prod the ambivalence of this sodding life! Bloody hell! I truly adore, and have always admired this bunch. Whatever/ whoever you've done/said, admired or lost (and sometimes, simultaneously), you will find a vignette here. Truly.

I've just given this album a second listen and it is excellent... maintainting the usual good standard of a truly awesome british band. However, something has confused me... the first track on my disc [Starling], appears to be all the album tracks compiled together and lasts for 57 minutes... is everyone else's the same? Anyone considering buying this, do it! It's ace...!

Hmm, where to start, I bought the cd on the back of the track "one day like this" which is being played on the radio at the moment. Wow, the depth and lyrics in the album are great, the production values are sublime from the lilting melodies of "the riot" which draw me back to the specials for some reason to the raw metalic grinding and foot tapping head nodding beats of "grounds for divorce". I can't recomend this album enough, even now I'm smiling as I listen to "One day like this" again.......

I first heard Grounds for Divorce about the same time that the album was released. It was incredible, especially the crunching guitar riffs in the chorus. I bought the album not long after and expected all of the songs to be like that one. At first I was dissapointed that they weren't, but then I listened to the album again, listening to the words and the flawless arrangements. Every song on this album is a masterpiece, all filled with incredible emotion and honesty. Most notably Friends of Ours, a slow and very moving tribute to 'The Seldom Seen Kid' for whom the album is dedicated (and named after). I have since bought the rest of Elbows albums, but am still waiting for 'Leaders of the free world' to arrive.

Got into this after hearing a couple of tracks on the radio and took the gamble buying the Album....It paid off !! There are some very strong tracks that you are drawn to at first and with time the qualities of the other tracks start creeping in. An Album of many layers and good to find lyrics in the sleeve notes. Great in the car and through headphones --- Go on treat yourself !!

i remember well listening to elbows first album back in 2001 and remember being disapointed on first listen but after a week or so i had it on full repeat...maybe back then it was too unusual for my brit pop tastes but now its an exciting time for me when an elbow disc arrives...the new album features as before the strange feedback sounds the string arrangements popping up and dying instantly and guy garveys outstanding northern soul voice...the tracks that stand out for me are "starlings""some riot""one day like this" but best of all is "lonliness of a tower crane driver" it's just so enthralling.."i must of been working the roads that day...as your hand slipped from mine" it just sent shivers up my spine the first time i listened to it...they used to be compared to radiohead and even coldplay...but come on this IS elbow..they sound like no one else...and that is a good thing

The only way the listening experience of this album can be bettered is by being there to hear the live show.Superb and repeated listens only reveal more depth.Im a convert!

Best album I have heard this year. I listen to Elbow an awful lot just now and little else. They are just SO good. Every album they have released has been great. Do not dismiss after one , two or three listens-all the songs get under your skin and into your head. BTW I am 60 and usually hate modern bands but Elbow live up to any band I have ever loved in my long musical life.

Ive been an elbow fan for some time and have really enjoyed their previous work and after reading several positive reviews expected this to be another goodun.

Unfortunately the whole album seems a bit elbow by numbers. Dont get me wrong, its not a dreadful album it just feels that the band are really unchallenging themselves. A couple of the tracks show real quality, but concept songs like 'the fix' are pretty below-par.

Overall the band are on their 4th album and you would feel would be pushing their boundaries, however it feels they are content to simply recycle what they feel comfortable with, so the album really provides nothing new.

Great Album. Their 4th to date ( not 3rd as stated elsewhere). They just keep getting better, though their very 1st EP takes some beating. As ever Guys word craft is awesome. A must have.