Albums to watch

Build A Rocket Boys!

Elbow

Build A Rocket Boys!

Fifth album from the Manchester alt.rock five-piece and follow up to the Mercury Music Prize winning The Seldom Seen Kid

ADM rating[?]

7.9

Label
Fiction
UK Release date
07/03/2011
US Release date
15/03/2011
  1. 10.0 |   Daily Telegraph

    Intelligent and warm stuff
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  2. 9.0 |   DIY

    If anything, 'satisfyingly weathered' may fit the bill best - its imperfections only serve to hold the interest further
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  3. 9.0 |   Entertainment.ie

    Garvey's voice is as deliciously sumptuous as ever, his homely tones as comforting as a loved one's shoulder
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  4. 8.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    A refreshing rediscovery of a band we all fell in love with a long time ago
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  5. 8.3 |   A.V. Club

    A bit of patience—especially from those with a propensity for grand Brits—will be handsomely rewarded
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  6. 8.0 |   State

    Elbow still manages to break hearts, even as their own remain intact
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  7. 8.0 |   Blurt

    Further proof that these seasoned musicians continually evolve as they continually deliver quality albums
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  8. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    Details make Build a Rocket Boys! warrant repeat listenings
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  9. 8.0 |   The Fly

    Filled with quiet moments of stirring beauty, arm-raising jubilance and enlightening lyricism. A truly brilliant return
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  10. 8.0 |   The Quietus

    Beautiful without being pretty
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  11. 8.0 |   No Ripcord

    One to tempt those new legions to look back to what went before - and as such that will be its most significant victory
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  12. 8.0 |   State

    Brimming with extraordinary, ordinary, observations
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  13. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    This is the real deal, magnificent in its composition and execution. Not everything on the album works, but when it does it’s some of the best music you’ll hear this or any other year
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  14. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    Music to get lost inside: for headphones rather than booming speakers
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  15. 8.0 |   Mojo

    Touched by ambitious, intuitive invention. Print edition only

  16. 8.0 |   Q

    It's simply another excellent Elbow record. Print edition only

  17. 8.0 |   Uncut

    A quietly beautiful record: anthemic, but not bombastic
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  18. 8.0 |   NME

    Elbow have retained their crowns as everyman kings
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  19. 8.0 |   Spin

    This is capital-A Art rock without pretense, but with tremendous heart
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  20. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    Build a Rocket Boys! sees Elbow doing perhaps the smartest thing you could under the circumstances: carrying on regardless
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  21. 8.0 |   The Independent

    The air of exultant expectation recollected in tranquility pervades the entire album
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  22. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    Chock-full of the soul, poetry and good humour that have become the band's trademark
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  23. 8.0 |   BBC

    they make music that sounds like it cares how you are
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  24. 8.0 |   Independent on Sunday

    Too solid and mature to have their heads turned by fame or to suffer stage fright, Elbow have instead made the album they wanted to make
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  25. 8.0 |   The Observer

    Build a Rocket Boys! is, if anything, a more densely wooded listen than its predecessor, thrumming with analogue synths and Garvey's woollen mutter
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  26. 8.0 |   Clash

    A small but perfectly formed step forward
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  27. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    It is the intelligent, eloquent and heartfelt balance of light and shade, as ever with Elbow, that gives the music its strength
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  28. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    In their own, low key, understated way, Elbow continue to beguile and impress
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  29. 7.5 |   Prefix

    An album about build-up without pay-off
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  30. 7.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    They’ve crafted an album full of beautifully lush melodies, intricate patterns, and soaring vocalizations. Nearly every song has something great to offer
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  31. 7.0 |   Rave Magazine

    One ultimately applauds Elbow’s ability to play with various shades of grey and so frequently uncover euphoria
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  32. 6.9 |   Pitchfork

    The record's distinguishing quality is the one Elbow has had since the beginning, an honest humanity that's imperfect
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  33. 6.5 |   Bowlegs

    For every crowd pleaser there is an Elbow gem
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  34. 6.0 |   Scotland on Sunday

    More oomph required!
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  35. 6.0 |   The Scotsman

    The arrangements are inventive but tasteful, dynamic but never excessive
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Elbow: Build A Rocket Boys!

  • Download full album for just £8.49
  • 1. the birds £0.99
  • 2. lippy kids £0.99
  • 3. with love £0.99
  • 4. neat little rows £0.99
  • 5. jesus is a rochdale girl £0.99
  • 6. the night will always win £0.99
  • 7. high ideals £0.99
  • 8. the river £0.99
  • 9. open arms £0.99
  • 10. the birds (reprise) £0.99
  • 11. dear friends £0.99
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