View source for The Hour of Bewilderbeast

{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = The Hour of Bewilderbeast
| type       = Album
| artist     = [[Badly Drawn Boy]]
| cover      = Badly_Drawn_Boy_-_The_Hour_of_the_Bewilderbeast.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 26 June 2000
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Indie rock]], [[indie folk]], [[Baroque pop|chamber pop]]
| length     = 63:25
| label      = [[XL Recordings|XL]], [[Twisted Nerve Records|Twisted Nerve]]
| producer   = Badly Drawn Boy, Gary Wilkinson, Joe Robinson, [[Ken Nelson (British record producer)|Ken Nelson]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[About a Boy (soundtrack)|About a Boy]]
| next_year  = 2002
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = The Hour of Bewilderbeast
 | type        = album
 | single1     = Once Around the Block
 | single1date = August 1999
 | single2     = Another Pearl
 | single2date = 5 June 2000
 | single3     = Disillusion
 | single3date = 4 September 2000
 | single4     = Pissing in the Wind
 | single4date = 7 May 2001
}}
}}
'''''The Hour of Bewilderbeast''''' is the debut studio album by British musician [[Badly Drawn Boy]], released on 26 June 2000. Damon Gough, who performs as Badly Drawn Boy, wrote, produced, and played several instruments on the album's eighteen tracks, several of which also feature accompaniment by members of the British [[indie rock]] bands [[Alfie (band)|Alfie]] and [[Doves (band)|Doves]]. ''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'' was released to great critical acclaim and went on to win the 2000 [[Mercury Prize]],<ref name=MercuryPrize>[http://www.mercuryprize.com/aoty/shortlist.php?Year=2000 2000 Shortlist] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519101833/http://www.mercuryprize.com/aoty/shortlist.php?Year=2000 |date=19 May 2012 }}. [[Mercury Prize]]. Retrieved 23 June 2011</ref> and has sold 455,000 copies in the United Kingdom as of September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AiXOITXusTjadHltV3hDN3c0Z1NYckFaeVZVR2dKZ0E |access-date=6 March 2012 |title=Mercury Prize Winners – The Guardian Google spreadsheet|work=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref>

==Release==
The cover art, designed by [[Andy Votel]], is a collage loosely based on [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s drawing ''[[Vitruvian Man]]''. For the American release of the album, the album's cover was altered to remove a photograph of American actor and director [[Woody Allen]], which was unauthorized by the copyright owners of the photograph.<ref name=Woody>{{cite book |last=Talbot |first=Michael |title=The Business of Music |date=May 2002 |publisher=[[Liverpool University Press]] |isbn=978-0-85323-538-5 |page=197 |quote=On 7 October ''New Musical Express'' noted: 'Badly Drawn Boy aka Damon Gough has been forced to release a new pressing of his debut album, ''The Hour of the Bewilderbeast,'' after major publishing company BMG objected to the use of a lyrics from Taja Sevelle's 1987 hit "Love is Contagious"... The Mercury Prize winner has also changed the artwork on... ''Bewilderbeast'' for its American release. The cover – a collage by Gough himself, including a picture of Woody Allen – used images without the copyright owners' prior consent'}}</ref> In addition, the song "Magic in the Air" was re-recorded with new instrumental parts to replace a section of the song utilizing lyrics taken from the 1987 song "[[Love Is Contagious]]" by [[R&B music|R&B]] singer [[Taja Sevelle]], after Sevelle's publishing company [[BMG Rights Management|BMG]] objected to the use of the lyrics.<ref name=Woody/><ref name=Taja>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/news/badly-drawn-boy/4129 |title=The Boy Gets Disillusioned |journal=[[NME]] |date=10 August 2000 |access-date=23 June 2011}}</ref>

==Reception and legacy==
{{album ratings
| MC = 78/100<ref name=Metacritic>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-hour-of-bewilderbeast/badly-drawn-boy |title=Reviews for The Hour of Bewilderbeast by Badly Drawn Boy |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=23 June 2011}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hour-of-bewilderbeast-mw0000101015 |title=The Hour of Bewilderbeast – Badly Drawn Boy |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=22 July 2011 |last=Bush |first=John}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2Score = A−<ref name=ew>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/23/hour-bewilderbeast |title=The Hour of Bewilderbeast |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=23 October 2000 |access-date=9 February 2015 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713080643/https://ew.com/article/2000/10/23/hour-bewilderbeast/ |archive-date=13 July 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-29-ca-28359-story.html |title=Badly Drawn Boy Charms With Understated Folk |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=29 September 2000 |access-date=19 October 2015 |last=Hochman |first=Steve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003034446/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/29/entertainment/ca-28359 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast |journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=269 |date=April 2016 |last=Segal |first=Victoria |page=105}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5Score = 7/10<ref name=NME>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com:80/reviews/reviews/20000623060056.html |title=Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of Bewilderbeast |journal=[[NME]] |date=23 June 2000 |access-date=22 July 2011 |last=Cameron |first=Keith |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000711044824/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000623060056.html |archive-date=11 July 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6Score = 8.6/10<ref name=pitchfork>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/526-the-hour-of-bewilderbeast/ |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast |work=Pitchfork |date=30 September 2000 |access-date=22 July 2011 |last=DiCrescenzo |first=Brent}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk:80/reviews/server.asp?id=18914 |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=167 |date=August 2000 |access-date=30 August 2018 |last=Tope |first=Frank |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001205105900/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=18914 |archive-date=5 December 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=rs>{{cite magazine |url=http://rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=17947&cf=78553 |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=12 October 2000 |access-date=9 February 2015 |last=Blashill |first=Pat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010420015748/http://rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=17947&cf=78553 |archive-date=20 April 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev9Score = 5/10<ref name=spin>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aPe2ZKjsEBIC&pg=PT28 |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast |journal=Spin |volume=16 |issue=12 |date=December 2000 |access-date=22 July 2011 |last=Hoskyns |first=Barney |author-link=Barney Hoskyns |issn=0886-3032 |page=28}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score = A−<ref name=christgau>{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv201-01.php |title=Pazz & Jop Preview |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=13 February 2001 |access-date=22 July 2011 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}
''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'' was met with widespread critical acclaim.<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/badly-drawn-boy-the-hour-of-bewilderbeast-15th-anniversary-deluxe-edition/ |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast (15th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) |publisher=[[PopMatters]] |date=21 January 2016 |access-date=29 February 2016 |last=Conaton |first=Chris}}</ref> On the review aggregate site [[Metacritic]], the album holds a score of 78 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name=Metacritic/> Michael Hubbard of [[MusicOMH]] felt that the album "deserves to do well for many more reasons than the act's name, excellent though it is", and that "a surprise is set loose with every track".<ref name=musicomh>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/badly-drawn-boy-the-hour-of-bewilderbeast |title=Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of Bewilderbeast |publisher=[[MusicOMH]] |date=26 June 2000 |access-date=22 July 2011 |last=Hubbard |first=Michael}}</ref> Calling the album a "concise tour through the gentler side of British songwriting history", Brent DiCrescenzo of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' wrote that the varied instrumentation "[attaches] insect wings to the lovely songs" and concluded that with ''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'', "Badly Drawn Boy proves what shallow saps American liberal arts majors can be behind a guitar."<ref name=pitchfork/> [[AllMusic]]'s John Bush stated that Gough had written and produced "over a dozen excellent songs of baroque folk-pop for his album debut, and the many gems can't help but shine through all the self-indulgence", highlighting Gough's use of humour in his lyrics.<ref name=AllMusic/>

''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' stated that ''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'' gives "as full a portrait as possible of Gough's musical and personal life,"<ref name=ap>{{cite journal |title=Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour of Bewilderbeast |journal=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |issue=149 |date=December 2000 |page=90}}</ref> while [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]], writing in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', called the album an "intimate hour that's far from bewildering."<ref name=ew/> Pat Blashill of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' compared Gough to [[Elliott Smith]] and [[Nick Drake]] and wrote that "like Drake, he's mastered the art of evoking melancholy without slathering on too much sentimentality."<ref name=rs/> [[Robert Hilburn]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' drew similar comparisons to Drake, while noting that Gough "never succumbs to Drake's sad solipsism, though, favoring an expansive reach emotionally and musically."<ref name="latimes"/> In a more mixed assessment, ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''{{'}}s [[Barney Hoskyns]] wrote that "Gough's dewy little tunes are mere scribblings in the margins of alt-folk's dog-eared hook-book, while his too-cool-to-care singing is drip-dry dreary" and that ''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'', when compared to Elliott Smith's ''[[Figure 8 (album)|Figure 8]]'', makes Gough "look like an imposter."<ref name=spin/>

''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'' appeared on several year-end lists. ''Pitchfork'' ranked the album at number 18 on its list of the top 20 albums of 2000.<ref name=pitchtop20>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5816-top-20-albums-of-2000/ |title=Top 20 Albums of 2000 |work=Pitchfork |date=1 January 2001 |access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref> ''[[NME]]'' ranked the album at number 4 on its list of the 50 best albums of 2000.<ref name=nme2000>[https://www.nme.com/photos/a-decade-in-music-50-best-albums-of-2000/156888/1/1#47 A decade in music – 50 best albums of 2000]. [[NME]]. Retrieved 22 July 2011.</ref> In addition, the album received the 2000 [[Mercury Prize]], a prize Gough was favoured to win. When Gough received the prize, he tossed the prize money on the ground and said: "I always assumed I was never going to win because good things don't happen to good people normally."<ref name=bbc>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/922506.stm |title=Mercury joy for Badly Drawn Boy |publisher=BBC |date=13 September 2000 |access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>

The album was also listed in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=23 March 2010|publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{tracklist
| all_music       = Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough)
|title1= The Shining
|length1= 5:18
|title2= Everybody's Stalking
|length2= 3:39
|title3= Bewilder
|length3= 0:48
|title4= Fall in a River
|length4= 2:17
|title5= Camping Next to Water
|length5= 3:50
|title6= Stone on the Water
|length6= 3:58
|title7= Another Pearl
|length7= 4:27
|title8= Body Rap
|length8= 0:45
|title9= Once Around the Block
|length9= 3:44
|title10= This Song
|length10= 1:32
|title11= Bewilderbeast
|length11= 3:30
|title12= Magic in the Air
|length12= 3:43
|title13= Cause a Rockslide
|length13= 5:55
|title14= Pissing in the Wind
|length14= 4:19
|title15= Blistered Heart
|length15= 1:50
|title16= Disillusion
|length16= 5:19
|title17= Say It Again
|length17= 4:41
|title18= Epitaph
|length18= 3:50
}}

==Personnel==
Credits for ''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'' adapted from album liner notes.<ref name="Liner notes">{{cite AV media notes |others=Badly Drawn Boy |year=2000 |title=The Hour of Bewilderbeast |type=liner notes |publisher=[[XL Recordings]] |id=TNXLCD133}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough) – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, drum machine, harmonica, percussion, vibraphone, xylophone, harp, string arrangement, [[sound effect]]s
* Spencer Birtwhistle – drums
* Reb Fitzpatrick – drums
* Adrian Dacre – drums
* [[Jimi Goodwin]] – bass
* Clare Hewitt – backing vocals
* Sean Kelly – drums, handclaps
* Matt McGeever – cello, handclaps
* Sam Morris – bass, keyboards, [[French horn]], handclaps
* Northern New Orleans Brass Band – horns
{{col-2}}
* Ian Rainford – handclaps
* [[Martin Rebelski]] – Wurlitzer electric piano, [[clavinet]], keyboards
* Joe Robinson – drum programming, loops, theremin, effects, sound effects
* Derrick Santini – handclaps
* Ian Smith – drums, electric guitar, percussion, vibraphone, handclaps
* Paul Taylor – string arrangements
* [[Andy Votel]] – drum programming, effects, piano, keyboards, strings samples, [[sampling (music)|samples]]
* Matt Wardle – piano, organ, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
* Gary Wilkinson – keyboards, drum programming, [[Siren (noisemaker)|sirens]], noises
* [[Andy Williams (Doves)|Andy Williams]] – drums
* [[Jez Williams]] – electric guitar, slide guitar
* Sophie Williams – handclaps
{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (2000)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|UK|13|artist=Badly Drawn Boy|accessdate=26 February 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardIndependent|23|artist=Badly Drawn Boy|accessdate=26 February 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|36|artist=Badly Drawn Boy|accessdate=26 February 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Chart (2000)
! Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20000109/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref>
| 64
|}
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.badlydrawnboy.co.uk/ Official website for Badly Drawn Boy]

{{Badly Drawn Boy}}
{{Mercury Prize}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hour of Bewilderbeast, The}}
[[Category:Badly Drawn Boy albums]]
[[Category:2000 debut albums]]
[[Category:XL Recordings albums]]
[[Category:Mercury Prize–winning albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Ken Nelson (British record producer)]]