The Elbow Excitement Thread!

[guypjfreak]

There's always the sunset slot.

yea and they can have it imo

[Dave F.]

I would say that ballads are their strength . Guy writes heartfelt lyrics such as in " Newborn' and my favorite tune from LONW is "My very Best " which i think he wrote about his split with Edith Bowman.

It's Free World, not New World (which is what I assume you meant by the 'N')

TBH, I thought their last album was poor, like the new Nick Cave, I've tried to get into it , but it just doesn't click. IMO the peaked at LOFW.

As I've grown older I've realised that people assess things, such as bands or authors etc. based on when they first 'got into them'. Elbow have been the classic example of a slow burn. Those who first heard of them at the time of SSK, probably think their the bees knees, but I'm not sure how aware they are of the back catalogue.

I hope, for their own benefit, they do headline, but for me their Other Stage set will be the hightlight.

[russycarps]

It's Free World, not New World (which is what I assume you meant by the 'N')

TBH, I thought their last album was poor, like the new Nick Cave, I've tried to get into it , but it just doesn't click. IMO the peaked at LOFW.

As I've grown older I've realised that people assess things, such as bands or authors etc. based on when they first 'got into them'. Elbow have been the classic example of a slow burn. Those who first heard of them at the time of SSK, probably think their the bees knees, but I'm not sure how aware they are of the back catalogue.

I hope, for their own benefit, they do headline, but for me their Other Stage set will be the hightlight.

I agree with this. They have a completely different audience nowadays and they recognise that and cater their setlists accordingly. Recent setlists show almost no songs prior to SSK being played. Newborn and Powder Blue, two of their bigger songs from their first 3 albums (I'd say) are nowhere to be seen these days.

Fair play to the band, they have cracked the formula to making it big. Create simpler, singalong anthems that the masses will enjoy. I think their earlier work is just a bit too subtle for arena crowds.

I doubt I'll ever watch them again, but have very fond memories of older gigs of theirs I've seen.

A similar thing has happened with I Am Kloot I think

Nick Cave's latest album seems like it's miles better live than on record by the way....

[ninetyeightytwo]

Nope, I've been there from the start, and they're still very much The Bee's Knees.

And as for their recent setlists, we got Fugitive Motel and Grace Under Pressure - which suggests to me that the back catalogue will never be completely ignored.

I just hope that they drop Open Arms from future setlists. That's the one song - THE ONE SONG - that I find superfluous - as if they were trying to write another One Day Like This. That they frequently play them back to back at shows is a bit much.

And Russy, I Am Kloot? Really? The Sky At Night is their finest album, and Let It All In is better still. Listen to most anything from their first three albums compared to those two and you can really hear the growth. And though their setlists might be dominated by later material, they still seem to make a point of ensuring that every album is represented.

[dingbat2]

The best thing Elbow could do is release a brand new album with the following track listing...

Stiation Approach

Powder Blue

Newborn

Fugitive Motel

Forget Myself

The Stops

Can't stop

Switching off

My Very Best

Puncture Repair

Scattered Black and Whites

Grace Under Pressure

Everyone will be happy then, newbies who won't know any better, and oldies. Win, win

... I am confident that most newbies would say it was their greatest album yet!

Edited September 8, 2013 by dingbat2

[jeffie]

Contradiction in terms surely...

[tevaburger]

It's Free World, not New World (which is what I assume you meant by the 'N')

TBH, I thought their last album was poor, like the new Nick Cave, I've tried to get into it , but it just doesn't click. IMO the peaked at LOFW.

As I've grown older I've realised that people assess things, such as bands or authors etc. based on when they first 'got into them'. Elbow have been the classic example of a slow burn. Those who first heard of them at the time of SSK, probably think their the bees knees, but I'm not sure how aware they are of the back catalogue.

I hope, for their own benefit, they do headline, but for me their Other Stage set will be the hightlight.

so, in being aware of back catalogue of gigs, with your 'highlight' Other Stage set are you referring to 2002 or '08?

[russycarps]

so, in being aware of back catalogue of gigs, with your 'highlight' Other Stage set are you referring to 2002 or '08?

2002 was ace, great version of powder blue, the grace under pressure sing a along...

2008 was ok too though, as was 2004. 2011, nah.

[Wooderson]

I think Lippy Kids is just gorgeous though. Does that make me a git or wha?

Tastemaker Supremo Russy - what say you.

[Wooderson]

And if "The Birds" came out in 2001 Russ you'd be w*nking yerself a new mickey over it.

/soz

[Mardy]

I agree with that. Lippy Kids is a stunning song, probably my favourite song they've ever done. I'm not a huge fan, but that song is just pretty much perfect.

[Wooderson]

Okay maybe I'm just fallen foul of the "cram the opening of the record with quality" U2 tactic here.

[Wooderson]

Neat Little Rows and (especially) Open Arms are formulaeic and bland. Agreed.

Youre right about "Rochdale Girl" aswell. Think the album is patchy when viewed in its entirety but there are some career peaks there without question.

[russycarps]

I like the birds, not so keen on lippy kids really, though it's ok.

I dont hate them and have seen some really enjoyable gigs...but have just gone off them now. Good luck to them though, they deserve the success I reckon.

I would love it if they did headline for them to open with one day like this though.

[russycarps]

There would be an exodus to the smaller stages then!

exactly!

never has a band been so defined by one song. Even radiohead/creep wasnt this bad

It definitely got to him on the latest album, hence songs like open arms. He even admitted they wrote that album with arenas in mind. That was quite a crappy admission I thought, fair play for him being honest though. And why shouldnt they cash on in their fame like that?

but, to me, that album is clearly inferior to the others and the reasons why are pretty clear.

They were never one of my favourite bands though, it's just easy listening really. Perfect for sunny festival slots. I dont see them as a headliner, but meh what do I know

[Wooderson]

He's a lovely fella but did the persona/fame get to GG's head? I remember seeing him play acoustic guitar on his own during a gig and he was fantastic. Rarely see this from him nowadays. Fecker is on CBeebies doing Jackanory in between trips to Burger King.

[Amy Lawn]

He's a lovely fella but did the persona/fame get to GG's head? I remember seeing him play acoustic guitar on his own during a gig and he was fantastic. Rarely see this from him nowadays. Fecker is on CBeebies doing Jackanory in between trips to Burger King.

The whole "big scope" thing they're doing just leaves me cold, it's not new or inspired, the string arrangements for Mardy Bum this year were just gratuitous. Alex Turner wanted to look all grown-up, but ironically, just going "wer doin it wiv violinz an classy shit like dat" is a bit childish and insecure, just play the song.

[PurpleFire]

The night will always win!

My favorite song! Love Elbow and need to see them Headline Glastonbury!

[Gucci Piggy]

You on about da wrong band bud

Nah Guy Garvey did the string arrangements for Mardy Bum.

[russycarps]

The knob head has ruined I am kloot with his lame string arrangements too

[Amy Lawn]

I'll get my coat then. Sorry lawn.

"Lawn", I hope that sticks

[jeffie]

I still think this thread is a contradiction in terms...

[Midnight Man]

I think they'd struggle to keep a fickle Pyramid crowd with them for a whole set, apart from through GG's stage presence.

2011 was hit and miss and a headline slot (without a new album of epic proportions) is going to stretch them too far IMHO.

But I bet it'll happen.

[blue6field]

I think they'd struggle to keep a fickle Pyramid crowd with them for a whole set, apart from through GG's stage presence.

2011 was hit and miss and a headline slot (without a new album of epic proportions) is going to stretch them too far IMHO.

But I bet it'll happen.

From where I was standing I didn't hear too many complaints about their 2011 set. I thought they totally nailed it!

[benj847]

anyone else notice them just post a video on their twitter to their pyramid slot in 2004? Hint maybe?