ELBOW, BUILD A ROCKET BOYS!

I was in Glasgow, Scotland in 2001 when Elbow’s debut album, Asleep In The Back, was released. From the opening drumbeat I was enthralled, and I returned to the states proudly touting my new find. My admiration for the band has only grown with each release, making the arrival of Build A Rocket Boys! something I eagerly anticipated. The record captures Elbow’s gift for weaving Guy Garvey’s poetic lyrics and captivating voice with arrangements that are at times gentle and at times angular, always carrying the story alongside the words.

Garvey continues to write with reflection and humanity, circling themes of memory, childhood, family, friends, aging, and loss, but never in a heavy–handed way. His lyrics hold both weight and comfort, as heard in lines like “We got arms for broken hearts like yours my boy, come home again” (Open Arms) and “You are the stars I navigate home by” (Dear Friends). Songs such as Lippy Kids, Jesus Is A Rochdale Girl, and Dear Friends shine with the kind of maturity only a band with years of shared history can achieve. For those not yet familiar with Elbow, this album is an extraordinary place to begin.