Leaders Of The Free World
by Elbow
  • Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: Feb 21, 2006
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 72 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 72
  3. Negative: 4 out of 72

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  1. MarkM
    Oct 9, 2005
    10
    A great album, more rewarding with each listening. Elbow gets better with each release. Excellent arrangements flesh out genuine emotion.
  2. RaülJ
    Feb 14, 2006
    10
    One of the most beautiful records I ever heard
  3. DameinS
    Apr 16, 2006
    10
    Rolling Stone don't know its A$$ from its Elbow. This and Sufjan get the most rotation in my player..truly beautiful.
  4. Paulm
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    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.
  5. glynw
    Aug 2, 2009
    10
    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.
  6. SimonJ
    Dec 20, 2005
    10
    2005'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......
  7. Jarad
    Oct 23, 2005
    10
    The last 4 songs, and Great Expectations in particular, are simply wonderful
  8. HughM
    Sep 26, 2005
    10
    Elbow get better and better. This album is a ripper!
  9. MalC
    Jan 4, 2006
    10
    doesnt get any better than this.
  10. MartinW
    Feb 19, 2006
    10
    The second half of the album takes a bit of getting into but, once you're in..... it's great!
  11. EarlV
    Feb 22, 2006
    10
    Excellent 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.
  12. FitterHappier
    Feb 25, 2006
    10
    Lazy 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.
  13. ArjenD
    Mar 9, 2006
    10
    Together 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.
  14. MitchM
    Oct 17, 2005
    10
    Another step forward from Elbow. The band is uniformly strong, innovative, and original, and Guy Harvey's lyrics are better than they've ever been.
  15. RichardM
    Dec 17, 2005
    10
    A 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.
  16. jeffj
    Oct 31, 2005
    10
    the arrangements on this album are phenomenal -- definitely elbow's best work to date.
  17. AaronW
    Sep 27, 2005
    10
    I haven't been so intrigued by a new release for a while now. I've loved Elbow from the very start and have found this to be their best release. The lyrics are wonderful. How the entire album came to be is really interesting...read about it online. They basically locked themselves in a studio for a year...with a group of filmmakers, hidden cameras, etc...the import of the album I haven't been so intrigued by a new release for a while now. I've loved Elbow from the very start and have found this to be their best release. The lyrics are wonderful. How the entire album came to be is really interesting...read about it online. They basically locked themselves in a studio for a year...with a group of filmmakers, hidden cameras, etc...the import of the album is a must have because it contains a dvd companion to the album. The songs and film are a total collaborative effort...and the outcome is true creativity. I'm so impressed with where the band is going and was happy to spend 32 bucks on the import. The FALL CD for me so far. ENJOY.… Expand
  18. TomB
    Mar 23, 2006
    10
    What Rolling Stone Lacks is top-quality reviewers. And as for Alternative Press...well, look at some of the bands they big up!
  19. hobhob
    Mar 25, 2006
    10
    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.
  20. TomW
    Dec 14, 2005
    10
    Truly great album!!!
  21. Joris
    Oct 11, 2005
    9
    I 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
  22. DecepticonPom
    Oct 19, 2005
    9
    Lushly optimistic. Their 3rd best album to date still head and shoulders above most band's 1st, second and 3rd efforts.
  23. LukeM
    Sep 30, 2005
    9
    This is a very very good album. I have been a fan for sometime but sometimes Elbow is just a little bit too weird or too sweet, despite obvious talent and integrity in their stuff. In this newest album the originality is still present (even the most pop-ready song "Forget Myself" is pretty funky) but listenable and enjoyable too. The romanticism is tempered and wise (see: My Very Best). I This is a very very good album. I have been a fan for sometime but sometimes Elbow is just a little bit too weird or too sweet, despite obvious talent and integrity in their stuff. In this newest album the originality is still present (even the most pop-ready song "Forget Myself" is pretty funky) but listenable and enjoyable too. The romanticism is tempered and wise (see: My Very Best). I think Leaders is outstanding.… Expand
  24. SimonV
    Feb 11, 2006
    9
    Not only the finest album from Elbow, but, more importantly, the finest album from 2005.
  25. ChrisG
    Feb 6, 2006
    9
    A 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.
  26. TonyM.
    Sep 3, 2007
    9
    Cracking album this band just gets better and better. forget about bands that sound alike ELBOW are the real deal.
  27. MichaelK
    Feb 15, 2006
    9
    This is a very warm-sounding album on which the songs reel one in upon repeated listening. One of the best albums of 2005.
  28. matta
    Feb 7, 2006
    9
    Holy Fuck, the Alternative Press is really talking out of their ass on this one. Seriously, who did they let review this album over there. Undoubtedly someone who is a fan of the song "My Humps." This album is very strong, and landed just outside my top twenty albums of 2005. Elbow's best album to date (Just edging out Cast of Thousands) and one of the best British albums of last Holy Fuck, the Alternative Press is really talking out of their ass on this one. Seriously, who did they let review this album over there. Undoubtedly someone who is a fan of the song "My Humps." This album is very strong, and landed just outside my top twenty albums of 2005. Elbow's best album to date (Just edging out Cast of Thousands) and one of the best British albums of last year. It is a shame that one really awful review has ruined the metascore for the album. This disc is nearly as good as Playlouder says that it is, so give it a shot.… Expand
  29. MikeW
    Mar 2, 2006
    9
    By 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.
  30. Jordan
    Mar 7, 2006
    9
    A little on the soft side. But non-the-less great album.
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Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    A masterpiece.
    Read full review
  2. Dot Music
    80
    A... winning blend of seemingly spontaneous, humanised warmth and brooding, existential contemplation.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    62
    Why, pray tell, did Elbow decide to start sounding less like Radiohead rip-offs and more like midlife-crisis Travis?
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »