Fave Elbow album?

For me it's got to be Asleep In The Back, because it was the beginning of my love affair with Elbow.

I get a similar thing with albums as 'demoitis', as explained on Guy's show where you become attached to the first version of a song you hear. The first album I really listen to of a band often becomes my favourite.

Changes frequently between LOTFW & TSSK, an impossible decision to make !!

Kim, I know exactly what you mean, and on that basis if nothing else it's AITB for me too - still right up there after getting on for 8 years now.

But I suppose I have to say my own "Elbow albums and favourite b-sides" (i.e. most of them ) iTunes playlist.

Glad I'm not alone! *hugs* No matter how much I love all the other albums, I always come back to AITB. Which makes the lyrics of Scattered Black and Whites even more special to me:

I come back here from time to time. I shelter here some days.

Guy is saying that about his home and his family. But I say the same thing about their music.

Kim wrote:

For me it's got to be Asleep In The Back, because it was the beginning of my love affair with Elbow.

I get a similar thing with albums as 'demoitis', as explained on Guy's show where you become attached to the first version of a song you hear. The first album I really listen to of a band often becomes my favourite.

*coughBRAMBLEScough*

Kim what a lovely way of putting it. You could also go back to Presuming Ed,

This is why we are here...

Sarah does Brambles have cough medicine associations?

Yes, first version of Brambles.
My favourite elbow album is the triple cd+ of b-sides and rarities I collected from the singles and compilations I bought.
with Asleep in the back of the albums, very closely followed by COT.

leaders of the free world for me. station approach, great expectations alone make it my favourite. though only marginally, theyre all top class albums and some of the songs that didnt make it on them are amzing too

Asleep In the Back is my favourite, no questions asked. It is one of the most perfect albums I have heard.
I remember lying in my bedroom when I was about 20 and listening to it from start to finish and thinking it was just beautiful and I still do.

'Just as you are perfect, just as you are'.

It's still The Seldom Seen Kid for me. It's just so complete; I don't think I've ever heard an album that still moves me after hearing it so many times. It just connects on so many levels. Enoch Powell (yeah, I know, I know) once said that he didn't like listening to music because he felt it stripped him, laid him emotionally bare in a way that he did not welcome. Well, for once I understand what old Enoch was on about, although I am never one to resist the power of a good tune.

I think Leaders Of The Free World is a solid collection of tunes, though, it just didn't hit me the way The Seldom Seen Kid did.

Cast Of Thousands, I coming to grips with finally and I'll always think songs like Fallen Angel and Fugitive Motel are amongst their best work.

Asleep In The Back I don't have yet. I'm holding off for the deluxe edition now I know it's being released soon.

Cast of thousands

Switching off, Buttons and Zips, Not a job, the list goes on

The Seldom Seen Kid is the first album I bought and is in my opinion the best. It's full of quality songs, will have at least 4 songs on an eventual greatest hits album (Bones of You, Grounds For Divorce, One Day Like This and Mirrorball) and is produced with great skill. This is Elbow.

But as someone mentioned earlier, they have improved a little over each album. There is not one album I dislike.

1. Asleep In The Back
2. Leaders Of The Free World
3. Cast Of Thousands
4. The Seldom Seen Kid

In that order. If you disagree you're wrong!

Misspelt Yoof wrote:

1. Asleep In The Back
2. Leaders Of The Free World
3. Cast Of Thousands
4. The Seldom Seen Kid

In that order. If you disagree you're wrong!

Poo. I disagree, and you're wrong.

I still can't get into AITB as much as the other albums. Although I have gone right off TSSK lately, Leaders is still my favourite.

Lee Spoons wrote:

Although I have gone right off TSSK lately

Agreed.

1. TSSK
2.LOFW
3.AITB
4. COT

TSSK is, and has been for the past 2 years, my favourite LP of all time.

It turned me from a big fan to an obsessed Elbow nutter.

Misspelt Yoof wrote:

1. Asleep In The Back
2. Leaders Of The Free World
3. Cast Of Thousands
4. The Seldom Seen Kid

In that order. If you disagree you're wrong!

I agree.
I have loved all the albums so far (and all the b-sides too) but If they have to be in order as albums I agree with your order...2 and 3 are very close favourites, and I might swop them round depending on mood. But would still put 'AITB' first and 'TSSK' last.

My Bury Vest wrote:

It turned me from a big fan to an obsessed Elbow nutter.

TSSK has gradually had the reverse effect on me, the more I've been exposed.

Interesting how we are all massive fans but we all see it differently:

My choice would be:
1. AITB
2. TSSK
3. LOTFW
4. COT

Having said that, there's stuff on COT (Switching Off for example) which is as good as anything they've ever done.

To put it into context, all four albums would be in my all time Top 10 (along with Arcade Fire - Funeral, REM -Automatic For The People, Genesis-Foxtrot, Prefab Sprout-Steve McQueen , Death Cab For Cutie - Plans and The Smiths debut)

This means that IMHO Elbow's fourth best album is better than anything by Floyd, Joy Division, Aztec Camera, Costello, Dylan, Stone Roses and Teenage Fanclub, all artists who i have loved.

Why? I don't know (or can't explain) It's probably a combination of lyrics or phrases that stop me in my tracks / the "northern voice" / northwest pride (Dylan, REM & Arcade Fire not being from "round here") / my age, my experiences and my upbringing that make them stand out from other bands I love. And the music's not bad either.

Sorry for rambling and I know I'm way off topic but it just got me thinking

Well, here's my tuppence worth:
1 Leaders ...
2 Asleep ...
3 Cast of ...
4 TSSK

I would say that Leaders is still my favourite, with Asleep a very close second.
I do love TSSK but think I am suffering from a little bit of overkill, so it's in last place at the moment...

Jones wrote:

I do love TSSK but think I am suffering from a little bit of overkill, so it's in last place at the moment...

yes, agreed - a lot of the tracks have been used as incidental music for TV shows lately, which is a bit off-putting... still, it's exposure for the band, which is what we want I'm sure I'll fall in love with it again next time I give it a proper listen.

The Seldom Seen Kid
Leaders of the free world a close second

1. Cast of
2. Asleep
3. Leaders
4. Seldom Seen Kid

It has to be Asleep in the Back

The title track, Red, Bitten by the Tailfly, Scattered Black and Whites & Newborn are simply superb tracks

Hi Hatty - welcome to the forum!