Have You Fed the Fish?
by
Have You Fed the Fish? Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

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  • Summary: After wowing music critics and winning Britain's Mercury Music Prize for his 2000 debut album, 'The Hour of Bewilderbeast,' Damon Gough (who is the one and only member of Badly Drawn Boy) took a bit of time off, recording only the soundtrack for 'About A Boy' in the interim. He now returnsAfter wowing music critics and winning Britain's Mercury Music Prize for his 2000 debut album, 'The Hour of Bewilderbeast,' Damon Gough (who is the one and only member of Badly Drawn Boy) took a bit of time off, recording only the soundtrack for 'About A Boy' in the interim. He now returns with a proper follow-up, preceded by single "You Were Right."… Expand

Top Track

Born Again
Maybe there's a reason why I'm born again There's something rare going on under my skies You got to chill out, find a reason for your soul again And... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Uncut
    100
    Arguably, not since early Costello has a British solo artist combined such bare-arsed soulfulness with such corrosively perceptive humour. Quite something. [Album of the Month, Nov 2002, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Neumu.net
    90
    The music here combines the scrappy, psychedelic folk of Hour of Bewilderbeast with the more melodic and sentimental "About a Boy" soundtrack.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The abnormal-for-him buoyancy wears thin, but Gough ultimately outpaces most of his U.K. sensitive-soul peers. [29 Nov 2002, p.106]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Almost Cool
    73
    Taken individually, several of the tracks on the disc are the best that Gough has ever done. As a whole, the album just flows a bit inconsistently.
  5. The A.V. Club
    70
    At its worst (on the title track, for example), Have You Fed The Fish? sounds uncomfortably bloated; the superfluous instruments and noises obscure the inherent lightness of Gough's cabaret-influenced songwriting.... But even the worst of Have You Fed The Fish? isn't all that bad.
  6. Spin
    70
    Gough sounds like a guy celebrating his birthday in an airport cocktail bar. [Jan 2003, p.99]
    All this publication's reviews
  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]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. 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.… Expand
  2. JaredSS
    May 12, 2004
    9
    Great from beginning to end. Easily one of the most satisfying albums of the new millenium. If John Lennon, Elliott Smith, Elvis Costello, Great from beginning to end. Easily one of the most satisfying albums of the new millenium. If John Lennon, Elliott Smith, Elvis Costello, and "Mutations" or "Sea Change" Beck had a child, they'd name him Badly Drawn Boy. … Expand
  4. BenjaminBunny
    Mar 26, 2004
    8
    Damon Gough sheds his faux-folk cloak and comes out of the closet as a goofy British balladeer with a knack for shticky production and sticky Damon Gough sheds his faux-folk cloak and comes out of the closet as a goofy British balladeer with a knack for shticky production and sticky melodies! Much better.… Expand
  5. matta
    Jul 19, 2005
    8
    I will agree partially with some critics that have said that the whole affair just doesn't flow that well, but still, this album I will agree partially with some critics that have said that the whole affair just doesn't flow that well, but still, this album features, individually, some amazing songs (All possibilities, The Further I Slide) and a funny, recurring lyrical theme. He's still a genius.… Expand
  6. 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.… Expand
  7. 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.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best Album of 2002

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