SOUNDTRACK: ELBOW-Leaders of the Free World (2005).
So this is where Peter Gabriel has been!
The opening track of this album starts quietly with a vocal doppelganger of Peter Gabriel crooning in his low voice. In fact, throughout the album Peter Gabriel’s voice pops up. It’s certainly not a case of trying to be Gabriel, as their music isn’t at all the same, it’s just that the voice is eerily similar sometimes.
This is my first exposure to Elbow, so I guess everyone has long known about this Peter Gabriel thing. But I’m new to the party. I’d read that this was their best disc, so I got this one first.
I’ve now listened to this record a half a dozen times and I’m still not exactly sure how to classify it. And even though I like it, I don’t think I love it.
They remind me a bit of early Radiohead, and yet that’s not quite right. And they remind me sort of of Coldplay, but that’s not right either. They have similarities to Doves, but they’re not quite as mopey. I guess they’re just a good rocking British band. This album contains many heavy moments, but there are also some thoughtful, mellow sections. And lyrically it’s quite interesting, especially the title track.
I’m intrigued enough by it to want to check out other records by them, and although I said I didn’t love the record, by the sixth listen I was singing along with most of the tracks. Weird. But good weird.
[READ: March 4, 3009] “Al Roosten”
I had mixed reactions to George Saunders’ In Persuasion Nation some time ago, but I started this story and it sounded promising. And it was.
Al Roosten is a dumpy, middle aged man. All of his life he has lived in the shadows of thinner, nicer, and, well, better boys and girls. Now that he is an adult and an owner of an antiques shoppe called Bygone Daze, he has been invited as a Local Celebrity to take part in an anti drug “auction” (the winner has lunch with the “celebrity”).
Al goes on after Larry Donfrey (of Donfrey Realty). Larry showed up to the auction in just a swimsuit. His studly physique elicited quite the reaction. Buy when Al struts on stage, the whoops and hollers are more start as mockery but soon morphs into pity. And this sets off a story that takes place mostly in Al’s head. He changes his mind about Larry several times in the story from admiring him to hating him to pitying him to being super pissed about him.
Al exacts a small bit of revenge backstage (and a very satisfying one, I admit). But on the way home he questions himself and feels bad for what he has done. After talking with his dead mother, he gathers his strength, and plans to do something about his failing business. And yet once again, he questions his motives and behaviors.
This was a fun piece about the self-reflection that can lead to impotent behavior in one’s life. It’s a great examination of blame, frustration and catharsis. This tips the balance of Saunders’ work to the positive for me.
I Just Read About That... 