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★★★★★ 5 points (13 reviews)


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  • Issued : 08 Apr 2002

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Item Details

Genre : Rock & Pop Catalogue Number : 40152
Format : CD Label : XL
Issued : 08 Apr 2002 Item sourced from : UK
Number of Discs : 1

About A Boy

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HMV Review

It was an odds-on favorite that Badly Drawn Boy's warped yet sunny vision of pop would fit in well with a Nick Hornby novel-turned-movie (especially one about a sensitive, literate, slightly confused man struggling with the responsibilities of most persons his age). Still, there were several unknowns going into the project. Could an artistic iconoclast like Damon Gough control himself when forced to conform by writing a set of songs for specific situations? Would his collection of eccentric production touches, pure honey to any introspective music fan, make any sense in the context of a highly anticipated, wide-release film? Could he even write an entire soundtrack, during an era when most artists hardly average an album every three years? While a first listen proves that Gough's songwriting smarts are so powerful and wide-ranging they work in any context (much less pop songs for movies), several listens are necessary for its real brilliance to shine through. In a similar fashion to the work of Harry Nilsson, his closest pop forebear, a Badly Drawn Boy song is deceptively simple; his pleasant melodies often cloak a set of sharp, thoughtful lyrics and many graceful harmonic turns. Gough's voice, emotional with just a hint of gravel, sounds perfect behind the Hollywood sheen of these arrangements, with Tom Rothrock behind the boards. The single Silent Sigh is the highlight, with Gough masterfully tripping over his lines and accentuating the title with his breathy delivery. It's the cumulative weight, however, that really impresses. Each of these songs works well -- even the tossed-off electro-pop pieces S.P.A.T. and File Me Away -- in either the delightful context of the movie or as a stand-alone work. Though both artist and label hedged bets by explaining it away as an outside work and not the official Badly Drawn Boy sophomore album, it's difficult to imagine how Badly Drawn Boy could've improved on The Hour of Bewilderbeast any better than this astonishing work. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Credits

Damon Gough(Bass),  Damon Gough(Flute),  Damon Gough(Guitar),  Damon Gough(Guitar (Acoustic)),  Damon Gough(Guitar (Electric)),  Damon Gough(Keyboards),  Damon Gough(Percussion),  Damon Gough(Piano),  Damon Gough(Synthesizer),  Damon Gough(Vocals),  Jeff Big Dad Turmes(Saxophone),  Joey Waronker(Drums),  Jon Brion(Bass),  Pete Thomas(Drums),  Stephen McLaughlin(Keyboards),  Ashley Arrison(Vocals (Background)),  Damon Gough(Bells),  Damon Gough(Fender Rhodes),  Damon Gough(French Horn),  Damon Gough(Harmonica),  Damon Gough(Horn),  Damon Gough(Strings),  Damon Gough(Vocals (Background)),  Gia Ciambotti(Vocals (Background)),  Jon Brion(Vibraphone),  Jon Brion(Voices),  London Metropolitan Orchestra(Strings),  Sharon Celani(Vocals (Background)),  Chuck Flores(Noise),  Damon Gough(Celeste),  Damon Gough(Triangle),  Damon Gough(Xylophone),  Jon Brion(Chamberlin),  Mike Brenner(Lap Steel Guitar),  Jon Brion(Fuzz Guitar),  Badly Drawn Boy(Producer),  Chuck Flores(Engineer),  Jesus "Chuy" Flores(Engineer),  Stephen McLaughlin(Producer),  Suzie Katayama(Arranger),  Tom Rothrock(Engineer),  Tom Rothrock(Producer),  Andy Votel(Artwork),  Andy Votel(Design),  Don C. Tyler(Mastering),  Jesus "Chuy" Flores(Editing),  Suzie Katayama(Conductor),  Suzie Katayama(Orchestration),  Tom Rothrock(Mixing),  Errin Familia(Assistant),  Harry Garfield(Executive in Charge of Music),  Jeff Moses(Assistant),  Jesus "Chuy" Flores(Digital Editing),  John Czornyj(Assistant),  Jonathan Reese(Leader),  Kathy Nelson(Executive in Charge of Music),  Rene Garza(Digital Editing),  Ricky Graham(Assistant),  Scott Francisco(Assistant),  Suzie Katayama(Orchestral Arrangements),  Chuck Flores(Pro-Tools),  Jazz Summers(Management),  Jesus "Chuy" Flores(Noise Manipulation),  Jesus "Chuy" Flores(Pro-Tools),  Kathy Nelson(Executive),  Rene Garza(Pro-Tools),  Tim Parry(Management)

Songs

  •   
    1
    Exit Stage Right
  •   
    2
    Peak You Reach  (04:33)
  •   
    3
    Something To Talk About  (03:40)
  •   
    4
    Dead Duck
  •   
    5
    Above You Below Me  (02:40)
  •   
    6
    I Love NYE  (03:20)
  •   
    7
    Silent Sigh  (04:44)
  •   
    8
    Wet Wet Wet
  •   
    9
    River Sea Ocean  (02:24)
  •   
    10
    SPAT  (03:24)
  •   
    11
    Rachel's Flat
  •   
    12
    Walking Out Of Stride  (01:48)
  •   
    13
    File Me Away  (03:23)
  •   
    14
    Minor Incident  (03:44)
  •   
    15
    Delta (Little Boy Blues)  (04:00)
  •   
    16
    Donna And Blitzen  (04:19)

Customer Reviews

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  • ★★★★★ 

    オディレイ  |  不明  |  03/February/2005

    これ、俺のサントラだと思うんだ(妄想)。

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  • ★★★★★ 

    キートン  |  osaka  |  不明  |  16/October/2004

    音のキラキラ感。なんか優雅な気分になります。恋したくなります。人に優しくしたくなります。ゴッホのボーカルもむちゃむちゃ魅力的です。とにもかくにもFのサイレントサイ聞いてください。破格素晴らしさです。音楽好きでよかったぁ。

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  • ★★★★★ 

    北国の帝王  |     |  不明  |  27/January/2004

    エリオット・スミス亡き今、彼にはかなり期待してます。これを聴くと彼のサウンドはシンプルなほど心に響くし、それで十分だと思う。この路線に戻ってくれないかなあ、デーモンよ。

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