Artist of the Month...September 2008

Elbow
Formed in 1991, and probably the most consistently brilliant band to come out of Manchester since The Smiths. A band who get better and better with every release.Their latest album, The Seldom Seen Kid (released in 2008) is their finest and is my favourite album of the year so far. The band have gained lots of critical acclaim but have not had the commercial success they so richly deserve.

In lead singer Guy Garvey, they have on of the best lyric writers of the last 20 years. I love the lyrics to Starlings from their latest album. See below:

How dare the premier ignore my invitations? He'll have to go.



So to the bunchy luncheons, the second on
 my list of things to do.
 At the top is stopping by your place of work and
 acting like I haven't dreamed of you and I and
 marriage in an orange grove. You are the only thing in any room you're ever in 
I'm stubborn, selfish, and too old.



I sat you down and told you how the truest love that's
 ever found is for oneself. You pulled apart my theory with a weary and disinterested sigh
. So yes I guess I'm asking you to back a horse that's good for glue
 and nothing else.

But find a man that's truer than, find a man that needs you
 more than I. Sit with me a while and let me listen to you talk about your dreams and obsessions 
I'll be quite and confessional
 The violence explodes inside me when I meet your eyes
 Then I'm spinning and diving like a cloud of starlings.

If you only buy one Elbow album in your lifetime then The Seldom Seen Kid, released in 2008 is the one. The others in order of greatness are:

1 - The Seldom Seen Kid - 2008
2 - Leaders Of The Free World - 2005
3 - Cast Of Thousands - 2003
3 - Asleep In The Back - 2001

Guy Garvey also hosts a radio show on 6 music. It's on too late for me, so i listen to it through BBC iPlayer.