One Plus One Is One [Extra tracks]

Badly Drawn Boy

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 27, 2004)
• Original Release Date: July 27, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0002IQGUI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,495 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Chamber Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With One Plus One Is One, lovable, romantic, woolly-hat-clad eccentric Damon Gough has produced his best album since his glorious debut (The Hour of Bewilderbeast). With Badly Drawn Boy shunning LA in favor of a Manchester studio and with Andy Votel back at the production helm One Plus One is a wry, self-mocking, and exquisitely personal album that finds Gough re-evaluating the sudden fame that found him working with Joan Collins, recording soundtracks, and residing in California.

The opening title track sets the mood with Gough exhaustedly intoning "Back to being who I was before/ Open up your door/ Give me some peace/ Hold me now/ Everybody is waiting outside." Other highlights include the playfully clumsy rhythms of "Four Leaf Clover" and the epic and ingenious "Holy Grail," the latter coming complete with weaving flute, children's choir, pounding piano, and lyrics able to break a heart at half a listen. Charming, disheveled, and unpretentious throughout, One Plus One Is One is a superb comeback that will warm the hearts and delight the ears of his loyal fan base. --Christopher Barrett

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfection continues...., September 5, 2004

By	EBHP "ebhp" (VALENCIA, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Not Great, July 27, 2004

By	Matt (New York USA) - See all my reviews

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new fan is born!, March 7, 2005

By	A. Crisp (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!