Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602517642522
Label: Geffen Records
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
MPN: 001106302
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Geffen Records
Release Date: 2008-04-22
Studio: Geffen Records

Acclaimed for their innovative sound and candid, evocative lyrics, Elbow has received vast critical acclaim and been endorsed by major artists Blur, R.E.M. and U2. Elbow return with a new album, "The Seldom Seen Kid", their follow up to 2005's universally acclaimed Leaders Of The Free World and first for Fiction/Geffen Records. In support of the new set Elbow will be coming stateside kicking things off with a show in New York City April 26, 2008 at Webster Hall.

"New Elbow is sublime!!" - SUPERNOVA

"Their latest effort deserves to trigger a large-scale love affair. Elbow are at the top of their game" - UNCUT MAGAZINE

"Every now and then a great band like Elbow comes along. I am a big fan so its no surprise that I totally love the first song to surface from their upcoming album, The Seldom Seen Kid" - EACH NOTE SECURE
There are few things in life quite so liberating as the opening track on an Elbow album--they're like airlocks between the plainness of the outside world and the elaborate melancholic heave-ho that you are likely about to submerge yourself in. Following predecessors "Any Day Now", "Ribcage" and "Station Approach", "Starlings" opens their fourth album The Seldom Seen Kid rising from a bed of tumbling electronic subtlety like a depressed Atari game loading up, adding bare touches of piano, glimpses of ambient guitar, out of body background vocals, an understated pulse and a wisp of strings, before--EXCELSIS!--a fanfare avalanche of horns crashes the gate and elevates things to gasping palatial heights, before Guy Garvey's inimitable gravel tone and wrenchingly poetic reinterpretations of the everyday announce their arrival proper. It's astonishing, by far the most progressive moment on the album and if anything it sets the bar too high. But even when the pace dips, and songs like "Mirrorball" and "Weather to Fly" don't distinguish themselves quite enough, their textural peerlessness remains. This is a beautiful sounding record. Their collaboration with Richard Hawley may be more of a curiosity than a thing of beauty, but the highs, the riffing cross-stitch of "Ground for Divorce", the desolate grandeur of "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver" and the enlightened string-laden anthem "On a Day Like This" (like their own Sound of Music--only substitute the Alpine peaks for a Manchester high-rise) number amongst the best of their career. --James Berry

Customer Rating:
Summary: The regularly heard album
Comment: Atmospheric. Haunting. I find it difficult to describe Elbow's THE SELDOM SEEN BOY without falling back on vaporous language that neither describes nor illuminates. But, simply, put this is one of the most interesting albums I've listened to in quite a long time.

THE SELDOM SEEN BOY is a magnificently produced indie album that just manages to avoid being over done. The keyboards are just right, the orchestration is spot on. I found many of the gentle rhythms and melodies to be almost hypnotic.

This isn't an album of catchy pop-tunes; it took me a few complete listens before I could dig what the band was doing. But once I got into it, I loved it. It's slightly out of the mainstream; it's a little bit strange. But it sure is great once you tune in to its wavelength.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding as usual for Elbow
Comment: Elbow is consistently sensitive, but also rocking. Caution, though: don't listen to track 1 on this CD while you're driving, or if you're jumpy.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Can't stop listening to this!
Comment: The more i listen to listen to this, the more i hear! Weather to fly, grounds for divorce and one day like this...Amazing songs!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: "The Spanish Archer"
Comment: "El-Bow!"

Ok, well, I meant 3 and a half stars really, but I always tend to over-club. In this case, its fair enough I suppose. Look, what I mean is this. This album is produced and performed really well, I like the Manc grittyness of the singer because I can relate to it, I found the first 2 tracks immensely personal to me, which I always like because they reflect scenarios that I can relate to. The crush on a younger woman in "Starlings" (although I find the brass bit rather annoying) and the wonderful "Bones of You" in which the way that a hearing of a long forgotten song has the ability to transport you through space and time to a relationship long gone is wonderfully realised. The rest of the album failed to engage me as intimately and deeply as those first 2 songs however, why, I dont know. Perhaps I expect too much from my music, perhaps they set the bar so high with those opening tracks, I dont know. What i do know is that these guys deserve their success, because they are are obviously putting a lot of love, thought and care into what they are doing. I hope the dreaded curse of the Mercury doesnt hurl them into oblivion (Anthony and the Johnsons or Talvin Singh anyone?) because they are worth more than that. What in my "record collection" sounds like them? If any of you have heard "Last Good day of the year" by Cousteau or "The Honeymoon is Over" by the Cruel Sea, you are probably in the right area. They are certainly in the same solar system as Snow Patrol or Coldplay, but I dont quite see connect them too readily, certainly more in common with Bell X1 perhaps. Yes, now I come ot think of it, everybody reading this rush out and buy "Flock" by Bell X1, its great!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Best CD of 08
Comment: Saw this group playing on the Sundance Channel and took a chance on this CD based on the three songs I heard. This is a wonderful CD aimed at people longing for something not aimed at "tweens," indies or hip hop. (although some of the lyrics might make an English teacher cringe). It's rock 'n' roll like it should be for the new century - slightly bluesy, slightly sad, slightly feel good. I can't imagine the song "It's A Beautiful Day" not becoming a top 40 hit once some radio station not owned by Clear Channel takes a chance to give it air play. Look forward to seeing these guys picking up a grammy for this one in '09!

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