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Elly Roberts reviews
EMI
- Released: October 2006
- Rating: 6/10
Having had a crisis of confidence for well over a year,woolly-hatted Mancunian Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy) finallynailed this album, though it wasnt without problems.
Out went initial producer Steven Street, replaced by one half of Lemon Jelly,Nick Franglen. Having scrapped the whole thing only to regroup, he needed toimpress his new label EMI, after the luke warm reception of One Plus One IsOne in 2004.
In most part, EMI must be pleased with their new investment, though the albumfalls well short of debut The Hour Of Bewilderment and his bestoffering to date, About A Boy.
From its reflective and doubting spokenopening sequence, an imaginary conversation, Gough ponders, “Do you think itmatter where youre born? No, not really. It only matters that you can beproud of where you came from. I dont think I know who I am anymore. Whatabout the world? What do you mean? Well if the world was a better place, someof these bad things wouldnt happen. Yeah, but theres good things all around.You just have to look longer and harder to see them sometimes.”
Turning his pessimism around in a flash, the song goes onto the brightside,“Praise God for the water, our son and our daughter, the sun is here, itwill stay a while, long enough to bring out a smile.”
From then on, the perceived doubts turn on their head with several joyoussplashes particularly on the freewheeling happiness of Welcome To TheOverground, with its gospel influenced vocal backups.
His idol, Bruce Springsteen (Born In The USA) gets many a nod: thetitle track indicates so, Born In The UK, and especially the sparklingintro to Degrees Of Separation, turning into a pleasant jaunt withivory tinkling aplenty, and the expansively polished Journey From A To B.
Jewel in the Crown is the glorious first single, Nothings GonnaChange Your Mind a mini-opus in itself where he hits top form eventhough it boasts a 5-minute plus running time for a single.
Surprising us all, a countrified The Way Things Used To Be, shows usthat hes prepared to be adventurous has he been listening to Richard HawleyI wonder?
Elton Johns music surely influenced Walk You Home with its lush discoPhilly sound sequences a remix not that hed even consider it wouldmake a hit single. The last two songs are its weak spots – an aimlesslydrifting Time Of Times, though swinging ballad One Last Dancerestores his deft handling of lyrics, but its a disappointing closer.
Week commencing October 30, the album has dropped out of the Top 40, despitethe strength of the brilliant single.
Weblink:badlydrawnboy.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Swimming Pool (part 1)
2. Born In The UK
3. Degrees Of Separation
4. Welcome To The Overground
5. A Journey From A To B
6. Nothings 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
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.