Elbow - Asleep in the back, Great or Crap

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I'm interested to hear what y'all think of this lot. I like quite a lot of their stuff, but I know them quite well so I'm a bit biased.

Oddly enough their first gig as Elbow was in a locals night at the Roadhouse, one below my band in the bill. And now look at me, driving a desk for Manchester Met. Uni while they get nominated for the Brits. Oh the injustice of it all. IF ONLY I COULD SING BETTER THAN WOT I DO.

― misterjones, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I think its original, the music is wonderful, lyrics are wonderful and Guy Garvey can sing his ass off. Besides all the paltry commercial crap that comes out over here in the US is just garbage. Im sure the UK has their own opinions on music from their country. Am I correct? Whats your reason for liking/not liking Elbow.

― skinflute, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Which lyrics do you think are great?

― Ronan, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I rated it too highly last year. It'd be a better record with about three or four songs knocked off, and the singer's voice is a little too close to Dave Matthews territory for these ears. They're miles above Travis and Starsailor.... which I suppose ain't sayin' much.

― Andy K, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Powder blue, Scattered Blacks and Whites, Newborn. The concept behind Newborn and Powder Blue are great.

― skinflute, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Andy is right though, It could do better with three or four songs knocked off.

― skinflute, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I wrote a piece about them as prelude to that first gig at the roadhouse... was it 97 or 98 (Gavin you'll know). Anyway, they took enough shit from the old record industry and I guess for them, where they are now is just rewards... not heard the album, but really glad they are doing well.

Will Guy still remember the Ostrich in Prestwich? He must do.

― Sonicred, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I think I'd rather listen to late Talk Talk -- which to their credit the guys in Elbow obviously love.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I certainly hear a bit of Talk Talk in there, but to my ears they sound a bit more like Peter Gabriel-era Genesis. Actually, scratch that, they sound more like a Fish-era Marillion on sedatives, desperately trying to evoke some semblance of Gabriel-era Genesis.

In all seriousness, Elbow sound more -- to me, anyway -- like a mellower incarnation of Levitation. Now THERE was a band.....

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Yeah, there's definitely a Peter Gabriel vibe too. Ah, Levitation! So near and yet so far.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Oddly enough their first gig as Elbow was in a locals night at the Roadhouse, one below my band in the bill

This means Valerie may yet make it big. YESSSSS.

(Ask Kate)

― Graham, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I highly approve Elbows effort with Asleep at the Back. I hear a great deal of Talk, Talk in their music... but more comparisons should be made to the Doves. Both bands are coming from a different direction - in respect to this new "British Wave".

.mCr.

ps - AlexinNYC sent me.

― Motor City Rollie, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

but more comparisons should be made to the Doves

Who also like Talk Talk. ;-) And Verve and Swervedriver and...

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

i agree - i think its great - one of the best debuts of last year (even though they have been round for ages), my favourite song is 'any day now', and guy garvey's voice - stunning

― Il, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The one track I've heard (it was on an ucunt cd) did sound quite a bit like gabrien genesis. I keep meaning to get this album, but haven't yet 'cuz of skintness, like.

― Norman Phay, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Yes, they've definitely got a Talk Talk lite (fronted by a Peter Gabriel impressionist) thing going on. Quite nice and fragile... special kudos to the track that ends with the abrupt glass-shattering effect. I like 'em. Oh, they're certainly worlds beyond Travis... Travis play variations on one song. Anybody heard new next big thing Electric Soft Parade yet? I ask only because Elbow were a next big thing themselves a bit back.

― Tim DiGravina, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Forgive me for being obtuse, but having just learned about the greatness that is _Laughing Stock_, I can't help but notice a STRONG resemblence between Mr. Hollis and Mr. Gabriel. Noting some Gabriel tendencies in Elbow on top of the Talk Talk references ... that's like saying Ian Svenonius is copying James Brown and Jon Spencer, isn't it?

― David Raposa, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I've heard of worse.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The sound of Talk Talk in their music is because that is one of Guy and Pete's favourite bands.

On the point of Fish/Marillion sounds, that has come up in conversation too, but not with the band

― Sonicred, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

three years pass...

I have a limited tour edition three song minidisc of Elbow's comprised of Asleep in the Back, George Lassos the Moon and None One.
Is it a bit collectible or not?

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 1 August 2005 02:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Probably, except no one has MD anymore. George Lassoes The Moon is a great song though, and None One is good too.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 1 August 2005 07:32 (eighteen years ago) link

Well, it's not a minidisc exactly. It's one of those little tiny ones that fits the inner rim of the tray.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 1 August 2005 07:33 (eighteen years ago) link

Aha, in which case it's probably worth more, but fuck knows how much. I've been buying up old Elbow singles recently cos they've got some good tunes hidden away on the b-sides, and I've got the latter two from your disc via that, and of course Asleep In The Back was included as track 6 on the rerelease of the debut album of the same name, so it's not as if the songs are that rare, but it might be a nice trinket for a major fan.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 1 August 2005 07:39 (eighteen years ago) link

eleven years pass...

Yup, still great!

― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Saturday, 22 July 2017 13:47 (six years ago) link

'Newborn' surely must be one of the tracks of that decade, and one of Elbow's finest ever tracks - the slow-build and eruption on the track is still great. 'One Day Like This' may have been more popular, and as great as it I don't really need to hear it again, but 'Newborn' has still retained its power.

― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Saturday, 22 July 2017 15:05 (six years ago) link

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