Customer Reviews

Leaders of the Free World (Reis)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe that Elbow are so unknown. I only bought "Cast of Thousands", their second album, when I heard one track ("Fallen Angel") on a movie soundtrack, and then was hooked. "Leaders of the Free World", their third album, is even better.

While Cast of Thousands was mostly pretty mellow, Leaders of the Free World mixes very touching emotional moments with some good crunching rock, often in the same song! Listen to "Station Approach", as an example. A superbly-layered slowly building-then-exploding epic.

Comparisons with Radiohead are justified. The similarities with Radiohead's "The Bends" are there - the crunchy rock riffs, the emotionally charged lyrics, the wrenching vocals.

Other artists worth comparing to include Peter Gabriel, for the similarity of lyrics and vocals, Joy Division, for their post-modern punk edginess, and Coldplay. This is what Coldplay would sound like if they ditched their mainstream sound and added a bit more thought and edginess to their lyrics and music.

Elbow's third CD sneaks up on the listener. Upon first listen I was a little disappointed, given the fact that Asleep at the Back is my all time favorite CD, and Cast of Thousands was a very worthy follow up, I suppose my expectations were terribly high. Leaders of the Free World starts off with a bang so to speak with a song that is subtle in the first minute or so, but Station Approach evolves into a monster of a song, that leaves the listener begging for more after it's conclusion, followed by two great songs Picky Bugger and Forget Myself, which when listened to a few times, makes for one of the best 14 minutes of music I've heard all year.
The title track, Mexican Standoff, The Everthere, and Great Expectations are my other favorite tracks, but really there are no bad songs on this CD. Somehow I only discovered this band about a year ago, but they've quickly become my personal favorite band, and hugely under appreciated here in the US. This is a top 10 CD in the UK and Europe, but hopefully Elbow will find their audience here stateside. I beleive this CD is the one that could propell them into the next level.
I do wish though that they would release the DVD 2 disc version here. I purchased the UK version, but unfortunatly the Soup Collective DVD that I have been hearing such great things about, doesn't play on my DVD or US computer. Hopefully someone from the V2 label or the band might hear this, and release the 2 disc version in the US.
You can not go wrong if you've heard anything from Elbow, this CD you WILL like, so buy it! If your totally new to the band, I guess I would describe them as a cross between Peter Gabriel (when he was good), and Radiohead (although I hate to compare bands).. they are just Elbow.. and right now they are leaders of my world for CD of the YEAR.. Good job boys!!

elbow is my all time best finds ever. i stumbled accross them by accident a few years back. i remember being absolutely mesmerized by their soundscapes and almost poetic lyrics. minimally monumental would be an apt description of their music. music that gets richer and subtler with each listen. these guys and especially guy are pure genius and magic. i am at the age (43)where i only go to classical concerts, yet when i heard that the guys were in town, i knew i had to go and see them. the show last saturday in toronto was disappointing in only one aspect. it was way too short. still, an hour and a half of pure magic sending chills and tingles down my spine. thanks.

elbow's third studio album, 'leaders of the free world,' is a solid, if immediately unspectacular release (although that might be unfair based on my own expectations after their masterpiece, yes, masterpiece, 'a cast of thousands').

'lotfw' isn't much of a departure from the previous two albums, employing a similar aesthetic leaning more towards 'asleep in teh back' than 'a cast of thousands.' it's a more muted affair, less obvious and less straightforward than 'a cast of thousands.' this, however, is probably entirely the point. 'a cast of thousands' showcased the bands ability to write a track with massive hook ('not a job,' 'fallen angels,' 'switching off) with literate, clever lyrics. 'lotfw,' feels a little more distant, and it sometimes comes off as feeling less intimate and engaging as its predecessor. that, however, isn't a gripe nor a knock on the album or the band. it's still a very emotional album. a good half of the tracks come in at 5 minutes +, but as is the case with elbow, patience is *always* rewarded. guy garvey yet again shows he's rock's most original and insightful front man. rarely do voice and lyrics match up as well as they do with garvey. it's a joy to listen to.

'lotfw' certainly has its share of shining moments. the album's opener, 'station approach' is a nice little acoustic number (before it explodes into chorus like most great elbow songs) with its endearing lyric 'you little sod, i love your eyes.' the only real 'single' on the album is 'forget myself,' a track not dissimilar from 'fallen angels.' it's a great single, highlighted, as always, by guy garvey's wonderfully expressive and husky voice. it's also a very unpredictable track incorporating something of a tribal drum intro and curiously playful vocal before exploding into a quintessential elbow chorus, and its clever lyric 'i won't forget you, but i forget myself.' that second clause saves what would otherwise be a trite and cliched lyric, but that's what guy garvey does best: take the ordinary and make it extraordinary (he's right up there with jarvis cocker and. other standout tracks include 'leaders of the free world,' 'an imagined affair' (a distant cousin to 'a cast of thousands' 'switching off') and 'my very best.'

as with most everything elbow's written in their short, impressive career (as far as releasing albums), the tracks on 'lotfw' sneak up on you when you least expect it, revealing their beauty only after repeated listens--so don't be put off by it at first. even a less-than-obvious elbow album is light years ahead of most band's best offerings. brilliant band, brilliant album. 'nuff said.

Elbow manages to create music that is at once troubling, atmospheric and transcendently beautiful. The songs on this album are rooted in the quite ordinary experiences of their lives and loves. In this band's hands, though, they seem to shimmer and glow like few albums you'll ever hear. The production is lavish and georgeous, the musicianship is fine and the Guy Garvey's lyrics manage to express a crushing sense of longing (My Very Best), a deep despair (Station Approach, Leaders of the Free World), and an extraordinary range of other emotions while rarely rising above a whisper.

While they have been compared with ColdPlay (lyrics, lavish musical climaxes) and Doves (lush and spacey productions) they are really a force to be reckoned with all on their own. I listen to almost everything on Rhapsody these days and buy few albums but this is one I had to have for "the archives."

Highly recommended.

My first exposure to Elbow was the Seldom Seen Kid. I grew so attached to that album, that I decided to check this album out.

While I initially felt like The Seldom Seen Kid was the better of the two albums, I can honestly say that at this point it is hard to tell or even care. This album continues to get better and better with each listen. In my review for the Seldom Seen kid, I think I suggested a similarity between Elbow and Peter Gabriel's work in that there was a multi-cultural twist to the music that really makes it stand on its own. I realize with this album and many many listens of the these two recent album, that may not be entirely correct, and this album really makes Elbow stand on their own as a unique band that will obviously keep ascending the ranks of popularity. They are just too good not to.

This album has all the quality that the Seldom Seen Kid had, but it doesn't sound like a rehashing (or more properly that album doesn't seem like a rehash of this one). They are each fantastic albums. This album rocks quite a bit and has a bit of a rawer edge to it. It may be the production or may just be that it really is rawer, but it by no means this album isn't good. Production is over-valued sometimes, and the production here by no means misses. If anything, it makes you appreciate the lyrical quality of the album, and it is really superb. This may be the aspect that really lifts Elbow to the top in my mind. The lyrics makes you think. They don't get boring. That may be something that rises to Peter Gabriel's level regardless of the sound. I am a large U2 fan, and the lyrics and music are akin but easily exceed those you might have found in The Unforgettable Fire or The Joshua Tree. The lyrics and music of this album (and the Seldom Seen Kid) are vague enough to be timeless, and that really is the mark of a great band.

The combination of this album and the Seldom Seen Kid, really make me want to explore what Elbow was like before. They may not be the same, but different is often good.

Elbow are absolute geniuses. That is really the only way I can describe the amazing music the seem to put together with relative ease. In 2003 they released their sophomore album "Cast Of Thousands" and due to buzz and word of mouth I picked it up. What an amazing find. From the opening beeps of "Ribcage" to the haunting reverb of "Flying Dream" I was absolutely captivated. I didn't understand everything about what I was hearing I just knew I was hearing something special and the type of masterpiece that could not be improved upon. Then came the release of "Leaders Of The Free World". How can a band best a masterpiece? It really takes a special act in order to do it. The Beatles did it (arguably)by following "Revolver" with "SGT.Pepper", Oasis did it by following "Definetely Maybe" with "Morning Glory", and Radiohead did it with "The Bends" and "OK Computer" (again arguably). Elbow, however, does an exceptional job of besting themselves leaving no room for argument.
The album opens with the ode to homecoming "Station Approach". This is an absolutely magical track that starts easy and mellow and rises to a pulse pounding creshendo that leaves you wanting more. This is then followed by "Picky Bugger" and "Forget Myself" , the latter of the two being the first single release, this trio of songs aptly kicks off a thrill ride that takes you on an amazing journey of sound and emotion. The title track is a raucous romp that covers one of my favorite subjects (Bush bashing) and ,at 6 minutes, makes a nice home for itself as the lengthiest yet grooviest track on the album. It also bring a fair amount of levity to an otherwise serious and heartfelt record.
In all honesty I could go on for days about each one of these songs and what they mean to me but I think they would be best suited for you to make your own determination of them. I will say that it is a travesty that this band is largely ignored here in the states. I know that we are consumed by what the media tells us is cool and glam and that 5 overweight thirty-somethings from across the Atlantic are not at the top of that list but their talent certainly warrants attention. Give it a listen and you will not be disappointed. This is easily the album of the decade and the band of the future.

Standout Tracks (Now I'd like to list them all but my I'll only give you my top three) Station Approach, The Stops, Imagined Affair

Weak Points - None!

We Yanks may have invented rock & roll, but the Brits have taken it to truly astonishing places. Elbow, like many other English bands, creates beautifully atmospheric songs with clever hooks, walls of sound and sparse arrangements, all the while doing so with such poise and sincerity. Guy Garvey's throaty, effortless vocals and visual lyrics add a depth to which other bands of comparable musical aplomb can only aspire.

I've only recently stumpled upon Elbow, but am endlessly glad I have. Elbow, honestly, is what Catherine Wheel could have been without the over-the-top production. Elbow really are one of the best finds for me in the last year or so and are finding daily play at work, at home or on walks with the iPod.

Elbow's 3rd release sees them taking a giant leap forward. As I said in my review of "Asleep in the Back", you could sense that these guys had the potential to achieve great things, and after an impressive follow-up, they finally have put together their first masterpiece.

"Asleep" only hinted at this potential with a couple of brilliant stand-out songs, but the rest of the album was nothing more than mediocre and at times downright boring. "Cast of Thousands" was much more consistent from start to finish, but really had only one 5 star song in the incredible "Fugitive Motel". But on "Leaders of the Free World", they have taken all the good points of the first two albums, combined them, and taken them a step further.

"Leaders" is a bit less spacey than their first two releases, but their approach remains the same, constructing their beautiful melodies in an orchestra fashion. Layers of instruments all complement each other perfectly, and guarantee that each listen will reveal more detail than the last. They rock out a bit more than in the past, especially on "Forget Myself", the title track, and "Mexican Standoff", but there are still plenty off the slow moody sounds that Guy Garvey's voice is perfectly suited for. Garvey's lyrics are better than ever, both when waxing political as he does on the title track("passing the gun from father to feckless son, we're caught in a landslide where only the good die young"), and when sadly singing about a lost love in songs like "My Very Best" and "Great Expectations" (the latter of which is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have heard in years).

Fans of Elbow's previous work will certainly enjoy this album, but the appeal of "Leaders" is sure to be more widespread than its little-known predecesors. Even more exciting is the fact that there could be greater things to come from a band that seems to have finally put all the pieces together.

One of the best albums of 2005.

Aside from the fact that this is a moving new release from Manchester's Elbow this particular imported edition includes a DVD with videos for almost every song on the album (no video for 'An Imagined Afair' and 'My Very Best'). There is also a video for a great song (great video too) that does not appear on the album named 'McGreggor'.

Couple of important things however - the dvd is region 0 and PAL... meaning that it is not really made for US dvd players. Make sure your player can read/play/convert PAL and is not region encoded.