Jump to content
✨ STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE WORLD TOUR ✨

Elbow


SuchARush

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 993
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

People are loving it, eh? To be fair, I've only had one listen, I'll give it another listen tomorrow. I do love the Birds and the Album version of Neat Little Rows. And Lippy Kids is still spine tingling!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Album hasn't shipped in yet, supposed to come during the week sometime. That download button's starting to look mighty friendly...

 

Yeah i'm tempted too atm. Play.com shipped my album on Friday so i was hoping it would be here by now but it isn't. :( Hurry up with my CD postie! :bomb:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah i'm tempted too atm. Play.com shipped my album on Friday so i was hoping it would be here by now but it isn't. :( Hurry up with my CD postie! :bomb:

 

That's why I never pre-order from Play.com, as they hardly ever come on time for release day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's why I never pre-order from Play.com, as they hardly ever come on time for release day.

 

Actually, i find play.com are usually very good at getting pre-orders out in time for release day. In fact, i've often had stuff i've pre-ordered from them arrive a few days before the release day. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

222

 

Elbow

Build a Rocket Boys!

 

7/10

 

Listening to the Bury music poineers' latest album is very much like watching a rather large rocket go off. The levels of anticipation since previous efforts has increased to a point where only spectacular will do. After a stuttering start, and one or two false flashes of the epic, along comes the boom, the lights and the delivery before the starry night sky shows itself amid a slow but enjoyably twinkly fizzing out.

 

After The Seldom Seen Kid's unexpected success, Guy Garvey resists the temptation to go for radio-friendly melancholy a la Coldplay and instead immerses the listener in a road trip around northern love spots. First we get 'The Birds', a lengthy, slow-building electronic ode to nature before the well-observed 'Lippy Kids' brings us a nostalgic take on youth. "Lippy kids on the corner again/Stealing booze and down long hungry kisses/Do they know those days are golden?" sings Garvey over a soaring backing to produce the second best song on the album.

 

After the meandering 'With Love' - or is that 'Luv'? - lead single 'Neat Little Rows' arrives with its love letter to northern terraced streets and a rather neat piano riff. Almost makes you wish you could echo Garvey's wishes, to "lay my bones in cobbled stones" like an ode to the Hovis ads of old. The wonderfully-titled 'Jesus is a Rochdale Girl' brings us some acoustic respite before the album's middle section - an odd assortment of instrumental shuffles ('High Ideals') and lengthy intros which emerge into bloom ('The Night Will Always Win' and 'The River') - precede the launch.

 

Though it will no doubt be lapped-up by fans and radio bosses as this year's 'One Day Like This', 'Open Arms' aims far higher, shooting towards epic with its Halle choir backing and booming chorus; easily the best thing on the record. Like the aftermath of the excitement, "Dear Friends" brings us a sweet, soft ending which, as the strains of the dying brass fade away, conjures images of said rocket fizzing out to a satisfying end.

 

Not the masterpiece some hoped for, others expected, Build a Rocket Boys! shows a band in full flow, refusing to fall for a flutter and much like Mr Sinatra, doing things their way. The results are, for the most part, worth the wait.

 

http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/3418

Link to comment
Share on other sites

'Dear Friends' is probably the best song on there. It has an understated, atmospheric quality that reminds me of Asleep In The Back.

 

 

There's something about this album that doesn't quite hit the spot, but I can't seem to identify what is. I like most of the songs, but I don't love them. Maybe it's because some them are just overlong and repetitive and don't sound all that inspired. And 'Open Arms' seems to be an attempt at a Snow Patrol song. It all sounds sounds nice, but I think their last album had more substance.

 

I'll need to give it more listens before I can rate it alongside their other albums though.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...