It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that Boy George has grown up, and yet when his first album in 18 years begins with the wonderful ‘King Of Everything’, the first thing you notice is the voice. The honey-tongued martyr, who wondered if we really wanted to hurt him, back in 1982, has transformed into a world-weary torch singer. It’s big, it’s orchestral and it’s very bloody good. “What’s the word on the street? Have I lost my crown? Will I be king again?” asks the now bearded and husky-voiced George. The answer is ‘probably not’ – but he sounds like he’s having a great time trying, and surely that’s what counts.
‘Bigger Than War’ is a funky nu-soul singalong, that’s impossible to listen to at any respectable volume without shaking your shoulders to, while George waxes romantically and humorously about how love is “Bigger than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bigger Than Elvis.. but not Yoko.” The gorgeously simple gospel swing of ‘It’s Easy’ has him chronicling the end of a relationship, noting how “It’s easy when you’re the one who stops loving first.”
Much of the album sways between dub and full-on reggae. ‘Live Your Life’ is an empowering, perhaps autobiographical tale about growing up different, the gospel-tinged ‘My God’ has him preaching love instead of fundamentalism, while ‘Nice And Slow’ has George admitting “I got my sparkle back again”. He certainly does. The latter is like concentrated sunshine and should be prescribed for Irish winters: unleash it, wait 60 seconds and feel your mood improve.
It does wane a little in quality as you approach the final third, and perhaps the eastern-influenced ‘Feel The Vibration’ and the six-and-a-half minute dub-heavy ‘Play Me’ would have been better served as B-sides. But after all the tabloid headlines and court appearances, This Is What I Do is probably the most surprising comeback of the year.

Key Track: 'King of Everything'