All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Playlouder

Few albums are this evocative, and 'Leaders of the Free World' is a thing of rare beauty indeed.

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100

Under The Radar

Elbow have always been the most intelligent band in Britain. Now they're the most exciting, too. [#12, p.91]

Spin

Rife with acid-burn guitars, levee-breaking drums, and vocals that recall Peter Gabriel at his wooziest. [Feb 2006, p.87]

Entertainment Weekly

The gloom-rock tunes are as sophisticated as ever. [24 Feb 2006, p.64]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Leaders Of The Free World contains songs as heavy and epic as the neo-prog of Elbow's first two albums, but it's strongest at its quietest.

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Stylus Magazine

Right now Elbow are hitting an emotional pitch no one else is managing; one more personal and more potent than those that might be considered their competition.

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New Musical Express

A masterpiece.

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Dot Music

A... winning blend of seemingly spontaneous, humanised warmth and brooding, existential contemplation.

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Q Magazine

This is certainly no party album, and its colours are almost exclusively monochrome, but its majesty reigns supreme. [Sep 2005, p.112]

The Guardian

Retains Elbow's best qualities - embittered romanticism and pretty, twisty melodies - while infusing them with hooks galore.

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Mojo

[A] deft combination of emotional intimacy and musical ambition. [Oct 2005, p.108]

No Ripcord

Endearingly sorrowful without descending into outright misery, Leaders Of The Free World is exactly what we the listeners should expect from a band's third album.

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PopMatters

Leaders Of The Free World is an ambitious and beautiful album that confirms Elbow as one of the bands of our generation.

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Blender

Elbow's lifeblood is equal parts rain and alcohol. [Mar 2006, p.111]

All Music Guide

Leaders of the Free World is a bit more rock & roll than not, with guts and heart, because Elbow have finally embraced their powerful, surrounding space this time out.

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Lost At Sea

A mostly brilliant, though occasionally lackluster, album.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

It's probably the worst Elbow album yet.

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Paste Magazine

Leaders Of The Free World would seem by-the-book Brit rock, if it weren't for Guy Garvey. Gruff but generous, with a voice like Peter Gabriel minus the ego, Garvey masters the role of sensitive frontman by staying grounded. [Feb/Mar 2006, p.104]

Pitchfork

Why, pray tell, did Elbow decide to start sounding less like Radiohead rip-offs and more like midlife-crisis Travis?

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Uncut

It's certainly more assured and less wilfully angsty than Cast Of Thousands. However, it still lacks the special unified mood or thread of Asleep. [Oct 2005, p.110]

ShakingThrough.net

The back end of the album trundles along, failing to rival the opening energy or offer anything as interesting as the non-anthemic detours.

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Slant Magazine

The album is a reverb-laced dirge, a slow-motion version of "you're prettier after three beers." Unfortunately, Elbow's lyrics--while plenty fatigued, especially coming from the disinterested vocal cords of lead singer Guy Garvey--are pretty sober.

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Prefix Magazine

Presenting four or five great songs on any fifty-minute album is a rare gift, and on Leaders of the Free World, these bittersweet Brits prove to be worthy rainy-day companions.

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Rolling Stone

What it lacks are top-quality tunes.

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Alternative Press

It's not that Elbow's half-Travis, half-early-Radiohead Britpop shoegaze routine is patently shitty; it's just hopelessly forgettable. [Mar 2006, p.134]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 55 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

glyn w gave it a10:
When bush and bliar are held to account for war crimes,and sentenced,michael moors makes the film.and the title track--leaders of the free world'then we are cleansed.

Tony M. gave it a9:
Cracking album this band just gets better and better. forget about bands that sound alike ELBOW are the real deal.

Kauri T gave it an8:
Leaders Of The Free World. That's all.

Paul m gave it a10:
I've been in to music since the psychedelic 60's and write reviews for a small paper in t.o. Canada. i haven't been this enthusiastic for an entire album since the prog rock days of the early 70's. a creative and lovely masterpiece worthy of an 11, "you've gone and made a beautiful hole in my heart." don't stop! paul in tweed.

Damein S gave it a10:
Rolling Stone don't know its A$$ from its Elbow. This and Sufjan get the most rotation in my player..truly beautiful.

hob hob gave it a10:
Can't recommend this album enough. Still listening to it months after buying it. Not had an album make such an impact on me since the Bends.

Tom B gave it a10:
What Rolling Stone Lacks is top-quality reviewers. And as for Alternative Press...well, look at some of the bands they big up!

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Leaders Of The Free World

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