Elbow - A Rough Guide
"Elbow is a Mercury Prize winning English alternative rock band. The
band formed in Bury, Greater Manchester, in 1990.... The band is named
after a line in the BBC TV mini-series "The Singing Detective"; a
character says that the word "elbow" is the most sensuous word in the
English language, not for its definition, but for how it feels to say
it." [Wikipedia]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_%28band%29>
The band's official website:
<http://www.elbow.co.uk/>
The links in the guide below are to movies on YouTube. If the links
are blocked, try viewing clips using the "Media Player" on the band's
site:
<http://www.elbow.co.uk/mediaPlayer.html>
The "rough guide" ...
1. Asleep in the Back
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=9YxojGykvuw>
This is the amusing music video of the title track and single from the
band's debut album, released in 2001. It's representative of the band's
slower, melodic sound.
2. Newborn
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5jECvwTj9bM>
Another melodic single from the band's first album. This song is
a bit longer and shows how the band uses bridges and other musical
digressions in many of their songs. This clip uses images from the
official edited video, but with audio from the album version of the
song. That's why the images finish part-way through.
3. Fallen Angel
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=QScXn5ipJKs>
This song showcases the band's louder side, and is from the second
album, "Cast of Thousands", released in 2003. It starts off looking
like a standard performance video, but the twist kicks in when the lead
singer starts knocking off the other members of the band.
4. Switching Off
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=eLj9senIroM>
IMHO this is the standout track from the band's second album. The clip
isn't that exciting, but I've picked it for the beauty of the song.
5. Fugitive Motel
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ECgsIPp9p_c>
Another strong single from "Cast of Thousands".
6. Forget Myself
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wDddtQN7Fdg>
First single from the band's third album, "Leaders Of The Free World",
released in 2005. Probably the band's loudest record.
7. Leaders of the Free World
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb_j36qZsa8>
Another quirky video, this the second single and title track from the
band's third album. This is also probably the band's strongest political
statement: "The leaders of the free world are just little kids throwing
stones."
8. Everthere
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8b1mf75ETPU>
A slower track from "Leaders of the Free World". The clip is from the
bonus DVD that was released with the album.
9. Grounds For Divorce
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4mywCOJXA>
Video of first single from the band's fourth and latest album, "The
Seldom Seen Kid" (2008).
10. One Day Like This
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hooPU2mdsH4>
Another single from the band's Mercury Prize-winning album, "The Seldom
Seen Kid".
11. Tear Drop (Cover)
<http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5l9Q2m1P4Xo>
Bonus track: This is my favourite Massive Attack song, covered live by
Elbow. It's strange hearing it performed with a male vocal, but I think
the band manages to pull off a decent cover.
