Asleep In The Back - Elbow
  • Band Name: Elbow
  • Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: Jan 22, 2002
Asleep In The Back Image
Metascore
82 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Often compared to Doves and Radiohead, Manchester-based Elbow is yet another new alternative band to emerge from the British music press hype machine. This debut album was shortlisted for 2001's Mercury Music Prize.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Playlouder
    100
    Elbow have made the most passionate, beautiful and downright special record you'll hear this year.
  2. All Music Guide
    80
    The tempos might not ever exceed mid-level, and half of the songs might exceed five minutes, but the record is anything but a difficult listen or tough to wade through.
  3. Alternative Press
    80
    Asleep is just enigmatic enough to avoid plagiarism. [Mar 2002, p.77]
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  4. Spin
    60
    Not many of the expansive, leisurely songs on Asleep In The Back stick in the memory once they've ended, but they swoon nicely. [Mar 2002, p.127]
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See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. kammi666
    10
    Absolutely beautiful album. Its filled with eerie and melancholy sounds mixed with some sweet riffs and effects. Definately worth a listen. Slow, moody, at times melancholy, but by no means boring.… Expand
  2. Craig
    10
    one of the best debut albums i've heard in the past few years.
  3. Ricko
    8
    Low key debut that lays out the blueprint that Elbow went onto develop and expand on. It's got a very strong first half but I feel it tapers off a bit in the 2nd half. That said, the closer "Scattered Black and Whites" is one of the albums highlights. Overall, it's a soft and gentle record with some really beautiful songs. Garveys vocals are perfect for the delicate instrumentation and like the records the produced afterwards, it's a record that just makes you feel warm inside.… Expand
  4. Tee
    3
    boring. no two ways about it.

See all 15 User Reviews

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