Boy George Back With New Persona

Boy George “Cheapness And Beauty” - Virgin

Get ready for one of the most radical musical makeovers in recent memory. The headline-grabbing soulster who once ruled pop radio with Culture Club unleashes a slammin’ set of glam/grunge rockers and stripped-down acoustic ditties. The raw and aggressive nature of the music is matched by homo-centric politics and fiercely personal prose, which George performs with exhausting passion and energy. There’s much to chew on, including vengeful “Sad” and a forceful reading of the Stooges’ punk classic “Funtime.

The Presidents of the United States of America Pop Llama/Columbia

Seattle alternative rockers are capable of power pop heaven (“Kick Out The Jams,” “Lump”), self-deprecating humor (“We Are Not Going To Make It”), and downright silliness (“Kitty,” “Peaches”). They dish up all of the above qualities in equal measures on their debut release. A dark, lyrical bent underlies the group’s material, subverting the upbeat poppiness of such tunes as “Lump.” Operating under the same lo-fi ethic that bred such refreshing talent as Better Than Ezra, the Presidents play with a two-string bass and a three-string guitar. Who needs more than that?

Blind Melon “Soup” - Capitol

Follow-up to the band’s multiplatinum debut leaves the “No Rain” bee girl in the dust. Much denser and more complicated that its predecessor, “Soup” offers fans a mishmash of acoustic cuts, such as the delicate “Mouthful Of Cavities” and the Grateful Dead/the Band-like “Skinned,” as well as ‘60s psychedelia, which invades such tracks as “Toes Across The Floor.”