About a Boy [SOUNDTRACK]

Jon Brion (Performer), Badly Drawn Boy (Composer), Joey Waronker (Performer), London Metropolitan Orchestra (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Performer: Jon Brion, Joey Waronker
• Orchestra: London Metropolitan Orchestra
• Composer: Badly Drawn Boy
• Audio CD (April 23, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Reincarnate Music
• ASIN: B0000640NN
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,746 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Few artists choose to follow a highly acclaimed debut album with a soundtrack, but Badly Drawn Boy isn't your run-of-the-mill popster. Damon Gough, the man behind Badly Drawn Boy, opted to score the film adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel About a Boy instead of recording a regular follow-up to 2000's Hour of Bewilderbeast. But the joke's on those who raise their eyebrows, because About a Boy stands heads and shoulders above the vast majority of pop albums and soundtracks. Interspersed with short instrumental interludes that serve as lovely miniatures, the songs perfectly evoke the book's jaunty mood and (fittingly for something based on Hornby) incorporate strands of pop music from the past 40 years with uncommon grace. "Something to Talk About" borrows from Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney yet doesn't feel as derivative; "Above You, Below Me" is a charming waltz; the intoxicating "Donna and Blitzen" is pure Phil Spector-does-Christmas. If there were any justice, this would show up at Oscar^® time, but we're not holding our breath. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love NYE, June 5, 2004

By	jason brookes (san francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is an outstanding soundtrack, possessing a melancholy beauty that captures the bittersweet flavor of the movie perfectly. In my opinion it's on par with The Graduate's soundtrack - at least, I'd be hard-pushed to think of another comtemporary movie soundtrack that's as heartfelt and moving (although Jon Brion's excellent classical compositions for "Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind..." impress too).

I am surprised however, how people have overloooked the stand-out track on this inspiring soundtrack - I love NYE. I'm just blown away every time I hear this instrumental masterpiece. (I even noticed that the last series of Sex and the City threw it in for poignant effect at one point.)

In About a Boy Nick Hornby and Badly Drawn Boy were just one of those perfect pairings. And subsequently it's is one of my favorite films... something, I hasten to add, I'm slightly embarassed about because it was marketed like most Hollywood garbage (ie cheesy and over-sentimental which it wasn't) and I can't stand Hugh Grant normally, but he was surprisingly great in this.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different direction - but still good stuff, October 10, 2002

By	A. Brown "VeddyVeddyBadAng" (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It always kills me how some people want an artist to always keep the same sound as the first album they heard. But isn't that the mark of a true artist? To explore, to experiment, to branch out and evolve? To sometimes do a special commission for someone who appreciates your work? An artist should evolve as they work, otherwise, every album will end up sounding the same.

An example: what if the Beatles only recorded in the style of "A Hard Day's Night". Of course, that is great music. But then we never would have gotten to "Sgt. Pepper's" or "Rubber Soul" or "Abbey Road". And what a loss that would have been.

This album is still great music, even if it is what people derogatorily refer to as a "soundtrack". I have not seen the movie. But I still think this is an album that stands on its own. I love to listen to it almost as much as I do "Bewilderbeast". Each song flows into the next. They are beautiful and well-written, filled with emotion. I even love all the little interludes between songs (which remind me a lot of the "Rushmore" soundtrack). Every time I listen, I think "I need to go rent the movie." I'd love to see how these great songs fit into the story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good movie and very good music for it!, June 4, 2002

By	Cary S. Whitt "Tune Junkie" (Columbus,Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you enjoyed BDB's Hour of Bewilderbeast, you'll absolutely love About A Boy. First off, it really doesn't sound like a soundtrack. The music lives on it's own with or without the storyline references. Tucked away are deep and soul-filled pop tunes that BDB has become known for. There really isn't a dull or bad moment on the disc. Catchy one minute and somber the next, About A Boy is what soundtracks want to sound like.

I highly recommend it.