for fans to know that George had not released these songs... until now.
"In Maya" stands out. It's a beautiful acoustic semi-alternative rock ballad (think Duncan Shiek, Eagle Eye Cherry, etc.) that could have been a great radio airplay comeback single had the production been polished just a bit more. In fact, most of the songs here on "Unrecoupable" are left raw, in their demo form, and this helps recapture the magic of Boy George's solo concerts. If you saw his 1995 Cheapness and Beauty tour, you will remember the hard rockers "Who Killed Rock and Roll" and George's version of Bowie's "Suffragette City," the two tracks that close out the "Unrecoupable" album. "She Was Never He" is a haunting acoustic ballad. "Mister Strange" and "Number One" are fun, upbeat tracks composed of equal parts folk and pop, with George's very witty lyrics.
For anyone who missed out on Boy George's solo career, and is only familiar with his work in Culture Club, "Unrecoupable One Man Bandit" is a great listen, great fun, and a great way to see just how far Boy George has come as a songwriter -- he truly is one of the most prolific and underrated rock 'n'roll songwriters.