Tell me about Badly Drawn Boy.

I saw a video on Much Music a few days ago from an artist called Badly Drawn Boy. I can’t remember the song title, but the video was about two kids taking off in their car to go make out, but their braces get locked and they end up in the emergency room.

The songwriting was fantastic, and I think I’d like to hear more. I looked him up on CDNow, but the review for his album was only mediocre.

Apparently, he recently did the soundtrack for the film About a Boy.

So, what’s the scoop? Has Badly Drawn Boy been around for a while and I’ve been in a cave? It’s entirely likely, since I’m an old fart with a toddler. I mostly listen to the Wiggles these days.

Opinions? Should I buy the album? Any fans out there?

I think he’s much bigger in the UK. About A Boy being a British film of course.

The reviews on AMG aren’t bad. They gave his two albums 4 1/2 stars out of 5 . Not as fond of the EP’s though, which is all he did before 2000.

Ultra snobby indie site pitchforkmedia.com gives it 8.6. And it’s their ultra-snobbiest reviewer, too.

I haven’t heard much of him, but he sounds pretty good. He’s fairly new (one album before this current soundtrack) and he’s at the very popular end of the indie scene.

sounds kinda like beck if he was a wet british kid.

I love Badly Drawn Boy. His first album is called The Hour of the Bewilderbeast (I’m pretty sure), and it’s kind of a concept album, detailing a relationship start to finish. I have a kinda cheesy emotional connection to one of the songs, so I’ve always liked it–the best song on it, to my mind, is called “The Shining.” It’s SO pretty–he’s a great songwriter. As you’ve mentioned, he did the About a Boy soundtrack, which is also pretty damn stellar. It goes with the movie wonderfully, if you’ve seen it, and is great driving music to boot.

So, from a personal perspective, I like him a lot. He’s a talented singer-songwriter, and manages to distance himself from most of the other crap out there (John Mayer, I’m looking at you.)

He also won the Mercury prize a few years back, if that means anything to you.