Have You Fed the Fish?
by Badly Drawn Boy
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Ink 19
    60
    Have You Fed the Fish? seems like a bit of a let down. A surprisingly catchy and listenable disappointment, but a disappointment nonetheless.
  2. Dot Music
    60
    Where once the bark was of Beck, we have - and this hurts - Wings.
  3. PopMatters
    50
    Plainly put, there's something missing in Have You Fed The Fish -- something fresh and whimsical, a tie that binds the songs together, and that endearing twinge that made The Hour such a masterpiece.
  5. Stylus Magazine
    50
    The disappointments just keep on coming.
  6. E! Online
    50
    This collection of quirky tunes is largely directionless, with Gough's indistinct voice sounding lost and uncertain in a swell of pianos, strings and horn arrangements.
  7. Blender
    40
    His second proper album tempers the jollity with some beef, or at least a couple of traditional rock-guitar solos, and the result is an uncharacteristic stiffness. [#11, p.125]
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Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best Album of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Ricko
    Oct 26, 2011
    7
    The follow up proper to Hour of Bewilderbeast - It doesn't quite live up to his debut. There are some good idea's here but they aren't fullyThe follow up proper to Hour of Bewilderbeast - It doesn't quite live up to his debut. There are some good idea's here but they aren't fully developed on here. Everything he got right on Bewilderbeast, doesn't quite come off for him here and at times the record has a bit of a dreary feel to it. Having said that there are still enough good tracks to make it a worthwhile listen.… Full Review »
  2. Rikardsen
    Aug 28, 2011
    9
    I think this album is a victim of bad track ordering, the second half of the album doesn't quite flow as much as the first. Its still great,I think this album is a victim of bad track ordering, the second half of the album doesn't quite flow as much as the first. Its still great, the songcraft is as good as HOTB but just not as frequent, You Were Right is his best song yet and arguably one of the most touching songs ever written.… Full Review »
  3. MikeP
    Feb 11, 2007
    4
    I really enjoyed The Hour of Bewilderbeast and the About A Boy soundtrack but he's lost something since then. This is quite a boring I really enjoyed The Hour of Bewilderbeast and the About A Boy soundtrack but he's lost something since then. This is quite a boring album with mildly irritating lyrics and weak tunes. There is none of the brilliance of Disillusion, Once Around the Block, Something To Talk About or Silent Sigh here.… Full Review »
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