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Amazon.co.uk
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
Review
While Madonna, David Bowie and Kylie Minogue embrace emerging or popular sounds, with varying degrees of success and cynicism, others only slightly alter what they do over time. Others like Neil Young, 50 Cent or Elbow. A fourth album from Guy Garvey and chums ushers in an occasionally more cheerful and experimental era for the Bury band, but for the most part it's brilliant business as usual.
The Seldom Seen Kid begins with Starlings, a tender effort that, aside from its insane horn blasts and Sigur Ros waves of feedback, comes on like a very now version of Fleetwood Mac's Albatross.
Next up we're in familiar territory. Chanting, flamenco flourishes, a lyric that aches with lines of cryptic longing like, ''I'm five years ago and 3,000 miles away'', inventive percussion and a haunting yet uplifting Garvey vocal. The Bones Of You is so damn Elbow it should have half an arm coming out of both ends. It is followed by Mirrorball, a beautiful acoustic guitar and piano-led drift into dreams with an epic widescreen synth and strings chorus. It may not be a huge leap of originality for these men, but there is no one else who does it this well.
Elsewhere, Grounds For Divorce, the album's big single, is immense. It snarls, bites, chants and thrashes like Alabama 3 wrestling alligators in a Louisiana Bayou. Pedal steel guitars, handclaps (the hallmark of so many genius singles)! You can imagine Guy watching The Wild Bunch and wearing a Stetson as he laid down the vocal in the studio.
From here only the ponderous An Audience With the Pope dips below the high standard set. Special mention must go to The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver, which is so huge it sounds like a weight-lifting welder building a giant ship from concrete blocks and The Fix, which features a duet with Sheffield troubadour Richard Hawley. It evokes a doomed funfair ride and is probably the best tune about gambling since The Card Cheat by The Clash.Those who find Elbow drab will still probably be unmoved by this Talk Talk-inspired band's latest. But for everyone else who likes to be moved, relaxed, and cheered by superior, soulful Mancunian lullabies, The Seldom Seen Kid is essential. --Lou Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you enjoyed the album, this is a must-purchase.
Elbow very much support the idea of an album rahter than cherry-picking tracks off iTunes and this production tells you why. A complete and coherent album, no fillers, taking you on an emotional ride with the atmosphere of a live orchestra making the hairs stand up on your arms at times.
Originally released as a limited box package, this is pretty much now the definitive version of the album for me - I haven't played the standard album since I received the Abbey Road one. Buy it if you are a true fan of real music, crafted tunes and meaningful lyrics - or just if you want to listen to a truly special moment in British music.
Elbow very much support the idea of an album rahter than cherry-picking tracks off iTunes and this production tells you why. A complete and coherent album, no fillers, taking you on an emotional ride with the atmosphere of a live orchestra making the hairs stand up on your arms at times.
Originally released as a limited box package, this is pretty much now the definitive version of the album for me - I haven't played the standard album since I received the Abbey Road one. Buy it if you are a true fan of real music, crafted tunes and meaningful lyrics - or just if you want to listen to a truly special moment in British music.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Wendy Cutler
Format:Audio CD
While live performances can wow you with exciting energy, there are times when I have listened to live music and come away feeling that something just did not have the impact of the recording. Could be the vocals are not quite right, the balance of sound has not been mixed very well, the timing is a bit rushed etc.
A live version of the Seldom Seen Kid (my favourite album from the last couple of years) could so easily have disppointed. How wrong I was to even think this! The dynamics range from the most gentle and intimate to a sound that makes your whole body vibrate. The lyrics and musicality of Elbow is amazing, and this is not swamped in any way by over sentimental orchestral arrangements, but somehow taken to a new level that wonders the merging of the two.
If you are a fan of the original and are unsure about owning two versions of the same songs - I emplore you to get this. I really do think that this is the best live performance of any band that I have heard.
A live version of the Seldom Seen Kid (my favourite album from the last couple of years) could so easily have disppointed. How wrong I was to even think this! The dynamics range from the most gentle and intimate to a sound that makes your whole body vibrate. The lyrics and musicality of Elbow is amazing, and this is not swamped in any way by over sentimental orchestral arrangements, but somehow taken to a new level that wonders the merging of the two.
If you are a fan of the original and are unsure about owning two versions of the same songs - I emplore you to get this. I really do think that this is the best live performance of any band that I have heard.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By M. J. Walker
Format:Audio CD
My experience of Live albums has been a compromise in the production and vocals, but often made up for the raw energy of the event.
This album has it all! I can't stress enough how good this is. If you were a fan of the original, you won't be disappointed buy this. The albums feels as if it was written for an orchestra. Guy's vocals are spot on and if anything, there is more emotion in them than on the original.
The DVD is the cherry on top.
This album has it all! I can't stress enough how good this is. If you were a fan of the original, you won't be disappointed buy this. The albums feels as if it was written for an orchestra. Guy's vocals are spot on and if anything, there is more emotion in them than on the original.
The DVD is the cherry on top.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elbow
Brilliant version.
My favourite is of course - On Day Like This.
I am taking this to over sixties meeting this afternoon.
My favourite is of course - On Day Like This.
I am taking this to over sixties meeting this afternoon.
Published 1 day ago by Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars
CD
QUICK AND GOOD SERVICE GREAT PRICE FOR THE BEST ELBOW CD WITH THE BEST TRACKS WOULD USE THEM AGAIN IN FUTURE
Published 24 days ago by john
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Buy
Boought with Build A Rocket Boys....Love it Love.....simply adore this band and the lead singers amazing voice. One of my all time favourites.
Published 28 days ago by moocow
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb album of great songs
I bought this CD using a gift card given to me by my brother at Christmas. I loved the song 'One day Like This' which was sung by Elbow at one of the 2012 Olympic ceremonies. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Fi
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Buy
Bought as a present for my wife and she has been very pleased. Will probably look at more of their work.
Published 1 month ago by Brian Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
This is a good album with a nice mix of Elbow's music. Isn't their most recent album, but definitely doesn't sound outdated in any way. Read more
Published 1 month ago by elephants_never_forget
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good stuff
This album appealed to a sixty-plus rocker who first heard "One day like this" on Jools Holland and was hooked thereafter.
Published 1 month ago by J. G. Fardell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album
This a great album and I am so happy to be able to listen to it on vinyl which makes it even more special.
Published 2 months ago by Kim Levin
2.0 out of 5 stars
MOST DISAPPOINTED WITH THE MUSIC,
Heard them for the first time at the Olympics, but disappointed with rest of the CD. Won't buy any more.
Published 2 months ago by Bhillstead
4.0 out of 5 stars
Manc best
"One day a year like this"- probably one of the best songs ever written. My husband danced to this with our daughter on her wedding day so it holds special memories.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. M. F. V. Mcknight
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