Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Very beautiful. 4/5
Really liked this! Especially One Day Like This
01) Starlings - 8,5 02) The Bones of You - 8,5 03) Mirrorball - 8,5 04) Grounds for Divorce - 9,5 05) An Audience with the Pope - 8,5 06) Weather to Fly - 8,5 07) The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver - 8,5 08) The Fix - 9,0 09) Some Riot - 8,0 10) One Day Like This - 10,0 11) Friend of Ours - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,73 (87/100) Current ranking: 110/828
I wonder why good albuns like this went under my radar on the last decade... very good, 4 stars.
Very lovely album. Reminds me of if Doves was fronted by someone who sounds a little like Peter Gabriel.
Pretty hip, but I can't stomach the name! (See what I did there?)
I'd never heard of this band or any of their songs, but I really enjoyed this album! The sounds were fun and interesting, and each song was pretty different. Solid album!
albums like this remind me to be less judgmental because I have bad taste in music and men
Liked this album but found myself not wanting to listen to it
Surprised I’d not heard more Elbow before now. Great album.
très bonne découverte A REEECOUTER
Hatte die immer positiv assoziiert, gestern hat mich das Album über weite Strecken ziemlich umgehauen. Tendenz zu 5 Sternen, werde ich mir nochmal geben.
Great but little fictions always #1 in my heart
This British group was a very interesting listen. Filled with lush sounds that were big almost orchestral at times. Another British band to delve deeper into. I don't know why this group didn't gather some chart attention here in America. They were very successful in England.
There’s some great stuff here, which I think most fans of bands like Radiohead, TV on the Radio, Blur etc. would enjoy. I’m not sure why this band hasn’t had more success in the U.S. i especially like their sonic textures. The songwriting could be a little stronger. This is the kind of music that reveals new details after a few listens.
Actually downloaded!
I feel like Elbow is what Radiohead fans get out of Radiohead. I don't enjoy Radiohead broadly. I do, apparently, enjoy Elbow quite a lot. A couple of the songs felt like pieces from a weak musical but usually they were both musically and lyrically engaging. The vocals were strong as well. I'll be giving this another listen.
Actually kind of charming. I tuned out for the middle third of it, but it didn't intrude. Going for a 4.
They're like a significantly less shit Coldplay. A couple of duds but I enjoyed this
Lots of things going on in this one. Too much ? Maybe I did enjoy it quite a bit, going from ambient sounds to very catchy melodies. The energy varies quite a bit, leaving you a bit on edge.
It was kinda weird to start tbh but I really enjoyed it as it went on. Kinda feels like indie Peter Gabriel but in the 2000s 8.2/10
Really quite pleasant. I was listening to it just after my roommate put on a Guided by Voices LP. Guy from Elbow has a similar timbre as GBV guy, but dang, Elbow had way cooler textures and instrumentals throughout.
I like
This is not really good music. Its discordant and rambling and not technically interesting but... for some reason pleasant to listen to.
Vibes
Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: 🎲🧱🟫 Production: 😌👂🧈 Music: 🕊️💞🙌 Rating: 💪💪💪💪/5
album was pretty slow for my liking but had beautiful instrumental and tone of voice with lots of emotion. My favorite song was "The Bones of You", overall 8/10
I enjoyed the pacing of the period I didn't think there is any parts that dragged on, when he picked up speed and when he slowed the songs down each time felt appropriate. I thought his voice was a little quiet on the first lesson on second listen I realized that it doesn't subtract anything from having his voice being quiet it blends really well with the volume of the horns and the drums brass but I think everything ties in really well together.
Pretty good! Think if Coldplay and Dave Matthews Band spawned another band. This would be it.
I enjoyed it. There were a couple of really good tracks, and plenty of better-than-average ones too. It's probably somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, I'll give it 4.
Really like this one. Favs are... The Bones of You, Mirrorball, Grounds for Divorce. Also An Audience with the Pope, and One Day Like This. You can totally tell how this influenced indie and alternative music. Very orchestral in some songs. And Guy Garvey is a good singer.
Gorgeous, a little one-dimensional
Definitely reminds me of Coldplay but better and more impactful. A couple really great songs on here and I hadn’t heard of Elbow before so I am glad they are on the list.
Really lovely and immediately hooks you, but a bit too...sleepy at the back end
That was pretty good. I wasn’t a fan of the vocals but I didn’t mind it as it wore on. The real hero was those beautiful instrumentals. This is a rare one where I think the beginning and end of the album are the weak parts. Rating: 4.2
Much better than I was expecting. Who names their band Elbow and expects it to sound good? what a terrible name.
I will not include the bonus tracks in this review. I have listened to Elbow before, particularly with their 2021 album Flying Dream 1. They're an art rock group that wears their influences on their sleeves, most notably from Radiohead and early Genesis. That much should be evident from listening to The Seldom Seen Kid. Guy Garvey's unique vocal tones and intricate lyricism draw comparisons to Peter Gabriel in a good way, as he elevates the mundane with such prose. Whether it's the pursuit of love that becomes more important than having "An Audience With the Pope", the reflections on being overworked and looking for the simpler things in life on "The Bones of You", or even the confidence in rigging a horse race on "The Fix", there's a certain air of elegance with the descriptiveness Guy brought to these songs. Adding to that sentiment is the experimental pomp throughout this record, with the orchestral instrumentation from the session personnel complementing the sharp guitar and piano melodies, Pete Turner's nervy basslines, and Richard Jupp's strident percussion. If I had to complain, this album is generally stuck at a slower tempo, which can make the listening feel longer than it is. Also, as much as I will commend Guy's vocal cadence, the falsetto that opens "Weather to Fly" does not work, even if I think it has a nice sentiment about the beginnings of the band. Overall, The Seldom Seen Kid is a remarkable album that helped cement Elbow as a band worth checking out.
This isn't something I would've ever expected to like, but it was really charming. For a British rock band, this group had a completely different sound and vibe from the others on this generator. Beautiful ballads, great musicianship, and really solid vocals that I grew to love more and more with each passing song. This was a standout.
I remember hearing about Elbow in like 2002 on NPR. Today was the second time I've heard of them. Good on them for doing big early Genesis style music and having a real go of it. This seems better than Coldplay for whatever that's worth.
One of my favorite songs ever is by Elbow. But it’s not on this album. Boo.
Classic that also proves that continuing to work on your craft pays off…
This was the album that somewhat saved their career, won them a Mercury Music Prize and gave them their first "hit" (one day like this which became ubiquitous on radio and tv) and big seller. It wasn't my first album of theirs (I loved Leaders of the Free World more and still do) but if was somewhat of an event album. There are weaker tracks that let it down (the fix with Richard Hawley and an audience with the pope) but overall it is very strong and has their trademark deep layers and strong subject matter.
War gut, aber meine Lieblingsband wirds nicht
Sealesker britpop
Very British but interesting British. Like Gorillaz meets.. I don’t know… Radiohead maybe? It’s good but I will admit as of writing this I am struggling to remember a single song. 7/10
I wanted to write off this album as an ok album with one hit song, but as it went on, I was pleasantly surprised by the varied and layered textures of each song. Consider me a convert.
Quiet and nice
hadn't heard of them, but fine songs
I liked this one. Kinda feels like one of those of the moment albums but it seem to mix and blend some soft indie rock vibes with some more diverse instrumental colors so it’s p cool
I’m familiar with Elbow, I quite like Elbow, and find Guy Garvey’s voice captivating. Yet even I scoffed at this being on the list. But after a focused listen this really is very good. Not the best thing on this list but deserving of being here
Really cool! I'd listened to Grounds For Divorce for years prior to this (on account of Left 4 Dead), but this album was a treat. It unfortunately slows down a good bit from the really strong start, but even then it's pretty solid throughout.
What a surprise! Never heard of this band or this album but it blew my away. There was some of what I felt was dead space on the album which lowers it from a 5 but I was intrigued with what they were doing here. It was like Bright Eyes meets Doves.
I feel like I don't have a ton to say about this album. Though it is one of the better ones that I've heard in recent memory and I'm not immediately inclined to say that it shouldn't be on this list, Elbow's album The Seldom Seen Kid is, at the end of the day, yet another 2000s British indie album. I'm fucking tired of these. Whatever. At least this one's pretty good. I think it's the writing that puts it above something like the Doves album from a few days ago. Songs like "Grounds For Divorce" have interesting lyrical themes that make the album stand out a bit. The singing is alright. Guy Garvey's kinda feel like if Chris Martin from Coldplay had a deeper voice with a stronger accent. It's nice. There's some varied production here. The album itself finds a good balance between being varied and cohesive. I feel like too many albums on this list either try too hard to be eclectic and end up feeling half-baked or just blend into one big repetitive mush, so to hear this album get the pacing right is good to hear. "One Day Like This" is a very nice song. This album's good. Light 4/5.
Wasnt a 4 star, but atleast felt fresh
Very nostialgic for me, has some great tunes on
This was a great album by a band I had truly never heard of before! Loved this! Atmospheric, vibey, a little Peter Gabriel with the singer’s voice. There were a couple songs I just straight up didn’t like - one sounds like a car commercial and the other features a guest vocalist whose album is also on this list and I didn’t like that either - so I can’t give it full accolades, but this was a lovely discovery.
My dad had this album on CD and played it all the time in the car, so this is a very nostalgic album for me. I recognise almost all of the songs by sound, and nearly none by name lol.
Not my style but pleasantly surprised. Early Coldplay meets Nick Cave.
One Day Like This you’ll want to listen to this album.
# Album Name: The seldom seen kid # Artist: Elbow # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: This album has some big singles on it. Really good songs actually. It made a real splash when it was released. The album itself is high quality. The singles carry it. The songs in between are decent but arent on the same level. Great effort and a good album overall. # Top Tunes: Bones of you / Mirrorball / Grounds for Divorce / Tower crane driver / one day like this # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Pretty cool britpop.
A friend recently mentioned that he and his sons were going to NYC to see elbow live. He was very excited, calling it a bucket list show for them. This friend is very well versed in music I've never heard before, but he was shocked that I had no idea who elbow is. He strongly encouraged me to listen, and about a week ago I played a few songs that sounded nice, but I was with someone else at the time and we were talking while listening so I didn't give it much thought. I jokingly thought to myself that if my friend's opinion is spot on, they'll have at least one album on this list. Imagine my pleasant surprise today when this popped up. Of course I told him right away and he was adamant this album is one of the 1001 to listen to before you die. Now that I've given it a good listen, I have to agree. It was very good. I love Guy Garvey's voice. I know there are comparisons to Peter Gabriel, but I love the fact that each song has a different sound and a different style, so it's not just a copy of PG or really anyone else. This felt very original to me, and not just a clone of other British singers and groups. Yes there are touches here and there, but it felt very much their own thing. I don't think they'll become a bucket list band for me, but I will be listening to their other albums.
Like it
Live at Abbey road version of this is amazing
tonally inconsistent
new to me. and great
This is another one I question it's inclusion even though I did enjoy it a good bit. For the most part this is typical post britpop Fair and there are far better examples in the book. But it's a nice album
Always a goodie
I'll be coming back to this one.
One Day Like This boosts to a 4
Thank you to the list for reminding me this album exists.
I enjoyed this!
Not sure if I really knew any songs by them before. It's interesting, very enjoyable.
Good album and nice intro to Elbow.
Overall, a very fresh, modern, refined sound. There's a broad range of instruments, from the glorious string orchestra on Mirrorball and One Day Like This to the mirrored parts of piano and ghoulish choir on The Fix. Reminds me a bit of Radiohead – if only for their musical versatility and slick mixing. The Bones of You is excellent. Swift, light, high-pitched tribalesque drumming in 6/8 that reminds me of Steely Dan's Two Against Nature title track. Muse-ish choral harmonising, too, along with an intense synth bass part and a chord progression that's almost droney but gets some variation during the verses. Another huge standout is Grounds for Divorce. Its riff is so dang good (the band definitely realised this) and the doubling between guitar and bass is the correct move to accentuate it. A page taken from the Led Zeppelin handbook. I'm not as big a fan of the verse/bridge section towards the end – it breaks the flow – but otherwise it's rock-solid. Some of the tracks are still enjoyable but noticeably weaker, such as Weather to Fly and Some Riot. Responding to another reviewer who asked "Do you guys just eat up anything that comes along and sounds like Radiohead?"... Yes. Yes, I do. Because Radiohead is an incredible band. Anyone who successfully imitates them is doing at least one thing right. 4/5 Key tracks: The Bones of You, Mirrorball, Grounds for Divorce
Thought this was really decent.
Airy Sting, Gabriel, Morrisey The bones of you The fix One day like this
Sometimes you get some obscure album you've never heard of, and it's some crap nobody cares about. But sometimes you get an undiscovered gem, and this is absolutely one of those. It's just a perfect mix of genres and instruments, while showing enough Radiohead influence to get me interested, but not so much that it sounds cheesy or unoriginal.
i saw 'british' and 'indie' and thought i was going to prepare to snore, but this one had a couple of bangers i wasn't prepared for
I've always liked what I'd heard of Elbow and have been moaning to give them a proper listen and never have. Probably more familiar with Guy Garvey from 6 music now. This sounded pretty much exactly like I would expect an elbow album to sound, which isn't a bad thing. First time I listened to this I wasn't really playing attention, glad I gave it another listen as like it lyrically. I knew "greetings for divorce" and "one day like this". Also enjoyed "starlings", "weather to fly", and "friend of ours". The latter I felt was particularly northern, as Jamie mentioned. I do like a British regional accent in music. Not quite enough for a 5 for me, needed a bit more oomph, but very good. 4.5
A very atmospheric album. Every song does a great job at portraying its vibe with its instrumentation and melodies. I really love the vocals, they work really well with the music. It has a sort of quality to it I really like. 4/5
Really enjoyed the first half, second half felt a bit Coldplay and wasn't as great, but overall a good listen.
"I have an audience with the Pope and I'm saving the world at eight / But if she says she needs me, she says she needs me / Everybody's going to have to wait" I went into this album without having great expectations. I don't know why. Maybe because I had never heard of Elbow, not even being mentioned, but I'll say I'm glad this album popped out in the 1001 albums generator project. This record is most definitely grandiose, using strings and brass to expand on the somewhat basic, classic instrument lineup of drums, bass, guitar and piano, and it does so very well. The orchestral parts add to the tone of "mellow epicness" the group went for. All of the songs have a great cinematic atmosphere, making you feel like you're the protagonist of a movie, and not just any movie, but a colossal one. Some examples of this are The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver or The Fix. There are moments in this record that are gonna give you an eargasm: the instrumental jam halfway through The Bones of You, the pre-chorus guitar on The Fix, the blow up around the 4th minute of The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver but there is a problem. Those moments don't last long enough. Moments like these need room to breathe and work their way through the songs, even at the cost of making the LP longer… because if you're going for a rock opera like sound, you shouldn't be afraid of length. Another thing I didn't really enjoy was the voice. It's not bad by any means but at times it feels like a more "airy" version of The Smiths' frontman Morrissey. Perhaps it has to do with the fact they're both from Manchester and I'm getting tricked by the accent, but I don't think so. Last but not least. Ground for Divorce. I have mixed feelings about this song. It's a blues rock Black Key-ish song that has a super cool guitar tone, the kind you'd listen to while walking down the street and feeling like you own the world. The chorus doesn't match the energy of the song and drags it down. Plus, it also feels completely out of place compared to the rest of the album. Like other songs, again, the instrumental jam feels like it gets cut out as soon as you can sense a switch rendering it better is about to come. Either way, this is just my opinion. So try not to pay too much attention to it.
Listened to this right after Peter Gabriel's debut album and it blended right in. On the forgettable side for me but solid overall. Tracks to Track: Grounds for Divorce
Pleasantly surprised by this album. Has a very gentle quality to its songs that keeps them grounded and heartfelt. Does start to feel a little derivative outside of the singles, but a really solid album overall. Top tracks: The Bones of You, Mirrorball, Friend Of Ours
Guy Garvey easily one of the best lyricists for me - just the right amount of poetry and irony every now and then. Album overall - 6.5/10
I initially got very excited listening to the hits of this album, and wondered how I could have always missed this band. But then it soon lost momentum with a few boring songs reminding me of Radiohead in slow motion with Peter Gabriel as singer. 3.5 rounded up because it is better than some bands i gave three stars.
A nice acquaintance. But I doubt I will listen to it again.
I don't really understand why this album is on the list. That said, it sounds good.
I liked this album and would listen to it again - I especially enjoyed the vocals. Elbow is a band which I’ve been around but have never delved into - I will be checking out other albums.
I remember when 'Grounds For Divorce' came out. The messaging around that single, and this album, seemed to be "HEY! Look! These old guys are doing it! They're breaking through, these old guys! Isn't that amazing?!" I remember thinking that it WAS amazing. Now I'm older than the guys in Elbow were when this album came out. Life is a series of small disasters and tragedies in miniature. This album is great. It's melodic, insightful, deep and (most importantly) honest. I don't know what I mean by that, and yet I know exactly what I mean. Some reviews have pointed (disparagingly) to similarities with Coldplay and Radiohead. I see it. But, I think this record is reminiscent of the best of Coldplay and Radiohead. It takes the good and leaves aside the masturbatory side of Radiohead and the tendency that Chris Martin has to be a complete shill post Viva La Vida. Anyway. This album is fantastic.
4/5
One Day Like this
Well deserved 4
Немного печальная музыка, немного будоражущая - одним словом, для какого-то определённого настроения не подойдёт, но зато очень хорошо слушается. 6,5 из 10.
"The Seldom Seen Kid" is a well played, well produced album. At its best it is a dramatic, lush, mellow and soothing experience, with good use of dynamics. My critique of it would be, that over 11 tracks, it is somewhat one paced and sombre to listen to all the way through in one sitting. Unless you're paying attention the songs can drift from one to another. Gus Garvey has a lovely comforting voice. Overall, a good album. 4⭐. Would I listen again? Yes, but I have to be in the mood for it. Would I buy this album? I did? 1 "Starlings" - Good opening track, and use of dynamics. - 4 2 "The Bones of You" - 3 3 "Mirrorball" - 3 4 "Grounds for Divorce" - Cracking track. Love the fuzzy tone on the guitars. - 5 5 "An Audience with the Pope" - 4 6 "Weather to Fly" - 3 7 "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver" - 3 8 "The Fix" (Elbow, Richard Hawley) - 4 9 "Some Riot" - Beautifully sung. - 4 10 "One Day Like This" - The stand out track. Lovely orchestration. This has a great build. - 5 11 "Friend of Ours" - It makes no sense to finish the album with this track, especially given what preceded it! It's a nice song, but finishes the album with a whimper. - 3 Total - 41 Average - 3.73
Cover 5 Name of the band is kinda dumb but love this. Have never heard of them. Fantastic album. The music is a mix of... Seal + Sting and someone else.
Really loved this one, would gladly listen to it again many times.
Sounds like the soundtrack to an Indy movie from 2009. In fact I have definitely heard at least An Audience with the Pope in a movie from around then. I liked this and would probably buy it in vinyl if I found it for a good price.
A pleasant and relaxing listen.
It’s fine
This has really caught me off-guard on how good and varied this is. Each song is almost unique in style/vibes. Not actually, but almost. Usually, with any variation in style/sound, there's a major risk of quality drop, but, since their variation isn't that wide, they have a consistent quality to them, while still getting the highs of having some different sounds that really elevate a couple of their songs. This is an album I think that would benefit from multiple listen throughs (or I just need people to stop bothering me while I'm at work so I can listen straight through from beginning to end). It's also a really deep album, meaning some of the last songs still have really great moments, making the whole album worth listening to. Favorite Song(s): Mirrorball, One Day Like This
18/1001 Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ I know some will argue that either Leaders of the Free World or Cast of Thousands in particular is the best of theirs, but it's the one that launched them into being household names. So much interesting instrumentation and lyrics that turn the everyday into something quite profound. Yes, I've kinda had enough of One Day Like This, but still I love this album.
Peter Gabriel singing Coldplay.
Enjoyable album with fun instruments
I expected another forgettable indie 2000s album, but happy to be wrong. The vocalist is very captivating - it doesn’t hurt that he sounds a little like Peter Gabriel - and the music is slightly prog-y. Pleasantly surprised.
The Kinks.2 I thought for a while. Good album, very experimental. One Day Like This is really good. It gets a four because of that song.
Favorite Track: Grounds for Divorce
interesting album. voice reminds me of DMB, but the music is more mellow. couple of baggers
I've known about Elbow for a long time but never really bothered to seek them out. It's a very good find. They sound like a cross between indie rock style of Radiohead and the smooth, lush arrangements of Zero 7. Honestly, the Radiohead connection felt so strong that I swore it must have been produced by Nigel Godrich (it wasn't). I can't quite describe that connection, maybe like the two bands were fellow travellers going down the same road. Regardless, there's plenty to like here but my highlights are "The Bones of You", "Weather to Fly", and "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver".
Väldigt härligt sound överlag, kanske inte som sticker ut men mysigt! Velar lite med betyget, men känner mig snäll.
Good stuff, looking forward to looking into more of their catalogue.
I wasn't sure until I got to the bones of you, this is dope. The voice and general sounds is kind of dreamy, and calming. Lots of harmonic sounds in the songs. How appropriate that the last song is an actual lullaby.
Fin, verka som ei gruppe som gidd med tanke på songlyrikk
This was a pleasant surprise, I hadn’t heard this album before. It has layers, and the band truly has a sound of their own.
I really enjoyed this album and look forward to popping it on again and also listening to some of their other stuff. Sounded like what would happen if Peter Gabriel, Radiohead and coldplay had a baby! Loved it
Elbow is pretty new to me, I think maybe one track was a little familiar. Right up my alley, I'll be listening to this one again!
Music for millenials. 4/5
The Seldom Seen Kid is actually what Len Houmous’ first 6 wives called him! 3.8 10/14 One Day Like This
Loved this. I knew one song but had never listened to the album before. Compare them with Radiohead and Coldplay. What’s wrong with that? Almost a five.
Very chill
Nice. I heard this album years ago and forgot about it. Very original and melodic. Could use a few more actual choruses but the sound textures are pretty great.
It brushes up at times against a particular style of generic radio-friendly rock that I'm not a fan of. However, there is definitely a level of competence and authenticity that elevates it. Not bad at all.
This has one of my favorite songs of all time on it: Audience with the Pope. Otherwise a solid album but not anyting super impressive.
i braced myself to be vaguely irritated by this (an indie rock act from the mid 2000s i've never heard of???) but it was actually pretty fun. dragged a little in places but i enjoyed my time with (looks at smudged writing on palm) elbow?? are they really called elbow??
this was an interesting listen. i gotta agree with the other reviews here that this is basically just radiohead + coldplay, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. the music is pleasant and varied, the vocals are about what you'd expect, and the lyrics are interesting. this is a 3.5 from me but rounding up to 4 because these guys must have some real cojones to call their band something as stupid as "elbow" favorites: starlings, the bones of you, mirrorball, grounds for divorce, one day like this
The singer sounds like the love child of Peter Gabriel and Chris Martin that decided to make music that was ever so slightly cooler than both of his dads'. 4/5
solid indie album. sounds a lot like stuff i would have listened to at the time, but i was not familiar with this one. this was also an album that was recommended to me by a friend and i liked it! for me, it's not quite my thing, but i still enjoyed it a decent amount.
I had not listened to this in over 10 years and I only vaguely remember that I enjoyed it. After relistening I see now that I really should have revisited it sooner.
starts and ends v strong imo , the middle kind of lost shape for me but there are quite a few cool qualities to this from front to back. theres a sort of Pathetic feel thats couched in the artsy/rocky arrangements, big guitars and small strange instrumental ideas with guy garvey's very un-assured as the chewy center. its an interesting vibe, one that reminded me of the first two nick drake albums within a couple of tracks, not in Sound but the effect has some overlap. p good record for the miserable texas summer that just kicked into high gear. and im a huge sucker for Big Bombastic Penultimate Track/Sparse Subdued Closing Track
Still like Peter Gabriel's cover better but pretty cool songs!
Good stuff
Great album. Such a shame how overplayed these singles were in the UK back in the day…
Solid album and Guy Garvey seems like a lovely chap.
Really into this, definitely a 2000s sound, reminded me of cake
Beautifully made UK indie rock record from the late aughts. The singing fits perfectly with the style of rock, and the instrumentation is richly layered and has a lot of moving pieces that all gel with one another really nicely.
Not as rocky as Muse, but unmistakable cut from the same cloth. I mean you can hear it in songs like "The Bones Of You", just the melody and cadence are the practically same as Muse's Black Holes & Revelations era... Enjoyed the hell out of this with "One Day Like This" being the highlight
Great album but I don’t like the voice
I saw Elbow by mistake at the Reading Festival in 2011 - waiting for Muse - and they blew me away. I went out and bought the recently released 'Build A Rocket Boys' on the back of that performance (and what a great album it is) but never went any further back into Elbow album history than that. Listening to 'Seldom Seen Kid' I can remember some of the tracks from that Reading set nearly 15 years ago, they are that strong and memorable. This is a really good album. I think the natural progression of prog rock (they may hate me for saying that). The only reason it's not a 5 is Starlings which I think is a massive dud, and, as an album opener, almost puts the listener off. The rest is sublime.
Never heard of 'em before. I like it. Made me listen a couple of times, and look at some of their other music. I'll be back to this one.
Never heard of this band. Listened to the album four times. I'm on a roll!
Nice
Overall while listening to this album, I felt it was nice, but nothing really stood out to me. The instruments, the vocals, the notes, they all were pleasant and fine. It all just kinda felt... there, for the most part. The track One Day Like This was a treat, though. Obvious to say, given how much it's been played on YouTube Music compared to the others, but it's the real standout.
Dope
Beautiful.
This is a great sounding album, great separation, love the string arrangements in particular, and it feels like a ‘whole’. Excellent production. I was expecting Coldplay and got something a bit more progressive. The bass driven “Grounds for Divorce” was a pleasant surprise. “Starlings”, “Mirrorball” and “One Day Like This” are standouts. I liked “An Audience with the Pope” and the instrumentation which reminded me of The Third Man soundtrack. I liked this a lot and would listen again. The live recording at Abbey Road sounds like it would be interesting.
A beautiful album. It might just be Elbow's best, and I'm a fan, but for some reason I don't think it deserves to join the echelons of my 5 star albums. More like 4.5.
It is one of those sweeping, move soundtrack type albums. It is quite good, but it could use some trimming.
brb gonna go get married in order to come up with Grounds for Divorce, what a song, and what solid, great sounding album. I haven't heard of this band before trying to nail down the genre of this band off the first couple tracks was interesting. The melancholy bits here and there somehow reminded me of Guster. Fun first time listen for sure. Giving this a high 4.
Never considered how lonely tower crane drivers must be
Subdued but pleasant. Some of this reminds me of Carbon Leaf in their quieter moments. Easy to listen to multiple times; however, it might possibly run its course.
You know that music you can put on and do other stuff? This is not that kind of music Even when it isn't your cup of tea, all of a sudden it is and you're backing up to see what you missed. Interesting and engaging. The gravelly voice comes in and out of focus over music that comes out of nowhere. Love it.
This is so nearly a 5. Gorgeous, clever, beautiful songs. People who compare them to Coldplay are just wrong. I always mean to listen to more Elbow but never quite get there. I’m glad I did it today. Scrumptious!
I am a big fan of this band. Was going to serve up the album that preceded this, "Leaders of the Free World," to our extracurricular effort if this album weren't already on the list. And, if you haven't figured it out, I prefer that album to this one — I just love every song, where on this there are a couple that fall a little flat. In fact, for a band that hangs its hat on epic opening tracks, this is one of my least favorite, I find that orchestral punch a bit grating. But here I am bitching about an album that I really do like. I appreciate the subtle incessantness of the melodies (vocal and otherwise) that can sometimes play on a loop and then shift into something else, and I'm a fan of the low-key mood of most of their compositions. Though, it's when they let their hair down that I really dig in, "Grounds For Divorce" is an example of what I mean. As is the song "Leaders of the Free World." If you have a minute, check that one out.
Fantastic. Thoughtful songs, beautifully performed, with original and interesting arrangements. Not sure why I'm not giving it a 5. maybe i just need to listen to it more and I'll revise.
Beautiful
Scrum, but some songs not as much as others
If Peter Gabriel Genesis and Death Cab For Cutie had a super awesome rock n roll baby
What a lovely surprise of an album! There were some moving and beautiful songs, others I could have skipped.
This was a nice little discovery, some really good songs here. Surprised I wasn't listening to this back in the day, but hey. I'll come back to this one at some point for sure.
New band for me! Had never heard of them. I enjoyed it. Will be listening to it again.
Not bad, I thought it was kind of generic and had a very consistent sound throughout the album the first listen, but I gave it a few more listens and there's some good songs in there for sure. I liked a bunch of songs on here - probably at a b-list level but there's gonna be a few a-lists in there. 4/5 stars.
Not sure how I have never heard of Elbow, but I really liked this! A ton of good slow indie-rock songs. I'll definitely be revisiting this Best Song: Weather to Fly Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4/5
Really enjoyed this album and I’m kinda shocked I’ve never listened to Elbow before. Love the mellow feel and textures they layer throughout the album. Will put in the rotation. The Bones of You was my favorite track on the album.
Some pleasant songs
This sounds so much like the late 00s early 10s. You have your chamber pop songs (first few songs), you have your indie pop/rock songs (Grounds for Divorce)... all in the same vein as a band like Local Natives. An Audience With The Pope could be a B side Hozier song. There's something about this era that makes it sound like the lead singer is saying something really profound. Certainly a song from this era of indie music needed to make it on the 1001 list, and this is overall a pretty good listen. Not sure I see what was exceptionally special about this album vs. the rest of the genre, but solid 3.5 / 5 rounded up to 4
I initially thought this 1001 albums thing would be mostly albums I knew, because I'm reasonably into classic rock and interested in a wide range of genres, but when you do the math, it's 143 albums per decade (merging all pre-60s music as one decade, since the 50s were a little light and the 20s/30s/40s/ were pretty much just Jazz and Blues). That's a lot so I guess I should stop being surprised to see artists and albums I've never heard of. Anyway, here's another. I really enjoyed this. I listened to it on background (twice) so I'm not able to give specifics as to what I liked. Good solid well-built indie rock. Cohesive album that has tonal variation and yet sticks to a theme. Anyway this is great, but I wouldn't say anything in particular stands out such that it would be a 5.
This album was honestly cleansing for me. There was something about the playfulness of its conception that was really compelling; it didn't feel self-serious. It reminded me of the jam sessions I used to have back in college in a lot of ways.
melodiöser, grooviger rock mit (teilweise) schlaf-/traumwandlerischen phasen. aber dennoch: zum hinhören! die feinen gitarrenklänge, wenig piano und die charaktervolle stimme von guy garvey.
Really enjoyed seeing Elbow become mega off the back of this. Loved them since Asleep in the Back.
7/10 Another one that I listened to at release but haven’t a load since. Pretty good. An album of major highs and the rest being nice, but not amazing. Guy Harvey has an amazing voice, both literally and lyrically. Very well put together, nice orchestration and influence from a number of genres from dad rock right through to post rock. Best: Some Riot
Despite the unfortunate name, we actually really enjoyed this album. It was good.
The good songs on this are truly excellent. Best songs being the Bones of You and One Day Like this. Grounds for Divorce, Audience with the Pope and The Fix are all great. Starlings is a good opener. Friend of Ours sounds like an attempt at the prettiest song of all time, and it's a fair shot. It's just the lesser songs on here don't do that much for me. It all sounds great though production wise, with grand and lush instrumentation, and great vocals and lyrics. Very deserving of 4 stars. Good Album cover as well.
8/10. At first, I thought that this was going to be a boring listen, but I was pleasantly surprised. I like the orchestral arrangements of this album!!! :)
4.5/10
Almost a four, but not a three. A nice few songs on the album, a couple I've heard before, I do like. Some are mediocre, but still worth listening to. Nice smooth voice, a lot of melody. A lot of people have said Radiohead meets Coldplay, but I'm more inclined to say Coldplay, Oasis, Travis mashup. But what do I know. I listened to it twice and will probably listen again.
Great album, love the songwriting, production and arrangement choices. Will definitely listen many more times.
First listen. Quite good.
Went into this completely blind and had no idea what to expect — but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s got some really solid songs on it, way more emotional depth and cool arrangements than I thought going in. The vocals take a minute to get used to, but once you're in the groove, it works. A few tracks hit harder than others, but overall it's a well-put-together album with a good mix of moody, dramatic, and melodic moments. Definitely made me curious to check out more of Elbow’s stuff. Favorite song: The Bones of You
7/10 Great vocalist. Would probably return to some songs or relisten this album again. I do not like the folk elements in the album, not a cheesy as the lumineers Hey Ho; but still the late 00's early 10's folkrock scene is something we should all be ashamed for letting happen. The synths work perfectly with the vocals in the album.
Reveal reaction: Never heard of it. First 30 seconds: Wait a minute, this might be excellent. Two songs in and it's on a 5 star pace. I'm a bit blown away, so I'm getting down my thoughts in real time so I don't forget! I'm getting shades of Seal, Killing Joke, Sting, Chris Martin, a bit of Oasis, maybe some Peter Gabriel, and even a little Radiohead. The music is unique and almost orchestral in parts. The lyrics are abstract, but not so much so as to be pretentious, rather thought provoking and beautiful. The type of lyrics that allow themselves to be open for your own personal interpretation - and if they land, they land hard. The vocalist is not your standard rock front man, but wow, what a voice. So I think it cools off a bit on the second half of the album. It's still very, very good, but maybe not the same high quality as the first half. Consider this another plea for half stars, because this is a 4.5 for me.
Hm never heard of this band before...Hmm pretty interesting. I liked that second track. The Bones of You. Kinda digging this sound honestly. I've actually enjoyed this album. I like the melancholy sound it. 4 stars.
I’ve been aware of Elbow for a while but can’t say I ever properly explored their sound. A quick scan of my Last.fm profile suggests I’ve listened to them more in the past couple of days than in the previous 15 years combined. I always had them down as one of those turn-of-the-millennium second-wave Britpop bands, à la Keane. However, the fact that The Seldom Seen Kid won a Mercury Prize in 2008 raised my interest—the Mercury Prize is notoriously singular in its album choices, for better or for worse. While comparisons to Radiohead may be a step too far, I was pleased to hear that Elbow can deliver both driving rockers and introspective ballads. Guy Garvey’s warm, expressive vocals are a clear high point. He’s not a showboating vocalist aiming to hit every high note. Instead, he brings a grounded, authentic presence, blending sweet melodies with just the right amount of grit. His voice adds emotional weight without overdoing it, making each track feel personal. Highlights undoubtedly include “Grounds for Divorce” with its stomping riff and epic vibe, “One Day Like This” with its ambitious orchestration and euphoric chorus, as well as “Mirrorball” and “The Bones of You” for their delicate yet powerful delivery. Elbow turned out to be much more than I had initially assumed—a thoughtful and nuanced band with a sound that bridges grandiosity and intimacy. The Seldom Seen Kid feels like an album that gets better the more you listen to it, and I can see why it is seen as a breakthrough for the band. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? TBC Would this release make my personal list? Currently no. Will I be listening to it again? It's an album I want to return to. I definitely enjoyed it, but I am yet to love it.
incredibly interesting album!! almost every song took a little time to get used to but then they were almost all good. kind of a christmas-music vibe throughout with hints of arcade fire and gorillaz. very good
I really enjoyed it. Morning ground breaking but solid
Still quite glorious
I really like the groups style, wasn't a single song I skipped and I'll def check out more from them. I liked the songs Starlings, Grounds For Divorce and Weather to Fly the most.
Simple layered instrumentation creates a light but full soundscape. Good lyrics sung clearly. No frills vocal melodies. I like it.
Quite enjoyable
Never heard of this band but they are very Radiohead.
Good album
I have this album. I don't play it a lot, but it's really lovely.
I really liked this one. Never heard of them before. The singer has that whine, but that’s par for the course for this genre.
Favorite Track: The Bones of You
Initially I really liked this one but the album is pretty long and eventually I started just being a bit bored. A lot of the early tracks kept feeling familiar, like they almost reminded me of something, but never quite. I might listen to this one in the future again and give it more time to maybe better appreciate some of the other tracks. I'll give it a 4, but it's at the very low end of 4 Standouts Starlings Grounds for Divorce 4/5
I was going to give this a five but it started grating on me very close to the end
The first listen was "meh" (really well made but "vanilla" pop sogs). The second, more careful listen was really nice! The music is good and very well produced, it sounds great with lots of musical detail and an expressive voice. The lyrics are also good. Will listen again! Not a 5* because it is not ground-breaking and songs are a bit same-ish but a nice album all the same. A 3 or 4 but go on then, I'm in a good mood, a 4* (not that anyone cares ;-)).
Ah yes. Not listened for many years but it was heavily circulated around the time. As well as the follow up. One or two tracks sit on playlists, although the joyous one day like this is sadly overplayed. Wonderful song though. Mirrorball is the one I go to for that feeling without the over familiarity. Smooth, gentle, authentically warm. Some of it's a bit boring, Audience with the Pope stands out as a boring track, and it's therefore a bit overlong, but there's some lovely stuff here, good score.
The group has a nice sound.
Aika hyvä jam! Voisin kuunnella artistia tai ainakin albumia enemmänkin!
When I first put this on, my wife said the lead singer sounded like Sting. I could see that, although I imagined if Sting had been in a very different band than The Police, originally. Having said that, I liked this a lot. I thought the songs were effective, particularly "The Fix" which I liked a lot. "The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver" reminds me of "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" by Maiden (just in the title really). Some of the songs were a little sludge-y, but I guess that was the sound they were going for. Still, I liked this a lot, and look forward to hearing more of them. Top tracks: "The Fix," "The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver," "Starlings"
I've never heard of these guys but they have a cool sound. Guy Garvey's vocals remind me a bit of Coldplay's Chris Martin. There's more bombast and intricacy to their sound than Coldplay though. They really use the orchestra and the almost baroque style to great effect. Sort of reminded me of The National in terms of their varied, ambitious delivery and sardonic lyrics and song titles. Other artists popped into my head as I listened to them - Dave Matthews, Barns Courtney, Hugo. I wouldn't mind hearing more from Elbow. Favorite tracks were Starlings, Mirrorball, Grounds for Divorce, The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver, Some Riot, One Day Like This, and Friend of Ours.
I remember an interview with Michael Caine where he was saying he liked the band with the old guy in it. The interviewer and the listeners knew exactly who the septuagenarian was talking about. Mid 30s Garvey exudes old man energy, boring, melancholy and slightly menacing.
A mix of Coldplay with elements of Muse. A good and diverse mix of British pop, anthems, thick arrangements. Good album overall from a band I wasn’t familiar with.
Dream pop. Alternative indie rock.
Dream pop. Alternative indie rock.
Never heard this before and found it strangely diggable.
Nice vibe and very interesting!
Nice album!
Burst of nostalgia
Great album, beautiful voice for one so ugly!
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars for me. I still love the first Elbow album, and I just personally don't think this one is as good as that one. However, it is good, and it has gotten me back into them, not realizing how many albums they have put out over the years. I'm very happy there is still a band putting out the kind of British music they do.
Having never heard of this band before, I very much dig their vibe. I see a lot of similarities here with other 2000s Brit-rock bands like Muse and Bloc Party, and TV On The Radio from the U.S. The sentimentality of some of the tracks mixed with some more grandiose sounds and even some punk as well. While some tracks droned on a bit, I still thoroughly enjoyed this album all told. Notable Tracks: - Starlings - The Bones of You - Weather to Fly - One Day Like This 7/10
Ik vind deze plaat van Elbow één van de mooiste platen uit de toch wat matige zeroes. De sfeer op de plaat is enerzijds kalm en melancholisch (waar Elbow in uitblinkt), maar af en toe ook recht voor zn raap en ongemakkelijk. Bijvoorbeeld in de opener Starling, waar je in het intro meteen ff op scherp wordt gezet. Niet alle nummers zijn even goed en ik vind The Fix een raar nummer. Maar holy shit wat is One Day Like This een goed nummer. Dat nummer draagt voor mij deze plaat naar grote hoogtes. Het nummer draag ik al jaren lang bij me als 'één van mijn favorieten' en de live uitvoering op Lowlands was echt een hoogtepunt. Dat nummer verveelt mij zelden. Een hoog cijfer dus, maar 4 sterretjes vanwege de wisselvalligheid. 8/10 Highlights Mirrorbal Grounds for Divorce One Day Like This
Starlings - so gorgeous The Bones of You - kinda rocked, super good (prob not gonna add but still cool) Grounds for Divorce - BOP Weather to Fly - fire, instant add The Fix - !!!!!!!! HOLY SHIT One Day Like This These are all so gorgeous, this is the kind of stuff I started this challenge for, thank 1001 albums, super cool. GGs will relisten multiple times
I really liked this. It’s one of just a couple new to me albums that wowed me. They’re at their best when they’re basically trying to be Radiohead, and at their worst when trying to do some blues rock stylings. But overall strong album with Mirrorball as the standout track
Easy listening, I could see myself listening to this again. But this has completely gone under my radar.
I was only dimly aware of the band and would have said I’d never heard her, but it turns out that the singles on this album are are Radio Paradise regulars and I’ve favourited one of them. Another one between 3 and 4, marking it a four as something to come back to.
I had forgotten how good this album is
I liked it. Especially the first half of the album, as it did seem to lose a little steam toward the back half.
Normally slow and depressing are adjectives I would use to describe music I hate. But honestly, this album shines through despite those qualities. The composition was elegant, lyrics were compelling, and even in its slow moments it was relaxing.
high 4 maybe 5
Really good Peter Gabriel like music
Great!
Bowie's Blackstar had sex with every alt-rock band from 2013 and this is their amalgamation love-child.
Imagine dragons if it was good
Really good. Guy Garvey's voice is velvet and he's a lovely chap to boot. Some great lines and Friend of Ours never doesn't get me.
A strong album. Some really great singles including the epic "One Day Like This" which is surely an impossible song to dislike. I love the strings on that and Mirrorball too. The orchestral elements are really nice I find some tracks a bit too melancholy and slow to give this 5, but it's a good 4
Ugh, so I love this album. There are a few absolutely gorgeous tunes on here. But revisiting there are a few that are a bit samey and, dare I say it, slow and dirge like. Kind of want to give it a 4.5 but hey ho. And where are all the Radiohead comparisons coming from? I don’t get that at all
Love Elbow, was a perfect listen for a melancholy rainy day watching Wimbledon
3.8/5 listened 3x. cool album, never even hear of this band before.
The Seldom Seen Kid is something i can quite get behind. The album started off okay with the first three songs being pretty good but sometimes not making the best musical decisions but it was when Grounds For Divorce came on when the album truly became something great. The songs past that point could be really groovy and have good rhythms and also had a rather unique idea of having a steel mug be slammed on the table be an instrument (if the Grounds For Divorce video is anything to go off of) other times it could be a smooth and somber ride while sometimes creating whole worlds with music. This album truly is a great one. Best Song: Grounds For Divorce Worst Song: Starlings
3.5
Canciones favoritas: -Starlings (hermosa) -The Bones of You - The Fix -One Day Like This Mi debilidad son los brits definitivamente, me gustó muchooooo
A pleasant surprise! Sure, it’s a bit twee, and the slow tracks tend to drag. But the best songs on this album are extraordinary: thoughtful, well executed, well produced, meaningful, and emotional. As good as the best music from its era.
Enjoyable and beautiful singing. Nostalgic for me
While I first was unsure regarding my feelings about this record, considering I wasn’t a large fan of the production, at least in the first half, it was really in the second half of the album that I fell in love with this thing. Now the reason I say, I was conflicted through the first leg of the project That I did enjoy the songwriting, but like I said, the production side of things seemed a little bland and overproduced at times. That all changed by the second half where the band just came out with song after song of well written material and fantastic production to back that up. Because of that, I now even like the first half more than I did my first couple times around.
I thought this was pretty good! I am a little surprised I've never heard any of this, but I suppose it's just one of those groups that never was popular in the US (to my knowledge). Really looking forward to a relisten because I think I will like this even more. On first listen The Bones of You, Grounds for Divorce, An Audience With The Pope, The Fix, and One Day Like this all stood out to me.
All I can think is Justin Furstenfeld with the vocals. I enjoyed the album overall.
I love Elbow and this is one of my favorite albums.
Elbows finest hour
So many beautiful moments, musically and lyrically.
At certain points I really thought I was listening to Peter Gabriel.
A diverse album with a lot of range. The singer’s voice is light, coarse, and emotive. Every track is distinct, the only issue is that some sound like Disney movie soundtracks. I want to like the song Grounds for Divorce, but the chorus sounds like butt rock and it makes me cringe. Listened to the album all of the way through twice, and I don’t think that it has the greatest replay value. All in all, a good album. Standouts: Starlings, An Audience With The Pope, Some Riot, One Day Like This, and Friend Of Ours.
La voix me rappelle celle de Peter Gabriel. Évoque une gamme d'émotions, nous captive. J'aime beaucoup les arrangements presque rêveurs, des synthés ou pédales non appuyés
I really like this group. It’s like a mellow/brighter Radiohead. Which led me on a tangent of listening to a ton of Radiohead who do it better/different. Regardless I dig the theatrics song crafting
Ég hafði aldrei heyrt um þetta band þegar ég byrjaði að hlusta á þessa plötu og ég verð bara að segja að Elbow kom skemmtilega á óvart. Mér finnst ég hafa heyrt svona tónlist oft og mörgum sinnum. Ekkert frumkvöðlastarf í gangi en það er bara allt í lagi. Platan rúllar nefnilega bara mjög vel og ég mun líklegast setja hana á aftur við hin og þessi tilfelli því hún er bara afskaplega fín bakgrunnstónlist.
The album holds you in the fullness of its sound. Brilliant, just a bit too long 4.3
Definitely liked the first two minutes of the first song on the album. We'll see how it goes. I'm not sure I like this guy's voice. I think I do like it, and substantially more than I usually like these albums, so I'd give it a 4 and stand by it.
I found this album very interesting and enjoyable. I had never heard of Elbow before (what a terrible name for a band) so I was not sure what to expect. What I found was a lovely, consistently excellent record. I particularly enjoyed The Bones of You as well as the off-kilter yet balanced song The Fix, which reminds me of something from a bygone era which I can't quite put my finger on. Grounds for Divorce was also a nice change of pace after the first few songs. The crown jewel of the album, however, is probably One Day Like This, with its beautiful string introduction which could background the climactic scene of a Wes Anderson film. I couldn't quite get to 5 stars so I settled for 4 for this review but I will definitely be revisiting this album regularly.
Moody with vocals landing somewhere between Peter Gabriel and Sting.
8.5/10 Highlights: One Day Like This The Fix The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver Ground for Divorce Mirrorball Some Riot An Audience with the Pope
favourite song: one day like this one day like this is my parents wedding song and subsequently one of my favourite songs of all time. the rest of the album is also very very good, but just not quite on the level of that.
"So yes I guess I'm asking, To back a horse that's good for glue and nothing else" "How could I be scared in her arms?" "In-caving concrete military light, Is merely rain against the glass, For lovers in the night" I'M SO ILL
Had a couple of albums by bands I knew the name of but nothing about their music and mostly I'd not been missing much. This is not one of those. This is very nice. [break] Buuuhut. Its best moments are when - I don't want to make the comparison but here we go - it reminds me of what I liked about Coldplay's first two albums before they... whatever it was they did, those idiots. Sadly, I feel like after Mirrorball or Grounds of Divorce the "cinematic" aspect takes over. Or rather *theatric*. Soundtrack pieces for slow stage plays. [break] On the other hand, this music, all of it, has been a welcome companion throughout my day so far.
An chiller orchestral version of Arcade Fire is my description of these guys. I quite like it.
This album reminded me of Arcade Fire. I'm not sure who came first, but overall it was an enjoyable album. I liked the random, but seemingly normal song titles like the song writer has wrote most of these songs sitting on a bus, taking inspiration from his trip. For example, "Starlings", "The Loneliness of a Crane Driver"
2008 Alternative rock, art rock Fourth album by Elbow (England) Singles: ------------------------------- Grounds for Divorce (#19 UK) One Day Like This (#4 UK) The Bones of You Standouts: Starlings, Grounds for Divorce, Audience with the Pope, Some Riot Others: The Bones of You, Mirrorball, The Fix, One Day Like This, We're Away 4/5
I enjoyed this one. Quite a few of the songs gave off definite Sting vibes.
Very okay
Good songwriter
Really liked this album! 4 stars
Tough first song, however once you get past that it is an excellent album with great lyrics. Love the voice and the sound. Thrilled to be introduced to the band as I have never heard of them before. 4/5.
Amazing vocals, musicianship and production
Kind of hit or miss but I actually really enjoyed some of the songs!
Totally new to this one and enjoyed it.
Surprisingly coherent.
Dream pop. Alternative indie rock.
Really good off the first listen. Deserves a more in depth listen at some point.
Hmm, this guy kinda sounds like Dave Matthews in a British way. Vibes are great, songs are beautiful. I'm sitting on the beach drinking a mimosa and waiting to see Dave Matthews later tonight so that might be skewing my judgment but great stuff!
Never heard it before; I’m enjoying it.
Loved it. Nice surprise - a band/album I’ve never heard of, but really enjoy. Not quite prog, but in that zip code. Sophisticated, but also very melodic. Sounds like a precursor to Muse, or even early Radiohead. Love the singer’s voice. Sounds a bit like Peter Gabriel.
Dreamy and melodious
Nice voice.
Great voice ! Nice guitars.4 stars
Wasn’t familiar with Elbow—glad I listened.
Elbow is a band that on every album has 3 or 4 songs that reach such incredible heights that they are amongst my all-time favourites. Unfortunately these songs are then surrounded by the rest of the album that's pretty ok, but not outstanding. If you combine 4 or 5 Elbow albums and combine those songs, you can create an all-time classic. But even this Elbow, counted among their best, just doesn't hold the quality throughout. But when it does - 'One Day Like This,' 'The Bones Of You' - it's breathtakingly good.
This is my first introduction to Elbow. Elbow’s lyricism is something really special. I am officially a fan. 4/5 ⭐️
This shit slaps
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Very nice to just relax sit and let the music wash over you. I can see why a couple of the songs were used in movies and shows.
What the fuck? This had no right to be as good as it is. Fav Songs: The Bones of You, Grounds for Divorce, The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver Least: Lullaby
Great album. Never heard of Elbow so this was a nice surprise. Solid everything: writing, instrumentation, production. Perfect for a rainy day. I will listen to this again.
Very encouraged by the first song. The album has a strong cinematic file with a lot of space and rising/falling action. It's a little hard to engage with the album at the gym so my experience is probably not as good as it should be. Overall, it feels inspired/influenced by Coldplay of the time. Less commercial/radio leanings so maybe a little more grown up feeling. This probably deserves another listen when I get the chance.
This was one of the first albums I bought through Apple / iTunes. after the fall of Limewire and Napster. I think I fell in love with David Gray's White Ladder and Elbow's Cast of Thousands about the same time. It seemed like a safe bet. Tho good, this is not as polished or as consistent as Cast of Thousands. Definitely not a waste of $9.99 but that money could've been better used elsewhere. Like on a sixer of High Life and a couple of 7-Layer burritos.
Elbow apparently made a big deal about the use of dynamic range on “Seldom Seen Kid,” and my musically uneducated self attempted to dig into the term, leading me to try to learn about the “Loudness War.” It seems the Loudness War is all about trying to buck the trend of “crushing” and “squashing” the music because of a misguided belief that “louder is better.” Louder crushed tracks would be favored by the hitmakers for radio play and whatever? But all the audiophiles think this was ruining the music and instead pushed for more dynamic range between the loud and soft moments of a song. I have no understanding of the mixing process, but those waging the Loudness War can hash it out. Just as my taste buds aren’t advanced enough to appreciate a fine wine, it seems my hearing may not be capable of discerning the presence of dynamic range. But I can appreciate “Seldom Seen Kid” for other reasons.
Hints of Sting & Peter Gabriel in the vocals & lyrics, and Guster in the music - all pluses for me. I’ll listen to this again & check out more by them.
Sparseness dripping with drama. I’m a big fan. Never heard of Elbow. This is what I’m here for.
I was skeptical but positively surprised. Re-listened directly after the first time to get more details of the tracks. I will listen to their other albums, too.
i liked it but probably won't listen to it again.
Really enjoyed this one! Similar to other music I enjoyed during the time, but a new discovery for me. Think Snow Patrol and Keane.
Really good. Some very interesting instrumentation on this
previously listened
Easy listening, with some more up tempo songs, I would listen to the album again, but more for a sunday chill afternoon vibe
I enjoyed this one. Not groundbreaking, but worth the listen.
Better than I expected. Very much a 2010s sound, but I don't hate it. A soft indie sort of vibe, but track lengths were a little longer than I liked.
Yet another English band I've never heard of. His voice reminds me of Sting at times. Wow. Really liking this one. Standouts: Starlings, The Bones of You, Mirrorball, Grounds for Divorce, The Fix, We're Away. Really all the songs are very good. I enjoyed this album very much. Never heard of them before but now I'm glad I listened. 3.5
One of my least listened to elbow albums, not entirely sure why though
Good album from a band I had never heard before. Their sound reminded me of Coldplay at times.
I liked it! Very "of an era" sound but I'm surprised I'd never heard it before
V Good