A Hundred Days Off

A Hundred Days Off
Studio album by Underworld
Released 24 September 2002
Recorded 2001–2002 at Lemonworld Studios in London
Genre Techno, progressive house, progressive trance, experimental, ambient
Length 61:57
Label V2
Producer Karl Hyde and Rick Smith
Underworld chronology
Everything, Everything
(2000)		 A Hundred Days Off
(2002)		 1992–2002
(2003)
Singles from A Hundred Days Off
  1. "Two Months Off"
    Released: 2 September 2002
  2. "Dinosaur Adventure 3D"
    Released: 20 January 2003
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Stylus MagazineB+[3]
Pitchfork Media6.9/10[4]
Resident Advisor[5]
Spin8/10[6]
NME8/10[7]
The Guardian[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
Release Magazine7/10[10]
Alternative Press[11]
Mojo[6]
Uncut[12]

A Hundred Days Off is the sixth album by Underworld. The album produced two UK Singles Chart entries: "Two Months Off", which reached no. 12 and "Dinosaur Adventure 3D", which reached no. 34. Although this was the first album since Darren Emerson's departure from the group in 2001, the album is not a huge stylistic makeover as the main focus of the band is still trance, techno and house, although without the thumping beats that defined their previous longplayer Beaucoup Fish. Instead, the album explores more of an ambient and experimental music style.

Critical reception

A Hundred Days Off received generally positive reviews from music critics. It has a score of 71/100 on Metacritic based on 18 reviews indicating as "generally favorable reviews". NME gave the album 8/10 describing it as "Their best album since their 'Dubnobasswithmyheadman' debut, Karl and Rick have pulled off a comeback in fine style and laid some demons to rest" and also stating that "Underworld prove that you're only as old as the technology you use". Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of 5 stars saying that "The beauty of A Hundred Days Off is that it pumps and churns so suggestively; it somehow evokes the blues of the otherwise successful modern man, who goes out every night and dances alone in his head". Uncut gave the album 4 out of 5 stars saying it is "A very fine album--Underworld don't make any other kind...a beautiful and baffling enigma."

Promo version

In the Spring of 2011, an alternate version of the album was distributed by a fan who was previously unaware that it was not widely heard. This version of the album was called "Ansum", and was apparently an early un-mastered cut of the album burned onto a CD-R for internal use at V2. Most of the tracks are very similar, if not identical, to the final album version; however, the track order is changed; "Little Speaker" is omitted; "Mo Move" is doubled in length and shares its second half with a re-worked version of the b-side "Ansum"; "Twist" contains an extended drum outro; and "Ballet Lane" and "Trim" contain minor percussion differences.

Track listing

All music composed by Underworld.

Side A
No. Title Length
1. "Mo Move"   6:54
2. "Two Months Off"   9:08
Side B
No. Title Length
3. "Twist"   6:24
4. "Sola Sistim"   6:26
Side C
No. Title Length
5. "Little Speaker"   8:38
6. "Trim"   3:23
7. "Ess Gee"   2:22
Side D
No. Title Length
8. "Dinosaur Adventure 3D"   7:56
9. "Ballet Lane"   3:39
10. "Luetin"   7:00

Promo version track listing

  1. "Two Months Off" — 9:08
  2. "Twist" — 8:46
  3. "Sola Systim" (Different spelling) — 6:12
  4. "Ess Gee" — 2:17
  5. "Mo Move" — 13:48
  6. "Trim" — 3:18
  7. "Dinosaur Adventure 3D" — 7:55
  8. "Ballet Lane" — 3:26
  9. "Luetin" — 7:06

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[13] 24
Belgian Albums Chart[14] 6
Dutch Albums Chart 9
French Albums Chart 42
German Albums Chart[15] 34
Japanese Albums Chart 7
Swedish Albums Chart[16] 49
UK Albums Chart[17] 16
US Billboard 200[18] 122
US Billboard Electronic Albums[18] 2

References

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