Born In The U.K.
by Badly Drawn Boy
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23

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  1. JimmehJ
    Oct 31, 2006
    10
    Absolutely great album. This one needs just as much repeating before you get everything out of it as the previous albums did.
  2. auteur55
    Nov 6, 2006
    8
    Don't understand why everyone has turned on Badly Drawn Boy. Misunderstood and underestimated I am shocked at the tripe that is tolerated today while true talent gets knocked down again and again. Another enchanting and life affirming journey from a great songwriter.
  3. FromTheLion'sMouth
    Jan 15, 2007
    10
    Fantastic album, which is unfortunately underrated by those who prefer soulless music.
  4. JilyC
    Mar 21, 2007
    10
    Love it completely. Nice to listen to any time. BDB is great. Beautiful and enchanting.
  5. TimJ
    Nov 13, 2006
    9
    Fantasic album by BDB. Probably his best since Bewilderbeast, little better than "Fish" It DOES take a lot of listening, but once you start, its hard to stop!
  6. L.Sapientia
    Oct 17, 2006
    8
    Badly Drawn buy is pretty sweet. Simple as that. His songs are simple and moving.
  7. TimC
    Nov 12, 2009
    8
    OK, so clearly it's not BDB's best work, but it's nonetheless melodious, clever, and more heartfelt than just about all of the other new music I'm hearing. Definitely worth buying and it really does take a lot of listens, and doesn't get old fast at all. Saw him do this album live and just WOW.
  8. PaulW.
    Dec 5, 2009
    10
    WHATT?!! How could everyone rip this album some much? There are so many damn good songs on it!! I think there is some conspiracy to take down Gough.
  9. Ricko
    May 21, 2018
    8
    Despite being a pretty big fan of Badly Drawn Boy at the start of his career, I lost track of his new releases after 2004's folky "One plus One is One" for one reason or another. I regularly listened to his first 4 albums but never really felt the need to get acquainted with his later material. I then saw him play live in 2017 and heard a fair bit of material that I was unfamiliar with. IDespite being a pretty big fan of Badly Drawn Boy at the start of his career, I lost track of his new releases after 2004's folky "One plus One is One" for one reason or another. I regularly listened to his first 4 albums but never really felt the need to get acquainted with his later material. I then saw him play live in 2017 and heard a fair bit of material that I was unfamiliar with. I was impressed enough to check out those releases that got away from me, being pleasantly surprised by 2010's "It's What I'm Thinking" and this record 2006's "Born in the UK". This album is typical Damon Gough, fantastically arranged complex pop songs delivered with restraint. For me it's closest in style and substance to "Have You Fed The Fish" although I actually think "Born in the UK" is a better record. Both albums have the occasional brilliant song, plenty of good songs and a few unnecessary ones. The albums title track in a standout, an autobiographical song that tracks Gough's life so far with major events in British culture. "Journey From A To B" is another gem, bright and upbeat. "Promises" is a more reflective piano ballad looking at the nature of commitment in relationships. Another one of my favourites from the album comes towards the end, "The Time of Times" which is almost a reworking of his song "The Shining". "Born In The UK" fits in neatly with the rest of Badly Drawn Boy's back catalog.… Expand
  10. sleepchant
    May 29, 2020
    8
    This album's due for another look. It features some of his most idiosyncratic singing, and there's a sad wonder to songs like "Degrees of Separation," "The Long Way Round," and "Walk You Home" that kinda sums up your 30s. Is it groundbreaking stuff? No, but it's relatable and just complex enough to reveal layers. I even like bombastic experiments like "Welcome to the Overground" andThis album's due for another look. It features some of his most idiosyncratic singing, and there's a sad wonder to songs like "Degrees of Separation," "The Long Way Round," and "Walk You Home" that kinda sums up your 30s. Is it groundbreaking stuff? No, but it's relatable and just complex enough to reveal layers. I even like bombastic experiments like "Welcome to the Overground" and "Swimming Pool Part 1." Would've been a worthy successor to About a Boy as his own personal "soundtrack."… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 30
  3. Negative: 5 out of 30
  1. Urb
    60
    An odd album... this might well have been called Badly Drawn Boy: The Musical. [Oct 2006, p.117]
  2. BBC collective
    70
    This may not measure up to The Hour Of Bewilderbeast, but it does boast a batch of sweet and deceptively unfussy, scruffily heartfelt tunes dealing with love, loss and the messiness of life that help redeem his unarguable songwriting talent.
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  3. The Guardian
    60
    Gough has tried several new directions here. The results are mixed.
    Read full review
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