The Hour of Bewilderbeast - Badly Drawn Boy
The Hour of Bewilderbeast Image
  • Summary: The debut full-length album from Damon Gough (who records under the Badly Drawn Boy name) earned Britain's Mercury Prize for Best Album in 2000.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. 100
    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]
  2. A slippery and surprising little record -- an oblique song cycle tracing a relationship from balmy beginning to corrosive end.
  3. 60
    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.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. RicN.
    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 Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. JaredSS
    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. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. This is an album about positive expectations, an album you can so easily fall in love with and flows so effortlessly. BDB is a true songwriter taking the listener through an epic adventure. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 8 User Reviews

  1. Loveless [Reissue] - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 96
  2. Ram [Deluxe Edition] - Paul & Linda McCartney
    Metascore: 93
  3. L.A. Woman - The Doors
    Metascore: 93
  4. On the Impossible Past - The Menzingers
    Metascore: 93
  5. Biokinetics [Reissue] - Porter Ricks
    Metascore: 93
  6. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 91
  7. Reform Club - Claro Intelecto
    Metascore: 89
  8. Be Good - Gregory Porter
    Metascore: 89
  9. Crown and Treaty - Sweet Billy Pilgrim
    Metascore: 88
  10. 1992-2012 - Underworld
    Metascore: 88
  11. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
  12. Accelerando - Vijay Iyer Trio
    Metascore: 87
  13. R.A.P. Music - Killer Mike
    Metascore: 87
  14. Voices from the Lake - Voices from the Lake
    Metascore: 87
  15. The Earn - Yu
    Metascore: 86
  16. Europe - Allo Darlin'
    Metascore: 86
  17. Young Man In America - Anais Mitchell
    Metascore: 86
  18. Vee Vee [Remastered] - Archers of Loaf
    Metascore: 86
  19. Metascore: 86
  20. Locked Down - Dr. John
    Metascore: 86