I Couldn't Have Said It Better

Myself.

There's just always been something about Elbow, the band from a greater Manchester borough, but I could never accurately describe it. Admittedly, my love for Elbow's albums is only outdone by the pure feeling of joy and wonder you experience when seeing the band live. Having said all that, their music and my feelings for it remained to me largely indescribable. I mean, how do you describe awesomeness more precisely? However, while stumbling around the Internet and reading reviews of their latest album, Build a Rocket Boys! I came across someone who has done it quite well. Alexis Petridis of the Guardian uses three simple but accurate words when describing the music of Elbow "warm, generous, and inventive."

The warm vocals of Guy Garvey, the generous layering and arrangements that give depth, and the inventiveness that makes it all quite unique, that's Elbow. And in their latest effort Build a Rocket Boys! none of that is missing. Although the album isn't as heavy as the Mercury Award winning The Seldom Seen Kid or as traditionally percussion-driven as Leaders of the Free World, the newest album definitely has a place of its own. Described at first as "choirery," the album flows over you highlighted by Garvey's soft vocals and some help from the Halle Youth Choir, but upon further listen the album becomes more. Favorite tracks include "The Birds," "Lippy Kids," "With Love," "High Ideals," and "Open Arms."

I wouldn't suggest starting with Build a Rocket Boys! if you're new to Elbow, but for now, it's a pretty good place to finish.