Elbow — Cast Of Thousands

Manchester’s Elbow specialize in that certain brand of dourness to which only the British seem to be truly privy. Singer Guy Garvey resembles Chris Martin upon first listen but exhibits a broader range, from the heartbroken lament of "Crawling With Idiot" to the anguished wails of "Snooks (Progress Report"). The disc swells ("Switching Off"), sparkles ("I’ve Got Your Number"), and soars ("Fugitive Motel") for what seems to be much longer than 50 minutes. The mood, however, is remarkably consistent; even when you think Elbow are about to let loose and get jiggy on the bouncy "Buttons And Zips," they aim their poker-faces steadfastly shoe-ward. Perfect for rainy days and Mondays — especially rainy Mondays.