The Hour of Bewilderbeast
by Badly Drawn Boy
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. CDNow
    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.
  2. Magnet
    50
    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]
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  3. Spin
    50
    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]
    All this publication's reviews

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best Album of 2000
59
#59 Most Discussed Album of 2000
93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2000

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Ricko
    Oct 26, 2011
    8
    A brilliant debut from the enigmatic Badly Drawn Boy. Original throughout, full of nicely crafted songs intermingled with sound collages. OnlyA brilliant debut from the enigmatic Badly Drawn Boy. Original throughout, full of nicely crafted songs intermingled with sound collages. Only 1 or 2 weak tracks of the 18 on it. I'd recommend to anyone who appreciates good melodies and cute lyrics. Although I'm cautious in saying it, this reminds me a lot of the Beatles White album in terms of it's style (but obviously without all the Beatles all time classics that appeared on that record). The song writing here is top notch and well deserved it's Mercury Music Prize.… Full Review »
  2. Rikardsen
    Aug 15, 2011
    10
    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 songwriterThis 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.… Full Review »
  3. CHRIS
    Feb 25, 2005
    9
    nifty.
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