Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!

3.0

0.0 (0)

On their fifth studio release, English band Elbow continues to craft fine tunes in the realms of dream-pop but add a bit of an anthemic sophistication in the form of a bigger sound, sleeker production and catchier hooks.

Build a Rocket Boys! Doesn’t stray away too much from the Elbow formula but it does add some supporting dimensions to their already charming sound. A kind of sound boosting direction which adds more definition to the music – It’s still pretty mellow and ethereal, but a little bit of ‘rock’ goes a long way to create these interesting intricacies on Build a Rocket Boys.

The best parts of the record are the build-ups – which occur in more than one track – such as on “Open Arms” a gorgeous ballad which starts out slow but builds up to a sing-a-long anthem which is quiet honestly spine tingling. The most interesting song on the record is the opener “Birds” which is a trippy progressive number.

Eventhough some of the songs teeter onto forgettable territory – Elbow seems to be finding a comfortable place between a certain alt-rock niche which has far more mass appeal and their original dream-pop/experimental sound. Whether this comfortable place will develop into an entirely different sound is what we’d love to find out.

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