The Genius of Guy Garvey/Elbow

This was probably covered in an earlier thread, but I'm curious. I liked their first one quite a bit.

switching off and not a job are beautiful examples of g.g's genius

ndee

What I really like about it is that I know 100% that I don't love it as much as I will. Immediacy isn't an Elbow strong point - it took me about six months to really get into Asleep... - but the songs sort of sneak up on you gradually over a period of time.

but to keep on topic, they have proven a pretty consistently great band

Please delete all the posts made by someone who was clearly impersonating me four years ago in that awful Elbow thread.

Alex Macpherson

I didn't recall him posting here that long ago though.

-- to scour or to pop? (papiermachealamphibia...), February 1st, 2007.

The Lex can yet be saved.

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), February 1st, 2007.

hmm.

;-)

Yes, especially the tired prog rhetoric which arbitrarily links musical "complexity" with "high quality."

That's the kind of answer I expected. Really why would you pretend to like dull rubbish like this? Do you think it makes you look deep? How many BRIT Awards have Elbow won? that says it all I think.

Also, to flip Turangalila - Yes, especially the tired punk rhetoric which arbitrarily links musical "simplicity" with "soul."

'barry normal', eh, who thinks up these names! It's like a Calum character without the alliteration.

so off the mark it's unreal. justin timberlake singles are the sorts of thing you put on a) to dance to or b) as background music to a social occasion. elbow OTOH are the sort of band whose attention to detail and oblique song structure rewards repeated, concentrated listening, and they're the sort of band I can imagine listeners paying close attention towards. i understand that there are those who pay the same attention to a JT single, but these people IMO are trying to see things which aren't there; just get down and DANCE to it, or karaoke it, but don't dissect it, that's not what he's about. anyway, 'forget myself' alone is fifteen times more uplifting, danceable and fun than any JT track. its single version was also four minutes long, as are most elbow songs, so that argument's invalid too.

i've just angered half of ILM, but shall continue nonetheless.

*realises that 'Carl Taylor' is Gareth*...HAHAHAHA!!! Nice one, dude...

hate on great Rock groups like Coldplay

IT'S THE ENGLISH WAGEMANN

'Forget Myself' is so uplifting and danceable it's unreal.

And the video is one of the best music videos I've seen in a long time. If you want to say that choreography, costume and photography are visual treats for teenagers, well in this context it'd be pretty tough to argue. But that doesn't make them pretty much perfect.

And visual art isn't to be sneered at.

(I am very sorry from The ends of your fingers (I'll have to call you fTeoyf I suppose) I didn't mean to cause offence. I never patronise women, honestly ;-)

i understand that there are those who pay the same attention to a JT single, but these people IMO are trying to see things which aren't there; just get down and DANCE to it, or karaoke it, but don't dissect it, that's not what he's about.

My fav track on the last Justin album is like seven minutes long and not very much danceable. And surely any given artist is "about" whatever the listener gets out of their music? Why is listening to something in any certain way "wrong" if you get pleasure out of it?

And OF COURSE you can listen to Elbow as background music and not care much about it. You can do that with pretty much any music that isn't wilfully abrasive.

xpost ok if the ILM y00f is now growing up thinking that dissecting chartpop is somehow an idea that started with The Lex, good lord...

I'm sorry I'm not trying to wind anybody up, I thought this was a site where people liked to talk about music.

dude, have a look around the New Answers page, and then acknowledge that if you're gonna spout that kinda stuff here you've come to the wrong internet forum.

Daniel, would you say that JT thus rewards close, repeated listening? How oblique would you say his more 'difficult' material is?

Thanks. I didn't want to have to say that again

Gah! Thoughtful music?

ARGH!

Yeah, I would. It's a nice, hazy, druggish album, pulls off the tracks-flowing-into-each-other thing better than most, and I do enjoy his whole Evil Twin persona. I don't think you'd like it much, though, to be honest.

How oblique would you say his more 'difficult' material is?

I suppose it's oblique and 'difficult' in a chartpop context of sorts, but really that isn't what interests me about it. I really don't think an artist has to be oblique or difficult to reward close, repeated listening, either.

I just think that there is music which is fun at a party or nightclub, and you're not really meant to think about it it's just a bit of fun for dancing too. Like tsotp? said, dance to it or do it at karaoke but don't listen to it or think about it.
And then there are bands or artists who write music a little closer to the heart, that you listen to at home or in your car and maybe the lyrics mean something to you because the singer is trying to communicate about the universal feelings we all have. And to me that's better, but if you don't like music like that then fair enough.

HI DERE FOLKS!!!

Daniel, I really don't think an artist has to be oblique or difficult to reward close, repeated listening, either is an interesting point. My response would be to say that subjective obliqueness is precisely the sort of thing needed for repeat listenings to have any worth. If one got all one wanted from a song on the first listen, there'd be no need to hear it again. Of course, this almost never happens. The song has held something back, has kept something in reserve. Musical obliqueness, no matter how minor, is common to almost every song ever recorded.

Of course, there arises then the issue of re-living a song in order to experience the same hit over and over again. This is where your sentence gains credence, and as for the exact balance between this means of repetition and the one mentioned above, I'm willing to let the older hands sort that one out. What I will say is that close listening is only necessary when there is close detail to follow; this might not be 'oblique' GIVEN close listening, but would almost certainly be missed without it.

This bit makes me want to throw my computer out of the windae.

Let's just say I was only establishing the character. Boy is my face red.

Anyway, just a bit of fun, let's be cool.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, good one.

Consider the possibility that listening isn't a one-way process, Louis? You mightn't be strip-mining a passive object for its finite treasures, maybe.

Actually, my entire musical outlook is essentially modernist; I won't judge music based upon its grounding or its age, and in fact I generally value modern music above older because a) there's so much more that can be done in studios now and b) with knowledge of prior music future musicians will know where the bar stands, and how high they have to leap in order to exceed it. There's a reason I've got no 60's or 70's and very little 80's in that there list; musical ideals have simply improved since then, with more at stake and more achieved.

As for the reason it's not all up-to-date and flashy-shiny, well, there are two reasons. Firstly, my initiation into modern music happened in the 90's, and I'm bound to retain a lot from then, and secondly, I've favoured buying music from the recent past over that of the present, because a) it's easier in retrospect to judge what's classic than in the heat of the moment, b) I can always buy stuff that comes out now, but you gotta grab the older shit before it disappears a) out of my consciousness and b) off the shelves, and c) (this c) refers to the original a)-b) sequence) I reckon we're going through a bit of a lull at the moment, a lull which has coincided with the lack of any release by Radiohead or Blur. Just joking, kids. But seriously, 2006 was a pretty shit year!

Plus, the songs up there are just bona fide classics regardless of generation. What a silly point to make, meltingglaciers!

-- to scour or to pop? (papiermachealamphibia...), February 1st, 2007.

Oh, so I'm a nu-rockist? Believe me, mate, when the musicians of the future create music that blows all that came before it out of the water with its originality, modernity, use of perfect sounds, progression, ambition, and enthusiasm, as I believe they will, perhaps I'll move on from the music I believe does this best AT THE MOMENT.

My taste is in no way limited to modern guitar rock either, that's just bullshit.

FTEOYF, yeah, buy whatever you think is good, and hopefully it'll become better automatically!

Thank you! The absurdity of Jim's attack is revealed; on a website where more or less every sort of music is lauded, any musical prejudice is utter hypocrisy.

In a town not resembling confrontation, can you explain what you mean by this.

Well, hopefully you'll be buying music that you think you'll like, and if you do indeed like it, surely on the whole you'll like it more and more with every subsequent listen!

Jim, if anyone's being rockist...I shall let the audience decide. His favourite band is Mansun, he obviously has no care as to the respectability of his musical taste.

i understand that there are those who pay the same attention to a JT single, but these people IMO are trying to see things which aren't there

Claiming that JT singles aren't the most complicated, interesting pieces of music is hardly a rockist statement. It merely suggests that I'm a) not a great fan of JT and b) perhaps need to listen to some more of his work.

xpost I would recommend it. It is VERY good.

Claiming that JT singles aren't the most complicated, interesting pieces of music is hardly a rockist statement.
It is when you are using it as a binary for Elbow being interested and complicated while giving no reason as to why this is the case and suggesting that anyone listening for "more" in a JT single is being misguided in doing so.

Here was my response to that precise sentence:

You've just admitted that I'm not a rockist

I didn't take it as a criticism, I was merely adding to it. I'd say it essentially amounts to an admission of non-rockism. Rockism, after all, is that not the defence of 'established', 'respectable' older music?

giving no reason as to why this is the case

Okay, I'll give you a reason. When I was 16 my school house did JT's 'Like I Love You' for our song in the school songing competition. I sang and heard that song about 50 times in a couple of weeks. Even after all that I'd forgotten everything except the tune, the odd lyrical snatch and the flute outro within a few days. I've heard some JT since and it hasn't suggested depth, depth which I myself hear in Elbow.

anyone listening for "more" in a JT single is being misguided in doing so

As I've said, this was provocative. If you get more from it, good luck to you!

oh you. (i don't like elbow btw.)

i will stand by a mild like of 'powder blue' by elbow!

With music that we love, feel an attachment to, we are unlikely to see it for "what it is" - simply a piece of music with certain melodic/rhythmic/lyrical/sonic etc. principles. A strictly neutral classification of formal characteristics is not commensurate with our overall feelings toward the song anymore than the same approach could explain completely the experience of having a crush on someone. Our fascination is stimulated by the sense in which the music appears to transcend such a neutral classification (Lacan might say that we desire what it "in the music more than the music").

This is why I'm hesitant to endorse accounts of musical enjoyment that hinge on a distinction of false/real consciousness - unless the account rejects enjoyment of music in its entirety what it is really doing is trying to set up distinctions of good/bad false-consciousness (ie. it is okay to be deceived if it is in the following manner, for the following purposes, and with the following results...)

This is why Hurting's magician analogy is a good one - our disappointment with the magician is not so much that his magic is false (unless we are very young perhaps), but rather that we haven't been deceived, our disbelief has not been suspended.

If there's a flaw with the magician analogy, it's that in some ways magic tricks and music work in a precisely opposite manner. With music, it's often the case that the more familiar we are with a certain "trick" the more likely we are to overlook the ropes and pulleys and other "giveaways", the more likely we are to be suitably satisfied. A magic show draws attention to the implausibility of its magic, to the process of the magic's production, whereas music is closer to religion or myth, where belief is valued over marvel and result over process (if the immaculate conception was part of a magic show, the key moment would be the moment of conception whereas Jesus himself would simply be a rabbit-equivalent).

i am trying to dredge up stuff i did on an analytic aesthetics course which kinda fits this, it all gets fuzzy on intrinsic properties though.

that was a xp to tim's first post btw

And, unsurprisingly, their new album sounds absolutely beautiful.

no that would actually be a surprise

http://www.leerburg.com/Photos/dogattack.jpg

Seriously? Whether you like what they do or not, I'd have thought that pretty much everyone would have to admit that their records are well-recorded and texturally interesting.

http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/166/bear_fight_sc49.jpg

I do like polar bears. Seeing them fight makes me sad.

YOU'RE ENDANGERED ENOUGH AS IT IS! BAND TOGETHER FOR SURVIVAL!

I think they're just cuddling.

Most people give up on this band too soon - it may take a while to get past the "sounds boring" phase that seems to be commonly noted. As a fan, I'd almost say the opposite: it's reassuringly boring the first time you hear it, but it's bound to grow on you if you only let it.

But nevermind - as long as enough people like them to get them to tour and release albums like this, I can live with the haters :-)

well recorded maybe, but i find it hard to find beauty where i don't find passion

I'm not on Elbow's collective dick but I gotta take issue with that. You can't be world-weary and beautiful? sleepy and beautiful? calm and beautiful?

there's different types of passion - it's not all about being excitable

i just haven't found the sort of beauty i seek in any of their songs since the first album. perhaps this new one will shut me up, i don't know

http://i32.tinypic.com/2w2r8za.jpg

^^^ This dude knows what's goin' on

go go kitty

what do you mean by saying you are a rockist nick? do you really think stuff like songs have to be written by the artist to be worthwhile and all that. are you being sarcastic cos those soulseeking pieces from last year suggested your postion was more like post-popism or something rather than "rockism"... wow i have just used a lot of fairly meaningless words.

Maybe post-popism is a better term. I don't give a fuck who 'wrote' the songs or who produced them; I just want them to sound great and make me enjoy listening to them.

Also WOW @ this thread. I'd forgotten just how mental this thread was...

Oh good, a new term for the internet to pointlessly argue over...

LOL at 'reassuringly boring' as a positive on elbow. makes them sound like ellen radigue

It only appears boring the first time you hear it - second listen and it's already revealing itself a bit more.

they're getting their best reviews ever for this album. how is it?

Very good.

it merits its own thread. oh wait.

Very good live.

This thread's a clusterfuck of idiocy.

Post-popism = rocktimism?

Seeing them in Leicester next week. They were awesome in Nottingham a few months ago. Two-piece string section still with them?

I mean Guy Garvey is NOT fucking Burt Bacharach!!

Vauxhall Conference pub bands should know their place - and KEEP it.

Truro, last night? My sister was there, said they were amazing. I'm seeing them in Cardiff tomorrow, never seen them before.

This band is superdull but I really have it in for Garvey for his boring radio show where he drones on for five minutes with the most point free anecdotes of all time (I used to drive around in a car, I have been to New York, etc.) before playing some crap record which he expects you to be impressed with (like I've never heard Patti Smith or whoever before).

They've got a song called "Fugitive Motel"? That is enough reason to write them off in itself.

Paul O'Grady in the Guardian last week said that going into the BBC was "like the Home Office...you get in there and it's like Harry Potter's Death Eaters have sucked the essence out of you."

That's how listening to Elbow or Guy Garvey in any context makes me feel.

Still, that one that's a bit like "Give peace a chance" with extra kazoo...

Look, there was ONE decent track on their first EP and that was it. Timewasting timeservers. Away with them and the vested interest BBC.

I don't know much about this band but when I heard that they'd taken 17 years to make it my first thought was, "Well they can't be very good then"

Four-piece string section, I think; I'm short, and was near the back!

Shut up, Marcello.

I have "baby Jesus" by them on a compilation single.

Can't remember it, offhand.

No, you shut up, your voice is not your own, you are the product of a post-Embrace discourse.

No, he's older than that.

I guess I'm just asking him to back a horse that's good.

Truro, last night? My sister was there, said they were amazing. I'm seeing them in Cardiff tomorrow, never seen them before.

Yes, btw. It was very good indeed.

is it bad of me to giggle at Marcello's rabid Debord channelling

It's bad of you to like this decrepit old people's music.

I used to drive around in a car, I have been to New York, etc.

haha

Translation: I used be driven around in a bus, I have been to New Barnet, etc.

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

Get with the programme Clive Dunn.

how about you stop clicking on the elbow threads.

it's a knee-jerk reaction.

but he even recites their lyrics

If there's a click in your elbow you might have fractured the olecranon; go and see your local orthopaedic surgeon otherwise there's the danger of long term malunion.

Old man in calling other, younger people old men because they have different taste to him in a desperate attempt to cling onto his fast-escaping youth with cold, dirty fingers: classic or dud?

No messageboard for old men.

The presence of Guy Garvey would suggest otherwise

At 34, Garvey is about 20 years younger than Marcello.

Projection, Nicholas, always projection.

I am neither desperate nor is my youth "fast-escaping." I'm younger and smarter than you'll ever be. Now get back to Virgin Radio. There's a chance they might play "All You Good, Good People" within the next 72 hours.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4396/cold13waystobleedonstagqw3.jpg

Much further along the autism spectrum, too.

That's a really fucked up thing to say.

Guys! You're fighting over Elbow!

Elbow Wrestling

I'm fighting for the future. Fossils belong in the past.

Oh and Desmond Carrington's 82 years old and he's younger than you'll ever be you fucking cunt.

Now piss off back to your Camden Good Music Society House you tossy togbog.

I used to think I liked Elbow, but now I see all you hipsters hate them I don't know anymore.

"tossy togbog"

haven't seen anyone trawling for suggest bans so blatantly since the days of good ol' deeznuts. i only hope that, when the day finally comes, stevem has a suitable .jpg to hand.

I think I set foot in Camden once, eight years ago, to see At The Drive-In. Liked the gig, wasn't fussed by Camden itself.

yes stop feeding the troll.

I don't think it's fair to call Marcello a troll.

What would you call him then?

Dark Sense (a lesser power that offers Night Eye and Detect Life for 30 seconds)
All Trolls have enhanced senses and can see in the dark

Troll Regeneration
Trolls have an improved regeneration rate. This ability will regenerate 1 to 3 points of health for every passing second depending on your Endurance attribute(if your endurance is below 35,you will not regenerate any additional health at all).

Trollkin Curse
-40% weakness to fire
-25% weakness to disease
All Trolls bear the Trollkin curse(look for lore in the internet) that makes them vulnerable to fire and diseases, and turns most of their offsprings to Trollkins, a hideous version of our usual Trolls(yes, i know some of you are wondering how much more hideous can they get)

M. F. Stats
45 35 Strength
40 40 Intelligence
30 40 Will
50 50 Agility
50 50 Speed
35 35 Endurance
50 50 Luck
20 20 Personality

I'm not sure; the term 'troll', to me, suggests a degree of anonymity, a degree of... separation from the thing one is trolling. Trolling's like knock-knock-ginger, or something, wilfully childish, mischievous, annoying. Marcello's a very erudite, long-standing member of the community of ILX; loads of people have met him and like him. I like him! I have a lot or respect for him. Just not re; his much-voiced opinion of Elbow. I don't think Geir's a troll either. I don't think it's just a case of troll is as troll does. I think they're genuine posters rather than troublemakers, they just exhibit troll-like behaviour on occasion. As do many of us.

i dunno, he does have a -40% weakness to fire

Elbow and their fucking 95-year-old Eddie Izzard lookylikey Peep Show knowing guffaws Pleased To Meet You Guardian Section homely welcoming Nick Hornby Radio 2 don't like black people vote Tory on the quiet still doing fucking Vic Reeves catchphrases at dinner parties it all ended in 1970 I WEPT when Baxendale got cut in half at the end of Cold Feet OMG it was SO LIKE MOVING Paul Merton's wry isn't he reading The Word first and last lines only building open air theatres in woodland in North Wales pancetta a courgette and fucking grass stuck in every fucking sandwich in Pret A Bastard Manger twelfth best first class of the second class settle for keech and tollie Miliband's fresh and new it's just talking over records isn't it wouldn't want to live next door to them Boris is doing quite well isn't he elephant parades blocking up the fucking buses in the West End every fucking Saturday roadworks or empty handbags at Hyde Park Corner bloody checkpoint Michael McIntyre's live DVD ZIGGY PLAYED CUNTING GUITAR JEAN CUNTING GENIE Both Sides by Phil Collins for £5 at Fopp CAN'T LISTEN TO THE MONDAYS FOREVER HWA HWA HWA four wheel drives in fucking Essex Road ROAD BASTARD LESS TRAVELLED Adele soulful Bernard Butler yah DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD fans

should be conscripted into the Territorials.

That's easy for you to say

I feel much better having said it.

wow! (awes)

OK, in summary:

Elbow: Some likes them, some don't.

Is Marcello accusing Elbow of being racist? And middle class?

95-year-old Eddie Izzard lookylikey Peep Show knowing guffaws Pleased To Meet You Guardian Section homely welcoming Nick Hornby Radio 2 don't like black people vote Tory on the quiet still doing fucking Vic Reeves catchphrases at dinner parties it all ended in 1970 I WEPT when Baxendale got cut in half at the end of Cold Feet OMG it was SO LIKE MOVING Paul Merton's wry isn't he reading The Word first and last lines only building open air theatres in woodland in North Wales pancetta a courgette and fucking grass stuck in every fucking sandwich in Pret A Bastard Manger twelfth best first class of the second class settle for keech and tollie Miliband's fresh and new it's just talking over records isn't it wouldn't want to live next door to them Boris is doing quite well isn't he elephant parades blocking up the fucking buses in the West End every fucking Saturday roadworks or empty handbags at Hyde Park Corner bloody checkpoint Michael McIntyre's live DVD ZIGGY PLAYED CUNTING GUITAR JEAN CUNTING GENIE Both Sides by Phil Collins for £5 at Fopp CAN'T LISTEN TO THE MONDAYS FOREVER HWA HWA HWA four wheel drives in fucking Essex Road ROAD BASTARD LESS TRAVELLED Adele soulful Bernard Butler yah DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD

Poll.

http://cartoon.juegos100.es/images/tom_and_jerry_11.jpg

Calling someone a "fucking cunt" is out of order, disagreements over Mancunian miserablists notwithstanding.

And crass, insulting references to "autism" aren't?

No, that was out of order as well.

Marcello and Nick should be kicked out of the FA Cup to show an example

One's a quantifiable fact and the other's just profanity, though. I apologise. I should have just sworn a bit.

ILM as forward-thinking music messageboard or ILM as comfort food for complacent high earning dope smoking thirtysomethings? The choice is yours.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/graphics/2006/06/28/edcheat282.jpg

Now see here, Nicholas me lad, I've told you, this band Elbow are shite. See me in my office, 9.30 sharp.

ILM as forward-thinking music messageboard or ILM as comfort food for complacent high earning dope smoking thirtysomethings? The choice is yours.

Repeatedly saying "Elbow are rubbish" is hardly contributing to this noble ideal though is it?

erm, re the insults, marcello reminded sick he is an embrace fan.

Need a lot more of that round here for sure (Tom xp). Bit of the old Charlie Endells.

Who's a high-earning dope-smoking 30-something? Cos I'm not any of those things. And you're only one of them afaik.

Seriously, Southall, go fuck yourself.

What's your beef, Marcello? PURELY that I like Elbow?

This year is one of the best years for music in, well, years and hardly anyone's talking about the good stuff on ILM. Do I have to start a thread on every single artist and talk to myself about them for six posts? Apart from Lex and Swygart no one else here seems to have a fucking clue.

Meanwhile ILM creams itself over these horrible OLD people like Elbow and Girls Aloud and it's like MOVE ON but nobody wants to. Over at LJ it's all slavering cockroaches grabbing at the new fucking Oasis single like it's an, um, oasis.

Someone has to argue for the other side.

and the places where I could talk about grime and hip hop and reggaeton and etc. are all up their arse Dissensus-style Smug McSmug from Smugtown.

I start a thread on the fucking BRILLIANT new T.I. album and all you can do is whinge about duh not as good as Kinig.

It's an uphill struggle.

best thread ever

KING I meant

of course you'll have to PAY if you want any kind of explanation as to why 'Swagger Like Us' is NOT a load of tedious crap. but empty hyperbole free of charge as ever.

Bye Steve.

The new T.I. album is maybe his fourth best, being generous.

B-b-but the T.I. album *isn't* as good as King!

It's probably better than The Seldom Seen Kid though.

that one about love and pride was OK

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3281060.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=4F84C7EF07395AB6320E3D261AAF5DCEA55A1E4F32AD3138

xposts. 5th best album being generous even.

No Marcello posts on the 450-post funky house thread incidentally but I suppose that at your current rate you're not due to get excited about that until 2011.

It's a shame we don't have an equivalent poster on the ILE football threads who can turn up and shout at everyone for not hailing Francis Jeffers as the future of English football.

how did nick find out about carlin's dope habit anyway?

He always tried so hard not to draw attention to it too

http://blog.ugo.com/images/uploads/george_carlin.jpg

this thread! jeez, folks, it's only elbow...

I really should have better things to do than point and laugh at Marcello for the ludicrous figure he cuts suddenly painting himself as the only person on ILM who ever talks about grime or hip-hop.

^^ no no your last one made me lol

Now get back to Virgin Radio. There's a chance they might play "All You Good, Good People" within the next 72 hours.

Virgin Radio is called Absolute Radio now.

sick mouthy's definition of trolling upthread was spot on

In Truro last night, after the gig, we walked past some "teenagers", and one of them was singing "He's just a rascal", which I believe is the refrain of a song by the popular beat musician Dizzee Rascal. Maybe Marcello should move to Cornwall in order to be at the heart of the scene?

he's ahead of you, dude.

gosh darn those teenyboppers and their beat-besotted, rascally ways. why in my day...

this thread builds to a hell of a finish, jeffers zing is all-time

Oh my.

I thought this would be bumped for their new single, it's great. Love the video.

Affectionate references to Yoko always welcome.

new album is allegedly sad? can't imagine this band getting any sadder than "friend of ours'. singles are good.

don't' know WTF MC was on about up there

playing the back garden ATM

great band obv

A mate of mine went to see them in Cork last night, he said they were excellent. They dont do much for me tho, soz

they are a bit cheesy live.

I know I saw them live years ago, but for the life of me I can't remember if it was them opening for Lamb or Lamb opening for Elbow. Or maybe I am confusing two different bills? It seems more likely that at the time that it was Elbow opening for someone else, but Lamb seems an unlikely headliner.

Hmm, Elbow opening for Doves in 2002? Maybe that was it.

that's likely.

I really love the band but I really hate audience participation in shows and there was a lot of waving hands in the air.

cant see that from the garden so im happy out tbf

So, how was the solo album?

i know they aren't too popular around here but i'm seeing these guys tonight. i only saw them one other time and that was in San Francisco in the year 2000. so second show is 20 years later. i doubt they will be so intense again where the hair on the back of my neck will stand up, but nonetheless looking forward to seeing them again.

They're great. The Jools performance of "My Sad Captains" was fantastic.

Easily top 5 tour pairings was seeing Elbow with Doves way back - maybe that same 2000 tour?

such an amazing show, really blew me away. he's really engaged with the audience and talked up a storm. saying things like beautiful and just so positive and happy. there was a connection with the audience i don't really see from bands these days. they only toured California and said it has been seven years since they were here last? i didn't know anything after the Seldom Seen Kid record but didn't matter as they picked great songs and the audience ate it up. i wont miss them next time they come through.

the show i saw in San Francisco way back when was not with the Doves. that should have been a blast especially since i never did see the Doves live.

Took me a while to find the date - June 3, 2002 at Graceland. Memorable for such big sound in a small venue. This site has a scan of the ticket and some earlier Seattle shows I missed.

i missed them last week which is too bad, but I've seen the last two bay area shows they played. both excellent. I think the latest album is slightly better than Little Fictions, both not quite as good as Take Off and Landing.

So I have, from somewhere, a 'deluxe version' of Asleep in the Back ... I thought I added it on apple music but I probably slsk'ed it. The tracklist doesn't match the tracklist of the deluxe CDs from what I can tell, it's three volumes and includes a few songs I don't know anything about: Stumble and Puckfair? anyone know where these come from? they are lovely, Stumble in particular.