User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 72 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 66 out of 72
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Mixed: 2 out of 72
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Negative: 4 out of 72
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Dec 7, 2012This record fits in neatly with the rest of Elbow's back catalogue. Not much on it to distinguish it from their others but as usual the quality of the songwriting is excellent. Because their records are all pretty similar, it's hard to pick my favourite/least favourite, but I think "The Seldom Seen Kid" is really the place to go if your looking to get into this band.
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Apr 27, 2011Elbow is consistently very good, but this is easily their weakest album. It's not without its share of great songs, though. "Great Expectations" is gorgeous, one of the band's most beautiful pieces, but it can't save the album from feeling a bit off. The band aims for a more upbeat vibe, but their success is mixed. Fortunately, they end up getting it right on the Seldom Seen Kid.
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glynwAug 2, 2009When 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.
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TonyM.Sep 3, 2007Cracking album this band just gets better and better. forget about bands that sound alike ELBOW are the real deal.
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KauriTJul 30, 2007Leaders Of The Free World. That's all.
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PaulmJun 2, 2006I'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.
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DameinSApr 16, 2006Rolling Stone don't know its A$$ from its Elbow. This and Sufjan get the most rotation in my player..truly beautiful.
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hobhobMar 25, 2006Can'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.
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TomBMar 23, 2006What 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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JohnHMar 18, 2006The album Coldplay wished they made... at least the first 6 songs before it wanders off into same-sameyville (otherwise known as X&Y.)
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ArjenDMar 9, 2006Together with My Morning Jacket and B.R.M.C. Elbow made 2005 a wonderful year, speaking in musical terms. The live performance in The Hague in october was wonderful.
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JordanMar 7, 2006A little on the soft side. But non-the-less great album.
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MikeWMar 2, 2006By turns tension and release. Always cathartic. Who would have thought they could top "Cast of Thousands". Obvious thunder grabs your ears, but quietest passages stay longest in memory. Elbow mean to make your heart and gut resonate together - a design which might not suit all, but resonate unfailingly for me. A winner.
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FitterHappierFeb 25, 2006Lazy critics, indeed! (Watch as Rolling Stone and AP fall back to Travis? TRAVIS!?!?) Too few bands genuinely rock the way Eblow does - gritty, intelligent, varied - truly a shame that the album warranting better reviews gets outpaced by albums and artists we'll forget a year from now.
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EarlVFeb 22, 2006Excellent album! So much better than the Arctic Flunkies it ain't funny. But I guess a band that sounds like Peter Gabriel backed by Talk Talk ain't fashionable enough. I also don't hear the Coldplay comparisons at all -- that's just lazy criticism by people with a limited knowledge of music.
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MartinWFeb 19, 2006The second half of the album takes a bit of getting into but, once you're in..... it's great!
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MichaelKFeb 15, 2006This is a very warm-sounding album on which the songs reel one in upon repeated listening. One of the best albums of 2005.
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RaülJFeb 14, 2006One of the most beautiful records I ever heard
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SimonVFeb 11, 2006Not only the finest album from Elbow, but, more importantly, the finest album from 2005.
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mattaFeb 7, 2006
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ToddRFeb 7, 2006Though it sometimes descends into bland Coldplay balladry, most of these songs are beautiful and inspired.
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ChrisGFeb 6, 2006A handful of tracks that jump right out and get under your skin immediately, many others which take a while longer to be fully absorbed and appreciated, and two that just seem OK. But on the whole, a thing of beauty and a treat for the ears and the heart.
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MalCJan 4, 2006doesnt get any better than this.
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SimonJDec 20, 20052005's Masterpiece....a true work of illuminating and heartbreaking, uplifting yet soul-destroying, piece of music....if you don't like it, I guess you've never really loved and lost......
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RichardMDec 17, 2005A very special album. how it hasn't topped every end of year list I just really don't know. Very few tracks ever written can claim to match the masterpiece that is Great Expectations.
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TomWDec 14, 2005Truly great album!!!
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TedHDec 5, 2005If you're not enjoying this album, I can, as someone who enjoyed the first two Elbow albums but was extremely dissapointed with this one upon the first few listens: let this one grow on you for a while. I found some strong songwriting.
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KoningWoning.Nov 30, 2005Definately the worst album yet. No good build-ups: semi-loud song, soft song, repeat untill end. Also a lot of songs seem to be inspired/taken from other songs. All in all I'd say they're getting worse with each release.... still they're loads better than a lot of crap that's out there...
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jeffjOct 31, 2005the arrangements on this album are phenomenal -- definitely elbow's best work to date.
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pierrebOct 24, 2005mwa; not as good as their former albums. Can't help it, it all sounds so ...... dull. Maybe I have to listen to it a few times more..
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JaradOct 23, 2005The last 4 songs, and Great Expectations in particular, are simply wonderful
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DecepticonPomOct 19, 2005Lushly optimistic. Their 3rd best album to date still head and shoulders above most band's 1st, second and 3rd efforts.
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MitchMOct 17, 2005Another step forward from Elbow. The band is uniformly strong, innovative, and original, and Guy Harvey's lyrics are better than they've ever been.
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JorisOct 11, 2005I like this one more than Cast of 1000 s . GREAT EXPECTATIONS imho, is maybe one of their most haunting songs they ve written. (though its a grower). Other brilliant songs include The Stops and the title song. The first 2 songs maybe are the only "weaker" tracks on the album for me, the rest is a killer
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MarkMOct 9, 2005A great album, more rewarding with each listening. Elbow gets better with each release. Excellent arrangements flesh out genuine emotion.
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LukeMSep 30, 2005
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AaronWSep 27, 2005
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JHSep 26, 2005
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HughMSep 26, 2005Elbow get better and better. This album is a ripper!
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Awards & Rankings
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A masterpiece.
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A... winning blend of seemingly spontaneous, humanised warmth and brooding, existential contemplation.
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Why, pray tell, did Elbow decide to start sounding less like Radiohead rip-offs and more like midlife-crisis Travis?