Like Drawing Blood

Like Drawing Blood
Studio album by Gotye
Released May 21, 2006 (Australia)
May 30, 2008 (Belgium)
Recorded 2003–2005
Genre Alternative rock, trip hop, electronic
Length 47:50
Label Independent
Creative Vibes
Gotye chronology

Boardface
(2003)
Like Drawing Blood
(2006)
Mixed Blood
(2007)
Singles from Like Drawing Blood
  1. "Learnalilgivinanlovin"
    Released: 2006 (Australia); 2008 (Belgium)
  2. "Hearts a Mess"
    Released: 2007

Like Drawing Blood is the second album by Gotye. All the sounds on the album were collected and assembled or performed by Wally De Backer in bedrooms around Melbourne between 2003 and 2005, and the record was mixed and mastered by François Tétaz (Wolf Creek soundtrack, Machine Translations, Architecture in Helsinki). It was featured heavily by Triple J in May 2006 and nominated for a J Award,[1] which, although it didn't win, lent the album considerable publicity.

Two songs from Like Drawing Blood rated in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006: "Hearts a Mess" at #8, and "Learnalilgivinanlovin" at #94.[2] Like Drawing Blood also received the number 1 spot on the 2006 Triple J Album Poll for best album of the year, as voted by Triple J listeners.[3]

The album was also released in Belgium, in 2008, with three alterations: it contains a new version of "Learnalilgivinanlovin" with higher-pitched vocals in the chorus; the track "Coming Back" removes a sample in the intro and bridge; and the song "A Distinctive Sound" is replaced by a new version of "The Only Thing I Know" (the original appeared on Gotye's debut album Boardface). Three singles were released in Belgium: "Learnalilgivinanlovin", "Hearts a Mess", and "Coming Back".[4]

Like Drawing Blood has also received the number 11 spot on the 2011 Triple J Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time, as voted by the Triple J listeners.

Track listing

Australian release (2006)

No. Title Length
1. "Like Drawing Blood"   0:22
2. "The Only Way"   4:49
3. "Hearts a Mess"   6:06
4. "Coming Back"   6:54
5. "Thanks for Your Time"   4:18
6. "Learnalilgivinanlovin"   2:50
7. "Puzzle with a Piece Missing"   5:41
8. "A Distinctive Sound"   6:17
9. "Seven Hours with a Backseat Driver"   4:44
10. "Night Drive"   5:12
11. "Worn Out Blues"   0:38

International release (2008)

No. Title Length
1. "Like Drawing Blood"   0:21
2. "The Only Way"   4:44
3. "Hearts a Mess"   6:05
4. "Coming Back"   6:08
5. "Thanks for Your Time"   4:20
6. "Learnalilgivinanlovin" (2008 version) 2:49
7. "Puzzle with a Piece Missing"   5:40
8. "Seven Hours with a Backseat Driver"   4:43
9. "The Only Thing I Know" (2008 version) 7:03
10. "Night Drive"   5:11
11. "Worn Out Blues"   0:38

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
The Age (favorable)[5]
Allmusic [6]
Pitchfork Media (6.8/10)[7]
PopMatters (7/10)[8]

The album was well received by critics. Andrew Drever of The Age said of the album that "De Backer bravely tackles a mind-boggling array of musical styles with conviction and flair...That he never once missteps, pulling off every musical style he attempts with aplomb and skill, highlights the arrival of an important new talent." [9] Pitchfork described the album as "full of dark pop, produced with an open clarity that separates the numerous sounds and consequently comes off as huge and sweeping...Like Drawing Blood is memorable and captivating."[10] PopMatters gave the album a favourable review, stating that "Like Drawing Blood plays as a remarkably consistent, high quality electronic mix album, with thoughtful song/song transitions and a sustained, easily established mood."[11] Allmusic editor Jon O'Brien called the album "an impressively eclectic cut-and-paste affair" and stated, "A little more control in the editing suite might have helped, then, but Like Drawing Blood is still an engaging and diverse affair".[6]

Appearances in media

Credits

Chart performance

Chart Year Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[12] 2006/11 13
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[4] 2008 45

References

  1. 2006 J Award Nomination
  2. Triple J Hottest 100 2006
  3. 2006 Triple J Album Poll
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Gotye – Like Drawing Blood" (in Dutch). Ultratop.
  5. The Age review
  6. 6.0 6.1 O'Brien, Jon. "Like Drawing Blood - Goyte". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  7. Pitchfork Media review
  8. PopMatters review
  9. "Like Drawing Blood - CD Reviews - Music - Entertainment". theage.com.au. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  10. "Gotye: Like Drawing Blood | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  11. Raper, Dan. "Gotye: Like Drawing Blood < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  12. "Gotye - Like Drawing Blood". australian-charts.com/.