Reviews (page 5 of 9)
True story: I've owned this record forever, just never actually listened to anything aside from "Grounds for Divorce". I'm very surprised how much I enjoyed this record. It's indie rock with a lot of interesting instruments, structures, and vocal performances. I think it hits a lull mid-album that only really recovers at "Some Riot", but I think the 4-song run of "The Bones of You" through "An Audience With the Pope" is just perfect. Favorite tracks: "Mirrorball", "Grounds for Divorce", "The Bones of You", "An Audience With the Pope"
An inventive, gorgeous, eerie, smooth album! I love the more creative/genre-blending tracks on here, like the jazzy closer and "Some Riot". "Grounds for Divorce", despite the awesome track name, was a low point, it felt a little generic pop-rock, but it's not that egregious taking into account the year this was made.
Nostalgia boner, definately on rotation from now on
Surprisingly, this is a really good album. Pop is generally boring and repetitive, but this was just enough of an outlier to feel new but familiar enough to not be annoying.
4.0
Seems like a very well-made album. Had some interesting moments, but overall didn't grab me. Felt mellow overall. Hotel Istanbul was neat. Not sure how to rate it. It was good, just didn't love it.
A pleasant surprise!
very calming, some very interesting sounds/harmonies? the fix
Some lovely tunes. Not really my thing: file it with Coldplay, Snow Patrol etc. Generally very nice inoffensive AOR with the occasional standout track.
i quite liked a lot of the songs on the album!! esp audience with the pope, mirrorball, grounds for divorce, and the bones of you... gives me kinda radiohead-but-for-people-who-are-on-the-road-to-depression-and-aren’t-quite-at-rock-bottom-yet vibes ... also the album art is sick !!
Started out strong, then got a little precious, ended fairly decent.
Really good! Sounds like early Radiohead, better Coldplay, also The Doves
I really enjoyed this, it was right up my alley and something I’d never heard of!
Creative, strings, want to listen it more
Good
Some really incredible songs, but overall album wasn’t a cohesive listen
Really artsy, sweeping, and dramatic. Good music, all over the place in many different styles. Kind of takes away from the song's "albumness" though. i.e. had they chosen a consistent style to REALLY hammer home, could have been nuts. Instead we're left with an appetizer plate of a bunch of really great starts, but nothing complete
A bit more U2 influence than I’m into but otherwise good
Liked this pretty well. Listened to a few other albums and liked those too!
Was not aware of this band so wasn't sure what to expect, but very pleasantly surprised.
This was an awesome intro to elbow. I will be looking at more of their stuff because I love their style. The fix is brilliant as is grounds for divorce
I had only ever heard one song from Elbow before but I had no idea who they were. But I really liked this album. Creative use of instruments to create a different rock sound
Really enjoyed this
cool
I really liked this album. I've never heard of the group Elbow before. It seemed like a toned down indie rock album.
I liked it a lot. Like a lot. I will relisten. Cool sounds, made me feel like I was in a movie. Don't know why it's on the list but I'm happy I found it. 7/8, fav song, (don't know).
Ive listend to this one before. Grounds for divorce is great!
2008. Key Songs: Mirrorball, Grounds for Divorce, One Day Like This
Pleasantly surprised. It had relaxing sounds while not sounding boring, very good.
'Straight to my head / Like the first cigarette of the day.' Ravishing, yes, & more impressive than plenty of Radiohead yawners (The Bends, Amnesiac, Hail to the Thief), Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid still suffers from what you could call 'the issue of not having an issue.' I don't believe all meaningful art is necessarily born out of conflict, tho a lot is, but all great art is for real & has a basis in something heavy & difficult. 'There's a Chinese cigarette case / & the rest you can keep.' Things get somewhat heavy & difficult on 'Grounds for Divorce,' a White-Stripes-inspired anthem, but that's really a kind of window-dressing blues. I find myself appreciating the production, & the fact that this is so much better than Doves or Muse. Otherwise, meh.
Liked it, I’d listen to this again
I listened to this album when it came out, and so I'm not doing it now. I already know which two songs I liked and they're in my library: "Starlings" and "The Bones of You." By the way, if you hate "stomp clap hey" music, you can probably directly blame "Grounds for Divorce" on this album for the trend. Elbow to me always provokes mixed emotions because they fit very neatly into some of my musical tastes but then nope! You lost me guys. Anyway, you get ⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me - I like two songs and could accept the rest playing in the background.
Have you ever seen an album cover and you know EXACTLY how its going to sound because of it? This is that album. It sounds like a heavier version of Fleet Foxes at times and I was luke warm on that album and making it heavier doesnt change that. 3/5
While I see all the comparisons to the 100+ other British bands of this era this list, i feel like these guys are slightly above the majority. A few really solid tunes. The rest is good. Listened to some of their other songs from other albums. I’d be inclined to revisit Elbow in the future. Whereas the majority of those other bands are forgettable. Occasionally sounds like Peter Gabriel. 3.75
I debated rating this higher but there's something about it that just doesn't grab me and I don't really know what it is but it's missing something. It's fine.
just barely squeaking into a three, probably more of a high two
Het schono Spass gmacht, paar gueti tracks dezwüsched gha. 3 unbemerkti Elboge-Schläck
The Seldom Seen Kid: 2008. I don't really get the hype about Elbow, I mean they're pretty good but not remarkable. I bought this in a charity shop and this is probably the third time I've played it, might take out back there.
for pretentious overproduced late 2000s indie rock its actually pretty ok. still feels like diet radiohead tho. and i don't even love radiohead like that so im not super into this but its far from bad
Another British band that I as an American didn't know about. I guess it's more indie than britpop for what it's worth. Off the bat, aside from how so ridiculously LOUD the horns are on Starlings, it's very well produced and put together. The dynamics are excellent and definitely add good emotional depth to the album, where it precedes to lose me slowly after that. The Bones of You and Mirrorball are my favorites of the album, in part because it sounds more rock than the rest of the album. I enjoyed the dynamics tension the most on An Audience With The Pope and The Fix is a great song. Other than that, the rest of this album simply isn't for me. I dislike the UK stomp and clap on Grounds For Divorce and One Day Like This could be so much better if it evolved beyond that two-chord stuff into something much more rhythmic and textural beyond appearing as nothing more than enhancing dramatics without building more to a better finish. The soft indie stuff (with all respect to the dude and his big influence from Talk Talk, a very great band) is just simply music that is Not For Me in spite of being a millennial. It's either too slow paced or too much space which can be nicely ambient at times but not long enough for it to work right. The musicianship is maybe a step below the production talent. The band did self-produce this which doesn't always work out right, but they did a great job all things considered. But when it comes to mid sounding bands with production, you can't polish a turd to make it smell good or that much better. I can see why enough people like it and its critical success (and there are certainly worse bands that try to make stuff like this with varying critical success), but it just can't cut it for me.
turned out worse than i expected
I get that it was the overall sound for the album, but I do wish that there were a few moments throughout where the songs were more high energy. The slow, melancholic vibes the entire time left me wanting more.
It was ok. Gave me big “Parachutes” vibes without the spark that made early Coldplay so special. Maybe it was just the extensive use of echo + ✨British✨Still wasn’t an unpleasant listening experience but served better as passive than active listening. Favorite song: Grounds for Divorce
Chill vibes. Not great not bad.
A nice album and a good band. For some reason it doesnt quite vibe with me, and I am never really in that mood to listen to it.
There wasn’t any song that grabbed me enough to save to my library, but overall I enjoyed the album. May have to have another listen. 3.5 stars
Kinda like Coldplay, but some cheekier lyrics here and there. There's a couple tracks I liked: An Audience With The Pope is a cute little song, The Fix is quite a bit of fun, and One Day Like This seems like their most ambitious track. It was an overall nice experience, but I wouldn't be looking them up again anytime soon.
A generic but not objectionable alternative album. It wasn’t bad but I have already forgotten what it sounded like
Really have nothing to say about this album since I can’t recall any of it after one day.
It was alright. I have a soft spot for Grounds for Divorce so was happy to hear that. Surprised that I recognised One Day Like This as well.
Listened late after getting home from camping. Almost fell asleep. Not sure if it was the situation or the music.
Always forget how solid Elbow generally is
Really liked "Grounds for Divorce"; rest of album is enjoyable and especially good for background/work music.
Not too bad. Smooth sound and actually has some songs that feel like they would be great lofi tracks.
🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 (rounded up because I have conflictingly defensive feelings towards it) I know precisely one thing about Elbow, and it’s that I LOVE “Forget Myself.” The percussion’s really clacky and high, the hook is really solid rock but also opens up into this expansive vista of sound at the end, and man, I really do love this guy’s voice—his accent and rasp really complement each other, especially when he harmonizes with himself and the rasp goes lower. And those lyrics—I can’t even describe how snappy and sharp they are, competently alliterative but also, like, cuttingly sarcastic at times, so just look at this: “They're pacing Piccadilly in packs again / And moaning for the mercy of a never come rain / The sun's had enough and the simmering sky / Has the heave and the hue of a woman on fire / Shop shutters rattle down and I'm cutting the crowd / All scented and descending from the satellite towns / The neon is graffiti singing make a new start / So I look for a plot where I can bury my broken heart […] The man on the door has a head like Mars / Like a baby born to the doors of the bars / And surrounded by steam with his folded arms / He's got that urban genie thing going on / He's so mercifully free of the pressures of grace / Saint Peter in satin he's like Buddha with mace” And that’s excluding the “are you falling in love every second song” stanza, too! Like… fuck, man, that’s fantastic. “Forget Myself” is just such a perfect rock song, and it gave me the impression that Elbow was sort of your cut-above but unpretentious rock band—not aiming to break any ground, but really solid at what they do, and fun to see. I like a lot of these types of bands even though I wouldn’t land them on this list—that’s not to say that their music isn’t really tight or even life-changing, but they aren’t historically revolutionary, which seems to be the (not always achieved) goal of 1001 albums. In a way, almost respect this type of band more for just doing their thing—like, it almost feels like they’ve unlocked the unfettered and directionless creativity of being a child, and they’re making what they want to make, what they’re good at making, and that’s so great. But, um, bad news: Elbow is not that band, not at least on The Seldom Seen Kid. This, to me, seems like it’s trying to be a sweeping, artistic annunciation that quakes the foundations of music—trying, anyway—and though I don’t hate it, I felt myself struggling to like it, too. Of course, lyrically, the guy’s got chops, which are apparent from the first song: “I sat you down and told you how / The truest love that's ever found / Is for oneself / You pulled apart my theory / With a weary and disinterested sigh / So yes I guess I'm asking you / To back a horse that's good for glue / And nothing else.” That felt kind of clever in a way I enjoyed. “I’ve been working on a cocktail called “Grounds for Divorce”—that’s a good one! Same with the very concept of “The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver”—that’s the kind of pretentious that still tickles me. Like, alright, you’re trying out literary insight for size, I see you. I can’t even say it feels insincere, which is what bugs me the most about all this—it’s definitely a romantic and pensive record, but in a way I wasn’t super into. A few of the “epic” moments, i.e. the end of “Crane Driver,” did give me, like, the memory of goosebumps, but not much really landed with me. This kind of stuff drives me crazy, because by all measures, I should like it, and I recognize that it’s talented, so I feel bad when I don’t have a favorable reaction. What’s going on? Am I the problem? For as much as I was just glazing the lyrics, the music itself is typically where I connect the most, so you’d think examining that might reveal some answers, but this just makes it more confusing. From the first song, I thought the Apple Music review comparing Elbow to Coldplay crossed with Pink Floyd was way more apt than the numerous Radiohead jabs in the global reviews—like, I just assumed it was one of those things where people have only heard a little bit of OK Computer and just take generalized swings from there—but uh, once I got to “The Bones of You” I realized the wisdom of the masses was spot on this time. Yea, never mind, that’s Radiohead alright, and I don’t… hate it? In fact, there’s a lot here that I even think I like—they’re doing a decent impression in “The Bones of You,” and “Mirrorball” has a really interesting… I don’t know… I want to say syncopation even though I don’t even remotely know what that means. Much as I wanted to save both, though, I felt like neither did enough for me by the end. Of course, these are by far the most Radiohead tracks on the album, which otherwise seems like a tour of well-tread, late-2000s millennial genres. Like, “Grounds for Divorce”—not the stomp clap!! The second it started, I audibly bruh’d, which is not something I make a habit of doing. And to think someone called this song a “shredder” in their review—huh?? They must’ve been raised on the Disney channel, because this is a deeply tame and corporate rock rhythm. Guiltily, I’ll always have a little bit of an inclination to nod my head to this kind of music—admittedly, the swagger is sort of absorbent, and I do really like the thickness of the bass on this one, but it wears thin quickly—within the span of that AJR-ass song, in fact. Similarly, there’s sort of a halfassed cabaret feeling to “The Fix” that feels namelessly associated with this era of pop (maybe “Viva la Vida?” But I never remember which bad song that is, the name floats over three half-remembered tunes from middle school). It’s very sneaky, with some creepy “aah-aah-aahs”, but also not the most authentic. Perhaps the most transparent offender, though, is the almost-closer “One Day Like This,” which is trying to do a “Hey Jude” fade out that’s lab grown for an arena, and again, I’ll admit, it…. sooort of works? I wouldn’t say I was swept away by it—more softly splashed—but I can tell there’s emotion here, and I can see why someone would feel a catharsis after hearing this, which is why I feel bad for not getting it. This, I think, is always my problem: if I can logically see every reason to like something, and those reasons align with my own values, I have a really hard time justifying why something’s not for me—doesn’t that imply, then, that my taste is fickle and changeable and not an objective monolith of taste? I keep coming back to this, but never finding a way to reconcile with it. So, again, here we are: an averaged three stars because there are just as many parts of this that could deduct not-quite-a-star as there are parts that could add not-quite-a-star. I’d like to think this is one I won’t revisit so it’s a clean separation, but I was too interested in bits of “Some Riot,” “The Fix,” “Mirrorball,” and “The Bones of You” to just move on entirely. Then again, though, revisiting them right now is gonna feel like homework, and I’m sure to just delete them from my library anyway. What’s got me hung up is that I get the sense that I’d give it another few chances if I liked Elbow more. If they had, like, two other solid albums before this, I can imagine listening to it a couple times to see if I “got” it. I’m not sure I would if it were a Radiohead album, but even then, maybe. Humblingly, a very subjective album. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
I feel so mixed about this, shockingly. I'm shocked at what I liked and shocked at what I didn't? The vocalist really sounds like Peter Gabriel to me (positive), and the Coldplay comparisons are pretty spot-on (neutral). This album has the flavor of late aughts/early teens pop that I find sweet and nostalgic, and I thought the lyrics of several songs were innocently earnest and clever. At the same time, it's not musically innovative at all, and they sound so similar to many other popular groups of that time. I know I just said that the lyrics were earnest sometimes, but there's a general passionless-ness to this album that felt oppressively commercial, and indeed, Wikipedia revealed that several tracks were used in a bunch of different commercials. I don't know how to reconcile all of these things, so I'm landing on a 3.
3 stars
I'm glad I listened to it, but didn't save anything.
Neither I liked it, nor I hated it
This is a band I wasn't familiar with before. I recognized the name, but I hadn't actually listened to their music until now. Elbow plays a blend of art rock, post-Britpop, and dream pop. The lead singer has a soulful baritone voice, and their cinematic arrangements incorporate the trumpet. If you really engage with the music, it’s sure to captivate you. It’s the kind of music I might want to listen to again on a rainy autumn evening.
Reminded me of Peter Gabriel and enjoyed a couple of songs, especially “Some riot.”
Enjoyable but a bit too light for me to love.
Had never heard of these guys before, but this album was very familiar. Really enjoyed it, and a couple big standout tracks. Give it a go, can recommend
There is a bit too much repetitiveness to this to my liking, and I'm not going to go play this on repeat or anything, but I do think that the melodies take me on a journey, independent of the vocals. I feel like I'm riding this wave and the drops happen right when I want.
I was super sloppy listening to this. Disjointed, halfway listening, getting up, sitting down, so on. Yet it still pulled me in a few times. I was never astonished, but also never disgruntled, and at times interested. This is weird Ronnie-speak for a 3.
Oh I know this song
I didn’t like the beginning of the album but I warmed up to it after! 3.1
Best song: "An Audience With The Pope". I really liked this song. Worst song: "Starlings" as those crashes of music out of nowhere were more apt to scare me than actually be music. I liked "The Fix" also. Other than the first song, I liked this album. I might even listen to more of this group's music in the future.
I'm not quite sure what was going on with "Grounds for Divorce" which sounds like every other radio piece of shit that was coming our around that time, but the rest is fine. The first three tracks promise somethign really quite interesting, but as the divorce song hits it's all kind of downhill, though it is by far the worst of it. The remaining songs are kinda uninspired and aren't terrible, but largely forgettable and not nearly as interesting as the openers. The comparisons to Radiohead I think aren't quite accurate. I think a lot of people confuse anything British that isn't radio rock with Radiohead. I actually feel like these guys are early Muse, before they got enormous. Now Muse sounded like Temu Radiohead at first too, but we're digressing. This band seems like they're almost experimental, and I like the variety of instruments they use plus all the non 4/4 songs. What I don't like is that the singer is really far too front and center. It's not that he's a bad singer, but this is very focused on his lyrics which are sometimes quite nice, but other times a bit shit. The latter 2/3 of the album could be written by someone else for this dude to perform by himself. Really disappointing given the start. I guess a 3 is appropriate but really without the opening tracks this is a 2.
Pleasant listening experience. I think I’d have to listen a couple more times to fully appreciate it
*A lot of similarities to Coldplay for me *The up-tempo songs were pretty good, but it got too slow at times
Favorite tracks: The Bones Of You, Some Riot, One Day Like This. I started this with cynicism and kept changing my rating as it went on. This flavor of earnest indie takes me back to the cringier parts of the 00s. There was so much music like this; I like a few albums, then there's a sharp cutoff in my interest in this genre. That said, if I had heard this back then, it probably would've been my personality for a while. So, begrudgingly, I must admit that I enjoyed this. 3.5 stars.
The Fix
Yeah I tell ya Moe, I’ve seen some albums 3 before, but this is the 3iest 3 that ever 3’d
⭐⭐⭐+ Lågmäld indierock. Som så många gånger tidigare i det här projektet så växer albumet med några lyssningar. Det är soft och tillbakalutat. Sångrösten får mig ibland att tänka på Peter Gabriel men vet inte riktigt varför. Skulle nog kunna komma tillbaka till albumet men frågan är om det sticker ut tillräckligt för att jag ska komma ihåg det. Tycker det är tillräckligt intressant och för rätt tillfälle en behaglig lyssning för att ge det en stark 3a. Bäst är Mirror ball, Grounds for divorce, Weather to fly, The Fix, One a day like this
Meh.
It's fine. Sounds like Snow Patrol.
wth sure
I can’t believe I had never heard of these guys. They didn’t sound super Manchester. I did like it!
I really liked this group and album.
Actually really enjoyed this! They had a lot of musical range, no two songs sounded the same and they were catchy. I also knew one near the end. Don't think I'd listen again but was bopping along when they were on.
This was okay.
langsam und ein kleines bisschen monoton…wenn man sich rein geben kann, kanns aber durchaus einnehmend sein
3.5. Not as good as you want it to be, but gas some great tunes. Quite like Cherry Ghost.
노래 분위기가 꽤 좋았다. 다 처음 들어보는 노래였는데 분위기랑 음이 좋았다. 그리고 앨범 재킷이 겜성있는 것 같다. The atmosphere of the song was quite good. It was my first time hearing these songs, but the atmosphere and sound were good. And the album jacket seems gamey.
Doesn't move the needle here. Good, not great.
not my style
3.4
One song off of this album had somehow made it onto my ipod and to this day I don’t know where it came from. I liked it and kept telling myself that I would go and check out the rest of the album but similar to my morning exercise routine, it would never happen. Now that I’ve finally heard the full album I kinda wish I hadn’t. Add it to the list of things that failed to deliver on 18 years of anticipation.
I liked the vibe of the album. It had its ups and downs, but the former outweighed the latter. The music especially shines during the quieter, more personal moments that build around a particular theme and gradually develop it into something meaningful. That approach is repeated throughout the entire album, and it made for a consistently enjoyable listen. My favorite song was "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver".
Cold play with a little more stank
Sorta reminded me of Peter Gabriel with some emo Radiohead mixed in, which oddly works. Never heard of this band, but enjoyed the listen.
Radiohead but not as whiny?
Sounds like if Mumford and sons was Coldplay. I enjoyed this.
I really liked Grounds for Divorce and added it to my Indie Classics playlist. I still think there are a lot of white singers from the UK who sound an awful lot alike, but this one had a pretty cool guitar band behind it.
Really dug the direction in the first half but that second half just lost it for me. Went a more folky direction I wasn't prepared for and I don't think they did the genre justice. Highlight: Mirrorball
Elbow, huh? It's like they decided that calling themselves The Bends was too obviously a Radiohead reference and thought, "well, what bends?" I think the most dissonant part of this for me is the singers slightly husky voice. That's maybe the most notable outlier for all the Radiohead/Coldplay comparisons. "Weather To Fly" almost sounded like Sting. And I got slightly excited when I heard "The Fix" and thought the Richard Hawley/Nick Cave sound really added to the mix, and then I realized it was actually Richard Hawley on vocals there. I think this occupies a space between Radiohead and Coldplay for me; it's not as compelling as Radiohead but not as comatose as Coldplay. It's been playing in the background all morning and it's been fine right there in the background. The fact that any of these tracks has 113M Spotify listens is truly baffling but so are people. I'd give this a solid 3.25 if quarter-stars were a thing. 7/20 stars.
Attractive album. Unlike other reviewers, I don't do much get Radiohead-lite. I really ike the lead's voice, and the vocals mix. One Day Like This is a good one.... then some of the other songs lost me as dazed and confused. Saved a few tracks.
Today's dose of B-list britpop-indie, led by a conspicuously Peter Gabriel-sounding singer (did they wear a mask on stage? do they give a real name when they introduce themself?) It's a nice album with a good amount of standout moments, a little too dull on average for a higher rate but it is worth hearing once
Between 3 and 4 for me
Nice
Good
I wish I had given it more time yesterday than I did. I liked what I heard a fair amount. I may go back and revise the rating at some point, but I think it's a fair offering.
3/5
This is a pretty good album but it is at least 10 minutes too long. Sting sounds a little different, but really good...wait, what? Guy who?
weird chill kooky vibe
imagine dragons for people who don't want to say they listen to imagine dragons
Good orchestral pop. I could see this growing on me more with repeat listens. It did capture the vibe of the Great Recession, whether or not that was actually Elbow's intent. I enjoyed the vibe of the instrumentals far more than the lyrics. It is more enjoyable than most Radiohead albums, so there is that. Definitely the best British album that was nominated that year for the Mercury prize, which is saying something because they have made a skill of screwing that up. Just look at how bad they screwed up 2009 when there were at least 3 albums nominated that were more interesting, popular, and had longer legs than the winner. 2011 was also a complete whiff, when it was obvious to just about everyone that it should have been Adele's 21. Kind of like a British version of Blue October, and I kinda dig it. One of those rare albums where on my first listen, I enjoyed the back half more than the front half. Faves: "Some Riot", "One Day Like This", "Friend of Ours", "We're Away", "Hotel Istanbul"
Listenable, but not my favorite.
Kinda
I was hoping for something a little more from a band called Elbow. 3.5
Siii ponele. Bastante mejor para el final. Nada que me obsesione. Nota: 3.6
Not bad! It really has its moments! With that said, there are songs that leave me a bit cold. It's very hit or miss for me, some songs I think are just beautifully realized and others I find annoying and played out. Starlings, An Audience With the Pope, The Loneliness..., The Fix
This was a tough one for me. Its a cool record. Good songs. Not really my type of thing but its undeniably good. It doesnt do alot of the things that I dont like about alot of chill relaxing styles of music. It doesnt repeat itself over and over. It doesnt lull me to sleep. Its interesting all the way through. But at the end of the day i dont love it. I have to say how good it is but in the end I just dont ever want to hear it again. Its a pretty strange reaction for sure. But its what I got. Its about as close as I could think of being a 4 without making it there. Maybe if I listen to it again ill feell better about it but as of now i just dony like it much but it is good
The best album Coldplay never made.
It's an alt rock style that feels grandiose and calm with meaningful lyrics. Would listen again since I thought it was good.
This guy kind of sounds like Peter Gabriel, if Peter Gabriel sucked.
This is not for me. "Grounds for Divorce" just sounds like the home depot theme. A lot of the rest of the album gives me the hunger games companion album, but b-sides created by the Civil wars and the Decemberists. Meh. 5/10
Always knew Grounds For Divorce was as a banger but never liked Elbow. Not mad on his voice at times but enjoyed it a lot more than I thought.
It annoys me that i enjoyed alot of this. Guy garvey is obviously a pint man, every other lines about pints being class. I can respect that. Drinking in the morning sun i can only assume means pints for brekkie. Alot of the songs sounded like theme tunes to BBC2 comedy dramas. Did like audience with the pope and the fix. Cos of the theme tune-ness Best songs bones of you. Does slap although its a bit of a bends radiohead era rip off
Close to a 4, just find it a bit boring at times. There are some proper standouts though.
i honestly love it it’s interesting
Again, another obscure British album that never made a dent anywhere else. I do know it, I have listened to it and I saw them live around this time, but it's not a Top1001 album. Nothing on here is revolutionary, nor groundbreaking, or inventive or influential. It's a solid album though with "Starlings", the shoulda-been-a-hit "One Day Like This" (131M listens) and "Grounds For Divorce". Solid listening counts across the album. Songs like "The Bones Of You", "Mirrorball" and the depressingly slow "We're Away" could have hit the cutting room floor, zero value. Another enjoyable album, but not a must-hear-before-I-die album as the T1001 should be composed of. And what a dumb band name, wow. 3 stars, it's hard to dislike but hard to love.
really really loved like 4 songs off the album. the rest were fine. surprised this was a very well put together album! like the vibes. 6/10
It’s a cool album, it’s a very interesting change up on what a lot of indie sounded like at the time, it’s a little long in the tooth for how little variety is on this album though.
Nice background music.
had some good tracks, decent
One or two bangers but the rest is some of the most bland, boring music I’ve heard. It’s not offensive, it just exists. Meh.
It was a first listen to me. Late 00s British indie rock, quite Radiohead like with Coldplay and Blur influences. The album has good variety and intricate details which I always like. The melancholy is a bit much here and there. I would give it 3 and half stars but I should give it more listens to decide if it's worth a 4.
We’ve heard this late 2000s British alternative so many times. Give it a rest! It was fine.
Sounds like Peter Gabriel and Dave Matthews mixed together for me. I cant say I understand why this would be on the list.
As I started listening to this album, my initial reaction was that this was another example of early 2000s sleepy Brit-pop making its way onto this list. However, as I continued to listen, I found myself enjoying it more and more.
Pretensioonikas ja mitte alati parimal moel. Mõni lugu on täitsa huvitav, aga mulle selle laulja vokaal ei istu kuidagi üldse. Ja tundub, nagu nad teeksid muusikat "intelligentsele" publikule, aga see kuidagi ei tööta. 2.8/5
Another album that sort of washed over me. That's probably more indicative of my recent listening habits rather than a reflection of the quality of this album. It was an enjoyable collection of largely slow, melancholic ballads and I'm sure it would improve upon another listen.
This reads as extremely generic to me. It’s fine, but unremarkable
Maybe it would have hit more at the time but I found this one missing something. I can see why it was a hit but not much for me to grab onto. Sounds a bit derivative of the other bigger bands around this time that were working in the same style.
This was a journey. I hated it, I liked it, I disliked it, I loved it. Weird. I think the theme of the album should be "every song has changed"
good
Such a mellow style.
I remember being aware of this band when I worked at Tower in the early '00s and would listen to anything from the UK, but I certainly didn't know this album at all. Vocals sound like Peter Gabriel, dig it, but starts to get a little boring as it goes on. The British Grizzly Bear?
Coldplay meets what the fuck is that emotional band from the 90's again?
There are some really great songs on this album and also some really boring, forgettable ones. Lots of potential for this band, reminds me of Coldplay with a mix of the Lumineers and more folkish sound
Nice one ! Especially Mirror ball.
I think Elbow have become victims of their own success, becoming the poster child of bland radio rock in the UK. When this came out it was fresh, considered, influential and rightly lauded critically. Overexposure now makes it harder to listen to objectively. That said it starts strongly, articulately and confidently, that sense carries throughout. At times a bit dull and wet.
it's a 3.5
Is it good? Yes Should it be on the list? Probably not
It was fine. Sounded good but pretty forgettable like most British alternative (what does that even mean anymore?) music.
kinda like Radiohead-lite. wouldn't seek them out again, but would be fine listening to it in background
What you would expect from an English alternative rock band in the 2000s -- the singles are pretty good while the rest of the album is aight.
Gut.
Meh
I think the comparisons I've seen to Coldplay in the reviews are a little unfair. While very stadium, The Seldom Seen Kid feels far more intimate and genuine than Coldplay's work. I'm still not a massive fan, but I enjoyed this album well enough and it certainly didn't incite the anger in me that A Rush of Blood to the Head did.
I've heard of this artist. Have not listened to much if any of their music. It's good. I respect it but not for me
I struggled with this score because Elbow and the type of music they generally create isn’t a thing I would normally actively enjoy. The two songs I knew (“Grounds for Divorce” and “One Day Like This”) are just spectacular, especially “Grounds for Divorce”. The rest of it is what I expected an Elbow album to be - not for me, but inoffensive. In an ideal world, this would be a 2.5 star one; however, I have enough self-awareness to say that this is definitely one of the more polished of the indie-types. Guy Garvey has a beautiful voice and the orchestrations are gorgeous.
Didn't finish all the way (busy) but I enjoyed it! Not my fave ever but good
I don't mind Elbow. Guy Garvey seems to be a nice guy and he's got a great programme on BBC Radio 6. But. Elbow kind of lost me after this album, and truth be told, this album was the beginning of them leaving me behind. That said: Grounds for Divorce, An Audience with the Pope and The Fix are great, outstanding songs. But to me, their first three albums had more of those. Had I not been familiar with Elbow before listening to this again, it would have had a hard time to get more than 2/5, so my familiarity with the band and those three songs save the 3/5.
The first track was so bad I really thought this was going to be a slog, but there were actually a few interesting songs/melodies on here. There were also a few stinkers so this fits squarely in the "mixed" category. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
Irgendwie ist der Sänger so ne Heulsuse
I've always liked Elbow more in theory than in practice. I love the singer's voice, the orchestral arrangements, and a lot of their lyrics. Songs like "Mirrorball," "Grounds for Divirce," and "One Day Like This" are great and capture love in all of its dimensions, from infatuation to heartbreak. But too many of their songs are kind of forgettable and/or just don't go anywhere. They're more of a "greatest hits" kind of band for me. Still, I'm appreciative of them for their intelligence, great chops and singing, and interesting arrangements.
I wouldn't say i disliked this but its... kinda dull? Was definitely expecting to like it more, because one of the KEXP DJs always plays One Day Like This and that song's really grown on me. The symphony vibes make for easy listening but just nothing else really grabbed me the whole time. Started to approach a more unique sound on The Bones of You and The Fix, but much of this felt instantly forgettable.
Bit jangly but not bad
very grand and cinematic sound but as the album progresses, just like with very long movies, you kinda start wondering when is this gonna finally end (though i wouldn't say the album was boring at all). the music is very rich and well crafted but, at the end of it all, i just don't really know which song is which, as they all just blend together sonically. this album really misses out on having at least one or two powerful singles that would stand out and give some energy and life to the whole thing. i guess i can see this album and band being someones favourite but to me it sounds a bit like a step down compared with their influences (such as radiohead and peter gabriel)
Tof om terug te horen
I am super vibing with Grounds for Divorce. It's giving Radiohead meets Gordon Lightfoot. Not a bad album. Very soothing. I might have needed it today. But not one that I am going to keep in my favs.
some good tracks/vibes, though the best song was a deluxe uk track?
cool sound, didn't love the opening song but there are some strong ones highlights: Mirrorball, The Bones of You
M'eh, background noise, no reason to listen twice
Sleepy.
Average.
I saw a bunch of people claiming that this sounds like Radiohead, but honestly, it's kind of just English indie rock with a moody palette. I guess there are a couple of melodies that remind me of The Bends, but that's it. Anyways, The Seldom Seen Kid is fine. The songs are varied, reasonably well written, and pretty detailed. Although, it has something a little theatrical about it that usually comes across as cheesy. And I don't think it has an incredibly strong unified identity. The performances are also a mixed bag. Also, for being enjoyable enough, The Seldom seen Kid is also inessential. It has also not aged particularly well, and I don't see it getting more interesting as time goes on. Elbow feels like a band that had a moment, but are now cursed to live within it. But for all the negative things I have to say about this, I can still put on most of these songs and say "yeah, that's pretty neat", which does carry Elbow into a 3.
A warm, well-crafted album that’s easy to appreciate but hard to remember. The atmosphere is cohesive and sincere, and tracks like “Grounds for Divorce” and “One Day Like This” stand out, but much of the record sits in a similar mid-tempo, reflective space. Admirable in craft, yet lacking truly memorable moments. 3/5
This was fine. Some things were a bop others were camp
Not one great song, nor a particular bad. The album feels older than 2008, and I am not sure about its historical importance. But overall I can't say I did not like. 7/10
it’s a shame each song overstays its welcome by 30-45 seconds, it has a really good foundation
there’s an aughts indie twinge that I don’t appreciate
Very nice album; surprised me.
first half really good, second half meh
Peter Gabriel vibes
This was surprisingly good
Never heard of it, good
Surprisingly didn't send me to sleep
Trifft bei mir keinen Nerv.
I enjoy discovering a band and album I have not heard of before. Have I been out of touch, or did this one escape my attention for a reason. (The year it was released I was the busy parent of a 1-year-old) At first glance, it's a decent album. Probably one I would like with repeated exposure. No stasnd out songs
This album bored me to tears at times and made me really embrace the beauty of composition at others. When power chords were struck I was electrified and when orchestral swells entered I hung my head in sorrow. This is a pretty unique and inspirational album. But I simply cannot get over the Radiohead and Coldplay fusion. It's a blend I hadn't quite considered to be good. Long melodrama infused down tempo sections combined with a bright influx of energy. I gotta at least give this 3 stars. Maybe 4. Sorry guys. Nothing wrong with it.
Not bad but I'll listen if it's on.
i don’t even know. pas mémorable?? j’ai dormi 3h cette nuit. je me rappelle de rien ♡: An Audience With The Pope
Good stuff from a band I never heard before. Would listen again.
A good indie album - moody, mysterious, melodic
Overall: 6/10 Coldplay but not insufferable. Had moments I loved and moments I couldn't stand. Feels like it would be great music to fall asleep to. Fav Song: One Day Like This
While this isn't to my taste, I do think these songs are very beautiful. I might rank it higher if I wasn't basing it on mostly personal preference.
Dangerously close to being put in the same bucket as Imagine Dragons.
pretty vibey and refreshing sound. i think by the end of the album it feels like it meanders a little bit (songs range exclusively from 4 and a half minutes to 6 and a half which feels very funny); the couple of times they pick up the pace it's exciting, but they're mostly pretty sleepy. favorite song is Grounds for Divorce
Tycker överlag det är rätt bra. Men får inte en mer känsla än, "bra". Har nu lyssnat och det blir i framtiden inte mer, med största sannolikhet. Typisk trea.
Fin och melankolisk men ändå är det något som saknas för att jag riktigt ska gå igång på den. Det är jämnbra men aldrig riktigt bra. Stabil trea.
Quite forgettable.
I think it's art rock because the combination of dense intricate lyrics against strong emotionally guided instrumentals is a little bizarre, in a creative way. The production is a little too clean for me, I feel like I prefer my indie gritty, otherwise I'm looking for pop. Right? There's a few tracks, no more than half the album, that I can recognize as extra special because of this combo of exquisite lyric and sonic composition, but the production quality on everything else (and during some of these standouts) makes me not want another listen. 2.7/5
I was not familiar with this band or album before just now. I like this. I like the orchestral elements in some of the songs. "Grounds for Divorce" sounds like a Black Keys song. I really liked "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver." It reminded me of Radiohead with a different singer. "The Fix" and "Some Riot" sounded like QOTSA.
holy mid i wish this album was seldom heard. 3/5
This is fine. Some bits were very nice. Most of it was just fine. Unsure how it won the Mercury Prize Songs added to playlist: - Grounds for Divorce - One Day Like This
You can definitely hear the Blur and Radiohead influences on this record, but Elbow does have enough of their own sound going to make 'The Seldom Seen Kid' sound distinctive in its own right. Once you get past the fact that singer Guy Garvey isn't Damon Albarn (he's a Mancunian, not a Londoner for starters), 'The Seldom Seen Kid' is an interesting record that, while deeply rooted in the kooky alternative stylings of post-'97 Blur or Radiohead, has some unique arrangements. 'An Audience For the Pope' shuffles along like Nick Cave's 'Red Right Hand', 'Grounds For Divorce' and 'One Day Like This' stand out as obvious singles and the vocals pull you in like a warm embrace, and I'm glad Garvey kept his voice true to his Mancunian roots and didn't shift it into a colourless indie whisper like most acts of the time were doing. I quite like the sound of this record. It's well produced and gives the songs plenty of room to unfurl their wings, and the vocal melodies are downright gorgeous in places, as are the subtle hints of guitars and strings. On first impressions, I was prepared to not like this record very much, as it seemed like another boring late 00s indie record, but 'The Seldom Seen Kid' has enough going for it to hold my attention. Best songs: Grounds For Divorce, The Bones of You, An Audience With the Pope, One Day Like This
Their definitive album by common consensus. I really should like this band more than I do - ranges of moods and instruments, soaring vocals, northern, Guy Garvey is a great personality. However aside from mirrorball and the Olympic ceremony track, it’s not FULL of tunes. An ok band in my book.
Такий трохи дивний альбом. Місцями, де тембр вокаліста дуже близько наближається до Пітера Гебріела, стає прям гарно. Але переважно просто нудно.
I like the instrumentation on songs like 'Some Riot' and 'Starlings'. Between this guy and Pulp I feel like I need to start a business selling CPAP machines in England like jfc.
Rv
Boring
I've never heard of Elbow before, so no expectations going in. Pulling from Radiohead and Peter Gabriel for the majority of the record (and Murder by Death for "The Fix"), Elbow's alt rock is interesting and listenable, and then there's the stomp/clap country blues of "Grounds for Divorce" which sounds like it belongs in a Chevy truck commercial. Generally a good listen, though I wouldn't suggest it's essential in any way.
Album Review 037 The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow (2008) Rating 3/5 The Seldom Seen Kid: Not a great album, not a poor album. One that didn’t move me or make we want to stop listening. Worth more than a 2/5 rating, not deserving of a 4/5. Doubt I’ll ever think “What I really want to hear today is some Elbow”.
Elbow ♥️ sweet tender sound and lots of lovely songs, I always enjoy listening to him /them
This album is solid. Very surprised I’ve never heard of this band. Well written songs and composition. Layer upon layer of texture.
Fine
Starlings - 3/5 The Bones of You - 4/5 Mirrorball - 4/5 Grounds for Divorce - 2/5 (sounds like car commercial music) An Audience With the Pope - 3/5 Weather to Fly - 3/5 The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver - 4/5 The Fix - 3/5 Some Riot - 2/5 One Day Like This - 3/5 Friend of Ours - 3/5 We're Away [bonus track] - 3/5 Average score: 3.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ sounded promising at first, but i struggled to actively listen by the halfway point. it's a bit of a snoozefest for me personally
its britpop time. haters: the guys who compiled this list are british boomers. they may not know weezer or mcr but britpop is right up their ass. make your own list or change to another list, assholes. it starts a bit weak but began to generally peak up the pace after the second song. its certainly not the apex of post britpop but indeed its a decent album. 3.5/5
Proggy pop seriousness, with singer who is very distinct. Some moments, some good writing. Very British.
On paper, it’s not bad—it’s quite good, in fact, and it was an enjoyable listen—but the Radiohead and Coldplay influences were too painfully obvious. Still would recommend though—especially The Lonliness of a Tower Crane Driver, The Fix, and Grounds For Divorce.
Having never heard them before I found them overall enjoyable.
I feel like this is something I might have really liked back in the day
There is something intriguing about this album that I can’t pinpoint. The music is slow and the unexcited tone of the singer doesn’t do much to hype you up, but I actually enjoyed the album. Maybe it was the subtle nature of the songs or the peacefulness that it exudes, but I truly listened to every song.
There have been albums in the past I should have liked but didn't. This is one I should hate, but I don't. There is an interesting component just under the dull surface of the music that drew me in. Overall I liked a lot more about the album than I disliked. Not a rave review, but a low/mid 3 for me.
Another boring Radiohead clone
3.5
grounds for divorce slaps. one day like this i had saved previously at some point years ago that i have no memory of, but i recognised the song. it’s a good one. 2008 me would probably love this album. 2025 me is finding it difficult to get through and i can’t really relax and enjoy it without feeling it drags on and is quite… uninteresting. it’s solid but it’s just… nothing really stands out. it just exists. it’s annoying in a way that i can’t make up my mind about it haha. *a few moments later* it def felt better in the middle and towards the last half except for the last song that didn’t do it for me as an end song. 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall Rating - 3.27/5 (6.54/10). Pleasant, a bit of the mid-2000's angst, which I don't particularly like, but a solid album.
I like his voice. This album feels wide and sweeping while at the same time feeling separated and intimate. Like using the restroom during an orchestra performance where you can still hear the music through the wall. Also shoutout Richard Hawley back again! Favorite songs were The Bones Of You, Grounds For Divorce, Weather to Fly, and The Fix.
Una mezcla de Radiohead con Black Keys pero no tomó lo mejor de cada uno
♫ Listening to "One Day Like This" by Elbow (The Seldom Seen Kid (Bonus Tracks Version), 2008) ♫ ★★★
Very nice
3/5
I'm a fan of Guy Garvey. But mostly because of his fantastic weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music, where every Sunday afternoon I tune in to listen to the great music that he curates. His taste is nearly identical to mine. But, oddly I was never a big Elbow fan. The one song of theirs that got my attention when I first heard it was "Grounds for Divorce". That bluesy slide guitar riff, the vocal melody and the guitar and bass doubling for that epic chorus drop are all recipes for an absolutely top notch song. The rest of the album is a lot more subdued than I expected. Very atmospheric and light, reminding me (predictably enough) of the band Doves. Northern indie bands must share a sound I guess. The opening four songs are great, but it's let down a bit by the rest of the album. 3 stars feels a bit harsh, so let's call this 3.5.
Chill but solid album. Lush atmospheric arrangements.
I have no memory of this album or band, though it looks like we reviewed it when I was at the A.V. Club. My friend Josh wrote The Seldom Seen Kid "perfectly distilled [Elbow's] sad-sackiness into potent pop and a keenly current sense of grandiosity." He's a big fan of British sad-sacks, so I'll take his word for it. For me, this album had some nice moments but didn't grab me. Maybe a subsequent listen on headphones would change that, but I'm not terribly motivated to try.
A nice album with very gentle and pleasant music. I'm not a fan of the vocals' English accent but also don't feel that it hurt this music either, just that I would have enjoyed it more without. The Bones of You was this album's best and the rest seemed adjacent to filler but were still good.
This is interesting and very eclectic music. I can hear the Peter Gabriel influence as the singer often sounds exactly like Peter Gabriel. Liked Songs Added: Mirrorball
Nice
I liked the musicianship here, but I wasn't that much of a fan of the vocals. I really enjoyed The Bones of You, but it's a little slow for my taste. Some of the unique sound elements are nice, though, some harpsichord and other choices are nice. The later songs the singer is growing on me a bit giving me some Peter Gabriel vibes.
Not bad…not compelling.
Brittish Coldplay-DioHead is kinda fire!!
I loved this at first then got bored to towards the end? now I'm confused
I mean it's alright
Thoughts before listening: British 00s indie rock I believe. I don't know much about these guys, but I'll guess they're vaguely Radiohead influenced. Maybe like a slightly more interesting Coldplay or something. Review: Nailed it...from Allmusic: "Exploring the fruitful middle ground between early Radiohead's mopey art rock and Coldplay's radio-friendly dumbing down of the same". This is fine. It's definitely reminiscent of other 00s British alt-rock bands, but the strong vocals and emotional performance helps them stand out. 3-stars
3/4
Decent Britpop. 3/5
Genuine “liked it” rating here. A solid surprise from a contemporary album, offering a sort of “alternate universe” Coldplay where they don’t try to create the biggest pop songs of the century after their debut. The tracks are considerably unique, which — by nature — works when it does and doesn’t when it doesn’t.. but I still respect the totality of the creativity here.
"One Day Like This" makes the rest of the album worth the listen. Sadboi 2008-core
I have barely ever heard of this band. Ok, but it will take more than one listening
It’s strange to me that the reviews compare this band to both Coldplay and Radiohead. I don’t think Elbow sounds at all like either. In the case of Coldplay, that’s good for Elbow, cause Coldplay truly sucks. However, Elbow could stand to sound like early Radiohead, who rule. Anyway, I like the singer’s voice a lot; he sounds like Peter Gabriel or something. And I like the music for all its constituent parts. But, for me, the songs themselves leave something to be desired. They have all the elements I would look for in what I consider a great song, except for replayability. I listened to half this record and realized that I didn’t care if I heard the rest of it. Nothing about this music is bad at all, but it just lacks passion and direction for me. I can’t understand most of the reviews for this one because I can’t understand why someone would love or hate this record. There’s nothing really amazing or truly terrible about it. For me, it is a record that should be great because of all the things it does right, but winds up being completely forgettable because it doesn’t really inspire anything in me. This is probably the definition of a 3/5 record; non-offensive, but very forgettable. 3/5
2 great songs in Grounds for Divorce and One Day Like This. The rest is ok, kind of boring overall. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Pretty good! Can definetly see the boring accusations.. but hey, also had some great songs
Rating: 5.5/10 Very mildly enjoyable.
starlings- 5 bones of you- 5 mirrorball- 5 grounds for divorce- 6 or 7 an audience with the pope- 5 weather to fly- 5 loneliness of a tower crane driver- 6 the fix- 5 some riot- 5 one day like this- 5 no more i saw this album and my first thought was that this was going to be boring as hell and then i thought i should be nice and give it a chance and it turns out i was right
A really nice indie rock album from the late 2000s, exemplifying a lot of good traits from that era of music. Comparisons can be made to Lost Souls by Doves, which we got earlier in this challenge - unfortunately, I do think this one's a bit underserved by its length, and doesn't quite stack up to the unexpected highs of that album.
A very appropriate and enjoyable listen for a long autumn evening walk. It's quite nice to get a slower paced album, though it does feel a bit bloated by the end of its 54min runtime. Trim the fat, and there are some beautiful gems in here. Standouts: Starlings • Mirrorball • An Audience With The Pope • The Fix
This was an ok album, didn't blow my socks off
Interesting album, gives me very 90s vibes.
Never have heard of this group before, so props on this list to introducing me to yet another new-to-me group! This reminds me of Peter Gabriel, mixed in with some Zero 7 and Coldplay (the non sucking aspects). I enjoyed it. I wish there were more songs like The Bones of You and Weather to Fly than Friend of Ours, but alas. 3.16 / 5 stars
English 2000s folk rock. 2 great songs, rest is quite mediocre.
Cool sound - perfect for a chill day.
21/10/2025 Just a bit boring isn't it? Spotify listeners: 896.2k
The lead singer sounds eerily similar to Peter Gabriel. Pretty similar in the witty & whimsical department too. Peter Gabriel's music is a million times more entertaining to listen to, however. Sorry, didn't mean to do unfair comparisons right off the bat. This album was just fine. Nothing special, a little artsy, but nothing too dissimilar from the indie/alternative scene from the late aughts. The British bias continues to show on this list.
Ok
point2.
I like this one. It’s different yet oddly familiar. There’s elements of Blur, Peter Gabriel, and Radiohead. I would like to explore this catalog.
I don’t think it’s a bad album, but maybe because I listened to it when I was feeling down, it made me even more depressed. It reminds me a bit of Coldplay — not so much of that typical Manchester sound. I like Weather to Fly, though.
Gone girl.
It sounds like a lot of boring bands, but have interesting textures to it. 3.5 stars
This album is pretty good. I think half of it falls into the trap of sounding too much like other British albums from the same era, but the middle section of the album gets kind of interesting and brings in some other influences that set it apart from the pack. Highlights for me are "Audience With the Pope", "The Fix", and "Some Riot". 3.5 stars.
Kinda good n high quality in places but also something so annoyingly boring about the group that it is hard to fully elevate this to a 4 even if it is one of their best albums. Coldplay if they sang about Beige instead of the colour Yellow. Radiohead if they sang the Stamp Collecting Song instead of one about Pyramids. Elbow is such a crap name as well. Might as well be called Ankle. Or Toenail. This is sort of their equivalent album to Viva La Vida with super rich and resplendent orchestrations and also home to their highest charting hit - the Hey Jude outro-copping and John Lewis fav One Day Like This. Grounds For Divorce is also a heavy rockin standout and very baditude for them. An Audience With The Pope has a real cool exotic instrumental I’m sure has been used to many an episode of Come Dine With Me or some other food programme. Besides that and the intro song which has those severe ear-stabbing string swells, the others don’t make quite as much of a mark. 3.5.
I like the songs and instrumentation a lot. I don't really care for the singer's vocal style. Pretty good album overall though.
I typically wouldn’t like this kind of music but something smooth about it like it pleases my ears even though my brain is fighting it dude has a great voice. That’s it. This isn’t bad the songs kind of blend together, but there’s enough variation where you keep wonder what’s next keeps you interested Maybe it’s cause I’m 40. I don’t know, but this ain’t bad. Weird band name was expecting like postpunk band first time ever hearing them I guess I would listen again I listen to this album before I die.
I appreciate that the music is good but it’s just not for me even though it makes me think of the Peter Kay comic relief video. Sorry Specific rating - 3.4 Fav song - one day like this Least fav-some riot
This is more interesting than actually good and there is a difference. The songs and music are pleasant enough but go on too long. I can hear the comparisons to Radiohead but they are just not even on the same level as them. The songs tend to blend together. Not necessarily a bad thing but if you don't care for the one song they keep playing "differently", you're in for a bad time. 3
Grounds for Divorce One Day Like This
Yeah. The mixing is pretty good, the musicians are absolutely talented and all, but still. This has so many clear inspirations that at most points I’d rather listen to the said inspirations. I bet a lot of people love this album and I can’t blame them. It sounds nice, is a complete album with nice variety. I just don’t think I have anything on here to make me come back to this ever.
tremenda sorpresa
Is this as good of an album as Asleep At The Back? I don't think so it's a pretty good album all in all but not as good as their freshman release.
6/10… melancholic / art pop
Enjoyable (but kind of run of the mill) Brit Pop.
About as 3 as it gets
Best Song: One Day Like This. This song successfully manages to feel "anthemic". Everything from the opening strings, to the chorus on "throw those curtains wide...". It all just works. Worst Song: Some Riot. This one leans with all its weight on a sense of melodrama, and the melodrama can barely sustain its weight. Overall: Everything in this album is produced very "big", which works some of the time, but at other times it gives some tracks an inflated sense of self-importance. It has a tendency towards being overwrought, but there are some gems nonetheless.
Quite a dreary and rainy album. Verges on boring, but it worked for me on this rainy day. Some great production. Best song: One Day Like This
Album bastante trabalhado. #4 #1
Interesting but it didn’t really grab me. I may like it better on a different day.
I own the Cast of Thousands album by Elbow and liked it well enough. After listening to this album for the first time, I wouldn’t be able to tell you which song came from which album. I couldn’t tell you which song was which from this album alone. I feel like the back half of the album started to branch out a little in its song structure, if only just a bit, but it was too little too late. Interesting opening, big finish at the end, and monotonous in the middle. 2.5/ 5
Ok
I realized I've never listened to this whole album before, though I am familiar with Elbow. Enjoyable listen but outside of a few standouts not an album I'd come back to often. Clear standout is One Day Like This, one of the most perfect songs written. And his voice is perfect for this, great orchestration. I could listen on repeat for years. Hope they come up again so I can sit with their music more.
Maybe it’s because his voice sounds a little like Peter Gabriel that I was drawn in, but I rather enjoyed this. Granted, I saw no other similarities to Gabriel, but that’s not a bad thing.
Took me two listens to get it...
En stark trea
Felt just neutral about this one, the music was nice but nothing to personally write home about.
Their fourth album. Indie / Rock. Lyrically the album is very good. I am not entirely sure about the delivery though. Radiohead do this way better for me. There are some nice horns and strings. Mirrorball and Grounds For Dicorce are good tracks. A bit of a middle of the road album.
Very Coldplay-sounding. ‘The Bones of You’ and ‘Mirrorball’ are good but ‘One Day Like This’ is the hit for me.
Good first impression of an opening song. I like the combination of the percussive elements, the wistful piano, and strings somber but hopeful
It is pretty good
It’s okay. Nothing as good as the two songs I know by them.
3/5 ngl it took me a while to fully appreciate the soundscape, but this is actually really nice to listen and chill out to. Album plays on repeat now since 3 hours and it's aesthetic background music that allows you to lay back inbetween and just listen.
This album took me places, mainly back to high-school and some of it was good some of it was bad.
This felt like someone trying to do a unique take on Coldplay
I was prepared to be fully checked out on this. Thought it would be a cardboard, bland album. The vocals are great and at least made me pay attention. There is some good music here, I enjoyed it enough but the ballads didn't do much for me. I liked the more bluesy bits.
Who the fuck is Elbow?!? 3
Frekar óeftirminnleg plata, eiginlega bara strax búinn að gleyma henni.. fínt background music samt svosem..