Elbow could be the biggest underrated band in the world. Maybe that is why the band's last record was called The Seldom Seen Kid. With noteworthy influences like Peter Gabriel, Talk Talk, and Radiohead, the British band's musical trajection has been steep, and despite the artistic difficulties preventing them from doing so, Elbow keeps making better and better records.
Guy Garvey's lyrics are understated and potent, with a strain of nostalgic whimsy befitting a modern English bard. The band's growing songcraft is rich in volume dynamics, as Garvey admittedly believes "it's incredibly boring and shortsighted if a band sticks with just one sound song for song. An album should take people on a journey." So it goes with Build A Rocket Boys!
On album number five, Elbow moves with a purpose. The songs are prim and proper, like neatly trimmed lawns or well-tended gardens--every instrumental stroke is in its place. The arrangements are meticulously crafted and the melodies suberb; a sense of traditional, made-for-sheet music songcraft holds everything together. Sure, Elbow may be criticized for being decidedly un-rock-'n'roll, as there is no sense of abandon or messiness in their approach. But this is music meant for a proper performance, even the big stage, and it is certain to be carried aloft by Garvey's unmistakable pipes.
After watching Elbow's set at Glastonbury, there was no denying that the band could sound huge, important, and, yes, inspiring. Tracks like "Open Arms" turned into massive stadium sing-alongs, and the band's earnestness never came across as weepy sentimentality. On the record, this same sincerity is marked by musical restraint and Garvey's always-believable voice. The songs always sound good.
"Dear Friends," the last track of the album, is a beautiful British pop song, serving as a great bookend to the opening magic of "Lippy Kids." Speaking of that fine song, how many recordings are guaranteed to give listeners chills? That is an absolute given during your first listen as Garvey answers his own question of seizing golden days: Build a rocket boys!
No comments:
Post a Comment