A Hundred Days Off

Untitled

A Hundred Days Off is a 2002 (see 2002 in music) 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 focus is still techno, although without the thumping beats that defined their previous longplayer Beaucoup Fish.

Sound

As with any Underworld album, the songs are generally long (over five minutes in length) and full of synthesizers, drum machines and stream-of-consciousness poetry sung/spoken over the beats. The album is considered to be less aggressive than their previous album, Beaucoup Fish, often more open to ambient music and lounge music aesthetics than solely techno music.

Critical Reception

A Hundred Days Off received generally positive reviews from most music critics. It has a score of 71/100 on Metacritic based on 18 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 and leaves out the track "Little Speaker". Two major differences do exist on this version, on the tracks "Mo Move" and "Twist", the former which is doubled in length and shares its second half with a re-worked version of the b-side "Ansum", and the latter which contained an extended drum outro. Two other tracks, "Ballet Lane" and "Trim" contain minor percussion differences.

Track listing

All songs by Underworld.

Side A

1. "Mo Move" – 6:54
2. "Two Months Off" – 9:08

Side B

1. "Twist" – 6:24
2. "Sola Sistim" – 6:26

Side C

1. "Little Speaker" – 8:38
2. "Trim" – 3:23
3. "Ess Gee" – 2:22

Side D

1. "Dinosaur Adventure 3D" – 7:56
2. "Ballet Lane" – 3:39
3. "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