New Elbow.

Almost as if the term was completely relative

They have found this unique ability to be impressive and boring simultaneously.

Cosign.

That's a really great summation.

What's impressive is how they never seem to get any bad press ever

Because they're not bad! Boring is very different from bad, because sometimes boring is good. But bad never is. "Impressive and boring" is both OTM summation and band approach.

This album is working for me in ways the last two never did. Starting to really like it to the degree it might be my second favourite after LotFW.

What's strange is that it's ostensibly made up of the kinds of songs that made me find those last two records such a drag ...

Their arrangements can appear to be pedestrian or midtempo, but they put more effort into writing stronger melodies and especially vocal melodies than Coldplay so they are constantly fluttering right around the bar of mediocrity/interest.

ooh the sweet spot

Can't wait to hear it - Saw them at the Scala last week and they were (as usual) fucking amazing, played about 50/50 old and new stuff, and the new stuff sounded magic, particularly one tune with a kind of slow gospel vocal with a baggy D&B beat behind it.
Not come across any album promo's yet, lots of single/4 tracks but no album....
― Action Jackson, Thursday, July 17, 2003 9:49 AM (10 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I like "Fly Boy Blue" but the rest of the record does seem quite boring, as did the last album. I have a lot of affection for the first four albums.

Charming how their supporters don't really deny they are boring

Let your beige flag unfurl with pride, I guess

I'll third (fourth? fifth?) the OTMness of "impressive and boring", but I really love the new one and think it may end up being my favorite yet. Something about the tone this time just hits me right, though that ties into my theory about this band. Which is, in short, that the Elbow album you love the most probably comes whenever your personal meloncholy is most closely attuned to the band. If that makes sense...

imo "boring" isn't quite le mot juste but i'm on major painkillers atm so i can't figure out what the right one would be.

It's very ... considered.

Brown

it's good. i like it.

great band. all the right people dislike them, for perfect reasons too.

they are music lovers

I love how much they love Genesis.

Would be really sad if the guy sang like Peter Gabriel but didn't like Genesis.

"magnificent (she says)" is fucking beautiful. our ELO

it's... Elbow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNRGGQ_138I

not sure how I feel about the new one, songs aren't really striking me aside from a couple. could be a grower, but it's the least involving one IMO

https://elbow.co.uk/audio-vertigo-extended-edition/

Bonus version with two extra tracks (one of which is “We Have All the Time In the World”, swoon). CD, signed art, $11 shipping to U.S. for $20? Sold.

I saw them live just before Covid started to shut everything down, had a blast that night as they are very good live.