Ok, so I know they're this years darlings on the scene but haven’t Elbow always just been a mediocre indie pop band? Granted they’ve stepped it up a gear, the new album sounds like death cab, 5 years ago, churned up with Keane and spat out as regurgitated Coldplay. I’m not saying its bad exactly its just been done, over and over again and as happy as I am for them, having plugged away at the proverbial grindstone for countless years to have finally made some success of themselves, they’re a good few years behind making any kind of noise that even touches on original. So, where do they get off winning the Mercury Music Prize?
Honestly I haven’t spent a great deal of time on the new album but once you’ve heard one strung out chorus and dramatic outro, you’ve really heard them all. This is an old trick and unless you’re going to spice things up with an interesting and…well, brilliant piece of instrumental showmanship then, quite frankly, shut up!
This is, surely, a brilliant example of how much rubbish finds its way into the charts these days. For a band like Elbow, who have spent years in the shadows of bigger and better bands, all through the 90’s, to now take centre stage as the guys to aspire to be is, not so much an example of the perfect; try, try and try again, but more-so its a fine example of how, when the big guns stop firing what you’re left with is a tiny pistol.
Posted In I Just Don't Get, Sep 19 2008.
Words - Rebecca