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Badly Drawn Boy
Born in the U.K.
(EMI)
Bruce Springsteen's ears must be burning. First, The Killers tried (and failed) to turn Born to Run into Sam's Town. Now, the last guy you'd expect to harbour a Bruce jones -- eternally tuqued U.K. popster Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy -- pays homage to the Boss on his fifth disc Born in the U.K.
From its cribbed title to its liner-note shout-out, from its elegant pianos to its final lyric -- "If we still don't have a plan, we'll listen to Thunder Road" -- it's clear where the mellow Gough is taking his inspiration. Most of it, anyway -- you can also hear plenty of Robyn Hitchcock in his quirky tunes, some Harry Nilsson in his melancholy melodies, and more than a little Phil Spector in his grand arrangements.
Filtered through his unique perspective, these influences gently blend into a set of lovingly crafted (if slightly underwhelming) pop-rock with soul-searching lyrics about home, individuality, love and patriotism.
"Do you think it matters where you were born?" he asks. Not when it comes to penning endearing indie-pop.
Track Listing:
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1. Swimming Pool
2. Born in the U.K.
3. Degrees of Separation
4. Welcome to the Overground
5. Journey from A to B
6. Nothing's Gonna Change Your Mind
7. Promises
8. Way Things Used to Be
9. Without a Kiss
10. Long Way Round (Swimming Pool)
11. Walk You Home Tonight
12. Time of Times
13. One Last Dance