[.ca] Hour Of Bewilderbeast

From Amazon.co.uk:
Derided as a joker, dismissed as an indie elitist--few believed the hype that frothed from critical mouths about Damon Gough, a bleary-eyed, bestubbled Mancunian with an acoustic guitar and a shambolic stage manner. But The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast--the debut album by Gough's alter-ego, Badly Drawn Boy--is utterly superb, an 18-track collection of futurist folk as intimate and well crafted as Nick Drake's Bryter Later. Gough leads a backing band comprising Mancunian post-folk chums Alfie, and together they unveil a breed of rock entirely without bombast--the intimate folds of "Stone On The Water" entrancing, rather than bludgeoning. And it's funny, too. "I'm dying..." Gough announces on "Everyone's Stalking". And then, bourne up on a swell of parping brass, he finishes the sentence with relish: "To put a little sunshine in your life!" Droll, yet touching, seldom immediate, but forever sublime. The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast weaves quiet, but affecting, spells. -- Louis Pattison

In 2000, the techno-folk troubadour Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy, won the U.K.-based Mercury Music Prize, Brit-pop's blue ribbon award. His first full-length, The Hour of Bewilderbeast, is a song cycle relaying the life span of a romantic relationship with dry lyrical humor, soft-touch acoustic strumming, mellow horns, and gossamer strings. Repeated listenings are required, but like a down pillow, as your head sinks into this album, its warm comforts and rewards reveal themselves deep within a melodic cushion. --Beth Massa

Stunning debut:
The Hour of Bewildrebeast is just a stunning patchwork of different musical styles and influences that all flow together seemlessly. His songs sound so naked and timeless, i can't remember the last time i heard pop music like this. I guess the one criticism i have of Badly Drawn Boy is that he has so much talent he sometimes doesn't know where to focus it and while there is hardly a weak moment on this album, parts of it do sound a little tacked on. Still worth 5 stars though.

Pissing In the Wind:
Simply a beautiful album. I can't state in words how this album made me feel the first time listening to it all the way through. Its hard to tell whether its joy or despair, but the point is this album makes you feel. 'Epitaph' Still gets me to this day when the birds chime in and he sings "Just Promise That you'll try." unrequited love is somewhat of a button for me and that song pushes it hard. Another standout is 'Pissing In The Wind' almost a tongue-in-cheek rebellion song that upon further investigation (I mean looking past the title) is really more universal than funny. The reason this album isn't a 5-star album is because of its consistency. Songs like 'Body Rap' and 'Cause A Rockslide' are cool concepts, but don't really flow with the goal of the album. However, overall this is a standout album from ONE guy! he plays 8 instruments at a time (I believe thats the correct number). That's talent.

Not to be forgotten:
I'm surprised that many people haven't heard of this album. It's amazing. Not in a "indie" sort of way but in a top album's list sort of way. Simply put, Badlydrawnboy's debut is amazing and a feat that he has yet to reproduce. It is an album that needs to be listened through from track one and in sequence. His talent is apparent in about every song. I can agree with criticism of tacking on needless sound bits between songs. But some of them act exceptionally well in transitioning from song to song. These poppy songs paint beautiful pictures with metaphor laced lyrics, innovative sound and wonderful guitar playing. I haven't heard songs this rich since and long for the day when Damon Gough can reproduce the efforts displayed in this album. Give this album a listen. The songs are not the elitist type you'd expect from an indie debut. My dad happened to listen to it when I left the cd in my car and even he liked it.

Kaleidoscopic debut by the english Beck:
2000's splendorous debut by Manchester's prodigy songwriter Damon Gough should be regarded foe what it is:the last great pop album of the twentieth century. Some reviewers criticize the way it seems almost too easy for him to create his music - they should instead be marvelled at his incredible resourcefulness and tasteful arrangements. In the booklet's thank yous there's one aimed at Bruce Springsteen and other at Johnny Marr which makes all sense in the way his music frequently resembles a Springsteen filtered through the Smiths' sensitivity and emotional depth. It should be said that the album works better as a whole than as a sum of its elements for while the outstanding songs are plentiful it should be heard from start to finish in order to be fully emerged in all its beauty. Some key tracks: -The Shining:A folk opener, gentle, sunny and reminding Belle& Sebastian's work. -Everybody Stalking:A dark tune covered in heavy guitars.Great. -Camping next to water:The gorgeous lovelorn("What's the use of feeling,there's no one here to feel it with me")and the emotional solo makes this probably the album's top cut. -Stone on the Water:Folk rock which in its second part uncovers some precious vocal harmonies. -Another Pearl:The piano driven single,filled with surrealistic lyrics(some in French)features also some cool singing by Damon. -Once Around the Block:An uplifting singalong track. -Cause a Rockslide:Sung in a falsetto(not an annoying one though)and refreshingly schizophrenic. -Pissing in the Wind:A simple but heartfelt song. -Disillusion:Set on a disco beat,bouncy but elegant,a change of direction after the more confessional "Pissing in the Wind". -Say it Again:The proof that indeed it all flows effortlessly out of him.A song in theory as simple as this one, achieves status of excellence as it passes through his hands. All fans of singer-songwriters should give talented Badly Drawn Boy a try.

Another pearl:
Badly Drawn Boy (also known as Damon Gough) created a winning sound with "Hour of Bewilderbeast," his full-length debut after a bunch of EPs. Here folk-pop is woven together with some funk, some jazz, R & B and a hint of rock, all mapping out a romantic relationship's ups and downs. It starts off with the vaguely orchestral "Shining," before kicking off into catchy folk-pop ("Everybody's Stalking," the gentle "Camping Next To Water"), jazzy ballads ("Stone on the Water") and some very funny funk. Among the highlights are the swirling "Fall in a River" with its final splash, the quirky "Once Around the Block," and the disorientingly shimmery "This Song." Few singer/songwriters have the talents that Gough shows in this album. "Bewilderbeast" is sort of wistfully charming without ever being manipulative. It charts a relationship from its beginning to its end, with all the exhilaration, confusion and sweetness, and concludes with the plaintive plea, "Please don't leave me wanting more/I hope you never die." Gough steers clear of I-hate-her-guts or I'm-so-depressed songs as well, with straightforward love songs. His songwriting ranges from the minimalist "Fall in the River" ("I guess you think I'm stupid/Or something/But that's a good thing/That's OK") to the lush "Another Pearl," a sprawling seaside love song. And Gough stirs together a bunch of instruments into the backdrop of "Bewilderbeast." It's lush and multilayered, with everything from piano to violin to.... well, harmonica. And accordians. And the oboe. And the xylophone. Somehow Gough whips them together into textured, rich folk-pop that can be funky one moment and ethereal the next. Badly Drawn Boy (that's Gough, if you've forgotten) created a unique and beautiful album with "Hour of Bewilderbeast." Pretty and bittersweet.

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