Ricky Gervais Has A Hell Of A Set Of Pipes...

Elbow

Album: build a rocket boys!

Song: Lippy Kids

Why do certain artists or bands become superstars, while others work and create in relative obscurity?  You can argue that Elbow does not deserve worldwide stardom, that the music simply does not pass muster.  An untenable position, in my opinion, but there is certainly room for personal bias in matters such as these. What seems less open to debate is that Elbow should achieve worldwide stardom, that the music is both soulful and grandiose, both sensitive and bombastic, both jazzy nightclub and 80,000 seat stadium.  It bears repeated listenings.  My hand itches to lift my lighter into the cool night air...

And lead singer Guy Garvey looks like Ricky Gervais' lost twin.  Which doesn't hurt.  Or help.  Hell, it just is.  Garvey has one of the great voices in modern music, and he is a consummate melodist.  He oozes - like crushed foil - musicality.  His voice is supple, buttery, but with enough of a carefully modulated sandpaper rasp to veer round the sort of sameness that dooms Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby and a whole generation of crooners to the expectations of a contemporary listener.

There are times when Elbow borders on the maudlin.  There are times when Elbow reaches beyond sensitive and musical into cliche and vapidity.  And then there are times like this.  Enjoy them now, before they win their inevitable dozen or so Grammys.  You will say, "I was there, you know, before they hit it big..."  Feel free to cite me as your source.