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A work of warm-hearted ambition, embracing ragtime, disco beats, melodic Johnny Marr-isms... and echoes of Bacharach.... A classic debut LP with a lifetime's worth of triumphs and tragedies packed into it. [July 2000, p.112]

Entertainment Weekly

A slippery and surprising little record -- an oblique song cycle tracing a relationship from balmy beginning to corrosive end.

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Billboard

A wonderfully offbeat blend of atmospheric folk and lo-fi rock that never fails to charm.... One of the year's most well-rounded and consistently satisfying albums.

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All Music Guide

Despite all attempts to sabotage his songwriting and production with innumerable experimental tidbits, songs within a song, and (seemingly) tossed-off arrangements, Damon Gough has to face the fact that He wrote and produced over a dozen excellent songs of baroque folk-pop for his album debut, and the many gems can't help but shine through all the self-indulgence.

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Pitchfork

The loose, scatterbrain album operates much like the early solo endeavors of Paul McCartney, with 80% developed gems flowing effortlessly from the damp, rustic English countryside.... Piano, strings, harps, and wurlitzer attach insect wings to the lovely songs. They'll swarm and pester your head for days.

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Q Magazine

Quirky, spunky and really quite beautiful, this is British pop at its finest.

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Alternative Press

Musically, he's a little more conventional than one would hope. [12/2000, p.90]

Almost Cool

Although a couple tracks towards the end don't work quite as well, it doesn't detract from the album as a whole very much.

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Dot Music

It doesn't disappoint, if beatific, rhythm-infested melodies, resplendent in wondrous brass, stark string accompaniment and obscure found sounds are your bag.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

At about an hour, Bewilderbeast is uneven, but at its best it exudes a sense of mystery, ingenuity, and wonder that portends even better material to come.

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Mojo

The results are engaging without quite reaching flashover.

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Village Voice

It putters here and there across 18 ditties and doodles gracefully arranged, but played with two left feet and recorded to match.... This English Elliott Smith's got a plainspeak voice that compels with repeated listenings, and the subtle tunes are likewise sneaky, enlivened by all sorts of quirky bits...

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Rolling Stone

Sounds like Elliott Smith's English cousin, or Nick Drake's almost-upbeat nephew.... sweet, gently burning songs.

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New Musical Express

Yet in his desire to create a self-consciously classic album, BDB has erred on the side of generosity. At 63 minutes, 'The Hour Of Bewilderbeast' is true to its title: there's simply too much to sustain one's unswerving attention.

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Ink Blot Magazine

These songs are sonically interesting and pretty as Mom on Easter, but they don't really ring true...

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CDNow

With 18 songs that clock in at over 63 minutes, The Hour of Bewilderbeast meanders too much, and the quirky pacing (there are many random instrumental interludes) makes it difficult to enjoy as a whole. But taken in sections, it's a bit of a grower.

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Spin

Gough's dewy little tunes are mere scribblings in the margins of alt-folk's dog-eared hook-book, while his too-cool-to-care singing is drip-dry dreary. [12/2000, p.232]

Magnet

At its best, Bewilderbeast promises pastoral beauty.... At its worst, the album's faux-jazz workouts, painful disco homage, sappy ballads and pointless instrumentals stretch a decent EP into a bloated, hour-plus opus. [#47, p.84]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

CHRIS gave it a9:
nifty.

Jared SS gave it a 10:
Absolutely brilliant! Arguably the best album of the last five years. As a whole, it works better than a Pink Floyd album and the Beatle-esque melodies will ring in your ear long after hearing them. Do yourself the privelage of giving this masterpiece a listen or two....or five.

Benjamin Bunny gave it a 6:
Lyrically banal, the folksy tracks strike me as a pose (Damon Gough comes across as a sure-fire Elliott Smith fan)--not groundbreaking by any stretch, but consistantly listenable throughout. The follow-up, "Have You Fed the Fish?" is a more singular and assured vision from this artist.

phil l gave it a 9:
A rare pop talent - this album is loaded with memorable songs.

geoff h gave it a 10:
every song is better than the last! good for busrides and dinner

Ric N. gave it a 10:
Just played it and played it and played it. This guy is reminiscent of Lou Reed in his lighter moments - surely destined to be a major artist - acknowledged or not

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The Hour of Bewilderbeast

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