Asleep in the Back

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
While it's tempting to position Elbow next to the sardonic likes of Badly Drawn Boy--mainly because of their proximity to the city of Manchester and their way with an acoustic guitar--Asleep In The Back, their frighteningly competent debut album, bears not the joker's smile. Instead, it comes straight from Manchester's simmering, ugly dark side--eleven tracks of rain-sodden misery, blown up into the breed of gracefully elegiac fatalism that once formed the essence of the likes of Joy Division. The foggy psychedelic swirl and sewer-deep dub basslines might recall the prog-rock indulgences of Radiohead, but Elbow's grievances are unmistakably aired from the far end of a dole queue; "Any Day Now" veritably fidgets with small town frustration, lead singer Guy Garvey--a man with the voice of an angel and the face of a brickie--hissing "Any day now/ How's about getting out of this place/ Anyways?" over and over, a mantra of desperation. Should we take it as a given that Elbow will break out of this rut of depression and despair? Asleep In The Back is good enough to suggest so. But then, Asleep In The Back also knows that fate can be awfully cruel. --Louis Pattison

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2006-03-16 rating:
this is music!!!
i cant believe i hear this album now! having recently bought the brilliant Leaders Of The Free World I wanted to discover Elbow. Then I listened to Cast Of Thousands next which i included in my top 10 album list. but then I listened to this album and I was totally knocked off my feet! I just love it. this is music! reading other reviews I was deeply dissapointed they were compared to other bands. some of the reviews which compare elbow to say coldplay would have put off buying this record. If u like music then get all the albums by Elbow. Another band I thought I should recommend is I Am Kloot.

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review by: date: 2005-07-23 rating:
In my top 10 list of all time
This album is one of the most exceptional albums of the new millenium. Its completely different to anything ive ever heard. Elbow are an experimental-indie band and their sound is completely fresh and original.

All the tracks are great and are beautifully structured. From the lovely any day now to the sublime scattered balck and whites.

my favourite tracks are coming second, any day now, scattered balck and whites, red, dont mix your drinks. every track is a gem including the 7 minute epic single, newborn.

With this album you get 60+ minutes of sublime music. Listen and enjoy. Although it wont be your favourite on first listen you'll appreciate eventually. Get their second album also. its great.

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review by: date: 2005-02-08 rating:
If you want to think
I was attracted to this album after hearing a shortened version of newborn on an acoustic album. At first this was the only track that i listened to but then i was gradually drawn in to the beauty of tracks like 'powderblue' with its wonderfully compelling lyrics. If you allow it to this album will take you over with every track becoming a must listen. This band are much underated for how good they are.

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review by: katykitty date: 2005-02-01 rating:
sublime...
totally soaring and beautiful. no one should be without this album to see them through times when it seems things can't get any worse. it's not a happy album but it never fails to make the listener feel that things are going to be ok. hope flies through as a sparkling undertone to the downbeat songs with an effect that is ultimately soothing.


review by: rogerkay3 date: 2005-01-11 rating:
Elbow - Asleep in the Back
If you like this genre of music, it is an essential purchase.

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