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. 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
  2. Mccusky
    May 5, 2020
    4
    Quite a dull album, one of the most disappointing albums after the such high quality of his predecessors
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. RichardM
    Mar 11, 2008
    2
    Terrible, two stars for the melody on the second to last song, but nothing to do with the egotistical self centred lyrical gash that filled the rest of it.
  7. HomerSimpson
    Apr 10, 2007
    1
    Very disappointed here! I agree with JT Kirk.. it's nothing like BDB's "The Hour of Bewilderbeast"!! Gone are the lo-fi reverberated vocals: they're replaced with clean vocals and cheesy lyrics. I don't like his voice that way! The songs seem forced.. not to mention the cheesy arrangements (and horrible production!). Sometimes it feels like you're listening to a Very disappointed here! I agree with JT Kirk.. it's nothing like BDB's "The Hour of Bewilderbeast"!! Gone are the lo-fi reverberated vocals: they're replaced with clean vocals and cheesy lyrics. I don't like his voice that way! The songs seem forced.. not to mention the cheesy arrangements (and horrible production!). Sometimes it feels like you're listening to a musical! when I got to "Welcome to the Overground, I was like wtf? what happened?!… Expand
  8. JilyC
    Mar 21, 2007
    10
    Love it completely. Nice to listen to any time. BDB is great. Beautiful and enchanting.
  9. FromTheLion'sMouth
    Jan 15, 2007
    10
    Fantastic album, which is unfortunately underrated by those who prefer soulless music.
  10. JTKirk
    Dec 3, 2006
    3
    BORING! How far can Gough fall? this is nothing like the BDB I love. Gone is the eclecticism, the andy votel bed-sit techno glitches, the big horns and strings, and the soul. What's left isn't pretty; Gough masterbating all over his piano, smirking at his own cleverness. Avoid this record at all costs if you'd like to remember BDB for THOB and AAB (and, for me, HYFTF BORING! How far can Gough fall? this is nothing like the BDB I love. Gone is the eclecticism, the andy votel bed-sit techno glitches, the big horns and strings, and the soul. What's left isn't pretty; Gough masterbating all over his piano, smirking at his own cleverness. Avoid this record at all costs if you'd like to remember BDB for THOB and AAB (and, for me, HYFTF wasn't that bad, either...he started to slip with OPOIO...the 'comeback' record). This is 13 versions of the same half-baked tuneless drivel, made all the more embarassing when you consider how many ideas Gough used to cram into ONE SONG back in the day. In my mind, there is no greater fall from grace post-2000 than this sad man-child from Manchester. Too bad. He was fantastic once. Think I'll listen to "Once Around The Block" to cheer myself up. wow. this record sucks.… Expand
  11. 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!
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Brandon
    Oct 30, 2006
    1
    Absolutey dreadful. Hard to believe that a guy as visionary as Gough, the man who gave us "The Hour of Bewilderbeast," could be responsible for such nonsense.
  15. matta
    Oct 27, 2006
    4
    One Plus One is One was not a return to form and neither is this tripe. At least One Plus One had a few okay songs (Another Devil Dies, Four Leaf Clover). This album really only has three that I kind of liked, but that I probably won't ever really go back to that often. Very disappointing to see how far Gough has slipped.
  16. MattD.
    Oct 26, 2006
    5
    Some good ideas, but everything feels like it's in slow motion. It gets annoying.
  17. daveh
    Oct 21, 2006
    4
    paradoxically this is both bland and over-done. why can't Gough stick to solid songwriting and leave the theatrics and 'wink-wink aren't i clever' melodic twists on the back shelf. i though One Plus One was a sign that Have You Fed The Fish was a momentary lapse of judgement but it now seems that he outgrew his boy genius long ago.....
  18. L.Sapientia
    Oct 17, 2006
    8
    Badly Drawn buy is pretty sweet. Simple as that. His songs are simple and moving.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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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