I can't stop listening to "You Were Right" over and over
It is one of the most moving songs I've ever heard. Seriously, I can't stop listening to "You Were Right" over and over. I'm 37 and there have been alot of nights.
You Can't Believe It, I know
In fact, their other efforts are barely tolerable. I know many true BDB fans will find this offensive but if it wasn't for this album, I wouldn't be a BDB fan. For every thousand times I have played "Have You Fed The Fish" I have played all their other albums once. On the up side, if I had a top 100 alternative albums of all time list this little gem would definitely make the cut. If this is your only exposure to BDB and you like it. Be cautious with their other titles, they may bore you like they bore me.
Have You Heard Anything Else This Original Lately?
Badly Drawn Boy (aka Damon Gough) can be as serious as a heart attack, but he always sounds relaxed with himself, regardless of the topic. I love it when an artist is capable of having some fun with his career. The net effect is that everything he records sounds so much more imaginative and creative, without drowning in the pathos that so many singer/songwriters utilize to express their innermost feelings. "Have You Fed the Fish?" is about as mundane a title as I can imagine, and yet the title track is bursting with energy, creativity, humor, and yes, perhaps just a touch of pathos. Throughout, the instrumentation is as imaginatively creative as the songs themselves. While a xylophone offers a distinct touch to one track, a full orchestra accompanies others. In either case, the instrumentation never bogs things down. In fact, some of the string-laden arrangements actually swing. Other songs betray a funky edge, too, ("Forty Days, Forty Fights"), but stylization is only a means to an end here, providing a basis and a bright atmosphere for the songwriting.
Overall, the mood is fun without becoming flighty, and reflective without becoming morose. It offers insight and entertainment simultaneously, in a manner that draws the listener in. A high point occurs when the short acoustic track "I Was Wrong" introduces "You Were Right". As the upbeat, reflective mood establishes itself, Gough shares a dream wherein he "was married to the queen, and Madonna lived next door. I think she took a shine to me. . . " Nevertheless, he remains true to himself, but then reflects on how he reacted when he heard the news about the deaths of a few celebrity heroes (John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Kurt Cobain, Jeff Buckley), realizing that he ultimately did nothing but sit in and watch the news on television. The track "How?" best sums up his perspective when he sings, "How can I give you the answers you need when all I possess is a melody?" After all, feeding the fish might sound brain-numbingly mundane, but not from the perspective of the fish. A- Tom Ryan.
It's never gonna be like "The Hour..." get over yourselfs and take it for what it is
We just have to get used to the fact that nothing BDB puts out there will be anything like it!
While this may not be better than BDB's first effort, it's a solid, good effort. We all know about the comparisions being made to BDB's debut CD, "The Hour of the Bewilderbeast".
Forget "The Hour. . . " and all his previous work. This CD is filled with some great songs.
Favorite for me are:
"All Possibilities" (by far the best song on the CD for me)
"40 Days, 40 Fights"
"The Further I Slide"
"Born Again"
"How"
"I Was Wrong"
"You Were Right"
"Imaginary Lines" (I wish it was longer!) and
"Using Our Feet"
Be open minded! BDB is refreshing and completely talented compared to all the BS out there. Give this CD another chance.
Very Good.
It's upbeat rythmes, catchy melodies, and orchestrations are addicting. Badly Drawn Boy's second CD was fantastic. Having said that it is not so much the same style as Hour of the BewilderBeast. Unlike his other albums it's missing it's tear-jerking masterpiece. However, I am a big BDB fan, and although it's not the same style as the first, I love it. Here's a list of my favorite songs on the CD.
1. Have you fed the Fish?: 4/5 Starts out kind of boring, then turns really friggin' great. The two second stages of this song are fantastic. This song will get stuck in your head, I garentee it.
2. 40 Days 40 Fights: 5/5 Really great song, this song is one of the reasons why I bought the CD. It has a interesting feel to it, and it's certainly a good one.
3. All Possibilities: 5/5 Best song on the CD. Awesome horn part, with a trippy string section, and an awesome bass. Has almost a disco feel.
4. How?: 3/5 This song is kind of boring, but there's a section in the middle that is probably my favorite moment in modern musical history.
5. Imaginary Lines: 3/5 Fun little song, but too short. I wish it was longer.
6. Tickets To What you need: 4/5 Good song.
Badly Drawn Boy makes great music and has awesome lyrics. He's a poet and that really comes out in his music. He also has a little thing called talent. .
You can see a complete list of all Badly Drawn Boy discography, or go back to the Badly Drawn Boy tabs
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