24 May 2006

Shuffle of the Day 12 - "Powder Blue" by Elbow


Elbow is one of many children of Radiohead in the British music scene. Not that they are directly descended from Radiohead, but that dour, drifting sound that Radiohead pioneered on The Bends and OK Computer permeates this track off of Elbow's debut. The thing that sets this song apart is, well, horns. Specifically, saxophones. Saxophone solos. At the very end of the song, suddenly this very INXS "Never Tear Us Apart"-esque saxophone solo comes in for maybe 20 seconds and on one hand it seems entirely out of place, but on the other hand it does actually add a lot to the song. Does this mean I want more saxophones in my British alternative rock? Well, no. However, you have to hand it to Elbow for at least trying something a little different in what might otherwise seem like a Radioclone.

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