Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid

Photi

takes the Mercury Music Prize for 2008. Not their greatest album, prefer all other three in fact but this couldn't happen to a nicer band and a great bunch of lads. Well done.

Still can't forgive them for the horns in the opening track Starlings though.

GrahamThomas

Actually I'll have to disagree and say Seldom Seen Kid is my favourite Elbow album!

But yeah I'm glad the prize went to such a hugely talented band and not the NME's over-hyped "flavour of the month", like last year. (Grrr, Klaxons)

Cadeaus

Would've preferred to see Burial take it, but I'm glad they won all the same. They seemed so chuffed to have won. looked like really nice blokes.

Kold

In fairness, undeserved. Either In Rainbows or Untrue had to win that prize if it was going to best/most innovative album.

Good album and great band though. Just wasn't the best album.

Fanny Cradock

I was always under the impression that it was never about the best album winning. Rather it's all about marketability, potential sales and the sly winks and knowing nods between music executives and those in the know.

Ah, maybe I'm just too old and cynical.

Great band all the same.

BarryCreed

fair play. i do prefer Leaders Of The Free World though..

JLemmon

Still can't forgive them for the horns in the opening track Starlings though.[/QUOTE]

I suppose Reggae just all sounds the same too and Jazz and and why doesn't
Bob Dylan go for perfect takes on his records they all seem to be done in one go warts and all.
Give me strength..

oldscoil

Not being smart but what exactly is the reason/point behind the Mercury Award.

It seems that in the past few years its more well known bands that have been nominated, but I thought it was for new bands originally?

AGAIN I'M NOT BEING SMART, I'M JUST CURIOUS!!!

Was it because it was seen as the kiss of death to new bands, like winning X Factor......can I mention that program, or will this thread automatically now get moved to a more general forum .

Kold

wikipedia wrote:

The Mercury Prize, formerly the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Nationwide Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.

So... I dunno really.

Cadeaus

Well Bowie was nominated in like 2002 or something and U2 in the first year it was on, 1992, so it was never only for new bands, they just tend to make the shortlist a lot.

Spice girls were nominated for it once, kinda detracts from the whole thing a little eh?

loyatemu

Cadeaus wrote: »

Well Bowie was nominated in like 2002 or something and U2 in the first year it was on, 1992, so it was never only for new bands, they just tend to make the shortlist a lot.

Spice girls were nominated for it once, kinda detracts from the whole thing a little eh?

never mind that - M People actually won the thing one year. Its a little bit pointless IMO - albums generally only achieve classic status over a number of years. Several albums that have won the award in the past have not stood the test of time.

As for Elbow - the album is ok, but some of it is fairly bland and ColdPatrol-esque. On a day like this might as well have been written specifically to accompany sports highlights. I'm not a huge Radiohead fan, but "In_Rainbows" is a much better album, and while I haven't heard the NeonNeon album, Gruff Rhys is a genius and deserves to win every award there is.

unionman

First, let me declare an interest, big Elbow fan. Saw them play the last two gigs in Vicar St. The first was tentative, the second triumphant. And a big part of the reason for the triumphant return is The Seldom Seen Kid. They are a great band in the best sense. Great lyrics, sublime and accomplished musicians, entertaining frontman (seriously, what more do you want?:D)

Nobody expects consensus from the Mercury prize, it's decided by a tiny panel of judges, and previous attempts to be knowingly hip (Ms Dynamite, Roni Size) and reassuringly grown up (Gomez), haven't necessarily yielded lasting or even interesting creative careers.

Radiohead don't need the kind of boost the Mercury can deliver, but Elbow did. After 18 years of hard work, heart and turmoil, this album was a genuine creative achievment, building on the brilliance of the previous three.

I don't care how uncool you might think it is (especially those of you who wanted Burial to win), but I cheered out loud when Jools announced 'Elbow'. A great moment for us true believers.

Having said that, there are some truly wonderful albums on the shortlist.

JerryHandbag

BarryCreed wrote: »

fair play. i do prefer Leaders Of The Free World though..

Me too I love that album. Just listened to Seldom Seen Kid once so far so not sure if I like it or not yet....glad they won it though

Captain Darling

I got the Seldom Seen Kid and Leaders of the Free World after seeing Elbow at Electric Picnic this year. They really blew me way. I've given both a really good listening to, and at the moment Seldom Seen Kid, is edging out the previous album, on my mp3 player.

The OP has stated that he's disappointed with the horns on Starlings, but its fairly spectacular when the song is played live imo. Real hairs on the back of the neck stuff.

I have to say that Seldom Seen Kid is one of the finest albums i've gotten in years, probably since OK Computer actually. There's quality all the way through, Mirrorball, Grounds for Divorce, Weather to Fly, the loneliness of a tower crane driver and On a day Like This, are amazingly delivered yet their simplicity and honesty are breathtaking. I just can't compliment this album enough.

To be honest, i couldnt give a fig about any of the other bands/acts that were shortlisted for the award, but i'm delighted that Elbow got a bit of recognition, and they looked truly chuffed when they were receiving the award. If anyone wants to see a repeat of the ceremony, its being shown again on BBC 2 on Friday night at 11.35 pm.

Crumble Froo

why the hell isnt the multi-quote function working? i've gone through once, clicking the ones i wanted to reply to, and .... nothing... thought i just wasnt paying proper attention, tried again...

and still nothing... but anyhow, ill try it manually... :eek:

first off... am a massive elbow fan. as mentioned on the lectric picnic thread, i flew from new zealand to here to see them,

ok, it's done some of the ones i wanted to now, in the wrong order man, i thought i had this technology thing figured out

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Me too I love that album. Just listened to Seldom Seen Kid once so far so not sure if I like it or not yet....glad they won it though

i'd definitely recommend multiple listens. took a little while to grow on me, i think grounds for divorce and bones were the first ones that really made me sit up and pay attention (but image on image like beads on the rosary, pull through my head as the music takes hold, then the sickener hits, i can work til i break, but i love the bones of you, that i can never escape)... was thrilled to hear that one live at the picnic actually.

Photi wrote: »

Still can't forgive them for the horns in the opening track Starlings though.

y'no, for aaaaages i felt the same way. i would be listening to this beautiful, chilled, pretty music, and twould get to that one song, and would just blast in my ears, and i hated it.
have no clue at all when i started to come around, but wow, i absolutely love it now... it just feels like this massive massive build up, like letting out all this massive anticipation, just this excitement of knowing a song you love is coming up. when i saw them walk out on stage with the horns... well... just wow. happy.

loyetemu wrote:

As for Elbow - the album is ok, but some of it is fairly bland and ColdPatrol-esque. On a day like this might as well have been written specifically to accompany sports highlights.

whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! WHOA! one day like this written to accompany sports hightlights?! :eek:

first time i really heard 'one day like this', and it got to the mantra at teh end (so throw those curtains wide, one day like this a year will see me right, for life), it reminded me massively of their leaders song, 'ribcage'... the mantra on that one is 'and the sunshine, throwing me a lifeline, finds its way into my room, and all i need is you'... one day kinda felt like the ribcage of the new album... wehre ribcage was revelling in the feeling of one person, one day was revelling in life itself, the wider, outside world... both songs had a very similar feel, i thought, and both masterpieces in their own right.

can't really comment on the other albums, not familiar with all of them, but as far as im concerned, elbow are one of hte most under rated bands ive ever had the absolute pleasure to hear. any recognition they get, im somewhere between thrilled for them, and scared that they'll become big, and lose that subtle kinda massiveness they've always had for me. if that makes any sense.

as for teh album itself, i can't really compare it very well to others... they all have a kinda distinct sound to them... particularly as i have the dvds for cast of thousands and leadesr, which i watch frequently, so probably will always prefer those two, because they add extra visual happiness

hallelujah

I actually thought that Elbow might be a little embarrassed to win considering the MMP is usually given to acts that are unknown and could do with a boost in album sales / gain publicity..

Fair play to them though. I got that Burial album from listening to a little bit of one track from the show on BB2. Haven't listened to it yet. Is it good?

Kold

hallelujah wrote: »

Fair play to them though. I got that Burial album from listening to a little bit of one track from the show on BB2. Haven't listened to it yet. Is it good?

It's very good yeah.

pamsjam

I heard a song on Tony Fenton Radio Show on tuesday & I have NO CLUE who sings it
Its a guy! & i only know one line of the song
" all the riches baby, all this gold & silver "

I'm loosing my mind trying to find out who sings it? Does anyone out there know?
Google doesnt know
My friends dont know
I have emailed the radio show & my last attemp was to ask the world?!

HELP ME!!

GrahamThomas

pamsjam wrote: »

I heard a song on Tony Fenton Radio Show on tuesday & I have NO CLUE who sings it
Its a guy! & i only know one line of the song
" all the riches baby, all this gold & silver "

I'm loosing my mind trying to find out who sings it? Does anyone out there know?
Google doesnt know
My friends dont know
I have emailed the radio show & my last attemp was to ask the world?!

HELP ME!!

The folks over here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055078994

Can help you with that!

kraggy

Someone recommend me an Elbow song besides that Divorce one.

Thanks.

loyatemu

uh, here they are covering Destiny's Child accompanied by kittens:
http://www.rathergood.com/independent_woman/

this is also quite pleasant:


Grace under Pressure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk-RpmmL4Es

Spider_Baby

pamsjam wrote: »

I heard a song on Tony Fenton Radio Show on tuesday & I have NO CLUE who sings it
Its a guy! & i only know one line of the song
" all the riches baby, all this gold & silver "

I'm loosing my mind trying to find out who sings it? Does anyone out there know?
Google doesnt know
My friends dont know
I have emailed the radio show & my last attemp was to ask the world?!

HELP ME!!

Mick Flannery

Crumble Froo

kraggy wrote: »

Someone recommend me an Elbow song besides that Divorce one.

Thanks.

Leaders of the Free World, Not a Job, I've Got Your Number, Snooks (progress report), Red, Ribcage, Bones of You.

Honestly though, they've not done a song I don't love. Rather splendid stuff, indeed

Kur4mA

I missed the award but I was absolutely delighted when I heard that they won it. I've been a huge fan of theirs for years! Genius tbh.

Kur4mA

kraggy wrote: »

Someone recommend me an Elbow song besides that Divorce one.

Thanks.

Fugitive Motel, Red, Fallen Angel

ctrl-alt-delete

fugitive motel is a great song, their debut album is my favourite one, songs like powder blue, red and scattered black and whites are classics,

they deserve to win, a great bunch of lads - they have said they will use their win, not to promote their own music, but the music of a dead friend of theirs, a guy from the manchester scene, the name i can't remember at this time

Daithio

Meh, it's marginally less bland than their previous albums, but it's still pretty unoriginal and unexciting.

I suppose you could argue they deserved the award for sheer perseverence when so many other bands would have realised they didn't have it and given up a long time ago.

I'd suggest the reason they've been overlooked for this long is because they're actually not very good.

FWIW In Rainbows is a far far superior album.