Great Songs Delivered with Heart
The album opens with "Starlings", sort of an electronic/techno/pop number that reminds me a bit of Fleetwood Mac, then the album seques into "The Bones of You", a song about love lost, or maybe destroyed, that rips right into you with the lyrics, "I took a hammer to every momento, but image on image, like beads on a rosary move through my head, as the music takes hold and the second it hits, I can work till I break, but I love the bones of you that I will never escape." This is one good song, delivered with heart. If there were no other good songs on this album, "The Bones of You," would be enough for me.

But there is more, the haunting beat of "Mirrorball" combined with the orchestral background as Guy Garvey spins a love song so tender. Then the album switches gears with the tight, trashing "Grounds for Divorce" which reminds me of the John Lennon of "Give Peace a Chance" crossed with T-Rex. I can't get the song out of my head. This is a good record, stuffed full of songs so good it's hard to pick on I like the best, but if I had to pick one I liked better than the rest, I'd pick "One Day Like This." Guy's right on with this one, and this song really puts this album on the top of the heap, well they all do actually, there's not a bad tune on this album.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

lush textures make for a great album
A friend of mine has been going on about Elbow for a few years. For some reason, I never managed to pick up one of their albums. Until this one.

So many adjectives come to mind while listening to this album. "Exquisite" is probably the most-repeated one. The album is filled with lush textures and perfect lyrics. The lead singer has a voice that covers a wide range of emotional territory. Likewise, the instruments on the album cover a wide range of musical territory. Altogether, the album is a cohesive one that makes me wonder how I've missed out on them for so long.

Their best yet!
If you haven't heard their song "One Day Like This" then you're missing what may be Elbow's best single ever. It's an uplifting, feel-good song that instantly catches your ear.

The rest of the CD is more of the same.

Just a pure joy to listen to. And why Elbow isn't top of the charts is beyond me. They've been nothing but consistent throughout their career.

The Seldom Seen Kid is definitely a career peak for them. From start to finish, it's just about perfect.

New Each Time I Listen
The Seldom Seen kid is one of the best albums I've heard in a while. It's one that you can listen to several times over and still feel like you're listening to a new album. The lyrics are smart and the music is soothing and catchy. Every time I hear the song "Grounds for Divorce" on shuffle, I have to look to see who's singing it because I like it anew every time.

This is one band that continues to get better with age. I'm surprised they don't receive more recognition, but it's probably because they're a British band. A lot of great music out of Britain never really manages to cross the ocean successfully.

Elbow keeps making great recordings!
Based on a number of listens, and comparison to the prior albums--their first album,Asleep in the Back [Bonus Track] and the second albumCast of Thousands the most current Elbow album "The Seldom Seen Kid" is a continuation of the well produced and quiet nature of Elbow. Sadly, I have not really spent a ton of time listening to their third album, Leaders of the Free World--and of the first three albums received critical acclaim but little commercial movement. "Leaders of the Free World" will be my next purchase after listening to this most recent recording. I am digging into listen more intently!

My own listening involves a lot of random and mixed artist play from recent and older play lists. I tend to buy a bunch of music --drop it on my player and let the experience sort itself out in a random mode. When I stop and wonder and look to see what I am listening to, that is a sign it is staying for a while. The most current Elbow was causing this reaction of pausing, and thinking.. what is this? It sounds great!

When I hear Elbow, new or older, I am always thinking... is this newer David Bowie or Peter Gabriel? Or more Dave Matthews? You see, the voicing is somewhat similar to me. There are even some similarities to older Genesis without all the lyrical trappings that those early pioneers of art rock tended to engender. Keyboard rhythms and some classically oriented string instruments tend to make me think in that direction. In the emo realm, another version of Coldplay? Radiohead?

You can tell I like comparing styles--RIYL "Recommended If You Like" is one of my primary ways to find new music to purchase. If you close your eyes, and listen, removing yourself from who you think you are listening to --a number of possible comparisons can be made, and to me, it is a bit amazing that Elbow does not garner more of a US following with each new album.

Production standards are high on this album as with the other mentioned albums. Guy Garvey writes most of the words, the band writes the music. Guy does most of the singing, along with guitar work. Mark Potter on guitar and backing vocals, Craig Potter on keyboards and backing vocals, Pete Turner on bass guitar, and drumming from Richard Jupp.

For Elbow fans, this album should be familiar territory and is recommended. For others, this album is just as good as any to start with. You will probably find yourself wanting all of them after listening/buying one or two.