Elbow
"The Seldom Seen Kid" CD
Fiction Records /
Geffen
Genre: pop, rock
June 23 2008 |
There is something about crisp, elegant pop music that always seems to
falter. I can't put my finger on it, but after listening to thousands
of review CDs, I've begun to notice that the more polished and mature
a pop album sounds, the less I end up liking it. And although I'm sure
you're willing to chalk that up to me being a huge indie rock bigot
who can't handle melodies unless they're drenched in feedback, I
assure you that I am making a valid argument here. Once an album gets
too slick and mature, it winds up falling into the boring adult
alternative crowd and being relegated to soft rock radio and
department store programming. Well, thank you Elbow for
proving that "adult" pop music can transcend the soccer mom minivan
crowd. The Seldom Seen Kid is a thoroughly satisfying album
that serves up melodic bliss with an indisputable elegance. And due to
cleverly original and variable song architecture, this record remains
interesting over its nearly-an-hour duration.
The Seldom Seen Kid begins with a duo of airy, lifting pop
songs before dipping into two of its best tracks, "Mirrorball" and
"Grounds for Divorce." The former is a shimmering wonder of a track
that bleeds mainstream appeal yet doesn't sacrifice song quality.
Pretty guitars seem to shake off glitter with every strum, reminding
the listener of a sticky but romantic summer night; and when the
strings kick in, you can practically feel yourself being lifted off
the ground. "Grounds for the Divorce," on the other hand, is powered
by a sweaty blues groove, with Guy Garvey's sensitive but
powerful vocals recanting a tale of domestic discontent. Epic "The
Loneliness of a Crane" is another highlight, with its dragging drums,
pulsing guitars, and desperate vocals combining to create the darkest
track on this album; indeed, the entire song sounds as if it is being
blared into an infinite void.
While every moment on this disc isn't as outstanding as its more
spectacular singles, potential Elbow customers can rest assured
that this record maintains a level of quality that will support many
full listens. By the time the hushed cymbals and winding guitars of
album closer "Friend of Ours" draw The Seldom Seen Kid to a
close, only the most ardent indie rock purists will still be scowling
with their arms crossed.
elbow's
myspace
88%
youuuuuuuutube!:
grounds for divorce,
one day like this
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 11 tracks, distributed by
the
label,
released 2008] |
