Elbow

Elbow – Giants Of All Sizes

Elbow
Elbow – Giants Of All Sizes
Reader Rating1 Vote
2.8

Elbow had set out to make serious waves with a cannonball into the pool, but they’ve slipped in at the deep end and are struggling to find the floor. You may need your armbands for this one, it gets deep.

Starting strong with ‘Dexter & Sinister’, Giants Of All Sizes promises an epic battle of man vs wave machine after 6 beers; which would be a welcome contrast to Elbow’s usual standard. However, it’s quickly watered down to a familiar melancholic float down a lazy river.

Elbow’s attempt at breaking new ground has resulted in what feels like a steady over 60s swim on a dull Tuesday afternoon. Which, to their credit, may have been their plan…

Of course, you don’t listen to Elbow for mad tunes that make you want to dance around waving a pool noodle in the air, and after all this record does come from a particular set of hard personal and national events, but in the same breath, you want an album to captivate you – I don’t want to be sent to sleep and miss the inflatable session. Harsh indeed, but it simply didn’t click.

The album’s saving grace comes in the form of the production levels, but when it comes down to the wire, the melodies are nothing new, and the lyrical content, though exploring themes of loss and tragedy, don’t really sound much different from what has come before. And honestly, the political commentary part is also done far better by others Guy, I’m sorry.

Hopefully, if Elbow choose to return, they’ll come back with something that resembles more Siam Park in Tenerife, than the communal pool at Butlins, Skegness. If you know what you want from the group this will be a powerful and intimate record, but if you’re looking for something new I’m not sure you’ll be stirred from your lilo.

Haiku Review
It’s rinse and repeat,
Less siam park, Tenerife,
More Butlins, Skegness,

Listen to Elbow on Spotify and Apple Music. Get the most recent volume of our print magazine HERE.

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