Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys!

I was in Glasgow, Scotland in 2001 about the time that Elbow's debut album, Asleep In The Back, was released. From the opening drumbeat I was completely enthralled with the album and the band. And I returned to the states proudly touting my new find and import.

To this day, Asleep In The Back remains one of my all time favorite albums. And the last track on the album, Scattered Black and Whites, for which this blog is named, is one of my very favorite songs. Given my affinity for Elbow and their music, it is safe to assume that I have been quite excited about the release of Elbow's latest album, Build A Rocket Boys! for some time. And I have to say that this album delivers.

Build A Rocket Boys! is just outstanding. And I say this not as someone who is a fan of Elbow, but as someone who appreciates great musicianship and songwriting. Behind Guy Garvey's poetic lyrics and captivating voice, Elbow creates gorgeous and complimentary musical phrasings and arrangements. At times gentle, at times angular, Elbow's music tells as much about the stories in these songs as the lyrics. 

As for those marvelous lyrics, Garvey is still drawn to life's passing and the memories that are collected along the way. There is weight and melancholy as Garvey reflects on childhood, family, friends, aging, and death, but he is never heavy-handed, sappy, or clichéd. And while the road traveled maybe fraught with challenges and uncertainly, Garvey ultimately takes solace and comfort in the notion that we are not alone in life. On Open Arms, he sings "We got arms for broken hearts like yours my boy, come home again. Tables are for pounding here and when we've got you surrounded, the man you are will know the boy you were." And as almost a response to this calling, in the last verse of Dear Friends, which closes the album, Garvey sings "Old friends, you stuck a pin in a map I was in. And you are the stars I navigate home by." Honestly, song writing does not get any better than this.

While the entire album Build A Rocket Boys! is amazing, there are a few stand out songs for me. Songs like Lippy Kids, Jesus Is A Rochdale Girl, and Dear Friends shine with a maturity that can only come from a band that has been together for many years. On Lippy Kids, for example, there is such subtlety and gentleness to the music as the band spaces the instruments in an open and airy way, leaving each one to resonate in its own space while supporting one another and Garvey's vocals at the same time. On songs like this one, Elbow has never sounded better.

If you are not familiar with Elbow, I highly, highly encourage you to explore the band's music library starting with this album. Build A Rocket boys! is one of their best.

Lippy Kids