Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

Genre alternative Publisher Fiction Records External Links Elbow Website

Elbow is the an unsung hero of indie rock. Originally forming in Manchester England in the late 1990s, the band has now endured the rigors of 4 studio albums and tours to boot. The band's current line-up of Guy Carvey, Mark and Craig Potter, Pete Turner, and Richard Jupp have definitely succeeded in their latest release, The Seldom Seen Kid. The Seldom Seen Kid is an especially remarkable accomplishment for the band because it was written, recorded, and produced without any outside assistance.

This album begins like a walk at night: its dark, calm, and you're not sure what's coming up around the turn. This would be the nature of 'Starlings', an atmospheric adventure that takes place both inside and outside of your control. 'The Bones of You' is more casual yet exploding with introspection. As singer Carvey exclaims, " I took a hammer to every memento but image on image like beads on a rosary pull through my head". Much like the lyrics, the music is a serenade on lanky stilts, there is nothing sturdy about it, yet it works. 'Mirror' ball is one of the album's singles. It begins with a traditional guitar, keys, and a solid resonating beat. Carvey enters gracefully, spitting off insightful lyrics that are every bit as abstract as they are insightful. There is an excellent use of string and organ arrangements that manage to sound one and the same and give the song a unique sense of virtue. 'Grounds for Divorce' has more huff than the prior tracks yet its every bit as rich. It's got a nice melody that stays within the realms of that almost indefinable indie flavor. I also enjoyed 'An Audience with the Pope' a lot for its wonderful use of traditional Eastern sounds that go well with its western groove.

'The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver' didn't do much for me but, its not all that bad either. It's full of everything that The Seldom Seek Kid is, but it lacks specific direction. However deep and riveting, it's too elastic. 'The Fix' succeeds by fixing what is not broken but instead by making it better. Carvey sings in a lower tone and the mood has parallels with a stage like performance. The guitar work is handy, often sounding more like a harp(and it might be) while the bass tones keep everything rightfully grounded. 'One Day Like This' has the composure of musicians under the guidance of feel good serenity. The mixture of strings, vocals, and rhythm soars as well as it sooths; only to parade a coda of " So throw those curtains wide, one day like a year would see me right". The album closes with the makeshift harmonies of 'Friend of Ours'. It's a sad sounding song that is clearly heartfelt and well spoken. It features a nice bit of movement in chromatic tones.

Elbow has done quite well with The Seldom Seen Kid. The best thing about this album is not the content of it's songs, the way its performed, or the evocative lyrics. Moreover, it's artistry like this that is so fantastic because it requires the rare thoughtfulness, know-how, and creative mastery on every level of production. The industry just doesn't see this kind of record anymore, let alone the type of dedicated membership that can make it happen.