About A Boy [Soundtrack]
by Badly Drawn Boy
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Dot Music
    90
    It's an album that feels like a watershed somehow, a significant step onwards.
  2. AllMusic
    90
    It's difficult to imagine how Badly Drawn Boy could've improved on The Hour of Bewilderbeast any better than this astonishing work.
  3. Neumu.net
    90
    With About a Boy, Badly Drawn boy has grown up.
  5. PopMatters
    90
    A gorgeous, (let me say it again) gorgeous album that totally stands on its own.... About a Boy is one of the best albums of the year.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    A mix of songs and themes balancing obsessive craft with flippant style. [3 May 2002, p.89]
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  7. Q Magazine
    80
    A vibe of maverick playfulness married to fabulous tunes. [Apr 2002, p.106]
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  8. Alternative Press
    80
    A collection of stylistically diverse tunes that is cohesive and refreshing. [Jul 2002, p.76]
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  9. CultureDose.net
    80
    Somewhere within the radio-friendly, xylophone-banging tracks, Badly Drawn Boy finds space for artistic experimentation and growth.
  10. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Ambition, imagination, charm and grace - by any measure, 'About A Boy' hits the heights.
  11. Blender
    80
    Badly Drawn Boy pulls off the job with panache, tipping his hat to Nick Drake, Burt Bacharach and acoustic-era Bob Dylan. [Jun/Jul 2002, p.103]
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  12. Austin Chronicle
    78
    About a Boy is that rarest of bewildering beasties, the soundtrack that stands by itself.
  13. E! Online
    75
    The songs lack the emotional depth of Bewilderbeast, but the jaunty folk-pop is just so much fun.
  14. Mojo
    70
    The seemingly effortless confidence displayed throughout is startling. [Apr 2002, p.108]
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  15. Splendid
    70
    The songs on About a Boy are all exactly what we've come to expect from Gough, and the disc's lack of cohesion is its only real failing.
  16. Playlouder
    70
    It's not all pleasant.... However, there are some total gems, as you'd expect.
  17. The A.V. Club
    70
    If About A Boy doesn't quite have the anything-can-happen vibe of Bewilderbeast, it still reveals a remarkably gifted artist.

Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Best Album of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. AmericanSkins
    Jul 20, 2023
    10
    One of the most criminally overlooked recordings in music history. Following his magnificent debut ‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’, Badly DrawnOne of the most criminally overlooked recordings in music history. Following his magnificent debut ‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’, Badly Drawn Boy teamed up with former Elliott Smith producer Tom Rothrock to create the greatest soundtrack ever. The instrumentation is so heart wrenchingly beautiful, it’s tearjerking from the short string backed piano tickle introduction ‘Exit Stage Right’ to the single greatest Christmas song that wasn’t produced by Phil Spector ‘Donna and Blitzen’. BDB taps into the emotional tone of the film in such an evocative way but the songs stand alone. Pitchfork you should redact your review.… Full Review »
  2. Ricko
    Oct 23, 2016
    8
    The passage of time has been kind to this album. For me, I think its sounds better today, 14 years after its release than it did the day itThe passage of time has been kind to this album. For me, I think its sounds better today, 14 years after its release than it did the day it came out. "About A Boy" is as good a soundtrack album as you'll probably hear and a very strong follow up to Hour of Bewilderbeast. While it doesn't have the same breadth or depth as Bewilderbeast, you need to remember that it is a soundtrack so is a completely different album and serves a completely different purpose. "About A Boy" has lots of lovely short tracks in between proper songs and the beauty of these tracks can sometimes be lost in their brevity. The centre piece of the album "I love NYE" flowing seemlessly into "Silent Sigh" are worth buying this record for alone. Closing track "Donna & Blitzen" is a classic alternative Christmas anthem and possibly my favourite Christmas song. Great album, arguably more concise and focussed than anything else Badly Drawn Boy has done. Excellent listen.… Full Review »
  3. matta
    Jul 19, 2005
    9
    A pair of badly sculpted breast implants? What the F? The folks over at Pitchfork need to pull their heads out of their asses. A great A pair of badly sculpted breast implants? What the F? The folks over at Pitchfork need to pull their heads out of their asses. A great follow-up to Bewilderbeast and just a flat-out great album. His "proper" follow-up later this same year proved that Badly Drawn Boy is a genius, and that Pitchfork knows nothing.… Full Review »
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