GIANTS OF ALL FORMATS

THE BEST FIVE ELBOW ALBUMS

Asleep In The Back (V2 VVR 1015881, 2LP, 2001) £50

After a decade to get it together, small wonder that Elbow arrived fully-formed. Dubbed “the musicians’ musicians” by primitivist peers, adventurous prog excursions like Newborn sat next to the typically hauntingly simple Scattered Black And Whites.

Leaders Of The Free World (V2

VVR 1032551, LP, 2005) £55

Their label’s struggles meant Elbow’s third album got lost on release. A shame, as it’s the culmination of the band’s first incarnation as adventurers and arena-ready balladeers. Exhilarating lead single Forget Myself, in particular, is an underrated headrush. RC’S writer owns artist Michael O’shaughnessy’s sleeve painting, bought for £850 in 2009 with redundancy money.

The Seldom Seen Kid (Fiction 176 472-8, 2x12”, 2008) £50 Written on holiday when they thought they’d finished the album, One Day Like This remains Elbow’s definitive anthem, but it’s only one of many highlights on a varied triumph deserving to be their commercial breakthrough. A Mercury Prize winner proving nice guys can finish first.

Flying Dream 1 (Polydor 357 847-4, LP, 2021) £25

Ending a run of three consecutive UK No 1s, its release in the same week as new Adele and Ed Sheeran albums meant LP nine was overlooked. But this simple, elegant record was probably always destined to be too fragile to connect with the mainstream. Stripping away all their flourishes, its ode to childhood is considered by the band as their lost classic.

Audio Vertigo

(Polydor 583 409-7, LP, 2024) £25 Continuing the experimentation of 2019’s lively Giants Of All Sizes, Elbow shake off any preconceptions that they’ve settled into being cosy balladeers. Mark Potter’s guitars have never been more boisterous while drummer Al Reeves’ beats take them to the dancefloor with more conviction. Ten albums in, they sound exciting and excited.