What song would you use to introduce someone to Elbow?

Ideally it would be (and is) Newborn - my favourite and the one that got me into them originally, but being realistic about it, the one that's worked for most people has been lending them TSSK, in particular GFD and ODLT.

I'd also say Red works quite well... It has a lot of things that make a good elbow songs!

I would say "Newborn" because it shows all sides of Elbow, the soft ones and the hard ones. I just hope they will have still their hard sides.

Station Approach - because it's their best!!

This is such a difficult one. It would have to be a toss up with The Stops and Mirrorball. Whenever I listen to Mirrorball I just melt. My eldest daughter particularly loves Mirrorball and sings along to it with all her heart. My sister loves Fugitive Motel.

The band is starting to grow on my Mum too, now. I've recently compiled a disc with all my Elbow favourites and she can't stop playing it. Their popularity is constantly growing to the older and younger generation which is another reason why they are a fab band.

I tried introducing and converting with GFD and The bones of you, got only ''Sounds good, kinda meh though'' back

I hear you! What's up with that? I heard "Bones of You" and it was a life changer...truly. That song still blows me away.

Maybe some of my friends aren't that into music too much, or they just don't like Elbow's type of songs. My little sister likes the songs, but she says that the band name puts her off. 'Wierdest band name ever' to be exact quote. Guess it's not sensual enough.

She has a point

Hunta wrote:

Maybe some of my friends aren't that into music too much, or they just don't like Elbow's type of songs. My little sister likes the songs, but she says that the band name puts her off. 'Wierdest band name ever' to be exact quote. Guess it's not sensual enough.

Makes me curious what kind of bands those people like, because like I heard in some interview (was it Doves?) is any bandname stupid until the band behind it makes it special

rascalphoto wrote:

She has a point

You think so? I think Elbow is a great name 'The most sensous word in the english laungage, not by it's definition, but for how it feels to say it '

Yes...if you go deeper, the name is good. But, on the surface, I would say that it is odd...first impression and still my thoughts.

I've known a lot of people who have laughed at the name 'Elbow', so it's pretty common reaction for people to think it's bizarre/weird. Personally, I've never had a problem with it. It's better than the ones that make absolutely no sense at all.

I used to use Red a lot as an introduction to the band (I've turned a lot of people onto this band). Now that I have a bigger collection of their music and since a lot of it is diverse to appeal to different tastes, I normally think about what the person I'm introducing them to would prefer. I've never thought to use the Bones of You or GFD as starters, I have a huge tendency to grab something from the first two albums. I'm a huge believer in exposing full albums instead of songs. I think if you're going to choose something off of a concept album like TSSK, you'll have better success sharing the entire album instead of just bits and pieces. The songs work together alone, but someone will fully grasp it all when they have the album in its entirety. Just a thought.

Bones of You

My mate Gary bought TSSK because I made a casual reference to one of the tracks (The Fix, I think) sounding vaguely like his favourite band Tindersticks. He then proceeded to write a rather scathing review on his blog in which he describes the album as "background music for dinner parties".

Some people, eh?

Lee Spoons wrote:

My mate Gary bought TSSK because I made a casual reference to one of the tracks (The Fix, I think) sounding vaguely like his favourite band Tindersticks. He then proceeded to write a rather scathing review on his blog in which he describes the album as "background music for dinner parties".

Some people, eh?

That is sad

That sounds like a dinner party I would LOVE to go to!

Just converted another pal to the Church of Elbow, and it was because of my ringtone! I have a snippet of Forget Myself as the ringtone on my mobile, and my friend heard it and asked me what it was. I played her the whole track and she loved it, then I told her I'd do her up a sampler disc, which I did, and she promptly decided that Elbow are ace! So there's another one for our side - huzzah!

ChrissieInFL wrote:

Just converted another pal to the Church of Elbow, and it was because of my ringtone! I have a snippet of Forget Myself as the ringtone on my mobile, and my friend heard it and asked me what it was. I played her the whole track and she loved it, then I told her I'd do her up a sampler disc, which I did, and she promptly decided that Elbow are ace! So there's another one for our side - huzzah!

I'm hoping for the same thing, I have Leaders Of The Free World as ringtone

Powder Blue is my ringtone.

Fallen Angel was mine for ages, the yell at the beginning would scare me half to death, so i'd answer it before anyone could even find out who it was!

Nice work, Chrissie. I don't know what the deal is, here in America. I can't get any interest!

rascalphoto wrote:

Nice work, Chrissie. I don't know what the deal is, here in America. I can't get any interest!

Well, it isn't as if most of my friends and aquaintances know Elbow. I ususally get a blank stare when I mention their name to folks round here, but a few friends have come on board so far and I am hopeful that I may find more willing converts eventually. I am always talking them up to anyone who'll listen!

I played TSSK to a friend ages ago and he wasn't fussed, said the melodies were not immediate enough for him. After a few listens he came to accept Mirrorball and The Loneliness of a TCD as the best two.... albeit still saying it wasn't his kind of music... I think he called it background music too.

It wasn't until he heard Powder Blue that his ears really pricked up. He then went on to admit love for Red too and he loves most of Leaders as an album.

He's still pretty blasé about TSSK though. I think it is their least immediate album... the music is more complex and layered. He doesn't believe in music that doesn't grab him first time and the tune has to be very immediate.

In this vein, I would probably go for Red or Powder Blue. If I were to use TSSK it'd be Loneliness due to its power.

Probably Leaders of the Free World or Grounds for Divorce - they're both instantly apealling!