About a Boy

Soundtrack / Score · 2002 · 16 tracks

About a Boy

Badly Drawn Boy

Lushly orchestrated indie folk that balances disheveled charm with cinematic polish. Bittersweet, melodic, and deeply human songs for quiet urban reflection.

April 8, 2002 · Delabel

About a Boy is the sound of a songwriter finding clarity through the lens of a cinematic narrative. While Damon Gough's debut was a sprawling, lo-fi odyssey, this soundtrack is more focused and intentionally lush. It captures the specific emotional frequency of the Nick Hornby story: the quiet ache of loneliness punctuated by the sudden, messy warmth of human connection. The music feels like a thick wool sweater on a grey day, providing comfort while acknowledging the chill in the air.

Tracklist · 16 Tracks

01

Exit Stage Right

0:22

02

A Peak You Reach

4:34

03

Something to Talk About

3:41

04

Dead Duck

0:46

05

Above You, Below Me

2:41

06

I Love N.Y.E.

3:20

07

Silent Sigh

4:45

08

Wet, Wet, Wet

0:42

09

River–Sea–Ocean

2:25

10

S.P.A.T.

3:24

11

Rachel’s Flat

0:35

12

Walking Out of Stride

1:48

13

File Me Away

3:24

14

A Minor Incident

3:44

15

Delta (Little Boy Blues)

4:00

16

Donna & Blitzen

4:20

Moments Worth Listening For

The transition from the sparse acoustic opening of A Minor Incident into its heart-wrenching cello accompaniment.

The way the drums and brass kick in during the bridge of Something to Talk About, lifting the song into a brief, triumphant gallop.

The hazy, looped atmosphere of Silent Sigh that feels like waking up from a dream you can not quite remember.

Reviews

tangmonkey.com

stylusmagazine.com

AllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does About a Boy sound next to the rest of Badly Drawn Boy's catalogue?

Sunday Morning+1.2σ

Sunday Morning saturates this record notably more than the artist's norm.

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