Customer Reviews

One Plus One Is One

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For all of the reviewers who have bashed this album by giving it anything less than 4 stars, I honestly wonder if we're all listening to the same album or if you're just trying to impress us by shooting holes in it. What's more impressive - creating the art or destroying it? In today's world I think I know the answer...

The purpose of a review like this on Amazon should be to provide those people who haven't yet purchased the album the chance to see what other listeners think so they can make a somewhat informed decision on whether to buy it. It's not meant to be a forum to over-analyze an artist based upon some ridiculous criteria or previous albums produced (which far too many people have done here, as though he should have simply stopped producing music since his first album was so perfect).

Having said this, I highly recommend this for anyone who has previously owned a BDB album, or for someone who enjoys varied tunes of witty, introspective rock/pop/folk (aka Elliot Smith or Nick Drake). This album is not the downer that so many other reviewers have indicated. There are several "upbeat" tracks on this album, including an eight-and-a-half minute piano driven mini-rock opera (Holy Grail) featuring the flute and a children's choir that ends in a three minute stream of sonic dissonance!

In a music business where style dominates substance, an artist like Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy) is a national treasure no matter what country you're from. Cherish this man while he is still producing such wonderful music.

ebhp

I have been a huge fan of badly drawn boy since i first heard "Bewilderbeast". Unlike many i was also a big fan of "Have you fed the fish?", sure it was overblown but the songwriting and arrangements were fantastic. It seems to me that everyone just expected Badly Drawn Boy to repeat "Bewilderbeast". "Fish" was not bewilderbeast, it was a different more complex and refined work that was different but still very good. Now to "One Plus One is One", people are still expecting Badly Drawn Boy to repeat "Bewilderbeast", and again this is no bewilderbeast; in fact i would say it lies somewhere between fish and bewilderbeast. it isn't as good as either of those albums, but it is still very good. The arrangements aren't nearly as complex as fish, but it lacks the lo-fi and spontaneous charm of bewilderbeast. Still, the songwriting is excellent throughout (Four leaf clover and logic of a friend being my favorites) and the album sparkles with optimistic charm. There were some slightly annoying touches, such as the children's choir in holy grail, but nothing that significantly detracts from the album. One plus one may not be a masterpiece on the same level as bewilderbeast, but does that make it a bad album? Absolutely not! It posseses a homegrown charm and warmth that is lacking in so much of the icy electronic based music produced today. Like most fans i am still waiting for his next masterpiece, but in the mean time this will do just fine.

I am new to Badly Drawn Boy. I discovered him, probably like many, through the film 'About a Boy',and was drawn in by his simple and yet effective melodies. I have been yearning for some mellow, guitar, songwriter kind of music recently, and this is far beyond that!
This album is wonderful. He has an amazing ability to write beautiful and melodic songs, many with just a string section, some great chords and a guitar. And yet there are also some epic songs on here, as mentioned before, 'Holy Grail' has a childrens choir and the song somehow works really well with all the funky experimental stuff going on.
This album is perfect for sitting and chilling to. I like to study to it alot! It has catchy upbeat tunes to keep you motivated, and yet it isn't at all distracting.
At least take a listen to 'One Plus One Is One' , 'This is That New Song' and 'Year of The Rat' to give you a feel for this album, and enjoy!
5 out of 5 stars!

Badly Drawn Boy has been my favorite artist for a few years now since I first listened to "Hour of Bewilderbeast", his first (and very amazing) album. So, I figured I ought to write a review for "One Plus One Is One" because it is great too. I'll go by song:
1 One Plus One Is One-For some reason, this is one of those songs I just love to sing along to. And the middle of it is great when
the drums and everything kick in.
2 Easy Love-Sweet little song; not outstanding but great just to
sit and listen to.
3 Summertime In Wintertime-Sneaks up on you...in a good way.
Definately not the strongest song on the album, but upbeat
and good.
4 This Is That New Song-Sort of a heartbreaker, but not a downer.
People who are familiar with Badly Drawn Boy know that that
is the magic of Damon Gough.
5 Another Devil Dies-Probably my favorite track. This is another
one that has a cool pick-up in the middle of it, and the
lyrics are great, classic BDB style: clever, subtle,
touching.
6 The Blossums-One of 2 tracks without words. Very enjoyable.
7 Year of the Rat-I like this one, but it's definately not my
favorite. Pretty powerful piano going on here though, sounds
good.
8 Four-Leaf Clover-I love this one! Upbeat and fun, I could
listen to it over and over (and I have!).
9 Fewer Words-Short but sweet. It almost hides among the other
songs, but don't let yourself miss it.
10 Logic of a Friend-Steady song, great music, great lyrics. What
can I say, it's BDB doing his thing.
11 Stockport-The other track without words. I like this one even
better than The Blossums.
12 Life Turned Upside Down-Love this one too. It's really clever,
and the lyrics make the song.
13 Take the Glory-Pretty powerful song here. I really like it.
14 Holy Grail-This song is so good! The first half by itself
makes up a great song, but the second half when the tempo
picks up is just amazing!
15 Don't Ask Me I'm Only the President-Pretty cool little song.
Nothing too amazing by BDB standards.
16 Plan B-Very cool. I like that it's almost 2 or 3 songs in one.

Overall, just like all his other albums, One Plus One just plain makes me happy. It makes me want to give up my seat on the subway and buy flowers for my friends. Even the "slow" songs are filled with hope and ultimately happiness. I like the whole
winter/summer theme as well. Reminds me of "Chutes Too Narrow" by the Shins.

Buy this album. Enjoy. Thank me later.

If I could I would give this album 4 stars and a half. It nearly apporaches perfection. If the hour of the bewilderbeast is an amazing album. This for me, was done with more effort. This album remindsme of being in a nice and comfortable bar listening to a guy playing his acoustic guitar and singing these songs. Easy to digest, easy to like. My fave tracks are: One plus one is one, This is that new song, Another devil dies, Year of the rat (probably my BDB fave), and Logic of a friend. This album won't dissapoint you. Give it a try.

If you were to take a bit of the Beatles, Ben Harper, David Gray, Jethro Tull, and maybe even some Radiohead, and jam them into one "sound" - you might come up with Badly Drawn Boy. The lyrics are intelligent and the music showcases Damon's/band's talent. This is the first album I have bought of Badly Drawn Boy - "Life Turned Upside Down" is my favorite on the album - sort of "Roses for a friend" (Ben Harper) sounding. I will buy all of his albums - we need this kind of quirky music so we don't get diluted by the pop-music trash on the radio/TV.

Very disappointed in this release after Mr. Gough's other work. Rarely do I buy an album before I've heard some of the tracks, but due to liking his earlier work so much I took the plunge and bought it. More foo me... I'll be listening to the tracks on his next album before I buy it... A couple of tracks on this album are decent, but certainly not the quality of his other work. In fact if you told me this was a collection of B-sides I'd believe it...

And to rub salt in the wounds, I bought this pre-release from Amazon and then they dropped its price by 22% the day it was released... Thanks!

One Plus One Is One is a return to the emotional modern folk sound BDB cultivated on the magnificient Hour of Bewilderbeast album. His previous two releases were a bit of a detour: they were interesting but didn't have the same emotional impact. 1+1=1 sounds like Damon Gough has gotten back onto the path of Bewilderbeast, but matured along the way and progressed from there into new territory. The album has nothing but great songs on it. The lyrics in "This is That New Song" about a failed relationship are wonderful. "Summertime in Wintertime" sounds like Damon is channeling Jethro Tull with some wild rock'n'roll flute. Another Devil Dies, Four Leaf Clover, and Holy Grail stand out as memorable favorites, but really it's hard to pick favorites because all the songs are so good.

Being a huge BDB fan, I really wanted to love this CD. He's extremely talented and refreshing compared to a lot of the junk out there.

Having listened to it many times through, I have decided this CD gets better with time. My first listen to One Plus One is One left me feeling dissapointed. I didn't like the direction he went in, and I felt like he was trying too hard after getting so much criticism with Have You Fed the Fish.

I gave the CD a rest, but then one day I felt like giving it another try. To my suprise, some of the songs I originally didn't care for, I started to like. As I kept listening to it, I really began to enjoy it.

Something tells me this CD will be on the extremes--Either you love it or hate it--Don't be too quick to dismiss this CD, though...give it some time. You just may end up really liking it!

Lovably eccentric musician Damon Gough (also known as Badly Drawn Boy) is best known for the ingenious debut "Hour of Bewilderbeast," and for the quirky, appealing soundtrack of the Hugh Grant film "About A Boy." Now he returns with a new album, twisting his fatigue into a pensive, heartbreakingly earnest album, "One Plus One Is One."

He starts off steady with his epic piano melodies in the title track, paired with heartfelt pleas of "Please give me some peace," followed by the folky splendor of "Easy Love" and "This is That New Song." He sticks to a darker sound in the steady piano of "Another Devil Dies" and "Logic of a Friend," or the vaguely eerie "Life Turned Upside-Down."

But rock and depth aside, there's a vaguely whimsical side to Damon Gough in this album, as evidenced by the weird choruses of "Year of the Rat" and "Holy Grail." If that children's choir doesn't put you off, nothing will. "Four-Leaf Clover" has a sort of fun, frolic-in-the-sunshine sound, but its upbeat quality is kind of forced.

Ah, Badly Drawn Boy. Is there anyone who doesn't love this guy? His earnest brand of folk-pop has a strangely soothing quality, and his brilliant musicianship and songs don't hurt either. He stretches in a few of the wrong directions in "One Plus One Is One," but those flaws don't detract much from the enjoyability of this album.

The lo-fi texture of "Bewilderbeast" is long gone, and the result is very polished, but not in a slick way. Gough's mellow vocals blend with his gentle percussion, folky guitar riffs, an occasional flute melody, and some subtle string arrangements. And of course -- the piano! Gough resculpts the piano into heavy, steady arrangements, or sparkling little melodies.

But Badly Drawn Boy himself is the best instrument. His mellow voice gives a sort of thoughtful air to even the lightest of songs. And the songs vary a lot: there's the vaguely angry "Another Devil Dies," where Gough announces "The hatred will tear us apart/Another devil will take out your heart." But he pairs it to the title track, with its fatigued pleas for solitude, or the quiet pondering of how "things didn't turn out/Quite the way that you dreamt about/But it still feels right."

"One Plus One Is One" is not quite Badly Drawn Boy's best, but taken alone it's still a heartfelt, gentle album. He just needs to tone down the choir and the sunniness, and everything ought to be fine.