The Hour Of Bewilderbeast

Not for me. 1/5

Wow, I am blown away. As soon as the instrumental opening started I was like…..WHO is this?! I’ve never heard of this music artist before and I am sad to think I went all these decades without listening to his phenomenal music. This is art.

Great Album! 🫡

Fun

"Everybody's Stalking" is a great song; the rest is average.

Generic sounding

Never heard of this guy before, but I enjoyed listening to the album.

I didn't pay enough attention but it didn't pull me in either - I've heard some of these songs before but didn't realise they where from this album.

Pleasant enough

Not bad but not memorable at all.

It’s not bad just kinda blah. 2.5

Another reviewer made a good point- if no one is talking about your album 26 years into the future… does that mean it belongs on the list? It’s… fine, pleasant at points, a bore at others, but is that the criteria for immortality on a MUST hear before you die list? ⭐️⭐️

A Springsteen obsession grow thing up in Lancs. Yeah can just about see it, if squint really hard. But more a Lennon thing, without the personality, voice or songwriting ability. It’s kind of ok when it was on, a little dull if I am being honest, well a lot dull actually by the 30 minute mark and that was only half way through. By the end dull is a good description. Kind of remember hearing about him at the time, the hat was the tell but has anyone mentioned this after the 20 year mark?? That really doesn’t indicate essential or must hear territory. 2 Star

I really enjoyed this album and listened to it like four times through

The album art looks like I'm about to watch something on Nickelodeon. When you hit play, it turns out to be guitar music, or music for people who appreciate the versatility of well played strings. It does have a dated youthful energy I could've easily associated with the orange cassette tapes from the times before I knew what adult life was. If anything is going for the record, it's how incredibly of its era it is. His name will stick out to me if I see it again in the future, purely for that nostalgia type of folk. But after a couple of listens today, I'm sure I'm never listening to this again. It's got melodies, a knack for pop songwriting, and an appreciation of folk that persists the test of time. But it's also pretty dated, even when it doesn't have to be, and way too long of a listen. I think the production dropped the ball here, but it's still worth listening once. 2.6/5

Interesting

interestingly good

Has a groovy retro lounge vibe. Trippy. Fun. Go listen...

One of those albums you felt obliged to buy because everyone was raving about it at the time. Didn't regret it though and listened to this quite a lot. It's held up reasonably well. I mean, this type of music hasn't really moved on in the intervening period. Enjoyed Cause A Rockslide and Camping Next To Water. It's fine overall!

meh

I don’t normally go in for this wilting English singer-songwriter type of music, but the melodies and atmosphere here are hard to deny

Absolutely brilliant album. It just sounds really nice. Powerful riffs and great vocals.

This album felt like a potpourri of different indie styles.

I liked it back when it came out, and still like it. It's a bit long though... 4.5 Stars for not keeping it shorter.

I had absolutely no idea what to expect. It was like someone wrote an entire album of songs for the Garden State soundtrack. Oh and there an accordion.

I didn't know what to expect from this, but I really enjoyed it.

I will have to go with another Elliott Smith comparison/reference with this record due to the musical arrangements, introspection and release date. Too bad for Badly Drawn Boy’s finances that I heard about Smith back in the CD purchasing days, since I would have plunked down money for this album. Smith had a genius for composing bleak, catchy songs. Neither as bleak or as catchy, Badly Drawn Boy still shines in the songwriting department. He/they (I am deliberately not looking up if Badly Drawn Boy is one guy or a band) features more rhythm to his/their writing. This element plus going beyond Smith’s piano and guitar based music, made the album an enjoyable experience. “Another Pearl” best showed this quality as he/they employed a bevy of instruments, including string to create a lively song with a bit of a groove. I found these songs to be a necessary addition after the somber intro music and first few tunes, which bordered on maudlin. Later songs on the album, such as “Pissing in the Wind” and the brief instrumental “Blistered Heart”, retreat to this approach. The near disco “Disillusion” livens up the mood, although I did not care for this one. Overall, I will add Badly Drawn Boy to my listening list. Perhaps like other artists here, this one is not his best effort. Regardless, a strong introduction to this artist.

I have to disagree with the reviewer who said that albums no-one's talked about for 20 years probably don't belong here (I think they were particularly disparaging about British indie ones.) I heard the fuss about this at the time and bought the CD, but I had two very small children then, and barely listened to it. I wasn't expecting much, but it surprised me. The songs are consistently both good and interesting, and the balance of instruments is beautifully judged. I loved all the quirky rhythms. A happy rediscovery.

Haven’t gotten to this yet. I now remember he was definitely a thing who I somehow never heard and now I haven’t heard nor thought of the band BDB in two decades or whatever. So I’ll listen to it. But first I must continue to scratch this Itch that is the second great quintet’s first electric recordings.

I actually loved this. Going to revisit soon

Ughhhhhhhhhh

mish mosh of aimless music. Pick a lane

Begåvat och välgjort men blev inte superintresserad. En trea

I was reading NME and following the British music press a little around this time, and it really felt like they were at a loss. The great Napster record label cullings had destroyed anything aside from mainstream pop and the internet was in its infancy. They were holding up Coldplay and The Doves and BDB as the next wave of future-music. The world went in a different direction, a darker path, into rock revival and emo. But for a moment it there they were pinning their hopes on this softcock post-alt rock. Felt like a huge nothingburger.

This is another instance of an album/artist I’d never heard of before. From what I read, it seems like this was a flash-in-pan record that the British music press wrongly predicted to stand the test of time. That said, I rather enjoyed it. This is the sort of thing I wish I’d discovered in high school. As a slightly matured person and listener, these songs amount to a decently charming but ultimately unexciting collection of homespun indie tropes. A few songs really stood out, but 64 minutes is far too indulgent for me to want to relisten anytime soon. Fav Tracks: The Shining, Bewilder, Camping Next to Water, Once Around the Block, Magic in the Air Least Fav: Body Rap Score: 6

I absolutely don't get it. I remember this guy being huge. I'm sure many still love him. It just seems so completely vanilla to me though, I can't hear what's interesting about it. I'm obviously missing something, but it sounds like really ordinary songwriting, delivered in a ordinary way, pretty standard production style. What's to love?

big 3

3.1 3x

I had never heard of this artist, now I have liked a couple of songs.

I like how it sounds, pretty unexpected one to be honest. Like a breath of a fresh air after tons of albums that I know how they sound even before start listening to....

Pretty decent, liked a few songs

Achei genérico, nada me marcou. Sem sal.

its so coolish, idk

maybe a 4. liked this.

3.75

Oddly “plinky”, experimental, nostalgically-‘00s singer-songwriting. Hit-or-miss overall.

It's fine, but it doesn't really inspire any kind of emotional response from me, positive or negative. Ironically, that is a negative. So now I feel negatively about it because I don't feel negatively about it. Huh.

Is this an LSD trip?

No está mal, me gusta lo tranquilo que es. Aun así siento que es muy mitad de los 90 y en realidad es de comienzos del 2000. No me da vibra 2000, como que no encaja, no es algo malo pero si algo curioso.

This is a toughie. I like bits and pieces, but overall it's too mellow. The use of different unique instrumental compositions throughout was interesting, and well done. Vocals are ok ..but just too mellow.

Well, I made it halfway through before giving up. Too mellow.

It’s okay, I wouldn’t go out my way to listen to the album again though

The British bias on this list is kind of insane. This album was just kinda there; nothing grabbed my attention, nor was it so bad I could enjoy laughing at it. So, instead of leaving a review, here's a list of albums that are better and more influential than this album. 1999-Joey Bada$$ AM-Arctic Monkey Animals-Pink Floyd Apostrophe(')-Frank Zappa Blonde-Frank Ocean Beyond Beyond Beyond- The Crane Wives Broken Boy Soldiers - The Raconteurs An Evening With Silk Sonic - Bruno Mars French Exit- TV Girl DAMN - Kendrick Lamar IGOR - Tyler, The Creator The Infamous - Mobb Deep Madvillainy - MF DOOM The Mason Williams Phonographic Record - Mason Williams Moving Waves - Focus The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit The New Sound - Geordie Greep Optical Sunrise/Spectrum2 -Spectrum SEYCHELLES - Masayoshi Takanaka Songs For The Deaf - Queens of the Stone Age Sublime - Sublime Crying Laughing Loving Lying - Labi Siffre Thank you for the time.

An absolutely classic example of finally getting that big debut shot and shoving every single thing you can think of into it so you leave it all out there in case you never get another go like it again. The trouble is, here, it makes the album very overstuffed and overlong, and while there’s ideas and bits that I enjoy, they get washed away in my mind by all the everything else surrounding it. There’s some nice moments of rock sound or other stuff but also just a whole lot of very wash-over-you singer-songwriter work, and that’s the thing that’s sticking largely by sheer volume - a tighter thing could easily have been a better thing.

What in the hell? Some people call this "Odd", have you never listened to anything on this thing? Odd? This generic indie play my guitar near a fire to hope i get some girls in my tent today ahh album is odd? Jesus christ some of you are more vanilla than a starbucks latte

my god this album was tailor made for me, absolutely in love with this and will be coming back. the opening track is one of the best i’ve ever heard.

En del bra låter, men alt for lang. Siste halvdelen ville jeg bare at det skulle blir ferdig. Måtte sjekke på wikipedia og jeg hørte på en extended version, men neida.

Fint og relativt intetsigende. Veldig bra bakgrunnsmusikk. En litt snill firer.

Klarer å være laidback og pretensiøs samtidig. Føler at han er inne på et riktig spor flere ganger, men jeg klarer ikke å like stilen hans.

This album was OK, just plodded along. Nothing special

This was fine, not amazing, but totally ok. The offense came when apple music autoplay (which I can't figure out how to turn off) which usually play a 'similar' band once the album has finished, played Radiohead. Excuse me. Rude. These two bands do not exist in the same category.

Never liked the name of the band I do not know why. Never sought out the music due to the name which annoys me. That said, the opening strings and horns are fantastic. The Shining and Everybody's Stalking has me intrigued here. Really enjoying Camping Next to Water. This album is exceeding my expectations. I think it's a 4 maybe even a surprise 5. Still listening. OK over and hour and 18 tracks so opinion is still open. Cause a Rockslide super unique. This is actually pretty darn good. Going Malcolm Gladwell Blink 5 here. Pissing in the Wind is great.

I would classify this as an indie pop/rock album. A lot of acoustic guitar and orchestral backing is present, and there are a few heavier songs and even a couple of instrumentals.The softer songs sounded beautiful and the heavier songs tended to be catchy and interesting. There was also an atmospheric quality throughout the whole album. My favorite songs were "Everybody's Stalking" and "Say It Again".

Impressive that this guy did much of the heavy lifting himself on this. Maybe he should have collaborated just a little bit. This wasn't great.

This is a nostalgic album for me. This was a solid vibe in 2000 and a solid accompaniment to a good bong sesh. In that particular year, this album felt very fresh, and it hasn't overly staled in 2026. A few of these tracks have some extra frills that don't really add anything interesting to their respective core tracks. Strip that fluff and you have a solid and interesting early 2000's indi album. Certainly better than much of the mundane Brit stuff this list seems to favour.

7/10. Un verdadero descubrimiento. No es la gran cosa musicalmente hablando, pero aún así me transmitió más que muchos de los discos que había ya rateado. Es muy tranquilito y tiene sonidos que evocan a la melancolía y la nostalgía que es muy bueno. Tardé mucho en ratearlo porque quedó en un pozo al lado de Greetings From La que no me gustó para nada y que aún no escuché entero y me desmotivó.

Favorited 2 songs and appreciated the diversity in of styles and sounds. Listened while in Park City. I’m going to be generous with a 4 to encourage return and repeat listen.

I was not familiar with this artist at all and based on the artwork I expected this to be heavier/grungier than it is. Some beautiful moments but overall a little dull.

Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:❌️

I really liked this album.

Na…

Can very much appreciate the eclectic mix of instruments and styles on this HOWEVER I genuinely loathed the melodies and vocals on just about every single song. Really super wish I could not have listened to this.

I was dreading this one. I hate the name of the band. I hate the name of the album. And this is undoubtedly the worst album cover we've seen so far. With that said, there is some really good stuff on here. I was verey suprised. He was Elliot Smitheque in a lot of spots here. I dug it.

I loved "The Shining" when I was in high school. never really checked out the rest of this album until now. to give him props, this 1999 album feels like it could have easily come out 5 years later, so I guess it was a bit ahead of its time? but it's too long without enough variety or strong hooks to justify it. a lot of the songs start to feel the same, and the combination of these particular instruments just wears out its welcome by the end.

Really feels portentous of a lot of indie stuff that would be in vogue half a decade later. It feels weird to say “ahead of its time” when we’re talking like five years, but here we are. I heard a bit of ‘Seven Swans’ era Sufjan, then up to Alex G at parts, and back to a lot of Saddle Creek stuff: The insular orchestral bedroom indie rock that feels like taking a walk in a specific guy’s mind. I feel like he really got a stew going on “Cause a Rockslide” and “Pissing in the Wind.” Wish there was more of that. If I had heard this album in 2004-2006 it woulda been game over.

Pretty generic indie album, nothing bad to say about it, but nothing was also very memorable.

Quite generic and forgettable. Not to say it's bad, just bland.

A few early high school throwback songs on here (Another Pearl, Once Around the Block) and of course reminiscent of the About A Boy soundtrack. I like the variation among the songs on this album.

No my cup of tea really

This was nice listening and weird. Good background for work and I feel like a forerunner for the indie music of the 2010s

It's alright. It's longer than anticipated and so it starts to blur together - I do generally like this artist but it's never been something that's grabbed me intently. Clearly talented, there are lots of different instruments that aren't typically utilized in bog standard indie, however it doesn't stand out in the way that say Sufjan does. Vocals are nothing to write home about, musically it's fairly mid-tempo throughout, and while it's something I certainly wouldn't mind having on I can't say I"ll seek it out much.

I've never heard of this one but given that it came out in 2000 and has that cover, it does not bode well for my enjoyment. And I'm sure it's overlong given the year it came out. But who knows, it could be amazing. Well it's not really what I thought. At least I was right about the overlong part. I think this would have been a lot better at about 45 minutes instead of an hour and ten. I feel like he heard Elliot Smith and Nick Drake and thought he could do the same. He sort of succeeded I guess but this album is not close to approaching anything by either of them. Some interesting parts here and there, some great guitar work for sure. Great lyrically and he delivers it well. A tough one to rate since I can't give partial stars. This would be like 7/10 but it's not 4/5. So 3/5 it is.

It's nice and all, but I suspect there's a reason that, despite the massive hype around this one a quarter-century ago, I never heard from him again. Still, I enjoyed revisiting this.

Love it

Bewilderbeast

The Hour of Bewilderbeast is an album that seems to attract more criticism than it deserves. Its detractors often point to its length, its scattered arrangements, and the sheer number of musical ideas Damon Gough throws into the mix. At times, the record can feel like a collection of fragments, detours, and experiments competing for space. But for me, that restlessness is part of its appeal. There is a lot happening throughout the album: folk-pop, chamber arrangements, lo-fi experimentation, strange instrumental passages, brass, strings, and songs that occasionally seem to change direction halfway through. Yet the album rarely feels incoherent. “Consistent” may be a better word. Even when the arrangements become eccentric or the record wanders into unexpected territory, there is a recognizable warmth and melodic sensibility holding everything together. The album reminds me in some ways of Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys, one of my favorite records. It does not reach that album’s level of ambition, invention, or emotional depth, but the comparison makes sense in the way both records pile ideas on top of one another while maintaining a distinct identity. Like Giant Steps, The Hour of Bewilderbeast is interested in experimentation without abandoning melody. The songs remain approachable, concise, and emotionally grounded, even when the production becomes playful or unconventional. Tracks such as “The Shining,” “Once Around the Block,” “Everybody’s Stalking,” and “Pissing in the Wind” demonstrate just how strong Gough’s songwriting can be. His voice is unpolished and understated, but it gives the music an intimacy that a more technically impressive singer might have disrupted. There is a handmade quality to the album—sometimes messy, sometimes overly ambitious, but almost always sincere. At over an hour, The Hour of Bewilderbeast probably could have benefited from some trimming. Some of the interludes and experimental passages feel more like embellishments than essential parts of the album. Still, I find that its variety keeps it engaging rather than exhausting. The record continually introduces new sounds and ideas, but it never completely loses sight of the songs themselves. The Hour of Bewilderbeast may not be a masterpiece on the level of Giant Steps, but it is a creative, melodic, and surprisingly cohesive debut. Its imperfections are inseparable from its charm. What initially sounds like a cluttered collection of musical sketches gradually reveals itself as a warm and imaginative album with a strong identity. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, but a 5 because i said so

After watching Harry Kane and his lions crash out the World Cup - this was a welcome album. Calm, folky, indie rock that evokes a warm British summertime. Brass band in the bandstand, playing in the river and getting sunburnt in the park. Nothing particularly stand out, but a nice variety of sounds. Gets a little long and drawn out as it goes on. This was super hyped back in the day, and I deliberately avoided it. Reminds me of the stuff my housemates at uni listened to in the mid 00s - Sufjan Stevens et al. 3*

I’ve seen the word ‘boring’ in some of the reviews. I’m assuming the Ukrainian drone pilots who wrote those reviews are looking for a bit more jeopardy? Me - a mere software developer - found it full of variety and depth if a tad long. Although length can always be mitigated by familiarity so a few more listens could resolve that. I've always thought that any album selected for the Mercury prize, let alone the winner was definitely not an album for me, so I ignored it at the time. But I like this.

muy olvidable realmente

Rating: 5.0/5 Short Review: Warm, quirky, intimate, and quietly brilliant. It feels handmade. Folk, indie pop, electronica, hip-hop beats, and orchestral touches all blend together into something that never sounds forced. It's one of those albums that gets richer with every listen. (en.wikipedia.org) Favorite Track: “The Shining.” A perfect opener. Gentle, hopeful, and impossible not to smile at.

Unfortunately one of those albums where I just don't have the bandwidth to really focus on it. But what I did listen to was fine. Kinda Beatles. Kinda Nick Drake. Kinda 90's alt. Feels very much like a pick a Brit would make, don't think I'd put it on a list of 1001 albums you should listen to. Also, terrible band name, haha.

Kind of like a slower rock concept album. It was pretty good. I wouldn’t mind another listen.

Ok

How much did the Electronica Brit Pop industry pay the author to populate this book with so much of it's crap? 1

Never paid a great deal of attention to him back in the day. This is quirky and rather lovely with some interesting wee touches . Deceptive in that it’s more complex than it first appears I’ll be listening again. Not quite a 5 as over an hour is a bit much. Glad i paid attention this time

Really pretty interesting to me, a bit long though and started to get boring. But I'd say a good 4 star album, a cool sound for sure. Sound a bit like Elliot Smith for a bit.

An hour and 4 minutes of straight dilettantism.

Boring

Hm. I will admit I had a look at the cover art/list of genres on this one and hit play with the firm intention of ultimately writing a review clowning on the Mercury Prize for handing out nominations and even wins to any old whackjob, but this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I will probably never listen to any of it again tbh but I didn’t dislike any of it either. Though I will say that if you consistently can’t hit the highest note in your song even in the studio under optimum conditions you should maybe just consider transposing it down a whole step or two, like, come on, even/especially from an indie whinerboy this kind of vocal delivery isn’t actually endearing when it’s literally every time, it’s just cringe

Se durmió moria

Siento que influenció a muchos de los artistas alternativos/índices de finales de los 2000/principios de los 2010, y lo digo porque en varios momentos de distintas canciones podía escuchar pinceladas de ritmos. Ojalá eso hubiera hecho que me gustara más.

This is the only turn of the century, guy in hat with guitar album that I listen to. That's because it's far more interesting and emotionally deep than shit like David Gray. It's a shame that this album was taken out of subsequent editions of the book. It's a worthwhile listen and I'd rather have this than the fifth Neil Young or Elvis Costello offering.

No private session used for Spotify. I like Badly Drawn Boy, mellow music that is complicated, filled with a variety of instruments, and over all enjoyable. This album is no exception.

One or two good tunes but this was a short lived experience. Maybe keep the running time down to 44 min in future.

Stuck between 3 and 4. I didnt end up adding a lot of songs from this, but I still think its very good

nice enough

Сара није слушала од узбуђења због полагања структура Марко 3,5

Around the early 2000s there seemed to be a whole bunch of this type of music whether it was BDB, James Morrison, Turin Breaks, Doves, Guillemots, Super Furry Animals... They made Radio 2 friendly inoffensive music that sounds good on Land Rover adverts, they don't need to be on this list.

I really enjoyed the opening track. The rest of the album was pretty underwhelming after that, but it was still decent.

Pretty but not for me. Reminds me of folksy Wilco

Never listened to this but I somehow knew what to expect. Not great, not terrible.

Earthy indie

Good album, loved that.

Okay

Well crafted pop. I was quite surprised by this and enjoyed the majority of the tracks

This album is dull, uninspired, and instantly forgettable. The best thing about it is that it’s not rap.

This did not need to have 18 songs and be an hour long.

First of all shockingly long. There's some good points but it's just soooo long that eventually the mid stuff becomes grating and really drags it down. There should be French Horn through the whole thing. The Nick Drake/Harry Nilsson comp is so unearned IMO

Does this album feel unique or revolutionary in any huge way, like most of the albums on this list? No, not really. But it does feel well executed, understated and like it fits perfectly into its own little niche. I can totally understand how this album would be considered a classic to those who found it at the right time and place. I enjoyed listening to it and may put it on again.

I don’t think this guy really made it over here in Canada. At least I can’t say any of this sounds familiar to me. It does kind of remind me of Sufjan Stevens, but less americana influence, more britpop influence. I did enjoy it, it was a pleasant bit of indie rock/folk, but nothing really blew me away apart from maybe Cause a Rockslide.

Interesting. I liked the variety of song styles.

Favorite track(s): Camping Next to Water, Once Around the Block

Quite boring

Celkom príjemne sa to počúvalo, ale nezanechalo to vo mne nič, prečo by som sa k tomu vracal...

When to listen: Eclectic bohemian coffee shop. The music sounded interesting but interesting but familiar.

not feeling this at all. maybe it's just today.

People think this is boring I think it's great it entertaining it's chilled it's acoustic it's loud it's experimental it brilliant

This ain't bad but its long.

The Shining Fall In A River Camping Next To Water Stone On The Water Another Pearl Once Around The Block This Song Bewilderbeast Cause A Rockslide (some nick drake traditions, but also with the indie rock sleaze of the 90s. best of both worlds)

Badly Drawn Boy must have slipped past me in the early 2000s because I don't think I've ever heard any of these songs but I feel like I should have. Anyway, I really enjoyed this! The only thing keeping me from giving a 5 is some of the songs sound alike to me and I couldn't tell the difference between them. Still good, though.

I've always liked them. Very good.

Дуже нерівний альбом. Є просто діаманти як Everybody's Stalking, Magic in the Air та Once Around the Block, а є відверті філери, скетчі та просто середні пісні. Що, з урахуванням тривалості альбому не грає йому на руку. Варто відзначити, що через цей розкид по пісням, це один з небагатьох релізів, який мені треба було переслухати щоб хоч якусь думку сформувати про альбом. Поставлю 3.5.

Альбом сильно затягнутий, але тут достатньо цікавих моментів. Втім, порівняння з Ніком Дрейком і Елліоттом Смітом мені здаються недоречними. Цікаве знайомство загалом, я б ще повернувся до цього релізу. Поки 3.5 (ближче до 3)

A real attempt has been made to write songs here. They sound like they've been written by a teenager who happened to step into a studio and persuaded the sound engineer to beef them up a bit. Pleasant enough.

Never listened to this band before and it's a new favorite. Will be exploring further!

When I read that this artist was compared to Nick Drake and Elliot Smith I thought I was in for another morose melodramatic album. I was so very happily surprised by this. The instrumentation is gorgeous. Sure it’s emo, but it is had and shoulders above those artists in musicality. Absolutely lovely listen. Very strong four stars.

forgettable

I really, really like it. It's ramshackle and melodic and sad and weird. I met Badly Drawn Boy after this was released. He was cool. It's a shame that he never got close to matching this.

I feel like this should've been neater, but it felt like it was fucking five hours long

Just gonna copy paste another review I saw “Was heading for a generous 3* but then went on for too long...”

Am I so out of the indie sphere that this sounds novel and interesting? Maybe! To me this was a wonderful listen! The album has such a gentle sound for the most part, and yet the instrumentals are deceivingly intricate and varied, the sort of production you can truly enjoy with some good headphones. I'm a sucker for that. I didn't even notice the length so many complained about, as each time a new song came up I was hooked onto whatever they were doing next. All of it flows beautifully well together. Love it! Standouts: The Shining • Everybody's Stalking • Fall in a River • Camping Next to Water • Another Pearl • Once Around the Block • Pissing In the Wind • Blistered Heart • Disillusion • Epitaph

The time dilation effect of this album should be studied in college physics courses. This is another argument for letting these albums sit a decade before putting them on a list like this because I can totally see how this would've sounded like the sound of the future at the time, but it's crushingly dated now.

2.5 Samey

2.5

Pretty nice.

Groupe inconnu. Electronica avec des instruments standards (ou des très bon samples), ce qui pourrait être bien. Malheureusement ce n'est pas le cas, les 5 mn du premier morceau sont interminables, répétitives et peu intéressantes. Quelques morceaux plus dynamiques sauvent l'album de la note minimale, mais sans plus. J'ai rapidement fait autre chose en le conservant en musique de fond. =>2/5

WTF

So glad to have found this gem.

Melodic, well put together folk

Enjoyed more than I thought I would just by reading into the album beforehand. However, I fail to see why this is present in any edition of the book. 7/10.

This is a perfectly serviceable Baroque album, but I don't think it's a must-listen at all.

So I remember there was a lot of hype around this, a lot of people loved it, my brother insisted I listened to it and maybe even gave me a copy. I didn't remember anything about the music, but I remember being puzzled, baffled as to what people appreciated about it. Listening today makes me remember why: it's an overproduced mess. It starts out nice, horns, viola but just keeps adding layers and instrumentation. If there's an instrument, it's included in the mix. Going through the list: Harmonica? of course. Harmonium? oh that thing, yes. Harp? check? Harpsichord? Got it! If there's a vocal treatment, it's applied somewhere. Samples of all kinds. But there's no dynamics, everything is muffled and compressed. Also, too long. I'll give it two stars because I think the songs, if rerecorded by another band in a studio with only 16 tracks, are often really good. But overall, forgettable album that is totally ok not to ever hear. 2/5

This album is between okay lo-fi and boring. It’s also a little too long with over an hour.

I think if I heard this during more melancholy times then I would enjoy it more. It reminds me of Damien Rice as in it's a good collection of songs to get sad and wistful to.

Badly Drawn Boy’s The Hour of the Bewilderbeast is a masterfully produced and beautifully executed journey that easily earns a 5/5, striking a perfect balance between intricate instrumentation and gorgeous melodies. The album opens strong with the stunning strings and breezy atmosphere of "The Shining," setting a high standard that is matched by the top-tier, 100-point melody of "Once Around the Block," the catchy hook of "Everybody's Stalking," and the smooth, comforting vibe of "Magic in the Air." While a few tracks like "This Song" falter due to distracting panning effects, and others like "Cause a Rock Slide" miss the mark entirely, the record excels at creating vivid sonic atmospheres; "Fall in a River" captures its title perfectly to deliver a true acoustic experience, while "Camping Next to Water" shines with fantastic percussion. Damon Gough's brilliant musicianship keeps the momentum going through standout grooves like the tense, beautiful finale of "Dissolution," ultimately wrapping up with the fittingly solid "Epitaph." It is a wonderfully played and deeply cohesive piece of art where the stellar highs effortlessly coast over the brief, minor lulls.

Grosses vibes grungy, rock, folk Eliott Smith, John Lennon, Cobain. Avec un côté orchestral qui fait penser aux Beatles de Sgt Pepper ou Nick Drake. Drette dans mon répertoire, je compromettrais mon intégrité si je mettais pas 5. Mais hey! Fou que je connaissais pas ça, (sauf de nom, vaguement).

Totally judged the book by its cover on this one. Album was way better and more calming than I thought it would be

Before I listened I was dreading yet another 2000s Brit rock shitshow. But instead this is a shockingly understated and mature album that I really like! Pretty and layered and lovely.

trash

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. The cover gave me incredibly low expectations and perfectly matches the stereotype of what a 2.57 looks like on this site. But then I listened and I felt like I was in an indie movie. Not bad little dude.

Reminds me of the stuff I got into in college. More moody, sensitive music. Very much of its time. Also noticed that every artist that won the Mercury Prize in the early 2000s was added on this list? Was there no other "known" artists at the time apart from those that won this prize or something?

Kende maar 1 nummer, is ontdekking, mooi!

niks voor mij... saai

I didn't have high hopes from the cello intro. Sounds like a poor copy of Heatmiser/ Elliott Smith with baroque interludes.

muy tierno, me gustó

Enjoyable enough for indie pop.

Chamber pop / indie rock that's easy to listen to but didn't really blow me away. Several songs reminded me a lot of Nick Drake. It was an enjoyable listen but there aren't any tracks I want to add to my playlist.

Miste liksom litt interesse når eg hørre på det, litt monotont for meg? Men ikkje ille

Its a nice listen

No suena mal pero no me parece nada especial y es un poco largo. Puntualmente se le va el volumen de algún instrumento respecto al volumen de la vo/volumen general. Últimamente no me apetece ser pomposa con las críticas.

Wär vielleicht irgendwie akzeptabel wenn es nicht so unfassbar lang wär und der typ minimal talent als sänger hätte. Fast jeder song klingt gleich und die, die nicht gleich klingen sind anderweitig langweilig

While it wasn't anything special, it had a calming sound to it.

Huh. I confused their name with Fall Out Boy and didn't think I liked them. But hearing this, first I was shocked to realize I knew several of the tracks but didn't know they were the artist. The whole album was interesting, fun, engaging. This belongs in the rarified air of the 5 list.

A lot of this is good, but “45 Minutes of Bewilderbeast” would have been a better album.

I get it, but I’m not sure I get it, you know? This record is fine, and I wouldn’t begrudge anyone who fell in love with it when it came out and still holds it dear. But, I don’t know how much power it has to convert people 25 years later. It’s a lot like the typeface used on the cover: endearing and novel for 2020, but a bit cliche now. "Disillusion" was the song that caught my attention most, but it's a very late swing in an album that otherwise all feels remarkably similar. It's a solid debut effort, but doesn't feel like it rises to the hype.

As a big fan of this album, I’m genuinely a little shocked to see it included in the list, not that I’m complaining. This record is a beautiful, chaotic, and dynamic blend of soft pretty folk music, orchestral interludes, and some of the more enjoyable Brit-pop/rock I’ve ever heard. “Epitaph” is a song that I’ve loved for well over half my life now, and the rest of the album still holds up from when it was first shown to me many years ago. 4*

This wasn’t terrible but I couldn’t determine any single reason why one would listen to this when you could instead listen to, like, Elliott Smith or any other 90s indie folk/rock that sounds almost exactly like this.

I’d rate this 3.5 if I could. I listened to this a little bit back when it was released. I couldn’t recall any of the songs when this popped up on this list, but then I listened to it and I kept thinking “oh, yeah, this song” again and again. Overall catchy and competent, but not compelling enough for me to seek out for future listens.

Honestly I’m surprised this one missed me, because I think I would’ve been into it back in the day. A little like Elliott Smith fronting an Elephant Six band. Just not quite as good as that description promises.

Maybe it’s because I listened to it right after Def Leopard. But I liked it.

Could have sworn one of these songs was on the Garden State soundtrack. Kind of a 3.5 for me. I have the same issue here as I do with Bright Eyes and other similar artists, which is they even though I like the sound, I have trouble concentrating on it for extended periods of time, so it makes it less enjoyable as an album. Can’t quite explain it since these guys are probably a lot what I would sound like if I could write songs.

It was fine, just no barriers were pushed, I wonder if those involved wanted to be there.

Listening to this following on from The Triffids, the songwriting sounded like a masterpiece! I enjoyed this fine but it probably leaned a little too folky for me and it didn't stand out from the crowd. Rating: A high 3.

Did NOT expect this one to be on the list. My college roommate and I thought we were the only ones who'd ever heard of this guy. Enjoyed the nostalgia trip.

This was a nice surprise

His best album and some of the best songwriting of the era .

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Not sure. Never heard of Badly Drawn Boy before. Went in not knowing what to expect and came away with "sure, this is fine, maybe even a bit more than fine." I have no qualms with this style or genre of music. Reminds me of a variety of other British rock bands from the same era: Oasis, Radiohead, Elbow, etc.

First song instrumental interesting a bit. Album becomes bland noise though

I feel like I remember not liking this band. This is a bit better than I thought it was going to be but I'm not super into it. Another one of those albums that are fine and I can see why people like it but it's just not for me.

The best thing about Badly Drawn Boy - and I remember thinking this back in the early 2000's too - is that he literally looks like some bloke on the high street, maybe sitting in a bus stop smoking a roll-up cigarette in the rain, wearing scruffy Adidas sambas, a soggy knitted beanie hat on his hat, plastic carrier bag from Iceland at his feet. Pretty inoffensive folk-pop. The music and vocals are warm and pleasant. It's good, very good at times. But not groundbreaking or life-changing. The most 2.5 album imaginable.

folk indy whimsy

Interessant

GENRES: Indie Rock, Indie Folk, Chamber Pop FAVs: The Shining, Bewilderbeast, Cause a Rockslide, Disillusion FIRST LISTEN RATING: 5.5/10

Load of shit. But I'm giving three stars because the voting system is fucked. Wankers

3/10 Unfortunately I found myself really wanting this one to end so I could move on after about halfway through. There's some good in here - I was particularly fond of 'The Shining' and 'Magic In The Air' - but for the most part it was extremely boring and struggled to keep my attention. 'This Song' might be the worst thing I've ever heard, and I will be returning to it if I ever have a strong desire to give myself a splitting headache. Best track: The Shining Will I revisit?: No

This album caught me by surprise, kinda Jon Brion / Elliot Smith vibes, i had to listen to it twice casue the 1st time i was high and getting too emotional any ways will definitely revisit this one

This album is pleasant enough, but not all that exciting.

2000. Debut studio album The cover art is a collage loosely based on Leonardo da Vinci's drawing Vitruvian Man.

I see why the maker of the list put this album on the list, but not why I should listen to it before I die. 2.4.

Sprawling, overproduced at times, and under-developed at others. However, the songs flow so naturally into each other and when highlights like The Shining, Once Around the Block, Magic in the Air, Pissing in the Wind and Disillusion appear out of the sprawl the payoff is great.

this actually didn't end up sounding like what i expected but i liked it! i really dig the mood and the instrumentation is soooo good. i dont really like this kind of vocal tone though. and i dont think the album as a whole is too long but some of the songs are. the instrumental interludes were actually kinda more interesting than the vocal tracks interesting little gem. this is what i would imagine an ispy image would sound like if you turned it into music. particularly the one with all the wooden blocks and little cars. yall know the one fave track: another pearl

Pretty fun. Reminded me of some of the pop rock I listened in my youth.

This sure seems like a bridge album between 90s alt rock and what would be come 2000’s indie. The songs are very much from the latter, but the instruments and singing are the former. 2000s indie is one of my least favorite subgenres of rock music, but this wasn’t as bad as it could have been. It’s a bit long, though a lot of that has to do with the short instrumental interludes. As an album it’s fine really. None of the songs were really exceptional but I did notice that the voice tended to follow the lead guitar almost to the note in nearly every song. It made it so one or the other was unnecessary, and I found it detrimental to the whole thing. By “Disillusioned”, which is this really out of place almost disco song, I was pretty sick of it. This wasn’t bad, it was just kinda boring.

Not bad for folk pop

Ojalá pronto escuche un buen álbum en esta app

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: ☮️📸🖼️ Production: 📈🐍😖 Music: 🥀⌛🪫 Rating: ✍🏼✍🏼(✍🏼)/5

This is not what I thought it was and I actually love it

een plaatje dat wat kabbelt... niet slecht, maar zeker niet onmisbaar

I think you will find, my dear Watson, that the solution to this mystery lies in the first syllable of the band’s name.

Hmm, not sure how to rate this. I didn't dislike it, some of it caused toe-tapping and head-bobbing along. I think I liked the instrumental bits scattered throughout more than than anything with a vocal though. It's quite a calming, relaxing album overall.

Not my thing

I liked that it's varied at first, but it's all over-the-place varied. I like some moments, but I don't know what it's all about

I got this one on a rainy and unseasonably chilly May morning, and put it on in the car for my commute to work and the patter of raindrops on my roof and windshield works well with this cozy, folky, orchestral indie rock. I don’t think there’s anything remotely essential about this album or artist, and it seems like his inclusion in the book has everything to do with him having a moment in the UK around the time the book was written. With that said, the music is appealing despite it being not much more than a curiosity from the turn of the millennium. Badly Drawn Boy takes a magpie’s approach to music, and throughout the album you can hear bits that he’s pinched from Elliot Smith, The Beatles, Neutral Milk Hotel, a rap song that bizarrely falls in the middle of the album, Simon and Garfunkel. It all kind of coheres though, and there’s enough variation between songs that it avoids becoming samey. There’s the earnestness of the turn of the millennium in here, a sense of the pastoral that seems to come from someone who mostly knows cities. I expected to not like this but I was pleasantly surprised.

#119/1001 🇬🇧🐝 Whilst i've seen BDB live a couple of times (and even sat on the table next to him for Sunday lunch in my local) in the past i've never heard this record in full which i'm now realising is a big mistake. It's brilliant - a true revelation. I always found Damon to be a little self depreciating and harsh on himself live but this is a wonderful varied record with some killer pop tunes and other more low key numbers. Best tracks: Everybody's Stalking, Pissing in the Wind, Once Around the Block, The Shining.

This was a pleasant listen! Not bad overall, but didn’t blow me away. Very Elliot Smith but not quite as interesting. Top Songs: The Shining, Once Around the Block

I see the vision but I feel like the execution was a little lacking

Nice singer-songwriter album with elaborate arrangements and strong production choices. Every song has its own style and flavor. There are some lovely instrumentals too. Nice music all around, even if none of it stood out too much or left a major impression. But I’d be down to hear more Badly Drawn Boy sometime. He’s clearly very talented.

I've heard of this band many times but never really listened to them much. I'm definitely surprised to see this is from 2000 when the sound to me is much more like 2010 and on. I really enjoy the experience of this album. It goes places and moves around from droning experimental sections, to pretty poppy moments, and everything in between. "Cause a Rockslide" might be one of the better examples. It starts with a distorted guitar and indie rock kick-drum thump that ushers you past a few minutes of music and then into a cinematic scifi section. Before you know it you're pulled from the dissonance and get to hear a beautiful multi-acoustic guitar section with really nice dry vocals that is a soothing remedy for the dissonance before. They really wanted to take you for a ride. "Disillusioned" is another track that goes places. Really catchy melody that bounces back and forth between vocals and guitar, and a solid performance by the drummer to keep the grooving beat going throughout. "Once Around the Block" is the most listened-to track on the album, and it's lovely. A great dancing indie pop rock tune with really nice clean vocal layers and guitar playing throughout. The ending vibraphone / acoustic guitar / shaker / brass section is gorgeous. I think this is my final 1001 album to complete the list. I started this project / challenge with my friend Steve about 4 years ago, and along the way we had my wife Gab and our friend Jake join us for a few weeks / months. It's been a really great journey. Music is inherently connected to just about all facets of my life, and I am so happy to be completing this challenge when it first seemed really daunting. I'm thankful for it's existence, and I'm thankful for my friend Steve for tackling it with me (and with aplomb I might add!). I discovered so many great bands, albums, & songs from it, and it will forever be a really important talking point in my life. I've already shared it with so many people, and I don't think I'll ever stop recommending it to others. At the end of the day I went on my deck with my wife and amongst other topics we chatted about I mentioned that this was the last 1001 album. She immediately knew the band, album, and the song "Once Around the Block". She said she choreographed a modern ballet to it when she was in high school and loved the song. That's been one of my favorite things about this project; here I am listening to this song and really hearing it for probably the first or second time in my life, and then I learn shortly after that my wife has a great vivid recollection of the song, and overall a nice connection for her in a moment of her life.

⭐⭐ Lyssnade på Screming trees i veckan och för detta albumet känns det som jag kan skriva samma sak. Det är inte dåligt men riktigt tråkigt. Inget som sticker ut på något sätt. Förstår inte vad det gör på denna listan. Det blir en 2a.

3.5

I absolutely love this album. It's one of those albums to me that just sounds both so familiar yet so unique. It's definitely got a feel of the 70s as well as the feel of the 2000s but I think also doesn't sound like it aged a day. I really want to give this album. My only question is where has this album hiding the past 25 years, and why had I not heard of it till now. (9.6) ★★★★½

Nice indie folk album. 4 stars

I've got this on CD somewhere. It's been a while since I've heard it, but I forgot how cool it is. It's super eclectic, blending pop, rock, and pop, but it also all hangs together in a really seamless way. I think Damon Gough really writes some lovely melodies. Highlights for me are "Everybody's Stalking", "Fall in a River", "Cause a Rockslide", and "Pissing in the Wind", but there's nothing here that isn't really cool. 4.5 stars.

3.5

Half-hour of the Bewilderbeast would have been better. There are some proper ace singles on here - principally the chill wispy funky wah wah strains of Once Around The Block and also the charged, bittersweet disco break-up anthem Disillusioned. It is a nice eclectic package overall and a good snapshot of the state or early 00s British indie singer/songwriters but it does trundle on for a bit too long with a few lo-fi missteps and unnecessary instrumental detours. Doesn’t deserve to be an ex-1001. Maybe at the lower end of the 1001 spectrum next door to the likes of David Gray White Ladder and Damien Rice O.

An okay album, a couple of songs sounded good but none that stood out and made me want to listen again

i spent a whole lot of time listening to this album in the early 2000s but i don't think i ever thought it was *good*, it was a cd that someone copied for me. but i sang along with every word on this listen and i still really like some of these songs.

what was up with the one with like sireny sounds I was driving damn

I had never heard this before but kind of liked it

Not at all what I expected. Very 2000s. Fav song is ‘Everybody’s Stalking’.

Some cracking tunes and endlessly inventive soundscape, you know any song off it the moment you hear it.

bewilderbeast?? mooie instrumenten.. stem ok sommige liedje wel leuk eigenlijk maar het is ook wel beetje mid “THIS SONG” GEEFT ME HOOFDPIJN guys als je interesting dingen wil horen met panning van de muziek die je oren kietelen moet je naar ear’s “real life” luisteren

eerlijk? radiohead x coldplay vibes dit s opgeslagen in me bibliotheek 👍

Its ok back to back ok albums. Nothing stood out for me.

Some interesting mix of genres some Oasis some other bands recongised , stylish and arsty though

I’ve been aware of Badly Drawn Boy for the longest time, going back to my “staying up later than i’m allowed to watch Conan” days and i’ve always known i’d like them if i dug more and HERE I AM 20+ YEARS LATER TO SAY… Yep. Good record.

I actually really liked this album. I didn't listen to it with Headphones like Colton did. It was a nice chill vibe with variation.

This is one of the 1001 best albums??? Musically I interesting at times, but no plans to revisit. 2.0

Listening to “This Song” in headphones gave me an immediate headache due to the fast hard stereo panning. It really made it hard for me to look at the rest of the album on its merits. It was…fine? A bit boring. 5/10 Decent

Lowkey a 4. Much chill, very easy listen.

eh

I've loved this album for a long time. It's always felt like a cohesive suite rather than merely a collection of songs. Only nit is the aggressive left/right panning in "This Song" which I find hard to listen to.

++*: Epitaph ++: The Shining, Everybody's Stalking, Camping Next to Water, Another Pearl, Body Rap, Once Around the Block, Bewilderbeast, Pissing in the Wind, Disillusion +: Stone on the Water, Cause a Rockslide, Blistered Heart, Say It Again +-: Bewilder, Fall in a River, This Song, Magic in the Air 7,7/10

It’s not bad. But it’s kind of messy despite a few standout tracks. This is one of those albums where it’s probably good to have a producer or someone to to help with direction.

Album grew on me as it passed, pretty impressive work for one guy to do so much. Favorite track: Bewilderbeast

I love this album. Staggering reach, treating melancholy like a cut gem that reflects a different shade with each facet. One of the albums on this list I have actually foisted onto people.

Echoes of Nick Drake and Elliot Smith, with engrossing, evocative songs that benefit from interesting arrangements and instrumentation. It’s a strong debut from a talented guy who sounds like an old soul and a savvy music aficionado.

Folk emo not really my thing but I didnt hate it.

Umm...OK. Musically more interesting than I expected, and it does mark a change in the zeitgeist from the tail-end of Britpop, but I struggle to maintain any real enthusiasm. 3.5 stars

Not sure where the "critical acclaim" derives from here. A pleasant listen but not a "before you die" kinda album.

Not earth-shattering, nothing stood out as something I would come back and listen to again.

soft sound, generally a smooth listen.

Ok, this was a legit surprise. I dug it. Right away. Nice.

An interesting, if choppy in quality, album. There are some nice moments of lively indie folk on the album, headlined by Everybody’s Stalking and Another Pearl. Elliot Smith’s Figure 8 is a good comparison. However, I think the album goes on too long so that the quality declines. There’s also the random short interlude tracks, which add nothing. A strong 3 but too inconsistent for anything higher.

I’ve known this album for a long time, and have memories attached to it, which colours my perception of this album to a large degree. I think this is a great collection of songs, with opener ‘The Shining’ and ‘Camping Next to Water’ being favourites. At over an hour and with 18 tracks, there is a certain amount of what could be called filler, but that’s all part of the experience as far as I’m concerned.

A lovely indie folk/rock album with orchestral/baroque touches. Comparisons to the likes of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith are apt, but it’s distinctive enough to have its own character. There are some really strong songs here, ‘The Shining’, ‘Another Pearl’ and ‘Once Around the Block’ being my biggest highlights. The quality is a bit inconsistent, however; the brief instrumental interludes felt superfluous, as did the odd track like ‘Fall in a River’, ‘Cause a Landslide’ and, ironically, ‘Bewilderbeast’ itself. The second half was definitely weaker than the first but it’s still just about good enough for 4 stars.

Pop rock indie un peu hippie franchement sympa avec des rythmes variés !

Pas mauvais mais ça manque d’un petit quelque chose

Sympa mais sans plus

Good in the background music

Not feeling this. Boring and redundant.

An all time favourite.

Decent listen

Nice and relaxing.

Pleasant enough, and occasionally quite good. But only occasionally. I always appreciate quirky vocals, and we have that here for sure. The songs don’t do a lot for me.

Lo escuché mientras me bañaba

I like his voice and there are plenty of decent melodies cropping up here and there. There are obvious big production things happening in parts, but generally there’s a likeable feeling of under-production (lo-fi seems a bit unfair but the album certainly flirts with it). It’s an aesthetic I can easily be seduced by. Sadly, being the hour(+) as claimed by the title, it’s a bit of a stretch to remain gripped when faced with so many less than vital moments. Perhaps it might be a grower, but I’ve never found myself compelled to keep it in rotation long enough to find out. Weirdly, if I really disliked it, I might feel more determined to figure out what the fuss is meant to be about. Instead it’s just nice but not nice enough for me.

Really enjoyed this.

Better than expected given the album description

A really good album, each song had a nice melody to it. I liked Everybody's Stalking, Camping Next to Water, Stone On The Water and Once Around the Block the most.

An interesting melange of instruments and styles. Worth a listen.

I was honestly expecting worse. It ended up being fine.

Oh, I remember this one. Although, oddly, I don't actually remember any of the music except for "Once Around the Block". But this was *big* when it came out. Not entirely sure why. It's fine enough, but, with distance from the UK and the early 2000s, I can't say it's life changing.

Maybe I'll regret this later, but damn it I'm giving it a five. Really eclectic but well put together, indie and folky and somber while still being upbeat and a totally enjoyable listen. Kind of surprised by the hate. Totally a win for me. Elliot Smith with just a little more serotonin. Fave tracks: - The Shining - Everybody's Stalking - Camping Next to Water - Stone on the Water - Once Around the Block - Bewilderbeast - Magic in the Air - Pissing in the Wind - Disillusion - Epitaph Edit: alright, so I'm editing it. Maybe it drags more than I thought. Whatever. Still 4 stars.

Painfully mediocre and generic.

Some great songs, but a little too long

Always loved You Were Right, only song of his I knew, so was looking forward to this. But it left me a bit, well, bewildered.

Really enjoyed this, only knew a couple of badly drawn boy songs but the whole album was pretty.

There's a couple good songs on here, but if I'm being honest, this album is kinda meh. I've heard other bands/artists do similar music to much greater effect.

Chill.

I want to like this, truly I do. It just dragggs.

This is a fine album, but there’s nothing here that really excites me. It leans heavily into that singer-songwriter style without doing much to stand out. The second track kicks off with a surprisingly up-tempo, almost Alice in Chains-like riff, which caught my attention, but not much else sticks. I don’t see myself coming back to this one.

Good album, experimental at times and cozy at others. I liked this one.

This is #day607 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… out of all the indie rock/folk out there, this? Off the top of my head, Into the Wild by Eddie Vedder, or pretty much anything by Mark Kozelek, blows this out of the water. This was an alright listen in places, despite the total runtime, but as an album I had to hear before I die? At least I learned this guy appeared on Unkle's Psyence Fiction, which, un/ironically, isn't even on this list. Let it be a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day608.

I've heard of this artist but never listened. Sometimes I think, what if another artist had done this record? I'm a huge Jeff Tweedy fan, and will give any mid-period Wilco album five stars, but I'm not huge on his solo stuff. There's too much of it and it's sort of...samey. But if Jeff Tweedy came out with this record instead of Badly Drawn Boy, this would be an all-timer for sure. Part of that would be the unexpectedness of it. Maybe this is par for the course for Badly Drawn Boy (but there's some range here, so great range is par for the Badly Drawn Boy course). I don't know, I've never heard another Badly Drawn Boy record. All this is me trying to figure why I'm giving this a four when, if it were Jeff Tweedy I would give it a five. I don't have a satisfactory answer. Maybe I don't like English accents (I'm neutral to English accents). Maybe I'll come back and change this to a five (I won't). Maybe....maybe....maybeeeee

I don't understand a lot of people giving this a 1. Sure, not every song stood out to me here but it felt lyrically unique and I know I'll return to a few of these. The Shining is my favourite. 7/10

🎧Idk this is fine, solid, pretty good, some nice tunes, nothing that great, nothing terrible, too long, pleasant background music while I rearranged my records

Decent Songwriter Guy.

Me aburrió mucho

I'm sure a thoughtful and talented man, but this irritated the hell out of me. It may have been the Hugh Grant/About a Boy connection, unclear. Won't be back.

Like if you mixed Elliot smith, Radiohead and something that kinda sucked.

Tough listen!

Quite liked this

The songs on this album flip flop between drippy melancholy folk that I hate, and pretty good alternative rock that I really enjoyed, so I'm conflicted. Sounds like a 3/5 to me!

a surprise in my books. great little album

18 tracks makes this a long boy. I like the vibe, but it's not what gets me going, especially not in this particular chapter of my life. So yeah.

Not sure what to think of this one. It kind of sounds like Elliot Smith mixed with the shins. I like the shins alright, not huge on Smith. I thought it was a pretty good album, not sure if I’d listen again but not writing it off.

Never listened to this before. I’m down.

I should like this a lot but I feel like it's not sticking with me

Interesting mix of folk/indie tracks with some fresh ideas and melodies. Ultimately not that memorable but worth a listen.