Reviews (page 6 of 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
AWFUL. Not 1 good song on this album. Sorry I wasted what seemed like 4 hours on this trash!
I actually quite liked the energy that this album had, but it didn't really leave an impression on me unfortunately.
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
Not my taste
Quite nice!
Chronologically, Elbow is the middle child between Coldplay and Radiohead… and the really sound like it.
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
These guys passed me by at the time.
Very good
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 was so bored listening to this I had to start skipping songs. Nothing annoys me more than instrumental music that repeats into oblivion with not enough to change it up between verses. Music tells a story sure, but this was a boring one at best. Grounds for Divorce had the most cohesion amongst them, but everything else was a snoozefest.
I had forgotten how good this album is
British indie pop? An odd feeling to this but I kinda liked the somber sleepy feeling the album had.
I wish I could give this a half star. Elbow completely escaped me as a band. It seems unlikely I would choose to listen to them again but I enjoyed it.
Not very interresting, maybe works as background music.
This felt like a mix of Coldplay and Radiohead which I don’t care for either of but some how enjoyed this.
This was a pleasant surprise.
I really liked this. Really felt it was rewarding and satisfying album. I feel, after 4 or so listens, it will move into being a 5 stars album, so I'm going to give it that. Noice!
pretty decent
Loved this!! Hauntingly beautiful. Little echos of Coldplay.
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
Some great songs that seem to pull from multiple other alternative bands, but also one too many boring songs that make this far from a complete album
Really good Peter Gabriel like music
Not surprised to find it didn't click for me. Lyrics and vocals were mundane and outside of a few scattered moments, it just passed me by listen after listen.
An album I will seldom listen to
Sounds like if Peter Gabriel was the frontman of Radiohead... But it's really not as good as you'd think it would sound.
"Good" is the word. A pleasant, but not outstanding listen.
alright album
Great!
Not bad melancholy Brit rock unknown to me until now. Good lyrics, good vocals
Fine, I guess.
These guys sound like a mix of Big Wreck and Coldplay. Not bad. Interesting if nothing else. Nothing to write home about, but good. Favourite songs: Grounds for Divorce, Mirrorball Least favourite songs: Some Riot 3/5
You get 'The Seldom Seen Kid' if you mix Coldplay with loads of Radiohead, then you realize the influence wasn't enough so you pull out your oversized salt shaker with a large enough post-it saying MUSE, start adding it to the mix then the top falls of and now you ruined the taste.
Bowie's Blackstar had sex with every alt-rock band from 2013 and this is their amalgamation love-child.
Not a fan of British music
I want to give this a 4, but it's just not quite there. There are a few really good songs and it does do things a little different from a generic rock album. A high 3.
Imagine dragons if it was good
Every song is just slow moaning with a bunch of reverb. You can tell the album was recorded very well, but it’s just wasted on this.
The album where I discovered Elbow. Subsequently went though their entire discography. Love this band. Love this album. Still undecided if I prefer this version, or the live at Abbey Road. Both amazing.
There was nothing bad here, but also nothing outstanding. Enjoyed most of it, but it was a little long and nothing that stuck out from the crowd.
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.
It's okay, but I am just not a huge fan of his voice, it sounds like he needs to clear his throat. The production is also a little too clean for my liking (almost sounds like commercial music at times). Grounds for Divorce sounds like the Home Depot song. Weather to Fly has these annoying vocals in the background. One Day Like This sounds like a nursery rhyme. low 3 (very very close to a 2)
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
Fuck it. I'm giving it 5/5. Whole album is great and I enjoyed every single song, but main reason is "One Day Like This" is a one of the greatest songs. Ever. It's simple, not overly complicated composition with simple message. It gives you hope in a way music should give hope.
They should be on the Shrinking soundtrack.
A story is being told. Somewhere out there, there’s an audience. Not here. No one is listening.
Canciones favoritas: -Starlings (hermosa) -The Bones of You - The Fix -One Day Like This Mi debilidad son los brits definitivamente, me gustó muchooooo
Love it
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.
p922. 2008. 5 stars. Fabulous Brit alt rock tinged with melancholy and gentle humour. There is not weak track on this.
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.
A kaleidoscope of sound aligned with Britpop. Opening track is powerful. The Richard Hawley track is burlesque
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.
First experience of these guys they were supporting act for a Pogues gig. Been a closet fan ever since (on the day they were better than the Pogues)
Holy shit that was boring. Like I'd rather just have an album be downright bad, so I can just DNF it and move on... But that just drug on and on and never getting better.
All I can think is Justin Furstenfeld with the vocals. I enjoyed the album overall.
An interesting sound.
Idk but mirrorball is cool
2.5
Was a little distracted by aldi when listening to this but I don't think it was awful. I agree with the Coldplay radiohead failson review
More interesting than I expected. Strange to think this is 2007.
Holy crap it happened, a band I've never heard of form this list whose music I immediately liked and added into my regular rotations. Hell yeah. That's what this whole exercise is about! I liked the opener Starlings, but a combo of "straight to my head like the first cigarette of the day" and the bass coming in on The Bones of You hooked me. Really liked the rest of the album. The Bones of You, One Day Like This are the shining favourites for me.
This was a very tough album to gauge upon first listen - so I feel I'll need a few more to fully form an opinion. I'll still discuss my initial thoughts regardless. I'd say I was relatively lukewarm on the approach the production took here - it's a tad too clean and inconsistent for me. I do enjoy certain moments, particularly the bluesy switch-up on the song 'Ground for Divorce', and the triumphant strings driving the baroque-inspired 'One Day Like This'. The fact that I wasn't too huge on the production was unfortunate because lyrically and conceptually, I was fully engrossed in what this album was offering. Guy Garvey throws a few intimately melancholic love songs into the mix, but quite a few songs also tackle issues of addiction and loneliness in captivating ways like 'The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver'. Reading into it more, the album in its entirety is dedicated to the late band member Bryan Glancy who is the "Seldom Seen Kid". The devastating closer 'Friend of Ours' attributed to the late band member was an immensely powerful track, one that says a lot with very few words. "Love you, mate". Can't lie I got misty-eyed listening to it. I don't think I can rate this too high because, for me, it's plagued with many of the late 2000s indie tropes that turn me away from the genre. Looking past that though, I wouldn't hesitate to call this one of the most enjoyably presented indie records of the 2000s (conceptually and lyrically speaking) that I've heard yet. As I said though, it definitely warrants a re-visit and I'll see if it grows on me any more.
Never heard of these guys. A pleasant surprise. All the other reviews seem similar...somewhere between Cold Play and Radiohead. I agree. Very solid, occasionally catchy, not memorable but definitely listenable..
I love Elbow and this is one of my favorite albums.
Exciting at the end
Felt like a long wet Sunday afternoon
I've always thought of them as a sort of mid point between Coldplay and Radiohead which ought to be anathema to me but I have to admit I thought this was alright.
ok
1 - Oh my God, this album... It's so repetitive and bland and annoying. If there was even a spec of it that I liked, they made sure to repeat it for 6 minutes so I hated it. Just listen to Radiohead or something.
Starlings is a killer opening for this album. I'm having a hard time with this rating. Starlings is the best of their sound for me. The rest of the album just kind of meanders around aimlessly.
pass more british crap. "Grounds For Divorce" had potential but the lyrics are too wordy
This was better than expected. I did see some Coldplay comparisons in the reviews and while I’m not familiar with Elbow’s catalogue, I did hear more interesting songs through the first 3/4 of this album than I’ve heard from Coldplay.
Like wearing soggy slippers
someone get these guys a cup of coffee
Elbows finest hour
Rather enjoyed revisiting this album. Some great tunes - saw them support U2 on one of their tours. Guy Garvey was so overwhelmed that he forgot the words to the opening song!
So many beautiful moments, musically and lyrically.
Feels very situated in its 2007 time and space. Reminds me of the excellent music in the Garden State soundtrack like the Shins, Coldplay, etc but also some black keys and white stripes feel. Very nice album
didn't know yet, awesome!
An alternative/indie album that doesn't suck?!
Brand new to me and an enjoyable listen. I thought it was Phil Collins on vocals at first and very reminiscent of DMB/Coldplay. Nothing groundbreaking but nothing awful either. 6/10 (3/5)
Decent album, didn’t realise I knew a few tracks off it.
Why is this an "essential album" we have to hear... yet there are so many good ones out there that haven't had a look in?
Solid middle score. More listens might take it higher but also might go lower, hard to tell. Starts out slow but gets better.
2,5
angolska banda ale nie w typowym angolskim stylu, ale tak samo nudni
It's okay. Unique sound. Gets less interesting as it progresses. Bones of You is probably the best track for me.
At certain points I really thought I was listening to Peter Gabriel.
3.5 Cast of Thousands best Elbow, imo.
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
Nearly 10% into this “project” and approx 15% of the albums/bands I’ve never heard of..and here’s another one. I’ve only liked 2 or 3 of them so far. So in theory, I may listen to 150-175 albums/bands I’ve never heard and only like around 30. And this one ain’t one of them
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
Listened to this on a rainy overcast drive through the Pennsylvania mountains and it was perfect. I kept getting hints of Peter Gabriel in his voice. Overall had a little bit of an older Coldplay vibe.
Album 400 of 1001 Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid Rating : 2.5 / 5 An ok listen but just really low energy. Compared to Coldplay. Just meh.
The Seldom Seen Kid I’ve always struggled a bit with Elbow. I bought their first album when it came out as there was a lot of hype, but I couldn’t get on with it despite trying, ultimately finding them a bit dull. I did however like Grounds for Divorce when it came out and it still sounds great, a lovely bit of slightly off kilter pop/rock. One Day Like This has been absolutely BBC’d to death, and despite it being a well crafted and catchy bit of music, I’m just not ready to embrace it yet. Starling is nice, with some nice little touches and I liked Mirrorball a lot. I loved the horns on Weather to Fly, the brass band feel kind of reminds me of When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease any Roy Harper. The Fix is also great, the carnival organ and our old friend Richard Hawley lends a very pleasing gravity to it. A very nice song. A lot of the rest of it however passed me by a bit, kind of merging in to one slightly pedestrian one-tempo slog. There is undoubtedly a lot of sincerity, craft and skill to it, but much of that craft does feel too deliberate and too confected on occasion - too much perspiration rather than inspiration. though, , but I can’t quite shake a feeling of ambivalence. There are lovely moments sprinkled throughout, and Guy Garvey writes some very good lyrics, but overall it does get a bit plodding. I know it’s not necessarily what they are aiming at but I did wish there was a bit more energy or excitement to it I definitely didn’t dislike it, there is a lot to admire, and they know how to do what they do really well, but in the end it doesn’t quite resonate with me beyond the 4 or 5 songs above. As I’m unlikely to listen again it could be a 2, but that does feel a bit low for the craft on here so I’ll go 3. ⭐⭐⭐️
Feels in a similar vein to the Coldplay albums I’ve gotten on the list. Alright but nothing special (2.5/5)
Not bad.
perfectly fine, couldnt stick in my head in the slightest tho
bro got out the orchestra
Fine I guess!
Never heard of Elbow but this was decent.
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.
Not for me
The album holds you in the fullness of its sound. Brilliant, just a bit too long 4.3
Never been a fan of them from the songs i've heard, even the big singles on here still don't do much for me. The vocalist just doesn't sit right with me, brings the whole thing down. Just not for me.
I enjoyed it more than I expected based on genre. interesting
Meh.
For knowing nothing about this album and band i was pleasantly surprised
Nice listening.
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.
Another album and artist I hadn't heard of. I was generally happy but not in love with it. Some was really nice. Some came off to me as pretentious art house pop. But then One Day Like This came on. Why they buried the best track as 2nd to last on the album seems very strange. That was far and away my favorite. I even relistened to see if I warmed to the album after hearing the good song. Nope. Just an album with one song that stands far above the rest.
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
Never got the Elbow hype, still don't.
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.
Second one in a week I've had that just belongs in a different decade. Just doesn't feel like it should be on the list.
Not bad, exactly, but in one ear and out the other. An English rock band from 2008.
"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
It took me a few songs to warm to this album. It has a lovely warm sounds and has a great voice but none of these songs are memorable.
Enjoyed this album. It was my first exposure to Elbow.
I like the first few songs, but lost interest
Was not at all familiar with this group, but I thought this album was pretty catchy. "Grounds for Divorce" was my favorite track on this one.
Seems like the stomp and clap kind of indie album. Better than others I have heard but not enough to convert me totally.
Weird and ambitious and diverse. Never heard of them before this, but I respect their boldness.
3.75
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.
Britain, what the fuck. Do you guys just eat up anything that comes along and sounds like Radiohead? Have some self-respect. Oh, and…users of this site? You’re not off the hook on this one, either…this record has *the same* rating as Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth, one of the most influential records of the last 40 years; both currently sit at 3.29. It has higher ratings than The Stooges’ debut album and Funhouse (3.28 and 3.27, respectively) and Sly and the Family Stone’s “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (3.27)….You’re off your rockers.
5.5/10
HL: “Starlings”, “Mirrorball”, “The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver”, “One Day Like This”, “The Fix” Despite having half-heard this album like 10 years ago, I still don’t really know The Seldom Seen Kid, or Elbow for that matter. Considering Apple Music positions its sound between Pink Floyd and Coldplay, I really should’ve gobbled it up when it was new. The three songs that really stood out from hearing years ago are the soft/loud “Starlings”, the spooky “Fix” (which features Richard Hawley, whoa), and the crowd-pleasing “One Day Like This”. Luckily the rest of the album lives up to that standard, HOWEVER: The one song I’m on the fence about is “Grounds For Divorce”, which is part dreamy psychedelia, part truck commercial cock rock which seems at odds with the rest of the tracklist. At the same time, I don’t hate it… The album quiets down in the 2nd half, but it doesn’t lose steam, with some of the prettiest moments nestled in songs like “Crane Driver” and “Some Riot”.
It’s a stunningly beautiful album. Melancholy, orchestration, story telling and Guy Garveys amazing tone. Love it. Mirroball and Friend of Ours stand out alongside the epic One Day Like This
I don't mind a bit of Elbow, but not too often mind! This album is pretty good, even if all the songs are similarly paced. If I could be bothered to find out I would imagine the lyrics are very cerebral, as one would expect from Mr Garvey, which I'm sure his fans love all that sort of thing, but I don't care about that, it's the tunes that matter, and they are well orchestrated and executed. It does have 'that' song as well - cue big 'emotional reveal' music on TV programmes. A low 3.
I kind of like Grounds for Divorce, An Aidience with the Pope, the Fix, I almost like the Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver (there are some parts with ASMR type stuff when is played at high enough volume)
Coldplay-core. Pretty generic record that sounds like 2008.
An chiller orchestral version of Arcade Fire is my description of these guys. I quite like it.
Jotenkin Elbow on ällöttävä nimi bändille hehe. Eka biisi oli hyvä avaus, muut jatkavat tunnelmaa mutta vähemmän vaikuttavasti. Aika harmaata massaa mutta toisaalta omanlaistaan, joku vetää aina takaisin kuuntelemaan, kun keskittyminen herpaantuu. Toisaalta se jokin on unohtunut näin päivä kuuntelemisen jälkeen kun tätä kirjoitan, muistan vain fiiliksen, en varsinaista koukkua. Ja se fiilis oli se harmaa.
Yllättävänkin unohdettavaa. Kiva Manc-aksentti.
Pretty good album. Lot of sad sack romantic lines. Honestly, probably doesn't need to be on this list.
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"
did not listen
que clase de britpop es este
Lo suficientemente pretencioso para mí, interesante álbum
One of my favorite bands and a fantastic album. Beautiful.
A few tracks I know sandwiched by quite dull mopey music.
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
I read what elbow was about before getting into the album. Wasn't as revolutionary or alternative as I expected. Very alright
Kannte ich nicht und finde ich gut. 3 weil es mir dann doch etwas redundant erschien.
8 / 10 Rock relajado tipo Americana. A seguirlos.
I enjoyed the dynamic sound, the varied genres, and the stings. The vocals are beautiful also. However I found myself feeling bored, a lot of the songs seem really dated to me. Especially the blues revival song. It was nice for a listen but not my cup of tea
Honky-tonky and definitely a product of the 60s 3/5
Couldn’t get into it.
It's an orchestral stew of Coldplay, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Dave Mathews, and Peter Gabriel that hasn't had time to simmer to its own unique blend. So some bites you get more taste of one or the other of the ingredients.
I’m a little more than a quarter of the way through this list and this is by far the most generic, dull and bland music I’ve heard. There have been albums I’ve disliked but are important to their genre, or represent an era and just haven’t aged well, or were cultural phenomena, or by iconic artists - this is none of that. This music is so lacking in anything its boringness is overwhelming.
Not for me! It had some good moments, though. It was cinematic and beautiful at times. The lyrics just didn't hit.
The dramatic orchestral blasts sound very dated. I've always found 2000s indie pretentious. Which is saying quite a lot: I'm usually a fan of unique, complex alternative music. Maybe I'm just not a fan of indie fans. And maybe this album just wasn't complex enough. Some delicate tracks were pleasant enough while I focused on work. Others sounded like an Apple ad. Rarely emotionally moving, despite the overbearing strings section. On the contrary, there is something scarily icy about these rhythms.
Elbow was a surprise - never heard of this group before, but enjoyed this listen for the most part. Nothing really sticking out as I try to review 3 days later haha. I probably won't listen again but it was worth one time through at least so a good choice for this list.
This is an easy and pleasant listen. It's smooth throughout, ethereal at its best and agreeable at its worst. The songs i'd say are uniquely and well written, and Guy Garvey is a good singer. The album is just too... gentle? I wish it had more bite. I keep listening and so far it just isn't sticking with me.
Inte dåligt, men alltid tyckt dom är lite pretentiösa och får jobbiga Radiohead-vibbar.
Love this record. Great 2000's rock record. It's cinematic, it's lush, it's aggressive—it's wonderful.
Good songwriter
Never heard of this. Wasn't missing much. It's mediocre "rock" music with a Northern accent. The breathy vocals become grating and creepy a few tracks in. There is a sparse smattering of interesting moments in here that aren't ruined by the vocals. I will happily skip over the bonus tracks at the end of this. Yet another album whose presence on this list confuses me.
Really liked this album! 4 stars
A little like Dave Matthew’s Band
It's not bad. I enjoyed it, but not something I'd listen to again
Only ok. Reaaaaly thought it was sting for a while
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.
I remember liking Elbow, but I didn’t remember this album. Evidently, I didn’t remember this one because I didn’t really like it. It was fine.
A beautiful album that never fails to make me feel things
A beautifully beery sentimental album
I love this album. I've been working on a cocktail called egg in a pint Ooooooooh oohh it's just an egg in a pint it's an ancient Chinese secret that I picked up in Leeds Ooooooooh ooohh it's just an egg in a pint.
Amazing vocals, musicianship and production
Loved this album such a great sound.
This sucks it's boring
Not my style, only a few songs I liked. Enjoyed the version with BBC orchestra better
Kind of hit or miss but I actually really enjoyed some of the songs!
Not a fan
Totally new to this one and enjoyed it.
Surprisingly coherent.
Like Grounds For Divorce but find the rest a difficult listen.
When I was in middle school my sister and I saw our mom had a note on her phone titled "Grounds For Divorce" and panicked about it for a week until we found out she wanted to remember the name of the song to look it up later. Anyway, a few solid songs with good lyrics that I might come back to later (especially Audience with the Pope) but also many annoying and cheesy moments. It's so obvious that this came out in 2008. What an era.
3.5
Dream pop. Alternative indie rock.
Not my style
music for calm mood, voice a little bit like Sting
This was a pleasant surprise. Enjoyed it more than I was expecting to, but they definitely have a Cold Play vibe going on. This is a mellow listen, which has been a nice chance of pace today. "Grounds for Divorce" is likely the best track on this album.
Slow. Somber. If you're in the mood did not feel good about yourself or life this is the album for you.
I really just didn't vibe with this one at all. I can tell it does have emotion in it, just not for me.
Great discovery, really enjoyed this one. Each song is solid, diverse, & stands on its own.
Singer sounds like Dave Matthews. Good album. Very chill. Great work album
Really good off the first listen. Deserves a more in depth listen at some point.
What in the name of Adult Contemporary is this crap? Grounds for Divorce is a good song. I've heard it before. Probably while I was looking for "Divorce Songs".... but did not care for the rest of the album (even if he does sound like a British Dave Matthews). I'm glad the last song is called lullaby because it pretty much reaffirmed how I felt about this album... SNORE!
Not too bad. Enjoyed the dynamics.
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!
I fell asleep halfway through. Which was embarrassing because I was at the gym.
really nice, a bit of genesis vibes, easy going music
Absolutely Stunning album both lyrically and with the lush orchestral arrangements... a true classic!
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.
Never heard of Elbow before, but they seem to be pretty popular in the UK, as is the case with a majority of albums on this list. They remind be a bit of Coldplay and Radiohead, but a bit more cinematic and more in the Adult Alternative vein. The lead singer sounds a bit like Dave Matthews which is pretty cool. While I do appreciate that each song on here has a different sonic feel, I think there is a bit too much difference through some of the songs (Grounds For Divorce sounds straight out of a Black Keys album and doesn't really belong on here). Some of the standout tracks for me were The Bones of You, Mirrorball, and The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver.
Bellino 3
Dreamy and melodious
Nice voice.
Great voice ! Nice guitars.4 stars
Pretty middle of the road, wore its influences on its sleeve
Somewhat depressing but beautiful atmospheric sound. Definitely would listen again. Nice lyrics as well. Radiohead + coldplay
Unremarkably interesting music. Extremely whelming, I found some interest in this but not enough to excite me.
Not my cup of tea. There are a couple of gems on this, the obvious- Grounds for divorce and one day like this but overall I found the album to be a chore and a difficult listen.
I think I may have been overly harsh on Elbow over the years. I'd considered them to be in the same category as Coldplay and Travis. The truth seems to be that they are in a category above them, but still not a category worth revisiting regularly.
This is the exact type of album I think I struggle with the most: lyrically dense chamber pop. Albums like this take way more time to digest than just 1 or 2 listens, so 1 day is not enough for proper judgement. That said, I understand the good in the album, and One Day Like This is a standout wonder. I'll have a more complete idea of my opinion on this record in a few months, right now I don't feel right putting too hearty a rating on it like with some other records I've seen so far.
Una grata sorpresa, sinceramente. Un sonido pegadizo, agradable y listo para disfrutar. Tengo ganas de volver a escucharlo.
Wasn’t familiar with Elbow—glad I listened.
Sounds like a mix of Sting and Coldplay. Different than what I'm used to but I was into it.
Cool album - Elbow always struck me as a bit of a dad-rock band from times-gone-by, but there's quite a lot more to this album than that. Previously I'd have put them into a similar bracket to bands like The Killers, Stereophonics and maybe to an extent Kasabian, not stylistically but in the sense that they write simple songs for a wide-range of mostly radio listenders, but TSSK has a lot more going on in the background. There's quite a lot of nuance to this album, a lot of sounds going on in the background that you may not pick up on if you're listening passively. I'll definitely give them a bit more time.
What an interesting album. I especially liked the writing and the voice of the singer
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.
Asleep in the back is better.
It’s fine, I guess
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 listened to it yesterday and it was unmemorable
I wasn't a huge fan of this album but I didn't really dislike it strongly either. I most just found it kind of boring. Not a lot about it stood out to me. It reminded me of lesser versions of other bands like Radiohead or even Coldplay (not that I hold Coldplay up too high). I just found it difficult to latch on to any of the songs. I put one as a standout because it caught my ear the most but still wasn't blown away by it. Standout Tracks: One Day Like This
I like it well enough, very melodramatic lyrics and delivery, and a floaty ambience. Leans almost circusy at times like it wants to be from an early 1900’s fairground.
Good. But wouldn’t listen to again
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.
It is pretty bland. Nice enough you can have it on in the background but nothing that would make me want to listen to any of it again
It’s a capable and sometimes catchy record. It doesn’t sound like it fits in one time or a single genre but it makes sense that it’s a 2008 offering, the smart songwriting and post-Brit pop vibe give that away. “One Day Like This” and “Grounds for Divorce” are rightly pegged as the standout tracks of not just this record but of Elbow’s catalog. “Mirrorball” is another track that mixes straightforward sentiment with wry humor and observational songwriting. Guy Garvey’s vocals are the anchor throughout. It’s a memorable effort and worth repeated listens.
Nice. Low key, not quite my vibe, but pretty cool.
Gepflegte Langeweile, schrecklich monoton.
The Bones of You and An Audience with the Pope are the two best songs. Too long. It’s okay. Boring for the most part. Ez 3
Optional Album Review. Add it before you vote below.
Well made but doesn't really speak to me. Bonus points for the dickbutt silhouette on the cover.
Just an average album, couple interesting songs, unique style by the vocalist, but it didn't set anything on fire. It's just a normal, out of the mill record with straightforward, honest to god songs.
good find
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
never heard them before. A slow sort of melancholy vibe.
What is this this garbage how did this make any list of anything.
Nice and mellow. Voice reminds me of Sting.
Had never heard of Elbow before so I had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. This was a solid album. Kind of like listening to Peter Gabriel (solo works). Grounds For Divorce - 2 thumbs up.
Never heard of the group. Love that this adventure is exposing me to new music like this. Starlings - the blaring horns killed an otherwise enjoyable song for me. Mirrorball - really like the drums on this. Great, simple beat with wide dynamic range. Subtle high-hat with accents and crisp snare cracks tied together with the heart beat of the bass drum. Overall, this album failed to elbow (please forgive me) its way into my regular playlists.
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.
Instrumentais bons, produção boa, mas assim... será que esse tipo de música no século XXI já não deveria ter chegado a um nível superior enquanto arte, mesmo? Eles tentam evitar a generiquice, mas não dão conta. É música de filme com espírito de tiozão. Quando começou a quarta faixa "Grounds For Divorce"eu quase dei risada. Parecia música do artlist. "The Fix" também é outra que soa como tiozão demais, parece musical só que pra crise da meia idade.
Quizá dos rolas pero no entiendo el por qué de estar en un listado así de importante.
Aparecen muchos condimentos sin perder la estética del album, algunos me sorprendieron. Excelente álbum.
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.
Grounds for divorce I have heard a lot of times, it was in a video game trailer or a movie. The album felt like it was gonna take off for me and be awesome. But it never really delivered. An audience with the Pope was the most boring song ever.
Likte da ikkje så godt
My god, what an album! How have I never heard of this band before? Oh yeah, it's because my daughter neglected to tell me about them.
Sonically interesting. Would listen again
Ok album, not really my favorite type of music...
A very different sound. Interesting rhythms that will stick in your head.
soft, Gesang getragen, 2008 -> 2
The beginning of this live album was so orchestral (replete with kettle drums) I thought I might hate it. Spotify calls it cinematic. Yes, it is a huge and spacious album, lush and verdant like a forest protected in a cathedral. The incredible instrumentation including strings, horns, etc.. which frequently give artistic nods to classics like "Summertime" are very seductive. Vocals are excellent. Understated, humble. Eventually I realize how I'm shocked I've never heard of it. It may be one of the greatest live albums I've never heard. Just cohesive and exciting on many levels. Finding albums like this is the primary reason I joined this project. Powerful and moving.
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.
If Sting and Coldplay had a baby band, it would be Elbow. They briefly get divorced in "Grounds for Divorce" but then get back together (for the child). Grounds for Divorce is by far my favorite song, probably because it doesn't sound like the rest of the album and it sounds like it could be on a Black Keys album or something.
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.
Seems like a random British band that sounds like a bunch of other bands. Different sound in each song. Won’t run out and buy the record ….
never heard of this artist before but it was enjoyable. some songs felt like theyd be in a commercial but it was 2008 so it makes sense. nice variety of styles. fav tracks: the bones of you, mirrorball, one day like this
Hmmm…..
Listenable, but noting earth shattering
😍
This band's level of popularity is baffling to me. The guy (yeah, I know) is a good lyricist, with a lovely mellow singing voice. But the overall effect to me is somehow less than the sum of its parts. Lounge music, but a wee bit more introspective and ultimately a bit of a downer.
i liked it but probably won't listen to it again.
pretty neat, not great, idk im getting bored of these samey rock albums
It sounded like coldplay, and I really dont like coldplay.
I can see why someone would like this, but the album didn’t catch me
Beautiful songs. A bit slow for my tastes.
Really enjoyed this one! Similar to other music I enjoyed during the time, but a new discovery for me. Think Snow Patrol and Keane.
Nicht mein Genre, und mir etwas zu melancholisch
Nettes Indie album mit ein paar starken liedern
meh
I'd probably like this more after repeat listenings, but I don't like it anywhere near enough to want to listen to it again
Great band - great music! The reason I signed up for this is precisely so that I can discover new favorites from the past! Until today I had never heard of them.
Really good. Some very interesting instrumentation on this
previously listened
Buena producción, es interesante, pero me ha parecido... feo. Un 2.
A little too slow for my liking
Easy listening, with some more up tempo songs, I would listen to the album again, but more for a sunday chill afternoon vibe
This is absolute garbage.
Completely blown away by this album. How had I never even heard of this group before. It’s rare that I love an album on first listen, but this is one of those. From beginning to end, it is a great album to listen to. It has some Peter Gabriel, Dave Matthew’s,….I’ll have to listen to it more to see what else, but it is one I will add to my playlist and listen to regularly. I even want to go check out there other albums!
Completely blown away by this album. How had I never even heard of this group before. It’s rare that I love an album on first listen, but this is one of those. From beginning to end, it is a great album to listen to. It has some Peter Gabriel, Dave Matthew’s,….I’ll have to listen to it more to see what else, but it is one I will add to my playlist and listen to regularly. I even want to go check out there other albums!
Really surprisingly good. Never heard of them before. Relaxing but fun.
Oddly nostalgic kinda reminded me of Coldplay. Didn’t really like at first but it got better
Songs like "Mirrorball" and "The Bones of You" were good, but other songs were a little boring for me.