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Track Listings
| 1. Intro/Swimming Pool |
| 2. Born In The U.K. |
| 3. Degrees Of Separation |
| 4. Welcome To The Overground |
| 5. A Journey From A To B |
| 6. Nothing's Gonna Change Your Mind |
| 7. Promises |
| 8. The Way Things Used To Be |
| 9. Without A Kiss |
| 10. The Long Way Round/Swimming Pool |
| 11. Walk You Home Tonight |
| 12. The Time Of Times |
| 13. One Last Dance |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A doff of the woolly hat to his beloved Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA, Damon Gough's fifth album as Badly Drawn Boy, finds him musing on modern life, national heritage, and finding the space to crack wise a little along the way. Gough's approach to the knotty subject of patriotism is not quite as chest-beating as Springsteen's, but in truth it's just as conflicted. Take the title track; it mentions the hosepipe ban, Sid Vicious and the Falklands conflict, yet far from being a straight-up nostalgia tract, still confronts the troublesome contradictions of the British patriot: "We made something out of nothing/A sense of loathing and belonging". Perhaps it's true to say that Born In The UK finds the Badly Drawn one looking behind rather than in front: the country-tinged "The Way Things Used To Be" even strikes a wry note of self-mockery amid the rather traditional songwriting within. But if time has blunted Badly Drawn Boy's impulse to challenge his audience, there's a genuine warmth and optimism to songs like "Welcome to the Overground" that mark Gough out as a rare author who can pull off sentimentality without sounding forced or trite. --Louis Pattison
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I confess it took me a couple of listens to get this. I was probably not in the right 'listening mood' or something. But then I did get it. And wow.
This could be the Badly Drawn masterpiece. Musically it is less flightly and quirky than earlier efforts, but at the same time is not restricted to a compressed range of expression. The songs are strong and the arrangements dense and both finely judged and expertly delivered.
The Springsteen influence is very strong indeed, but tends to come out in cleverly constructed lyrical touches - 'streets of fire' gets a mention, and at one point the protaganists decide to listen to Thunder Road because they can't think of anything else to do. Musically, rolling piano and what sounds very like the legendary E Street glockenspiel throw up reminders of vintage New Jersey. But the homage is neither oppressive nor a substitute for great and personal song writing.
I'm not sure one song really stands out above the rest, as this is a very strong set - perhaps it lacks a "Born to Run". I would vote for "Promises" as my favourite, but the more you listen the more you get.
Overall a great album, but one that I suspect will unfortunately be overlooked by far too many people.
This could be the Badly Drawn masterpiece. Musically it is less flightly and quirky than earlier efforts, but at the same time is not restricted to a compressed range of expression. The songs are strong and the arrangements dense and both finely judged and expertly delivered.
The Springsteen influence is very strong indeed, but tends to come out in cleverly constructed lyrical touches - 'streets of fire' gets a mention, and at one point the protaganists decide to listen to Thunder Road because they can't think of anything else to do. Musically, rolling piano and what sounds very like the legendary E Street glockenspiel throw up reminders of vintage New Jersey. But the homage is neither oppressive nor a substitute for great and personal song writing.
I'm not sure one song really stands out above the rest, as this is a very strong set - perhaps it lacks a "Born to Run". I would vote for "Promises" as my favourite, but the more you listen the more you get.
Overall a great album, but one that I suspect will unfortunately be overlooked by far too many people.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Here we have album number 5 from the "wooly-hatted one". In true Damon Gough style, it has a playful, punning title ("Born in the UK" - a nod to his idol, Springsteen.) In true Damon Gough style, the music here is beautiful, exhilirating, uplifting and GODDAMN LIFE AFFIRMING! I hate to be so predictable, and bestow it with 5 stars, but...WHAT THE HELL?! This music is making me happy. 5 STARS it is. Let me guide you through, track by track:-
1.Swimming Pool. - Some spoken word philosophising from Damon. Would probably sound lame coming from other artists, but from Mr Gough, this outspoken love for his family sounds earnest and real. A powerful start to the album.
2.Born In the UK. - Vintage BDB. Impossibly catchy and energetic. Power chords on the piano and a Joy Division-style rolling beat. A very infectious vocal line. Be prepared to fall in love with this tune!
3.Degrees of Separation. - Piano-driven kitchen sink pop. Beautiful.
4.Welcome to the Overground. - Sounds like something from a 1970s musical!(Godspell, possibly?) This brings the album to a whole new level. Operatic backing vocals, a triumphant melody, gigantic piano stabs. The energy here is tangible.
5.Journey from A to B. - Very remeniscent of New Order's "Run". This contains a very captivating one-finger piano hook.
6.Nothing's Gonna Change Your Mind. - This one you know. A melodramatic masterpiece!
7.Promises. - Introspective and melancholy. Builds and builds, then the beat kicks in and this tune spreads its considerable wings! Superb.
8. The Way Things Used to Be. - Good use of slide guitar.
9. Without a Kiss. - Classical-style arpeggiated piano. Another introspective beaut.
10.The Long Way Round. - My personal favourite. A gorgeous vocal line, accompanied by an equally gorgeous muted trumpet and minor piano chords. This sounds like early Belle and Sebastian. Possibly even better.
11.Walk You Home Tonight. - Perfectly executed tune. Piano and ghostly synthesiser. This would have fitted snugly into the "About a Boy" set.
12.The Time of Times. - A rythm guitar heavy, golden sunset tune.
13.One Last Dance. - Upbeat ballad as a finisher. This is a beautiful love song that floats on perfect waves of melody. The climactic chorus makes this the perfect closer to a pretty much perfect album!
So there you have it. Buy the album. Slap it in the HI-FI. Feel your hair stand on end. Feel alive.
1.Swimming Pool. - Some spoken word philosophising from Damon. Would probably sound lame coming from other artists, but from Mr Gough, this outspoken love for his family sounds earnest and real. A powerful start to the album.
2.Born In the UK. - Vintage BDB. Impossibly catchy and energetic. Power chords on the piano and a Joy Division-style rolling beat. A very infectious vocal line. Be prepared to fall in love with this tune!
3.Degrees of Separation. - Piano-driven kitchen sink pop. Beautiful.
4.Welcome to the Overground. - Sounds like something from a 1970s musical!(Godspell, possibly?) This brings the album to a whole new level. Operatic backing vocals, a triumphant melody, gigantic piano stabs. The energy here is tangible.
5.Journey from A to B. - Very remeniscent of New Order's "Run". This contains a very captivating one-finger piano hook.
6.Nothing's Gonna Change Your Mind. - This one you know. A melodramatic masterpiece!
7.Promises. - Introspective and melancholy. Builds and builds, then the beat kicks in and this tune spreads its considerable wings! Superb.
8. The Way Things Used to Be. - Good use of slide guitar.
9. Without a Kiss. - Classical-style arpeggiated piano. Another introspective beaut.
10.The Long Way Round. - My personal favourite. A gorgeous vocal line, accompanied by an equally gorgeous muted trumpet and minor piano chords. This sounds like early Belle and Sebastian. Possibly even better.
11.Walk You Home Tonight. - Perfectly executed tune. Piano and ghostly synthesiser. This would have fitted snugly into the "About a Boy" set.
12.The Time of Times. - A rythm guitar heavy, golden sunset tune.
13.One Last Dance. - Upbeat ballad as a finisher. This is a beautiful love song that floats on perfect waves of melody. The climactic chorus makes this the perfect closer to a pretty much perfect album!
So there you have it. Buy the album. Slap it in the HI-FI. Feel your hair stand on end. Feel alive.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Easily the finest Badly Drawn Boy album since 2002's ABOUT A BOY soundtrack,
BORN IN THE U.K. finds the British alternative-pop artist (a.k.a. Damon Gough)
playing to his strengths after a period of creative stagnation. While the title
track (a nod to Gough's musical hero, Bruce Springsteen) is energetic and
assured as it careens over a Beatlesque drum line, "Nothing's Going to Change
Your Mind" is a lush, plaintive ballad that reinforces earlier comparisons to
Harry Nilsson. Although BORN IN THE U.K. doesn't feature the overt eclecticism
of Gough's lauded debut, THE HOUR OF BEWILDERBEAST, it benefits not only from
Gough's renewed focus on crafting compelling pop songs, but from a new creative
foil, Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen, who helped to flesh out the album's
arrangements. Although the record will readily appeal to Badly Drawn Boy
diehards, it should also win over some lapsed fans, and garner some new admirers
as well.
BORN IN THE U.K. finds the British alternative-pop artist (a.k.a. Damon Gough)
playing to his strengths after a period of creative stagnation. While the title
track (a nod to Gough's musical hero, Bruce Springsteen) is energetic and
assured as it careens over a Beatlesque drum line, "Nothing's Going to Change
Your Mind" is a lush, plaintive ballad that reinforces earlier comparisons to
Harry Nilsson. Although BORN IN THE U.K. doesn't feature the overt eclecticism
of Gough's lauded debut, THE HOUR OF BEWILDERBEAST, it benefits not only from
Gough's renewed focus on crafting compelling pop songs, but from a new creative
foil, Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen, who helped to flesh out the album's
arrangements. Although the record will readily appeal to Badly Drawn Boy
diehards, it should also win over some lapsed fans, and garner some new admirers
as well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not a classic album
This isn't a bad album by any means, but nor is it a great one. Track after track of familiar, safe pop melodies. Read more
Published on 4 April 2010 by Adam Smith
Another Hugh Grant soundtrack !
Despite the tea cosy hat,the ragamuffin threads and the luxuriant beard. Mr Gough is no art school,angst ridden,folk inspired singer songwriter. Read more
Published on 15 May 2007 by Arthur Dooley
Great packaging and great music
I just got my copy last night. I love it. And, unlike the James Blunt CD/DVD set "Back to Bedlam" you can actually watch the DVD in this set on U.S. DVD players!
Published on 31 Oct 2006 by Debbie A. Powell
Consistently great
Whilst I have enjoyed previous albums from Badly Drawn Boy (BDB) I have found his latest offering particularly excellent. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2006 by Mr. G. S. Wheelhouse
UK understatement
The first time I heard OK Computer I didn't know what all the fuss was about. But slow burners can be strong burners and Born in the UK is a classic case. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2006 by Richard Gray
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