Build A Rocket Boys! takes most of the misery out of the Elbow equation, which singer Guy Garvey explained had something to do with the band’s success—a Mercury Prize, a platinum record, etc. It’s a strange admission to make, but a refreshing one: Life’s been good, so the songs have cheered up. Strangely, though, Rocket doesn’t embrace the band’s poppier side. Instead, it stretches out further into more spacious arrangements and experimentation, starting with the eight-minute “The Birds,” which somehow touches on both Brit-pop and prog. (Yes, that means it owes something to Radiohead.)
Garvey remains as clever as ever within this expansive new sonic palate, offering lyrics both witty (“You’re not the man who fell to earth / You’re the man of La Mancha”) and touching. (“Did you trust your noble dreams and gentle expectations to the mercy of the night? / The night will always win.”) There’s aren’t many huge hooks or clap-along BPMs—only “High Ideals” really bumps along—but Elbow more than compensates with ballads dense with sounds and inventive tinkerings. In other words, it isn’t the type of album that will easily find its way into the hearts of those in need of a quicker, simpler fix. But a bit of patience—especially from those with a propensity for grand Brits—will be handsomely rewarded.
