There are few things in life quite so liberating as the opening track on an Elbow album--they're like airlocks between the plainness of the outside world and the elaborate melancholic heave-ho that you are likely about to submerge yourself in. Following predecessors "Any Day Now", "Ribcage" and "Station Approach", "Starlings" opens their fourth album The Seldom Seen Kid rising from a bed of tumbling electronic subtlety like a depressed Atari game loading up, adding bare touches of piano, glimpses of ambient guitar, out of body background vocals, an understated pulse and a wisp of strings, before--EXCELSIS!--a fanfare avalanche of horns crashes the gate and elevates things to gasping palatial heights, before Guy Garvey's inimitable gravel tone and wrenchingly poetic reinterpretations of the everyday announce their arrival proper. It's astonishing, by far the most progressive moment on the album and if anything it sets the bar too high. But even when the pace dips, and songs like "Mirrorball" and "Weather to Fly" don't distinguish themselves quite enough, their textural peerlessness remains. This is a beautiful sounding record. Their collaboration with Richard Hawley may be more of a curiosity than a thing of beauty, but the highs, the riffing cross-stitch of "Ground for Divorce", the desolate grandeur of "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver" and the enlightened string-laden anthem "On a Day Like This" (like their own Sound of Music--only substitute the Alpine peaks for a Manchester high-rise) number amongst the best of their career. --James Berry

Excellent! - Sounds good too..., 27 Dec 2008
I've only just got to hear of this band and like others who've shared their views, I really appreciate the diverse and thoughtful music on this CD and look forward to getting to know it better over the coming months.

The other thing that sets this CD apart is the great sound quality on offer. In my view, so much modern music is ruined by the over-loud, yet anodyne production which saps the music of all emotion and dynamics, making it all sound the same from track to track. I tend to replace the discs in the rack with a yawn and there they stay. Not this CD, which makes me want to play it more, to discover more in the music on offer.

PLEASE give this disc a go. You'll be very pleasantly surprised I guarantee. I hope that future recordings of Elbow's will be at least as well produced too. The music is so much easier to hear and "feel!"

This is the only thing in any CD rack it's ever in, 21 Dec 2008
I have to confess I'd never heard of Elbow until I was tuned into the Mercury Prize where I have to confess I was expecting to see The Last Shadow Puppets scoop the prize.

So I immediately bought The Seldom Seen Kid to see why and can honestly say that I have not heard such a diverse, engaging, intelligent, thought and emotion-provoking album since...well, I can't think of an album that has ever made me think or moved me as much as this one.

There are lots of detailed (and brilliantly written) reviews on here that I can't even begin to improve on, but felt compelled to pen a few words for those approaching this album as a newcomer to Elbow.

Buy it. Today.

very very dull, 18 Dec 2008
how on earth did this get so many 5 stars reviews - the world has gone mad.

fair enough they may be ok compared to some of the other popular bands out there - but this offers little that hasnt been done before - and there is nothing wrong with copying a style here or there but if you it has to be done with an engaging delivery and some panache - however this doesnt.

its like a bad mix of the smiths and latter day radiohead with coldplay esque pretentions.

before you go reading all these 5 star reviews i suggest you check out what other albums/artists they reveiwed - it sfunny how the reviwer who has the most helpful votes on this album also gave robbie williams and take that 5 stars.

think wisley before you start paying attention to all these 5 star ratingas - they are very 'throwaway'.

i know music is subjective - but if you think this is as good as it gets - tyhen you really, desperately need to expand your musical horizons coz there are so many band out there who have done or are doing similar things
much more succesfuly.

sorry elbow - sorry elbow fans - time for some home truths.

its ok you can go click on 'no' now....

thanks for listening.

Peerless and Beautiful, 17 Dec 2008
The depth and character of all of these songs is something to behold - many come in from left-field with stunningly orginal and yet familiar arrangements. Lyrically intrigue and often very funny the songs are better than on the last two albums - and they were VERY good songs. And Guy Garvey's voice gets better and better - rich like a properly made mocha and dipping into his native dialect in all the right places.

Fantastic album and easily deserving of the Mercury prize - better than the last 3 winners put together! Well worth buying...

Cheers....


Neil

Mancunian Way, 17 Dec 2008
I only belatedly got around the giving this album the appraisal it deserves in the last week or so. Never previously been over excited by Elbow's output and rather put off by the OTT hype which has been the lot of the Mercury Prize winners since the Seldom Seen Kid juggernaut kicked in and the album started selling by the shed load.
What can I say ? It's a good album but not 'The Album of 2008' as some has claimed and hardly a classic either. To my ears it's a very mellow,easy listening pop album full of relaxed melodic tunes and dreamy strings. Hardly the sort of record that would offend your Gran or find itself too left field for Radio 2 producers planning their schedule. It's mainstream adult orientated rock/pop and that's OK. Although it's so laid back it makes a group like Coldplay sound like a death metal band by contrast !
The one BIG drawback for me is having Richard Hawley co sing/write 'The Fix'. Frankly I can't stand the Sheffield 50's crooner and not surprisingly The Fix is toe curlingly awful!
If you download the album though you could always just skip this piece of aural torture or substitute another Elbow track.

Nice car album. A good antidote to road rage.

Would it be outlandish to suggest that wholesome rugby-shouldered ruddy-faced English piano-pop boys Keane have spent the best part of their two-album career fanning the impression that they exist somewhere between an easy Mothers' Day gift and the album it's ok to give your girlfriend back when you split up, just in order to blow everyone out of the water like 80s neon-pop commandos with the boldness of their third? You know, utilising the element of surprise? Probably, but even though their debut (Hopes & Fears) and its follow up (Under the Iron Sea) may have been broader creative successes than many care to admit, it is true that Perfect Symmetry is a synth-brandishing Tyrannosaurus Rex next to those trundlingly melodic Trojan horses. From the moment "Spiralling", the single that made a nation choke on its Yakult, erupts like a Top of the Pops volcano with flashes of David Bowie, Talking Heads, Erasure, Prefab Sprout and James, amongst others--with the "WHOOOO!" interjections impacting like lava hitting an LA swimming pool and sending cocktails flying--the album is generally as taut, bulky and bronzed as a teen Arnold Schwarzenegger. Old habits die hard and there is still much in the way mid-paced melancholy, but they are sung with clarity and the songwriting stays tight with some deep lyrics and turns of phrase to balance out the vague and which presumably reflect Tom Chaplin's documented decent into addiction. "Playing Along", a beautifully arranged set of textures and gathering emotional bursts, is a particular high. --James Berry

Excellent! - Sounds good too..., 27 Dec 2008
I've only just got to hear of this band and like others who've shared their views, I really appreciate the diverse and thoughtful music on this CD and look forward to getting to know it better over the coming months.

The other thing that sets this CD apart is the great sound quality on offer. In my view, so much modern music is ruined by the over-loud, yet anodyne production which saps the music of all emotion and dynamics, making it all sound the same from track to track. I tend to replace the discs in the rack with a yawn and there they stay. Not this CD, which makes me want to play it more, to discover more in the music on offer.

PLEASE give this disc a go. You'll be very pleasantly surprised I guarantee. I hope that future recordings of Elbow's will be at least as well produced too. The music is so much easier to hear and "feel!"

This is the only thing in any CD rack it's ever in, 21 Dec 2008
I have to confess I'd never heard of Elbow until I was tuned into the Mercury Prize where I have to confess I was expecting to see The Last Shadow Puppets scoop the prize.

So I immediately bought The Seldom Seen Kid to see why and can honestly say that I have not heard such a diverse, engaging, intelligent, thought and emotion-provoking album since...well, I can't think of an album that has ever made me think or moved me as much as this one.

There are lots of detailed (and brilliantly written) reviews on here that I can't even begin to improve on, but felt compelled to pen a few words for those approaching this album as a newcomer to Elbow.

Buy it. Today.

very very dull, 18 Dec 2008
how on earth did this get so many 5 stars reviews - the world has gone mad.

fair enough they may be ok compared to some of the other popular bands out there - but this offers little that hasnt been done before - and there is nothing wrong with copying a style here or there but if you it has to be done with an engaging delivery and some panache - however this doesnt.

its like a bad mix of the smiths and latter day radiohead with coldplay esque pretentions.

before you go reading all these 5 star reviews i suggest you check out what other albums/artists they reveiwed - it sfunny how the reviwer who has the most helpful votes on this album also gave robbie williams and take that 5 stars.

think wisley before you start paying attention to all these 5 star ratingas - they are very 'throwaway'.

i know music is subjective - but if you think this is as good as it gets - tyhen you really, desperately need to expand your musical horizons coz there are so many band out there who have done or are doing similar things
much more succesfuly.

sorry elbow - sorry elbow fans - time for some home truths.

its ok you can go click on 'no' now....

thanks for listening.

Peerless and Beautiful, 17 Dec 2008
The depth and character of all of these songs is something to behold - many come in from left-field with stunningly orginal and yet familiar arrangements. Lyrically intrigue and often very funny the songs are better than on the last two albums - and they were VERY good songs. And Guy Garvey's voice gets better and better - rich like a properly made mocha and dipping into his native dialect in all the right places.

Fantastic album and easily deserving of the Mercury prize - better than the last 3 winners put together! Well worth buying...

Cheers....


Neil

Mancunian Way, 17 Dec 2008
I only belatedly got around the giving this album the appraisal it deserves in the last week or so. Never previously been over excited by Elbow's output and rather put off by the OTT hype which has been the lot of the Mercury Prize winners since the Seldom Seen Kid juggernaut kicked in and the album started selling by the shed load.
What can I say ? It's a good album but not 'The Album of 2008' as some has claimed and hardly a classic either. To my ears it's a very mellow,easy listening pop album full of relaxed melodic tunes and dreamy strings. Hardly the sort of record that would offend your Gran or find itself too left field for Radio 2 producers planning their schedule. It's mainstream adult orientated rock/pop and that's OK. Although it's so laid back it makes a group like Coldplay sound like a death metal band by contrast !
The one BIG drawback for me is having Richard Hawley co sing/write 'The Fix'. Frankly I can't stand the Sheffield 50's crooner and not surprisingly The Fix is toe curlingly awful!
If you download the album though you could always just skip this piece of aural torture or substitute another Elbow track.

Nice car album. A good antidote to road rage.

Awesome Album again from Keane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 02 Jan 2009
How are this Band's albums not permanently number 1 in the album charts.

Have they ever produced 1 bad song yet in 3 albums. I don't think so.

The dreamy melodic tunes and the emotional lyrics that on Song 6 You Don't See Me can make a grown man cry (well, it did me).

All songs are written with a 'human magic' that you can connect with and not many writers can achieve this.

I have been waiting for over 2 years for the release of this album, but it was so worth waiting for. I don't think any other band gets close to them at the moment.

If you are a 30 something like me (36) and loved 80's synthy music that has been brought into the 21st century then all 3 of Keane's albums should be part of your collection.

I cannot be more impressed by KEANE, and they are also great live, so is there anyone better around at the minute. I don't think so.



Not as good as previous 2 albums, 30 Dec 2008
When I first heard "spiralling", the first single from the album, I had really great expectations for this album. Spiralling is one of my favourite Keane singles, memory trip back to the 80s. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isnt anywhere near as good though. The 2nd single, "lovers are losing" is ok but not as catchy. The rest of the album is somewhat bland and nothing in particular seems to stand out. I think this album will struggle to sell well as I cant see any other songs from the album making a major impact in the charts. Keane's first album is outstanding 5/5, the 2nd album wasnt as good but contained some good songs 3.5/5 but this album is certainly less superior than both.

Keane - An Apology, 19 Dec 2008
Keane - An Apology

(c) All Music Journals and Magazines

In common with all other music journalists, we may over the past 4 years have inadvertantly given the impression that Keane were somehow 'not very good'.

With some reluctance, words and phrases such as 'rubbish', 'derivative', 'laboured', 'boring', 'worse than coldplay', and 'unacceptable even in the 80s' may have been used in relation to this superb band.

As of the release of this 3rd, genre challenging album we accept that we were wrong, and Keene are in fact the best band that ever recorded or played a single note ever, being even better than Coldplay.

We therefore apologise to our readers unreservedly for any confusion that may have previously been caused.

A fantastic album, 15 Dec 2008
I bought this album a few weeks ago, and it's barely been off my mp3 player, the more you listen the better it gets.
Love the new direction that Keane have taken, Tom's vocals are a rich tapestry, with clever, original songs.
There have been so many albums this year that have not lived up to expectation, this has gone beyond my expectations, one of the best of the year, if not the best.
Keane - keep up the excellent work.

4 & a half stars - This is a very good album, 14 Dec 2008
I have this albums two predecessors, but something made me hesitant to buy this... maybe the number of poor/mediocre reviews & ratings, I don't know, but I resisted nonetheless. I finally gave in - having heard the title track (which I would rate as one of their best tracks) on radio. I am now somewhat annoyed that I didn't buy it earlier.

This album is really good. Some of the tracks are more upbeat that previously, but that is no bad thing and they still retain the Keane sound - probably due to Tom's unmistakeable vocals.

In terms of the negative criticism about a heavy 80's sound - I was in my teens during the eighties, and have a large collection of music from that era - I think this is misrepresentation of the album. The use of keyboards does not automatically justify such a tag, and I think the album is as contemporary sounding as their previous efforts (lets be honest, most of the current batch of "fresh" guitar bands could have been plucked from any of the last 4 decades).

The first 6 tracks are exceptional, with a couple of average tracks towards the end, although there is not a duff track here. The highlights for me: Perfect Symmetry, You Don't See Me, and The Lovers Are Losing.

If you have previously held a fondness for Keane, don't be afraid of Perfect Symmetry - take the plunge. This really is a good album.

Though Oasis are forever fated to live in the shadow of their initial success, they remain capable of producing exciting and touching music, and Dig out Your Soul continues the upswing in their fortunes sparked by 2005's Don't Believe the Truth. Unashamedly an album of two halves, the first part is heavily loaded with Noel Gallagher's tunes, including the pounding single "The Shock of the Lightning", a taut and pacy rocker nearer to the light touch of the Smiths' "The Queen Is Dead" than their usual Pistols-inspired power plod. The rocking "Bag It Up" shares nothing but a title with Geri Halliwell's already forgotten 2000 hit, while "Waiting for the Rapture" takes Lennon's harrowing "Cold Turkey" as a template, with some success. Liam's crude, sparky "Ain't Got Nothin'" holds up his side and his sprawling ballad (the only such effort here) "I'm Outta Time" adds another anthem to their repertoire. Even Gem Archer's "To Be Where There's Life", a bracing slice of undercooked psychedelia, is naggingly catchy. Only Noel's "(Get off Your) High Horse Lady", a pointless rewrite of Tommy Tucker's mod-era favourite "Hi Heel Sneakers" and Andy Bell's ungainly "The Nature of Reality" are downright inessential. Those missteps aside, it's hard to imagine anyone feeling shortchanged by Dig out Your Soul. --Steve Jelbert

Excellent! - Sounds good too..., 27 Dec 2008
I've only just got to hear of this band and like others who've shared their views, I really appreciate the diverse and thoughtful music on this CD and look forward to getting to know it better over the coming months.

The other thing that sets this CD apart is the great sound quality on offer. In my view, so much modern music is ruined by the over-loud, yet anodyne production which saps the music of all emotion and dynamics, making it all sound the same from track to track. I tend to replace the discs in the rack with a yawn and there they stay. Not this CD, which makes me want to play it more, to discover more in the music on offer.

PLEASE give this disc a go. You'll be very pleasantly surprised I guarantee. I hope that future recordings of Elbow's will be at least as well produced too. The music is so much easier to hear and "feel!"

This is the only thing in any CD rack it's ever in, 21 Dec 2008
I have to confess I'd never heard of Elbow until I was tuned into the Mercury Prize where I have to confess I was expecting to see The Last Shadow Puppets scoop the prize.

So I immediately bought The Seldom Seen Kid to see why and can honestly say that I have not heard such a diverse, engaging, intelligent, thought and emotion-provoking album since...well, I can't think of an album that has ever made me think or moved me as much as this one.

There are lots of detailed (and brilliantly written) reviews on here that I can't even begin to improve on, but felt compelled to pen a few words for those approaching this album as a newcomer to Elbow.

Buy it. Today.

very very dull, 18 Dec 2008
how on earth did this get so many 5 stars reviews - the world has gone mad.

fair enough they may be ok compared to some of the other popular bands out there - but this offers little that hasnt been done before - and there is nothing wrong with copying a style here or there but if you it has to be done with an engaging delivery and some panache - however this doesnt.

its like a bad mix of the smiths and latter day radiohead with coldplay esque pretentions.

before you go reading all these 5 star reviews i suggest you check out what other albums/artists they reveiwed - it sfunny how the reviwer who has the most helpful votes on this album also gave robbie williams and take that 5 stars.

think wisley before you start paying attention to all these 5 star ratingas - they are very 'throwaway'.

i know music is subjective - but if you think this is as good as it gets - tyhen you really, desperately need to expand your musical horizons coz there are so many band out there who have done or are doing similar things
much more succesfuly.

sorry elbow - sorry elbow fans - time for some home truths.

its ok you can go click on 'no' now....

thanks for listening.

Peerless and Beautiful, 17 Dec 2008
The depth and character of all of these songs is something to behold - many come in from left-field with stunningly orginal and yet familiar arrangements. Lyrically intrigue and often very funny the songs are better than on the last two albums - and they were VERY good songs. And Guy Garvey's voice gets better and better - rich like a properly made mocha and dipping into his native dialect in all the right places.

Fantastic album and easily deserving of the Mercury prize - better than the last 3 winners put together! Well worth buying...

Cheers....


Neil

Mancunian Way, 17 Dec 2008
I only belatedly got around the giving this album the appraisal it deserves in the last week or so. Never previously been over excited by Elbow's output and rather put off by the OTT hype which has been the lot of the Mercury Prize winners since the Seldom Seen Kid juggernaut kicked in and the album started selling by the shed load.
What can I say ? It's a good album but not 'The Album of 2008' as some has claimed and hardly a classic either. To my ears it's a very mellow,easy listening pop album full of relaxed melodic tunes and dreamy strings. Hardly the sort of record that would offend your Gran or find itself too left field for Radio 2 producers planning their schedule. It's mainstream adult orientated rock/pop and that's OK. Although it's so laid back it makes a group like Coldplay sound like a death metal band by contrast !
The one BIG drawback for me is having Richard Hawley co sing/write 'The Fix'. Frankly I can't stand the Sheffield 50's crooner and not surprisingly The Fix is toe curlingly awful!
If you download the album though you could always just skip this piece of aural torture or substitute another Elbow track.

Nice car album. A good antidote to road rage.

Awesome Album again from Keane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 02 Jan 2009
How are this Band's albums not permanently number 1 in the album charts.

Have they ever produced 1 bad song yet in 3 albums. I don't think so.

The dreamy melodic tunes and the emotional lyrics that on Song 6 You Don't See Me can make a grown man cry (well, it did me).

All songs are written with a 'human magic' that you can connect with and not many writers can achieve this.

I have been waiting for over 2 years for the release of this album, but it was so worth waiting for. I don't think any other band gets close to them at the moment.

If you are a 30 something like me (36) and loved 80's synthy music that has been brought into the 21st century then all 3 of Keane's albums should be part of your collection.

I cannot be more impressed by KEANE, and they are also great live, so is there anyone better around at the minute. I don't think so.



Not as good as previous 2 albums, 30 Dec 2008
When I first heard "spiralling", the first single from the album, I had really great expectations for this album. Spiralling is one of my favourite Keane singles, memory trip back to the 80s. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isnt anywhere near as good though. The 2nd single, "lovers are losing" is ok but not as catchy. The rest of the album is somewhat bland and nothing in particular seems to stand out. I think this album will struggle to sell well as I cant see any other songs from the album making a major impact in the charts. Keane's first album is outstanding 5/5, the 2nd album wasnt as good but contained some good songs 3.5/5 but this album is certainly less superior than both.

Keane - An Apology, 19 Dec 2008
Keane - An Apology

(c) All Music Journals and Magazines

In common with all other music journalists, we may over the past 4 years have inadvertantly given the impression that Keane were somehow 'not very good'.

With some reluctance, words and phrases such as 'rubbish', 'derivative', 'laboured', 'boring', 'worse than coldplay', and 'unacceptable even in the 80s' may have been used in relation to this superb band.

As of the release of this 3rd, genre challenging album we accept that we were wrong, and Keene are in fact the best band that ever recorded or played a single note ever, being even better than Coldplay.

We therefore apologise to our readers unreservedly for any confusion that may have previously been caused.

A fantastic album, 15 Dec 2008
I bought this album a few weeks ago, and it's barely been off my mp3 player, the more you listen the better it gets.
Love the new direction that Keane have taken, Tom's vocals are a rich tapestry, with clever, original songs.
There have been so many albums this year that have not lived up to expectation, this has gone beyond my expectations, one of the best of the year, if not the best.
Keane - keep up the excellent work.

4 & a half stars - This is a very good album, 14 Dec 2008
I have this albums two predecessors, but something made me hesitant to buy this... maybe the number of poor/mediocre reviews & ratings, I don't know, but I resisted nonetheless. I finally gave in - having heard the title track (which I would rate as one of their best tracks) on radio. I am now somewhat annoyed that I didn't buy it earlier.

This album is really good. Some of the tracks are more upbeat that previously, but that is no bad thing and they still retain the Keane sound - probably due to Tom's unmistakeable vocals.

In terms of the negative criticism about a heavy 80's sound - I was in my teens during the eighties, and have a large collection of music from that era - I think this is misrepresentation of the album. The use of keyboards does not automatically justify such a tag, and I think the album is as contemporary sounding as their previous efforts (lets be honest, most of the current batch of "fresh" guitar bands could have been plucked from any of the last 4 decades).

The first 6 tracks are exceptional, with a couple of average tracks towards the end, although there is not a duff track here. The highlights for me: Perfect Symmetry, You Don't See Me, and The Lovers Are Losing.

If you have previously held a fondness for Keane, don't be afraid of Perfect Symmetry - take the plunge. This really is a good album.

Oasis are back, 06 Jan 2009
I have to admit I was loathed to buy this CD, as for me Oasis were just rolling out the same bland music seemingly without any effort recently. I don't agree with some other reviewers that they never went away, I think they are just the die hard fans for whom the Gallaghers can do no wrong! The last album for example for me had nothing memorable on it whatsoever. When this was down in price in the sale, thought I would give them one last chance. I was pleasantly surprised. This album has a much fresher sound, although it is still Oasis through and through. OK, still not up to their classic albums, but they have pulled their socks up and put together a good album.

Oasis Soldier On, 05 Jan 2009
Another year, another Oasis album which is perfectly fine but again fails to capture what it was in the first place that made people love them. 'Dig Out Your Soul' is a decent album and really very good in parts, but it is truthful to say that, has this been their debut album, nobody would probably have been that interested in them seven studio albums later. Recent albums have been encouraging and well worth buying, but if you were to rank the Oasis albums from best to worst, 'Dig Out Your Soul' would probably be somewhere in the middle. So, well worth listening to then, but it is still going to be a bit of a disappointment to anyone who remembers their first two albums and everything the music meant to the fans back then. However, we really just shouldn't expect anything like that again - it just isn't going to happen, folks.

So, the songs. Most of the tracks are the sound of Oasis cruising. Very seldom do they really get into fifth gear and, while it would be unfair to call it complacent, it is a little frustrating to hear competency in lieu of passion and creativity. The first four songs belong to Noel Gallagher and they're amongst the picks of the album. 'Bag It Up' is a hefty, slow-burning rock monster and an excellent way to open the album. 'The Turning' is a classy, chiming piano-driven head-nodder with a picked guitar ending which sounds very much like The Beatles' 'Dear Prudence'. 'Waiting For The Rapture' reminds me of Plastic Ono Band-era Lennon, with 'Cold Turkey' guitar riffs punctuating a catchy melody line.

'The Shock Of The Lightning', musically, could have been lifted from their debut album and if it wasn't for the slightly poor and meaningless lyrics (something about love being a "time machine upon a silver screen" and a "magical mystery" - wonder where they got that phrase from?) it could have been one of the best tracks on this release. Next up is Liam Gallagher's first composition of the album, the beautifully tender 'I'm Outta Time' and, as far as I'm concerned, it is the best thing he has ever written, sounding like a cross between a Jeff Lynne and a Sean Lennon song. Some great lyrics as well - "If I'm to fall, would you be there to applaud or would you hide behind the law?". For me, it is the best track on this album. Noel's 'Get Off Your High Horse Lady' is derivative filler at its worst, certainly for anyone who has heard 'Hi Heel Sneakers' before and the last Noel song of the album 'Falling Down' is a decent, dreamy piece with some good drum work from Zak Starkey.

Gem Archer's 'To Be Where There's Life' takes the album forward with an Indian-themed, psychedelic track featuring a winding, hypnotic bass line. It's nice, but hardly essential - he's no George Harrison. Liam's second song of the album is pretty dismal. You can tell that the band tried to make the best of 'Aint Got Nothing', but there wasn't much they could do with such a basic and unappealing composition. Andy Bell's 'The Nature Of Reality' is also a dull track and isn't much better than filler. Liam's third song of the album and the last track, 'Soldier On' is quite good, certainly interesting, melodically, and makes up, in part, for a relatively poor end to a good album.

All-in-all, this is quite a good album for any lovers of classic rock music, but if you're looking for innovation or raw energy, you may have to look elsewhere. Although there are tracks here which suggest that their youth hasn't quite deserted them, 'Dig Out Your Soul' does look like Oasis are showing a few signs of getting a bit of a middle-aged spread. Still, there's enough here to make this a worthwhile purchase for all existing Oasis fans and, if you liked the last couple, you'll probably like this.

MANCHESTERS WICKED BAND COME GOOD AGAIN, 02 Jan 2009
To be honest I really thought Oasis couldn't do it again after 'What's the Story Morning Glory' and 'Don't Believe the Truth' and 'Heathen Chemistry', but they have and Single 'The Shock Of the Lightning' is as good as the whole album. All songs great and danceable. Easy to sing along to! Great Buy :)

dig out your soul, 28 Dec 2008
oasis are back with their finest album in years.lets get the negatives out the way first. two songs here let the album down and if they had been put aside for b-sides and replaced with better tracks your looking at a five star album.get of your high horse with noels whiny vocals and the liam penned aint got nothin are howlers.thankfully the rest of the album is oasis firing on all cylinders.shock of the lightning ,the first single is a turbo charged rocker with noel and gems duelling guitars brewing up a whirlwind psychedelic groove,its the most exciting song they have done in years argubaly since the glory days of 94-95.im outa time is a dreamy ballad that while a little too lennon-y for me is still a strong number.standout tracks though are the stunning 'the turning' backed up by an electric piano its classic oasis with a great sneering liam vocal.the gem written 'to be where theres life' is another psychedelic cracker when the drums kick in its superb and sounds great live.andy bells nature of reality is a winner and the noel sung 'waiting for the rapture and falling down are great.all said this is oasis back on top at this rate the next album which is already in the demo stages could well be the masterpiece they are capable of producing,for now this will do nicely.one of the best albums of the year.

worst effort so far, 28 Dec 2008
got this one for christmas. noel's songwriting skills manage to keep the first four songs more or less above mediocrity. but once you've listened through those four, the album becomes quite a drag with the exception of "falling down", which is carried by an ear-catching melody.
"i'm outta time", written by liam, is one of those darker oasis ballads but unable to stand up to "gas panic" or "born on a different cloud". "soldier on", another song by liam, begins with a nice melody but has nothing to offer afterwards. and with his third song, "ain't got nothing", liam ironically proves that he really "ain't got nothing". leaves three more songs: "(get off your) high horse lady", "to be where there's life" and "the nature of reality", all of which are incredibly static and boring. moreover, the clean sound, rather unsusual for oasis, doesn't help the songs at all.

Leaders of the Free World, Elbow's third album, sees the band try to beat down their major league contemporaries (Coldplay, Doves) with a more ambitious set of songs. In truth, they didn't need to try so hard; Elbow have arguably been making better and more interesting music than most of their mainstream compadres since they formed in 1990. That said, the results here are undoubtedly impressive and may form the band's best work yet. Beginning with the beautiful, slow-building "Station Approach", and ending with the short but touching "Puncture Repair", Leaders of the Free World takes in an a host of minor classics along the way. From the captivating strums of "Picky Bugger" and the sonorous chimes of "The Stop" to the massively captivating title track and the funereal waltz of "Great Expectations", the record's elliptical nature only adds to its enchanting qualities. If this doesn't confirm Elbow's status as superior musicians/arrangers and underline Guy Garvey's abilities as a master storyteller, nothing will. --Paul Sullivan

Excellent! - Sounds good too..., 27 Dec 2008
I've only just got to hear of this band and like others who've shared their views, I really appreciate the diverse and thoughtful music on this CD and look forward to getting to know it better over the coming months.

The other thing that sets this CD apart is the great sound quality on offer. In my view, so much modern music is ruined by the over-loud, yet anodyne production which saps the music of all emotion and dynamics, making it all sound the same from track to track. I tend to replace the discs in the rack with a yawn and there they stay. Not this CD, which makes me want to play it more, to discover more in the music on offer.

PLEASE give this disc a go. You'll be very pleasantly surprised I guarantee. I hope that future recordings of Elbow's will be at least as well produced too. The music is so much easier to hear and "feel!"

This is the only thing in any CD rack it's ever in, 21 Dec 2008
I have to confess I'd never heard of Elbow until I was tuned into the Mercury Prize where I have to confess I was expecting to see The Last Shadow Puppets scoop the prize.

So I immediately bought The Seldom Seen Kid to see why and can honestly say that I have not heard such a diverse, engaging, intelligent, thought and emotion-provoking album since...well, I can't think of an album that has ever made me think or moved me as much as this one.

There are lots of detailed (and brilliantly written) reviews on here that I can't even begin to improve on, but felt compelled to pen a few words for those approaching this album as a newcomer to Elbow.

Buy it. Today.

very very dull, 18 Dec 2008
how on earth did this get so many 5 stars reviews - the world has gone mad.

fair enough they may be ok compared to some of the other popular bands out there - but this offers little that hasnt been done before - and there is nothing wrong with copying a style here or there but if you it has to be done with an engaging delivery and some panache - however this doesnt.

its like a bad mix of the smiths and latter day radiohead with coldplay esque pretentions.

before you go reading all these 5 star reviews i suggest you check out what other albums/artists they reveiwed - it sfunny how the reviwer who has the most helpful votes on this album also gave robbie williams and take that 5 stars.

think wisley before you start paying attention to all these 5 star ratingas - they are very 'throwaway'.

i know music is subjective - but if you think this is as good as it gets - tyhen you really, desperately need to expand your musical horizons coz there are so many band out there who have done or are doing similar things
much more succesfuly.

sorry elbow - sorry elbow fans - time for some home truths.

its ok you can go click on 'no' now....

thanks for listening.

Peerless and Beautiful, 17 Dec 2008
The depth and character of all of these songs is something to behold - many come in from left-field with stunningly orginal and yet familiar arrangements. Lyrically intrigue and often very funny the songs are better than on the last two albums - and they were VERY good songs. And Guy Garvey's voice gets better and better - rich like a properly made mocha and dipping into his native dialect in all the right places.

Fantastic album and easily deserving of the Mercury prize - better than the last 3 winners put together! Well worth buying...

Cheers....


Neil

Mancunian Way, 17 Dec 2008
I only belatedly got around the giving this album the appraisal it deserves in the last week or so. Never previously been over excited by Elbow's output and rather put off by the OTT hype which has been the lot of the Mercury Prize winners since the Seldom Seen Kid juggernaut kicked in and the album started selling by the shed load.
What can I say ? It's a good album but not 'The Album of 2008' as some has claimed and hardly a classic either. To my ears it's a very mellow,easy listening pop album full of relaxed melodic tunes and dreamy strings. Hardly the sort of record that would offend your Gran or find itself too left field for Radio 2 producers planning their schedule. It's mainstream adult orientated rock/pop and that's OK. Although it's so laid back it makes a group like Coldplay sound like a death metal band by contrast !
The one BIG drawback for me is having Richard Hawley co sing/write 'The Fix'. Frankly I can't stand the Sheffield 50's crooner and not surprisingly The Fix is toe curlingly awful!
If you download the album though you could always just skip this piece of aural torture or substitute another Elbow track.

Nice car album. A good antidote to road rage.

Awesome Album again from Keane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 02 Jan 2009
How are this Band's albums not permanently number 1 in the album charts.

Have they ever produced 1 bad song yet in 3 albums. I don't think so.

The dreamy melodic tunes and the emotional lyrics that on Song 6 You Don't See Me can make a grown man cry (well, it did me).

All songs are written with a 'human magic' that you can connect with and not many writers can achieve this.

I have been waiting for over 2 years for the release of this album, but it was so worth waiting for. I don't think any other band gets close to them at the moment.

If you are a 30 something like me (36) and loved 80's synthy music that has been brought into the 21st century then all 3 of Keane's albums should be part of your collection.

I cannot be more impressed by KEANE, and they are also great live, so is there anyone better around at the minute. I don't think so.



Not as good as previous 2 albums, 30 Dec 2008
When I first heard "spiralling", the first single from the album, I had really great expectations for this album. Spiralling is one of my favourite Keane singles, memory trip back to the 80s. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isnt anywhere near as good though. The 2nd single, "lovers are losing" is ok but not as catchy. The rest of the album is somewhat bland and nothing in particular seems to stand out. I think this album will struggle to sell well as I cant see any other songs from the album making a major impact in the charts. Keane's first album is outstanding 5/5, the 2nd album wasnt as good but contained some good songs 3.5/5 but this album is certainly less superior than both.

Keane - An Apology, 19 Dec 2008
Keane - An Apology

(c) All Music Journals and Magazines

In common with all other music journalists, we may over the past 4 years have inadvertantly given the impression that Keane were somehow 'not very good'.

With some reluctance, words and phrases such as 'rubbish', 'derivative', 'laboured', 'boring', 'worse than coldplay', and 'unacceptable even in the 80s' may have been used in relation to this superb band.

As of the release of this 3rd, genre challenging album we accept that we were wrong, and Keene are in fact the best band that ever recorded or played a single note ever, being even better than Coldplay.

We therefore apologise to our readers unreservedly for any confusion that may have previously been caused.

A fantastic album, 15 Dec 2008
I bought this album a few weeks ago, and it's barely been off my mp3 player, the more you listen the better it gets.
Love the new direction that Keane have taken, Tom's vocals are a rich tapestry, with clever, original songs.
There have been so many albums this year that have not lived up to expectation, this has gone beyond my expectations, one of the best of the year, if not the best.
Keane - keep up the excellent work.

4 & a half stars - This is a very good album, 14 Dec 2008
I have this albums two predecessors, but something made me hesitant to buy this... maybe the number of poor/mediocre reviews & ratings, I don't know, but I resisted nonetheless. I finally gave in - having heard the title track (which I would rate as one of their best tracks) on radio. I am now somewhat annoyed that I didn't buy it earlier.

This album is really good. Some of the tracks are more upbeat that previously, but that is no bad thing and they still retain the Keane sound - probably due to Tom's unmistakeable vocals.

In terms of the negative criticism about a heavy 80's sound - I was in my teens during the eighties, and have a large collection of music from that era - I think this is misrepresentation of the album. The use of keyboards does not automatically justify such a tag, and I think the album is as contemporary sounding as their previous efforts (lets be honest, most of the current batch of "fresh" guitar bands could have been plucked from any of the last 4 decades).

The first 6 tracks are exceptional, with a couple of average tracks towards the end, although there is not a duff track here. The highlights for me: Perfect Symmetry, You Don't See Me, and The Lovers Are Losing.

If you have previously held a fondness for Keane, don't be afraid of Perfect Symmetry - take the plunge. This really is a good album.

Oasis are back, 06 Jan 2009
I have to admit I was loathed to buy this CD, as for me Oasis were just rolling out the same bland music seemingly without any effort recently. I don't agree with some other reviewers that they never went away, I think they are just the die hard fans for whom the Gallaghers can do no wrong! The last album for example for me had nothing memorable on it whatsoever. When this was down in price in the sale, thought I would give them one last chance. I was pleasantly surprised. This album has a much fresher sound, although it is still Oasis through and through. OK, still not up to their classic albums, but they have pulled their socks up and put together a good album.

Oasis Soldier On, 05 Jan 2009
Another year, another Oasis album which is perfectly fine but again fails to capture what it was in the first place that made people love them. 'Dig Out Your Soul' is a decent album and really very good in parts, but it is truthful to say that, has this been their debut album, nobody would probably have been that interested in them seven studio albums later. Recent albums have been encouraging and well worth buying, but if you were to rank the Oasis albums from best to worst, 'Dig Out Your Soul' would probably be somewhere in the middle. So, well worth listening to then, but it is still going to be a bit of a disappointment to anyone who remembers their first two albums and everything the music meant to the fans back then. However, we really just shouldn't expect anything like that again - it just isn't going to happen, folks.

So, the songs. Most of the tracks are the sound of Oasis cruising. Very seldom do they really get into fifth gear and, while it would be unfair to call it complacent, it is a little frustrating to hear competency in lieu of passion and creativity. The first four songs belong to Noel Gallagher and they're amongst the picks of the album. 'Bag It Up' is a hefty, slow-burning rock monster and an excellent way to open the album. 'The Turning' is a classy, chiming piano-driven head-nodder with a picked guitar ending which sounds very much like The Beatles' 'Dear Prudence'. 'Waiting For The Rapture' reminds me of Plastic Ono Band-era Lennon, with 'Cold Turkey' guitar riffs punctuating a catchy melody line.

'The Shock Of The Lightning', musically, could have been lifted from their debut album and if it wasn't for the slightly poor and meaningless lyrics (something about love being a "time machine upon a silver screen" and a "magical mystery" - wonder where they got that phrase from?) it could have been one of the best tracks on this release. Next up is Liam Gallagher's first composition of the album, the beautifully tender 'I'm Outta Time' and, as far as I'm concerned, it is the best thing he has ever written, sounding like a cross between a Jeff Lynne and a Sean Lennon song. Some great lyrics as well - "If I'm to fall, would you be there to applaud or would you hide behind the law?". For me, it is the best track on this album. Noel's 'Get Off Your High Horse Lady' is derivative filler at its worst, certainly for anyone who has heard 'Hi Heel Sneakers' before and the last Noel song of the album 'Falling Down' is a decent, dreamy piece with some good drum work from Zak Starkey.

Gem Archer's 'To Be Where There's Life' takes the album forward with an Indian-themed, psychedelic track featuring a winding, hypnotic bass line. It's nice, but hardly essential - he's no George Harrison. Liam's second song of the album is pretty dismal. You can tell that the band tried to make the best of 'Aint Got Nothing', but there wasn't much they could do with such a basic and unappealing composition. Andy Bell's 'The Nature Of Reality' is also a dull track and isn't much better than filler. Liam's third song of the album and the last track, 'Soldier On' is quite good, certainly interesting, melodically, and makes up, in part, for a relatively poor end to a good album.

All-in-all, this is quite a good album for any lovers of classic rock music, but if you're looking for innovation or raw energy, you may have to look elsewhere. Although there are tracks here which suggest that their youth hasn't quite deserted them, 'Dig Out Your Soul' does look like Oasis are showing a few signs of getting a bit of a middle-aged spread. Still, there's enough here to make this a worthwhile purchase for all existing Oasis fans and, if you liked the last couple, you'll probably like this.

MANCHESTERS WICKED BAND COME GOOD AGAIN, 02 Jan 2009
To be honest I really thought Oasis couldn't do it again after 'What's the Story Morning Glory' and 'Don't Believe the Truth' and 'Heathen Chemistry', but they have and Single 'The Shock Of the Lightning' is as good as the whole album. All songs great and danceable. Easy to sing along to! Great Buy :)

dig out your soul, 28 Dec 2008
oasis are back with their finest album in years.lets get the negatives out the way first. two songs here let the album down and if they had been put aside for b-sides and replaced with better tracks your looking at a five star album.get of your high horse with noels whiny vocals and the liam penned aint got nothin are howlers.thankfully the rest of the album is oasis firing on all cylinders.shock of the lightning ,the first single is a turbo charged rocker with noel and gems duelling guitars brewing up a whirlwind psychedelic groove,its the most exciting song they have done in years argubaly since the glory days of 94-95.im outa time is a dreamy ballad that while a little too lennon-y for me is still a strong number.standout tracks though are the stunning 'the turning' backed up by an electric piano its classic oasis with a great sneering liam vocal.the gem written 'to be where theres life' is another psychedelic cracker when the drums kick in its superb and sounds great live.andy bells nature of reality is a winner and the noel sung 'waiting for the rapture and falling down are great.all said this is oasis back on top at this rate the next album which is already in the demo stages could well be the masterpiece they are capable of producing,for now this will do nicely.one of the best albums of the year.

worst effort so far, 28 Dec 2008
got this one for christmas. noel's songwriting skills manage to keep the first four songs more or less above mediocrity. but once you've listened through those four, the album becomes quite a drag with the exception of "falling down", which is carried by an ear-catching melody.
"i'm outta time", written by liam, is one of those darker oasis ballads but unable to stand up to "gas panic" or "born on a different cloud". "soldier on", another song by liam, begins with a nice melody but has nothing to offer afterwards. and with his third song, "ain't got nothing", liam ironically proves that he really "ain't got nothing". leaves three more songs: "(get off your) high horse lady", "to be where there's life" and "the nature of reality", all of which are incredibly static and boring. moreover, the clean sound, rather unsusual for oasis, doesn't help the songs at all.

Top notch, 02 Aug 2008
What a great album! By far and away their best, before they succumbed to Coldplay-type anthems on Seldom Seen Kid. Every track a winner, but "Very best" is well titled. Enjoy! Anyone that can get Stockport Supporters Club into the lyrics of a ballad is alright by me!!

cracking album, 12 Jun 2008
What an amazing album from Elbow. It really has got the lot. Instrumentally it is fantastic, the lyrics are witty, subtly clever. Just a great listen that improves with regular listens. Definitely an album to listen to from start to finish. You really need all the tracks, so if you're thinking of downloading just a couple of songs please think again.


A year or so on., 24 Oct 2007
Great expectations is the greatest song ever written. Given that I love Elliott Smith it's hard for me to admit, but it washes over and stirrs the emotions like no other. An album of sheer brilliance.

Bury's finest since black pudding., 18 Jul 2007
After the anthemic Red, powder blue and newborn from Asleep in the back fugitive motel and crawling with idiots from Cast of thousands,i found L.O.T.F.W to be a slower album, but it is a grower, and more often than not, they end up being your favourites.

In my opinion, I am Kloot, Puressence and Elbow are the finest bands of the last 10 years to originate from the North West of this septic isle.

"These feelings belong in a zoo...", 08 Jun 2007
I don't know how to do this album justice. It is breathtakingly beautiful, with Mr Garvey seemingly effortlessly finding poetry in the everyday. Finding the cast of a wedding ceremony on the last bus home (great expectations), giving the best description of a bouncer you'll ever hear (forget myself) or drunkenly falling for a random girl in a bar (imagined affair). The whole album feels like a story and its one I don't tire of. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Excellent! - Sounds good too..., 27 Dec 2008
I've only just got to hear of this band and like others who've shared their views, I really appreciate the diverse and thoughtful music on this CD and look forward to getting to know it better over the coming months.

The other thing that sets this CD apart is the great sound quality on offer. In my view, so much modern music is ruined by the over-loud, yet anodyne production which saps the music of all emotion and dynamics, making it all sound the same from track to track. I tend to replace the discs in the rack with a yawn and there they stay. Not this CD, which makes me want to play it more, to discover more in the music on offer.

PLEASE give this disc a go. You'll be very pleasantly surprised I guarantee. I hope that future recordings of Elbow's will be at least as well produced too. The music is so much easier to hear and "feel!"

This is the only thing in any CD rack it's ever in, 21 Dec 2008
I have to confess I'd never heard of Elbow until I was tuned into the Mercury Prize where I have to confess I was expecting to see The Last Shadow Puppets scoop the prize.

So I immediately bought The Seldom Seen Kid to see why and can honestly say that I have not heard such a diverse, engaging, intelligent, thought and emotion-provoking album since...well, I can't think of an album that has ever made me think or moved me as much as this one.

There are lots of detailed (and brilliantly written) reviews on here that I can't even begin to improve on, but felt compelled to pen a few words for those approaching this album as a newcomer to Elbow.

Buy it. Today.

very very dull, 18 Dec 2008
how on earth did this get so many 5 stars reviews - the world has gone mad.

fair enough they may be ok compared to some of the other popular bands out there - but this offers little that hasnt been done before - and there is nothing wrong with copying a style here or there but if you it has to be done with an engaging delivery and some panache - however this doesnt.

its like a bad mix of the smiths and latter day radiohead with coldplay esque pretentions.

before you go reading all these 5 star reviews i suggest you check out what other albums/artists they reveiwed - it sfunny how the reviwer who has the most helpful votes on this album also gave robbie williams and take that 5 stars.

think wisley before you start paying attention to all these 5 star ratingas - they are very 'throwaway'.

i know music is subjective - but if you think this is as good as it gets - tyhen you really, desperately need to expand your musical horizons coz there are so many band out there who have done or are doing similar things
much more succesfuly.

sorry elbow - sorry elbow fans - time for some home truths.

its ok you can go click on 'no' now....

thanks for listening.

Peerless and Beautiful, 17 Dec 2008
The depth and character of all of these songs is something to behold - many come in from left-field with stunningly orginal and yet familiar arrangements. Lyrically intrigue and often very funny the songs are better than on the last two albums - and they were VERY good songs. And Guy Garvey's voice gets better and better - rich like a properly made mocha and dipping into his native dialect in all the right places.

Fantastic album and easily deserving of the Mercury prize - better than the last 3 winners put together! Well worth buying...

Cheers....


Neil

Mancunian Way, 17 Dec 2008
I only belatedly got around the giving this album the appraisal it deserves in the last week or so. Never previously been over excited by Elbow's output and rather put off by the OTT hype which has been the lot of the Mercury Prize winners since the Seldom Seen Kid juggernaut kicked in and the album started selling by the shed load.
What can I say ? It's a good album but not 'The Album of 2008' as some has claimed and hardly a classic either. To my ears it's a very mellow,easy listening pop album full of relaxed melodic tunes and dreamy strings. Hardly the sort of record that would offend your Gran or find itself too left field for Radio 2 producers planning their schedule. It's mainstream adult orientated rock/pop and that's OK. Although it's so laid back it makes a group like Coldplay sound like a death metal band by contrast !
The one BIG drawback for me is having Richard Hawley co sing/write 'The Fix'. Frankly I can't stand the Sheffield 50's crooner and not surprisingly The Fix is toe curlingly awful!
If you download the album though you could always just skip this piece of aural torture or substitute another Elbow track.

Nice car album. A good antidote to road rage.

Awesome Album again from Keane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 02 Jan 2009
How are this Band's albums not permanently number 1 in the album charts.

Have they ever produced 1 bad song yet in 3 albums. I don't think so.

The dreamy melodic tunes and the emotional lyrics that on Song 6 You Don't See Me can make a grown man cry (well, it did me).

All songs are written with a 'human magic' that you can connect with and not many writers can achieve this.

I have been waiting for over 2 years for the release of this album, but it was so worth waiting for. I don't think any other band gets close to them at the moment.

If you are a 30 something like me (36) and loved 80's synthy music that has been brought into the 21st century then all 3 of Keane's albums should be part of your collection.

I cannot be more impressed by KEANE, and they are also great live, so is there anyone better around at the minute. I don't think so.



Not as good as previous 2 albums, 30 Dec 2008
When I first heard "spiralling", the first single from the album, I had really great expectations for this album. Spiralling is one of my favourite Keane singles, memory trip back to the 80s. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isnt anywhere near as good though. The 2nd single, "lovers are losing" is ok but not as catchy. The rest of the album is somewhat bland and nothing in particular seems to stand out. I think this album will struggle to sell well as I cant see any other songs from the album making a major impact in the charts. Keane's first album is outstanding 5/5, the 2nd album wasnt as good but contained some good songs 3.5/5 but this album is certainly less superior than both.

Keane - An Apology, 19 Dec 2008
Keane - An Apology

(c) All Music Journals and Magazines

In common with all other music journalists, we may over the past 4 years have inadvertantly given the impression that Keane were somehow 'not very good'.

With some reluctance, words and phrases such as 'rubbish', 'derivative', 'laboured', 'boring', 'worse than coldplay', and 'unacceptable even in the 80s' may have been used in relation to this superb band.

As of the release of this 3rd, genre challenging album we accept that we were wrong, and Keene are in fact the best band that ever recorded or played a single note ever, being even better than Coldplay.

We therefore apologise to our readers unreservedly for any confusion that may have previously been caused.

A fantastic album, 15 Dec 2008
I bought this album a few weeks ago, and it's barely been off my mp3 player, the more you listen the better it gets.
Love the new direction that Keane have taken, Tom's vocals are a rich tapestry, with clever, original songs.
There have been so many albums this year that have not lived up to expectation, this has gone beyond my expectations, one of the best of the year, if not the best.
Keane - keep up the excellent work.

4 & a half stars - This is a very good album, 14 Dec 2008
I have this albums two predecessors, but something made me hesitant to buy this... maybe the number of poor/mediocre reviews & ratings, I don't know, but I resisted nonetheless. I finally gave in - having heard the title track (which I would rate as one of their best tracks) on radio. I am now somewhat annoyed that I didn't buy it earlier.

This album is really good. Some of the tracks are more upbeat that previously, but that is no bad thing and they still retain the Keane sound - probably due to Tom's unmistakeable vocals.

In terms of the negative criticism about a heavy 80's sound - I was in my teens during the eighties, and have a large collection of music from that era - I think this is misrepresentation of the album. The use of keyboards does not automatically justify such a tag, and I think the album is as contemporary sounding as their previous efforts (lets be honest, most of the current batch of "fresh" guitar bands could have been plucked from any of the last 4 decades).

The first 6 tracks are exceptional, with a couple of average tracks towards the end, although there is not a duff track here. The highlights for me: Perfect Symmetry, You Don't See Me, and The Lovers Are Losing.

If you have previously held a fondness for Keane, don't be afraid of Perfect Symmetry - take the plunge. This really is a good album.

Oasis are back, 06 Jan 2009
I have to admit I was loathed to buy this CD, as for me Oasis were just rolling out the same bland music seemingly without any effort recently. I don't agree with some other reviewers that they never went away, I think they are just the die hard fans for whom the Gallaghers can do no wrong! The last album for example for me had nothing memorable on it whatsoever. When this was down in price in the sale, thought I would give them one last chance. I was pleasantly surprised. This album has a much fresher sound, although it is still Oasis through and through. OK, still not up to their classic albums, but they have pulled their socks up and put together a good album.

Oasis Soldier On, 05 Jan 2009
Another year, another Oasis album which is perfectly fine but again fails to capture what it was in the first place that made people love them. 'Dig Out Your Soul' is a decent album and really very good in parts, but it is truthful to say that, has this been their debut album, nobody would probably have been that interested in them seven studio albums later. Recent albums have been encouraging and well worth buying, but if you were to rank the Oasis albums from best to worst, 'Dig Out Your Soul' would probably be somewhere in the middle. So, well worth listening to then, but it is still going to be a bit of a disappointment to anyone who remembers their first two albums and everything the music meant to the fans back then. However, we really just shouldn't expect anything like that again - it just isn't going to happen, folks.

So, the songs. Most of the tracks are the sound of Oasis cruising. Very seldom do they really get into fifth gear and, while it would be unfair to call it complacent, it is a little frustrating to hear competency in lieu of passion and creativity. The first four songs belong to Noel Gallagher and they're amongst the picks of the album. 'Bag It Up' is a hefty, slow-burning rock monster and an excellent way to open the album. 'The Turning' is a classy, chiming piano-driven head-nodder with a picked guitar ending which sounds very much like The Beatles' 'Dear Prudence'. 'Waiting For The Rapture' reminds me of Plastic Ono Band-era Lennon, with 'Cold Turkey' guitar riffs punctuating a catchy melody line.

'The Shock Of The Lightning', musically, could have been lifted from their debut album and if it wasn't for the slightly poor and meaningless lyrics (something about love being a "time machine upon a silver screen" and a "magical mystery" - wonder where they got that phrase from?) it could have been one of the best tracks on this release. Next up is Liam Gallagher's first composition of the album, the beautifully tender 'I'm Outta Time' and, as far as I'm concerned, it is the best thing he has ever written, sounding like a cross between a Jeff Lynne and a Sean Lennon song. Some great lyrics as well - "If I'm to fall, would you be there to applaud or would you hide behind the law?". For me, it is the best track on this album. Noel's 'Get Off Your High Horse Lady' is derivative filler at its worst, certainly for anyone who has heard 'Hi Heel Sneakers' before and the last Noel song of the album 'Falling Down' is a decent, dreamy piece with some good drum work from Zak Starkey.

Gem Archer's 'To Be Where There's Life' takes the album forward with an Indian-themed, psychedelic track featuring a winding, hypnotic bass line. It's nice, but hardly essential - he's no George Harrison. Liam's second song of the album is pretty dismal. You can tell that the band tried to make the best of 'Aint Got Nothing', but there wasn't much they could do with such a basic and unappealing composition. Andy Bell's 'The Nature Of Reality' is also a dull track and isn't much better than filler. Liam's third song of the album and the last track, 'Soldier On' is quite good, certainly interesting, melodically, and makes up, in part, for a relatively poor end to a good album.

All-in-all, this is quite a good album for any lovers of classic rock music, but if you're looking for innovation or raw energy, you may have to look elsewhere. Although there are tracks here which suggest that their youth hasn't quite deserted them, 'Dig Out Your Soul' does look like Oasis are showing a few signs of getting a bit of a middle-aged spread. Still, there's enough here to make this a worthwhile purchase for all existing Oasis fans and, if you liked the last couple, you'll probably like this.

MANCHESTERS WICKED BAND COME GOOD AGAIN, 02 Jan 2009
To be honest I really thought Oasis couldn't do it again after 'What's the Story Morning Glory' and 'Don't Believe the Truth' and 'Heathen Chemistry', but they have and Single 'The Shock Of the Lightning' is as good as the whole album. All songs great and danceable. Easy to sing along to! Great Buy :)

dig out your soul, 28 Dec 2008
oasis are back with their finest album in years.lets get the negatives out the way first. two songs here let the album down and if they had been put aside for b-sides and replaced with better tracks your looking at a five star album.get of your high horse with noels whiny vocals and the liam penned aint got nothin are howlers.thankfully the rest of the album is oasis firing on all cylinders.shock of the lightning ,the first single is a turbo charged rocker with noel and gems duelling guitars brewing up a whirlwind psychedelic groove,its the most exciting song they have done in years argubaly since the glory days of 94-95.im outa time is a dreamy ballad that while a little too lennon-y for me is still a strong number.standout tracks though are the stunning 'the turning' backed up by an electric piano its classic oasis with a great sneering liam vocal.the gem written 'to be where theres life' is another psychedelic cracker when the drums kick in its superb and sounds great live.andy bells nature of reality is a winner and the noel sung 'waiting for the rapture and falling down are great.all said this is oasis back on top at this rate the next album which is already in the demo stages could well be the masterpiece they are capable of producing,for now this will do nicely.one of the best albums of the year.

worst effort so far, 28 Dec 2008
got this one for christmas. noel's songwriting skills manage to keep the first four songs more or less above mediocrity. but once you've listened through those four, the album becomes quite a drag with the exception of "falling down", which is carried by an ear-catching melody.
"i'm outta time", written by liam, is one of those darker oasis ballads but unable to stand up to "gas panic" or "born on a different cloud". "soldier on", another song by liam, begins with a nice melody but has nothing to offer afterwards. and with his third song, "ain't got nothing", liam ironically proves that he really "ain't got nothing". leaves three more songs: "(get off your) high horse lady", "to be where there's life" and "the nature of reality", all of which are incredibly static and boring. moreover, the clean sound, rather unsusual for oasis, doesn't help the songs at all.

Top notch, 02 Aug 2008
What a great album! By far and away their best, before they succumbed to Coldplay-type anthems on Seldom Seen Kid. Every track a winner, but "Very best" is well titled. Enjoy! Anyone that can get Stockport Supporters Club into the lyrics of a ballad is alright by me!!

cracking album, 12 Jun 2008
What an amazing album from Elbow. It really has got the lot. Instrumentally it is fantastic, the lyrics are witty, subtly clever. Just a great listen that improves with regular listens. Definitely an album to listen to from start to finish. You really need all the tracks, so if you're thinking of downloading just a couple of songs please think again.


A year or so on., 24 Oct 2007
Great expectations is the greatest song ever written. Given that I love Elliott Smith it's hard for me to admit, but it washes over and stirrs the emotions like no other. An album of sheer brilliance.

Bury's finest since black pudding., 18 Jul 2007
After the anthemic Red, powder blue and newborn from Asleep in the back fugitive motel and crawling with idiots from Cast of thousands,i found L.O.T.F.W to be a slower album, but it is a grower, and more often than not, they end up being your favourites.

In my opinion, I am Kloot, Puressence and Elbow are the finest bands of the last 10 years to originate from the North West of this septic isle.

"These feelings belong in a zoo...", 08 Jun 2007
I don't know how to do this album justice. It is breathtakingly beautiful, with Mr Garvey seemingly effortlessly finding poetry in the everyday. Finding the cast of a wedding ceremony on the last bus home (great expectations), giving the best description of a bouncer you'll ever hear (forget myself) or drunkenly falling for a random girl in a bar (imagined affair). The whole album feels like a story and its one I don't tire of. I can't recommend it highly enough.

shame on you, 04 Jan 2009
You miserable souls slagging off an enjoyable non-offensive mix of catchy pop tunes. Ok they're not likely to claim any Hall of fame honours with this, but EVERY song is catchy, listenable and makes you feel good - the singles particulary so. I sat in front of a 5/6 year old girl who knew every word of the three songs they played at the Capital Radio Jingle Belle ball, and at the age of 40+ I have to say I wanted to join in as well! And that's not sad!

Please don't buy this, or anything, that SFG have created!, 11 Dec 2008
Imagine having your nails ripped out one by one with rusty pliers. Then being boiled alive in a pot of acid. Then being hung up to dry while birds of prey peck away at what's left of your body.

That only comes close to the pain of listening to a Scouting for Girls record. If they ever bring back the death penalty in the UK, I know who should be first for the chop!

Oh Dear, 18 Nov 2008
I was a fan of scouting for girls until I got this album then I realised how annoying and similar every song is. Not good.

Party Poopers, 26 Oct 2008
There's a kind of grim, depressing inevitability about this.
It's like the stone thrown up by a lorry that hits YOUR windscreen, or you agonisingly realising that brown lump under your shoe isn't a dropped Mars bar or some clogged up leaves....
'SFG' works like this; something hurtles towards you, you're terrified it's gonna be really painful and bad......and it is.
Apart from giving me the raving needle, there is SO much fundamentally wrong with 'SFG'. It doesn't work on ANY level, it can't be sympathetically reviewed in any context.
It's a flat, eggy pancake of an album. It's a desperate worry as to what kind of rhino-headed cabbage would consider that this in any way resembles good music. It scores nought on the melody scale, nought in the lyrical stakes, but wins handsomely the plankton-would-find-it-insulting league!
They've tried desperately to produce it to decency, but underneath the surface shininess the cracks are showing all over the place.
The workings of this particular trick are wonderfully/horribly visible, involving that heady and ghastly notion that endurance and hard work are in some way substitutes for talent and colour.
'SFG' are grey and dour. Maladjusted socially inadequate noodles, who, are touring the country as I type, under the grotesque disillusion that they are in some way a pop group. Their debut album indicates otherwise.
'She's So Lovely' is a disgrace of a song. 'James Bond' has lyrics a sub-literate loonie could better, and probably worst of all (an accolade I suspect it knows it deserves) 'Elvis Ain't Dead', a despicable runt of a tune, operose and overweening, twitches to death right at the albums heart.
Enough. 'SFG' is a somnifacient disaster. It has an air of resigned failure akin to that of a one-legged grasshopper in a field full of crows.
The Amazon night vista is despairingly star-less for this one, and that's why I really wanted to like it - blow a contrary wind and all that, but not even in a satirical sense could you award this desperation anything other than one appalling star.
And that's the worst name for a pop group since Heloise and the Savoir Faire.


EXCELLENT =D, 20 Sep 2008
This album is by one of the bands that are definatly one of the best around today. This isnt the type f music i listen to but i thought it was amazing when i heard and it gets better every time. Much much better than other bands of this type like mcfly. BUY IT !!!! You wont regret it !!!=D

Warning: the Verve’s wittily titled fourth album--the first since their reformation in 2007--is no Urban Hymns Part II. That much is clear from the album’s first single "Love Is Noise," a punchy-yet-addictive propulsive rocker, but it’s a fact underlined several times on the remainder of the album. Taking a determined stroll along the boulevard of experimentalism, the band mix up their slick strings and ringing guitars with dense drums and murky soundscapes for this comeback album. Opening cut “Sit and Wonder” sets the tone: a lurching, bluesy tune with a loose, jam-session feel that maintains its groove for almost seven minutes. The soaring (and shorter) “Rather Be,” the dreamy “Judas” and the plodding “I See Houses” bring us closer to the classic Verve sound, but the retreat into moody psychedelia continues anew with “Numbness,” the intense “Noise Epic” and the kaleidoscopic, Can-like “Colombo”. Despite these darker moments being indulgently drawn-out at times they serve to raise the more euphonious moments--surprise anthems like “Valium Skies” included--to even more heavenly realms, and create a compelling chiaroscuro along the way. --Danny McKenna

Excellent! - Sounds good too..., 27 Dec 2008
I've only just got to hear of this band and like others who've shared their views, I really appreciate the diverse and thoughtful music on this CD and look forward to getting to know it better over the coming months.

The other thing that sets this CD apart is the great sound quality on offer. In my view, so much modern music is ruined by the over-loud, yet anodyne production which saps the music of all emotion and dynamics, making it all sound the same from track to track. I tend to replace the discs in the rack with a yawn and there they stay. Not this CD, which makes me want to play it more, to discover more in the music on offer.

PLEASE give this disc a go. You'll be very pleasantly surprised I guarantee. I hope that future recordings of Elbow's will be at least as well produced too. The music is so much easier to hear and "feel!"

This is the only thing in any CD rack it's ever in, 21 Dec 2008
I have to confess I'd never heard of Elbow until I was tuned into the Mercury Prize where I have to confess I was expecting to see The Last Shadow Puppets scoop the prize.

So I immediately bought The Seldom Seen Kid to see why and can honestly say that I have not heard such a diverse, engaging, intelligent, thought and emotion-provoking album since...well, I can't think of an album that has ever made me think or moved me as much as this one.

There are lots of detailed (and brilliantly written) reviews on here that I can't even begin to improve on, but felt compelled to pen a few words for those approaching this album as a newcomer to Elbow.

Buy it. Today.

very very dull, 18 Dec 2008
how on earth did this get so many 5 stars reviews - the world has gone mad.

fair enough they may be ok compared to some of the other popular bands out there - but this offers little that hasnt been done before - and there is nothing wrong with copying a style here or there but if you it has to be done with an engaging delivery and some panache - however this doesnt.

its like a bad mix of the smiths and latter day radiohead with coldplay esque pretentions.

before you go reading all these 5 star reviews i suggest you check out what other albums/artists they reveiwed - it sfunny how the reviwer who has the most helpful votes on this album also gave robbie williams and take that 5 stars.

think wisley before you start paying attention to all these 5 star ratingas - they are very 'throwaway'.

i know music is subjective - but if you think this is as good as it gets - tyhen you really, desperately need to expand your musical horizons coz there are so many band out there who have done or are doing similar things
much more succesfuly.

sorry elbow - sorry elbow fans - time for some home truths.

its ok you can go click on 'no' now....

thanks for listening.

Peerless and Beautiful, 17 Dec 2008
The depth and character of all of these songs is something to behold - many come in from left-field with stunningly orginal and yet familiar arrangements. Lyrically intrigue and often very funny the songs are better than on the last two albums - and they were VERY good songs. And Guy Garvey's voice gets better and better - rich like a properly made mocha and dipping into his native dialect in all the right places.

Fantastic album and easily deserving of the Mercury prize - better than the last 3 winners put together! Well worth buying...

Cheers....


Neil

Mancunian Way, 17 Dec 2008
I only belatedly got around the giving this album the appraisal it deserves in the last week or so. Never previously been over excited by Elbow's output and rather put off by the OTT hype which has been the lot of the Mercury Prize winners since the Seldom Seen Kid juggernaut kicked in and the album started selling by the shed load.
What can I say ? It's a good album but not 'The Album of 2008' as some has claimed and hardly a classic either. To my ears it's a very mellow,easy listening pop album full of relaxed melodic tunes and dreamy strings. Hardly the sort of record that would offend your Gran or find itself too left field for Radio 2 producers planning their schedule. It's mainstream adult orientated rock/pop and that's OK. Although it's so laid back it makes a group like Coldplay sound like a death metal band by contrast !
The one BIG drawback for me is having Richard Hawley co sing/write 'The Fix'. Frankly I can't stand the Sheffield 50's crooner and not surprisingly The Fix is toe curlingly awful!
If you download the album though you could always just skip this piece of aural torture or substitute another Elbow track.

Nice car album. A good antidote to road rage.

Awesome Album again from Keane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 02 Jan 2009
How are this Band's albums not permanently number 1 in the album charts.

Have they ever produced 1 bad song yet in 3 albums. I don't think so.

The dreamy melodic tunes and the emotional lyrics that on Song 6 You Don't See Me can make a grown man cry (well, it did me).

All songs are written with a 'human magic' that you can connect with and not many writers can achieve this.

I have been waiting for over 2 years for the release of this album, but it was so worth waiting for. I don't think any other band gets close to them at the moment.

If you are a 30 something like me (36) and loved 80's synthy music that has been brought into the 21st century then all 3 of Keane's albums should be part of your collection.

I cannot be more impressed by KEANE, and they are also great live, so is there anyone better around at the minute. I don't think so.



Not as good as previous 2 albums, 30 Dec 2008
When I first heard "spiralling", the first single from the album, I had really great expectations for this album. Spiralling is one of my favourite Keane singles, memory trip back to the 80s. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isnt anywhere near as good though. The 2nd single, "lovers are losing" is ok but not as catchy. The rest of the album is somewhat bland and nothing in particular seems to stand out. I think this album will struggle to sell well as I cant see any other songs from the album making a major impact in the charts. Keane's first album is outstanding 5/5, the 2nd album wasnt as good but contained some good songs 3.5/5 but this album is certainly less superior than both.

Keane - An Apology, 19 Dec 2008
Keane - An Apology

(c) All Music Journals and Magazines

In common with all other music journalists, we may over the past 4 years have inadvertantly given the impression that Keane were somehow 'not very good'.

With some reluctance, words and phrases such as 'rubbish', 'derivative', 'laboured', 'boring', 'worse than coldplay', and 'unacceptable even in the 80s' may have been used in relation to this superb band.

As of the release of this 3rd, genre challenging album we accept that we were wrong, and Keene are in fact the best band that ever recorded or played a single note ever, being even better than Coldplay.

We therefore apologise to our readers unreservedly for any confusion that may have previously been caused.

A fantastic album, 15 Dec 2008
I bought this album a few weeks ago, and it's barely been off my mp3 player, the more you listen the better it gets.
Love the new direction that Keane have taken, Tom's vocals are a rich tapestry, with clever, original songs.
There have been so many albums this year that have not lived up to expectation, this has gone beyond my expectations, one of the best of the year, if not the best.
Keane - keep up the excellent work.

4 & a half stars - This is a very good album, 14 Dec 2008
I have this albums two predecessors, but something made me hesitant to buy this... maybe the number of poor/mediocre reviews & ratings, I don't know, but I resisted nonetheless. I finally gave in - having heard the title track (which I would rate as one of their best tracks) on radio. I am now somewhat annoyed that I didn't buy it earlier.

This album is really good. Some of the tracks are more upbeat that previously, but that is no bad thing and they still retain the Keane sound - probably due to Tom's unmistakeable vocals.

In terms of the negative criticism about a heavy 80's sound - I was in my teens during the eighties, and have a large collection of music from that era - I think this is misrepresentation of the album. The use of keyboards does not automatically justify such a tag, and I think the album is as contemporary sounding as their previous efforts (lets be honest, most of the current batch of "fresh" guitar bands could have been plucked from any of the last 4 decades).

The first 6 tracks are exceptional, with a couple of average tracks towards the end, although there is not a duff track here. The highlights for me: Perfect Symmetry, You Don't See Me, and The Lovers Are Losing.

If you have previously held a fondness for Keane, don't be afraid of Perfect Symmetry - take the plunge. This really is a good album.

Oasis are back, 06 Jan 2009
I have to admit I was loathed to buy this CD, as for me Oasis were just rolling out the same bland music seemingly without any effort recently. I don't agree with some other reviewers that they never went away, I think they are just the die hard fans for whom the Gallaghers can do no wrong! The last album for example for me had nothing memorable on it whatsoever. When this was down in price in the sale, thought I would give them one last chance. I was pleasantly surprised. This album has a much fresher sound, although it is still Oasis through and through. OK, still not up to their classic albums, but they have pulled their socks up and put together a good album.

Oasis Soldier On, 05 Jan 2009
Another year, another Oasis album which is perfectly fine but again fails to capture what it was in the first place that made people love them. 'Dig Out Your Soul' is a decent album and really very good in parts, but it is truthful to say that, has this been their debut album, nobody would probably have been that interested in them seven studio albums later. Recent albums have been encouraging and well worth buying, but if you were to rank the Oasis albums from best to worst, 'Dig Out Your Soul' would probably be somewhere in the middle. So, well worth listening to then, but it is still going to be a bit of a disappointment to anyone who remembers their first two albums and everything the music meant to the fans back then. However, we really just shouldn't expect anything like that again - it just isn't going to happen, folks.

So, the songs. Most of the tracks are the sound of Oasis cruising. Very seldom do they really get into fifth gear and, while it would be unfair to call it complacent, it is a little frustrating to hear competency in lieu of passion and creativity. The first four songs belong to Noel Gallagher and they're amongst the picks of the album. 'Bag It Up' is a hefty, slow-burning rock monster and an excellent way to open the album. 'The Turning' is a classy, chiming piano-driven head-nodder with a picked guitar ending which sounds very much like The Beatles' 'Dear Prudence'. 'Waiting For The Rapture' reminds me of Plastic Ono Band-era Lennon, with 'Cold Turkey' guitar riffs punctuating a catchy melody line.

'The Shock Of The Lightning', musically, could have been lifted from their debut album and if it wasn't for the slightly poor and meaningless lyrics (something about love being a "time machine upon a silver screen" and a "magical mystery" - wonder where they got that phrase from?) it could have been one of the best tracks on this release. Next up is Liam Gallagher's first composition of the album, the beautifully tender 'I'm Outta Time' and, as far as I'm concerned, it is the best thing he has ever written, sounding like a cross between a Jeff Lynne and a Sean Lennon song. Some great lyrics as well - "If I'm to fall, would you be there to applaud or would you hide behind the law?". For me, it is the best track on this album. Noel's 'Get Off Your High Horse Lady' is derivative filler at its worst, certainly for anyone who has heard 'Hi Heel Sneakers' before and the last Noel song of the album 'Falling Down' is a decent, dreamy piece with some good drum work from Zak Starkey.

Gem Archer's 'To Be Where There's Life' takes the album forward with an Indian-themed, psychedelic track featuring a winding, hypnotic bass line. It's nice, but hardly essential - he's no George Harrison. Liam's second song of the album is pretty dismal. You can tell that the band tried to make the best of 'Aint Got Nothing', but there wasn't much they could do with such a basic and unappealing composition. Andy Bell's 'The Nature Of Reality' is also a dull track and isn't much better than filler. Liam's third song of the album and the last track, 'Soldier On' is quite good, certainly interesting, melodically, and makes up, in part, for a relatively poor end to a good album.

All-in-all, this is quite a good album for any lovers of classic rock music, but if you're looking for innovation or raw energy, you may have to look elsewhere. Although there are tracks here which suggest that their youth hasn't quite deserted them, 'Dig Out Your Soul' does look like Oasis are showing a few signs of getting a bit of a middle-aged spread. Still, there's enough here to make this a worthwhile purchase for all existing Oasis fans and, if you liked the last couple, you'll probably like this.

MANCHESTERS WICKED BAND COME GOOD AGAIN, 02 Jan 2009
To be honest I really thought Oasis couldn't do it again after 'What's the Story Morning Glory' and 'Don't Believe the Truth' and 'Heathen Chemistry', but they have and Single 'The Shock Of the Lightning' is as good as the whole album. All songs great and danceable. Easy to sing along to! Great Buy :)

dig out your soul, 28 Dec 2008
oasis are back with their finest album in years.lets get the negatives out the way first. two songs here let the album down and if they had been put aside for b-sides and replaced with better tracks your looking at a five star album.get of your high horse with noels whiny vocals and the liam penned aint got nothin are howlers.thankfully the rest of the album is oasis firing on all cylinders.shock of the lightning ,the first single is a turbo charged rocker with noel and gems duelling guitars brewing up a whirlwind psychedelic groove,its the most exciting song they have done in years argubaly since the glory days of 94-95.im outa time is a dreamy ballad that while a little too lennon-y for me is still a strong number.standout tracks though are the stunning 'the turning' backed up by an electric piano its classic oasis with a great sneering liam vocal.the gem written 'to be where theres life' is another psychedelic cracker when the drums kick in its superb and sounds great live.andy bells nature of reality is a winner and the noel sung 'waiting for the rapture and falling down are great.all said this is oasis back on top at this rate the next album which is already in the demo stages could well be the masterpiece they are capable of producing,for now this will do nicely.one of the best albums of the year.

worst effort so far, 28 Dec 2008
got this one for christmas. noel's songwriting skills manage to keep the first four songs more or less above mediocrity. but once you've listened through those four, the album becomes quite a drag with the exception of "falling down", which is carried by an ear-catching melody.
"i'm outta time", written by liam, is one of those darker oasis ballads but unable to stand up to "gas panic" or "born on a different cloud". "soldier on", another song by liam, begins with a nice melody but has nothing to offer afterwards. and with his third song, "ain't got nothing", liam ironically proves that he really "ain't got nothing". leaves three more songs: "(get off your) high horse lady", "to be where there's life" and "the nature of reality", all of which are incredibly static and boring. moreover, the clean sound, rather unsusual for oasis, doesn't help the songs at all.

Top notch, 02 Aug 2008
What a great album! By far and away their best, before they succumbed to Coldplay-type anthems on Seldom Seen Kid. Every track a winner, but "Very best" is well titled. Enjoy! Anyone that can get Stockport Supporters Club into the lyrics of a ballad is alright by me!!

cracking album, 12 Jun 2008
What an amazing album from Elbow. It really has got the lot. Instrumentally it is fantastic, the lyrics are witty, subtly clever. Just a great listen that improves with regular listens. Definitely an album to listen to from start to finish. You really need all the tracks, so if you're thinking of downloading just a couple of songs please think again.


A year or so on., 24 Oct 2007
Great expectations is the greatest song ever written. Given that I love Elliott Smith it's hard for me to admit, but it washes over and stirrs the emotions like no other. An album of sheer brilliance.

Bury's finest since black pudding., 18 Jul 2007
After the anthemic Red, powder blue and newborn from Asleep in the back fugitive motel and crawling with idiots from Cast of thousands,i found L.O.T.F.W to be a slower album, but it is a grower, and more often than not, they end up being your favourites.

In my opinion, I am Kloot, Puressence and Elbow are the finest bands of the last 10 years to originate from the North West of this septic isle.

"These feelings belong in a zoo...", 08 Jun 2007
I don't know how to do this album justice. It is breathtakingly beautiful, with Mr Garvey seemingly effortlessly finding poetry in the everyday. Finding the cast of a wedding ceremony on the last bus home (great expectations), giving the best description of a bouncer you'll ever hear (forget myself) or drunkenly falling for a random girl in a bar (imagined affair). The whole album feels like a story and its one I don't tire of. I can't recommend it highly enough.

shame on you, 04 Jan 2009
You miserable souls slagging off an enjoyable non-offensive mix of catchy pop tunes. Ok they're not likely to claim any Hall of fame honours with this, but EVERY song is catchy, listenable and makes you feel good - the singles particulary so. I sat in front of a 5/6 year old girl who knew every word of the three songs they played at the Capital Radio Jingle Belle ball, and at the age of 40+ I have to say I wanted to join in as well! And that's not sad!

Please don't buy this, or anything, that SFG have created!, 11 Dec 2008
Imagine having your nails ripped out one by one with rusty pliers. Then being boiled alive in a pot of acid. Then being hung up to dry while birds of prey peck away at what's left of your body.

That only comes close to the pain of listening to a Scouting for Girls record. If they ever bring back the death penalty in the UK, I know who should be first for the chop!

Oh Dear, 18 Nov 2008
I was a fan of scouting for girls until I got this album then I realised how annoying and similar every song is. Not good.

Party Poopers, 26 Oct 2008
There's a kind of grim, depressing inevitability about this.
It's like the stone thrown up by a lorry that hits YOUR windscreen, or you agonisingly realising that brown lump under your shoe isn't a dropped Mars bar or some clogged up leaves....
'SFG' works like this; something hurtles towards you, you're terrified it's gonna be really painful and bad......and it is.
Apart from giving me the raving needle, there is SO much fundamentally wrong with 'SFG'. It doesn't work on ANY level, it can't be sympathetically reviewed in any context.
It's a flat, eggy pancake of an album. It's a desperate worry as to what kind of rhino-headed cabbage would consider that this in any way resembles good music. It scores nought on the melody scale, nought in the lyrical stakes, but wins handsomely the plankton-would-find-it-insulting league!
They've tried desperately to produce it to decency, but underneath the surface shininess the cr