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EDIT INFOElbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
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Album Details
- Artist: Elbow
- Album: The Seldom Seen Kid
- Label: Geffen
- Year of Release: 2008
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2008-07-03
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RecommendThere was a survey a while back in the UK on what band could put them to sleep. Coldplay won that one but I think Elbow deserves the title. And not derogatorily either. Elbow creates some of the most beautiful pop music and their latest album, Seldom Seen Kid just might get them that award.
The band starts out ever so gentle with "Starlings" setting the stage for a fantastic album to come. Every band has to rock out every now and then and that's where the bluesy "Grounds For Divorce" comes into play. Arguably, this could be Elbow's finest moment with some clever lyrics and a groovy and eclectic instrumentation. But don't worry, sleep will return quite easily when you are subjected to the sublime "Weather To Fly".
Fellow Brit Richard Hawley makes an appearance on the vaudeville-like "The Fix", one of the many highlights.
While Elbow still hasn't even come close to breaking it big, albums like this are evidence that it will only be a matter of time before they do. The thing with Elbow is you need to be exposed to them for more than a brief radio single, oh, and they don't really foster radio singles. Think of them as an even more atmospheric Coldplay with a little more experimenting and more originality.
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Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
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on 2011-10-06 CharlesMartel Said:
Elbow are where hipsters go when they think that too many people like Radiohead. And yet, I cannot see the appeal. Guy Garvey's unique style of vocals is probably the best thing about the band. " Seldom Seen Kid" is the band's most successful album, and the one which brought them a considerable degree of criticial acclaim. This was the album which brought the band to the attention of a wider audience and garndered them some awards to boot.
Now I am always deeply suspicious of bands and music which win Mercury prizes, the Brits, Grammys and the like. Rarely is the music on such albums bad, but it is often fairly uninspiring and uninspiring is the best word I can use to describe " Seldom Seen Kid" . A lot of the tracks on here are poorly assembled and just become plain dreary on listening to them. " Grounds for Divorce" is perhaps the major exception to this. But when you see some of the titles of the tracks, "The Loneliness of the Tower Crane Driver" and " Audience with the Pope ", you just know that there is a pretentious twat in there somewhere who the band have collectively managed to keep locked up in the box for the most part. Perhaps that is the same box as features on the album cover.
Despite comparisons with Radiohead which seem to abound on the few radio stations which will play this in the UK, I detect a closer comparison with Coldplay. And just as I feel Coldplay can become dull and tedious after a while, so the same seems to be true to Elbow. This isn't mellow or laid back it is bland. This isn't innovative or creative, it is hackneyed and trite. And yet I keep wishing that I really ought to be saying something positive for I feel like an outcast given the acclaim this album has received.
For me, music has to connect with something in me. However proficient it may be, that is no good unless it moves me. And this frankly does not move me. And that is why I cannot work up any enthusiasm for this. Clealry the band are trying to adopt a style, but it is one which does little for me. It is almost as if the band are trying to be intellectually clever and yet, like many academics at university, are actually rather boring. This is a pity because they are obviously a talented bunch. It's just that their talent is wasted on this.
Rating: 4/10
on 2009-07-20 hstisgod Said:
Its nice to just dig through your old recommendations from your friend... Nice review Dennis
Rating: 9/10
