Cast of Thousands Import by Elbow

Cast of Thousands Import

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Cast of Thousands Import

Reader Reviews
Manchester band Elbow rose to fame in the UK with their moody debut "Asleep in the Back." In "Cast of Thousands" Elbow takes a slightly different tack. The music is a little smoother, the album altogether a bit more cohesive, and its lovesick melancholy brings to mind a sunny day temporarily obscured by clouds. The opening track, "Ribcage," is a gradual buildup accentuated with a gospel choir, followed by the vaguely funky "Fallen Angel," the brilliantly bluesy "Fugitive Motel," the magnificent "Grace Under Pressure," the African-inspired "Snooks (Progress Report)," the insanely catchy "Buttons and Zips," before rounding off on the same solid note it started with on the brief "Flying Dream." "Cast of Thousands" somehow manages the impossible: it hangs on to frustration and dreariness , while managing to shift into a more optimistic space. Basically it's a collection that has retained its edginess, but is able to sing a little wistfully, "I blow you a kiss/It should reach you tomorrow/As it flies from the other side of the world..." The more typical drums'n'percussion are joined by string sections in such songs as "Fugitive Motel," which adds an extra dimension to it. Not to mention barking dogs, tambourines, accordians and sprawling synths. Only the African drums start to drag. And the music is layered in a peculiar way, shifting the guitar and bass over one another. As a result, the instrumentation is richly layered like a gourmet cake. Singer Guy Garvey is rather reminiscent of Radiohead's Thom Yorke, but a little more hesitant. He sounds unsure in many tracks, as if he isn't sure how he should sing with the music flowing behind him. And in some of the tracks, the London Community Gospel Choir provides a panoramic sweep of backing vocals. Elbow is still in fine form in "Cast of Thousands," a rich slice of lovelorn pop-rock that will appeal to fans of diverse, intricate music. Here's hoping their forthcoming third is this good.

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