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Cast of Thousands

Elbow Format: Audio CD
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 232 ratings
$11.97
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MP3 Music, August 18, 2003
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Track Listings

1 Ribcage - Elbow
2 Fallen Angel - Elbow
3 Fugitive Motel
4 Snooks (Progress Report)
5 Switching Off - Elbow
6 Not A Job - Elbow
7 I've Got Your Number - Elbow
8 Whisper Grass
9 Buttons And Zips
10 Lay Down Your Cross
11 Crawling With Idiot
12 Grace Under Pressure
13 Flying Dream

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Most bands, when they want more attention, pump up the volume. Not Elbow. The Manchester quintet's second full-length is quieter than their debut, Asleep At the Back, luring listeners into its clutches with weird sonic details: the twinkling electronics that open "Ribcage;" stuttering guitar feedback on "Not A Job." Equally seductive are singer Guy Garvey's vocals, full of hushed gravity as he mutters thumbnail sketches of characters ranging from nasty buggers ("I've Got Your Number") to his band mates ("Snooks"). Underlying all the subtle touches are some deceptively catchy tunes: the clap-along shuffle of "Buttons & Zips;" a love song from the other side of the world ("Fugitive Motel"), and another that spins as slowly as a lonely satellite ("Switching Off"). Thousands also includes cameos from members of Doves and Alfie, and, on the final bars of the swelling "Grace Under Pressure," a Glastonbury festival audience--the second time through, you'll probably join in, too. --Kurt B. Reighley

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5.75 x 0.45 inches; 0.71 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ V2 North America
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ October 21, 2006
  • Label ‏ : ‎ V2 North America
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0000APSML
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 232 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
232 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Brenton D. Beck
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this unheralded gem!
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2010
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This is a very satisfying album that just gets better and better with each listening. The production is first rate and the songs continually surprise with their depth and emotion. There is a themematic quality to the album and certain songs, like "Not a Job" have an almost hypnotic power. This is an album you'll want to listen to from start to finish. I highly recommend it.
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Michele E. Duckert
5.0 out of 5 stars I love Elbow. This is another good album
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2015
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I love Elbow. This is another good album.
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M. Ramirez
4.0 out of 5 stars It's hit or miss...but overall pretty darn good
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2004
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Just like their previous album, Asleep in the Back, Cast of Thousands is an audio rollarcoaster. Some of the songs are simple catchy little tunes that you'll hum for days afterwards. While others are strange and experimental and will have you scratching your head for days afterwards.
In the grand scheme of things, this album is just as you would expect from Elbow...they've kept the same formula. There are some very emotional moments...there are some very dull moments...and there are some un-categorizable moments in between.
The song Buttons and Zips is an instant classic...it will get stuck in your head on the first spin. Fugitive Motel has all the emotion of Powder Blue and then some.
All in all, another great piece of musical art...not likely to win over the masses in the USA...but hey, I think that's a good thing these days.
5 people found this helpful
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TeacherLady
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2016
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Awesome deal and quick shipping!
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Christopher B. Matthews
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2016
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Excellent album.
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Gina Olmeda
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2014
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Very Pleased.
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J. Holmes
4.0 out of 5 stars unique record. requires a few listens
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2005
i am having a bit of a hard time trying to figure out my thoughts on this album. it's a strange one...but good, very good. the production is quite strange and unique. it seems to be a cross between some old Pink Floyd sound ideas and some of the sparse wide open spaces of dub. the vocals are closely mic'd and it sounds like the singer is whispering his thoughts directly into your ear at times. it can be a bit unsettling and strange at first, but eventually it comes accross as being very intimate and tender. the acoustic guitar and bass and drums form a solid background, but there's bit of distorted guitar that stab and pierce the open spaces in the songs...the results can be both exhilerating and annoying. the first song suffers from the use of a choir, but let that one slide and try to enjoy the rest of this record. it may take a while for these melodies to sink in and make an impact. because when i first heard it...i knew that there was something that i liked about it...but i couldn't figure out what it was...so i had to listen again and again. and finally, the charm and the character of these songs started to reveal themsleves. there's alot of great beautiful moments on here of great songwriting. this is a very mature album...perhaps more mature than you might expect from a band as young as Elbow. they write some sensitive songs, but they never stoop to the level of being bedwetters like Coldplay or the dreadful Keane. they choose instead, to add some darker tones and let the distance in their sound do some of the work. let it play a few times. i promise ... it will sink in.
5 people found this helpful
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fangkuifu
5.0 out of 5 stars Moody Ethereal Music for the Soul
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2004
Having been turned on to British music for some time, and having purchased many outstanding albums from bands like Travis, Coldplay, Radiohead, Beck, and Oasis, I felt there had to be more bands that so enthusiastically celebrated classic rock sounds. Thankfully, Amazon catalogs people's purchases so that we in the states can sample music that other like-minded people bought. That's how I found Elbow. Cast of Thousands is an outstanding album that deserves to have its tracks analyzed individually...so here goes:
1. Ribcage - (*****): Like the mantras offered ala their previous album, this song builds from quiet and unassuming lyrics and music into a multi-layered experiment in cobra-swaying grooves and gospel choir shimmies. Outstanding track.
2. Fallen Angel - (*****): This ruckus romp is as close to mainstream rock as I've heard from Elbow. It does remind me of Peter Gabriel as other reviewers have mentioned. I love the bass sax sound that is achieved by the guitar player. This song would be best played at high volume while cruising the strip in a convertable...
3. Fugitive Motel - (*****): Fugitive Motel is a beautiful song that has superb music provided by a mix of piano, orchestration, upright bass, guitar, and jazz-style drumming. Simply breathtaking in its breadth of emotionally inspired lyrics and music, this song is a standout among the album.
4. Snooks - (*****): The driving beat of this number is enough to drive an already shaken soul into spiritual submission...then when the Ennio Morricone-inspired guitar and orchestration with interesting synthesized sounds begin, the tune just speaks and the music erupts into sonic jolts--parts of this song belong in the cinema--outstanding.
5. Switching Off - (****1/2): This song begins with simple drum beats accompanied by a tamborine and what I would swear is an old-style reed organ. This motiff is repeated for the primary verses, while the chorus builds musically with excellent instrumentation and wonderful use of volume to evoke emotion.
6. Not a Job - (*****): Probably the most uptempo song on the album, Not a Job is also one of my favorites. The layers upon layers of music and vocals are expertly composed and performed. This track definitely showcases the band's musical and lyric prowess and could be a hit single if great music were better appreciated these days.
7. I've Got Your Number - (****): This is one of the most bluesy/jazzy number on the album. I can almost see the smoke taking various form in the spotlight while the bandmembers, wearing sunglasses, drop ash from quickly disappearing cigarettes. Moog intermission is disruptive, but welcome in this slow-groove. Good track.
8. Buttons and Zips - (*****): Almost a return to the Snooks groove, this ditty is probably the most infectiously groovy one on the album. I immediately loved the way the lyrics are sung in the same pace and notes of the musical accompanyment--the effect is one of voice actually being used as a musical instrument...having all of the same percussive and tonal qualities. This one is definitely a head-bobber. Tops
9. Crawling with Idiot - (***1/2): This is a return to the bluesy/jazzy sound of I've Got Your Number. If you like one, you'll like the other. All in all, not the best track, but one that fits well among the others. I sometimes skip this one.
10. Grace Under Pressure - (*****): Just like the mantra of the first song, this one also builds into a crescendo of magnificent proportions; and just like the first song, accompanying the Peter Garbriel-like crooning is a full gospel choir. This is a standout track on an already outstanding album. An instant favorite of mine, this is bound to be a fan pleaser.
11. Flying Dream - (****): A punctuating song that is brief, to the point, but yet maintains the feeling and musical greatness of the rest of the album.
There you have it. An album that has more than enough 5-star rated tunes to require an overall 5-6 star rating. If you like British bands mentioned in the opening paragraph then you'll love this album. Pick it up today and you won't be disappointed.
11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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éric caron
5.0 out of 5 stars Super
Reviewed in France on November 11, 2020
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Super
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Thomas Zimmermann
5.0 out of 5 stars Die beste Elbow LP?
Reviewed in Germany on June 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
Top Klang und Qualität. Musikalisch für mich die beste Elbow LP. Aber das ist für Fans eh schwierig zu beurteilen. Besonders erfreulich war der Download via Amazon Music, der auch gleich noch ein paar Live-Aufnahmen mitlieferte.
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Chris
4.0 out of 5 stars No es el mejor, pero es Elbow
Reviewed in Mexico on December 14, 2017
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Que se puede decir más que “es Elbow”, la voz de Guy sobresale acompañada de los instrumentos del resto de la banda con melodías que sientes por las letras que escuchas.
Es cierto que este disco no es el mejor de Elbow, en mi es el último de la lista, pero aun así sobre sale por tener ese sello de calidad que conlleva el nombre de la banda.
Una compra recomendada para un fan, una compra secundaria para alguien que no es fan, para eso es mejor adquirir la obra maestra a la fecha de la banda, “The Seldom Seen Kid”
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Amazon カスタマー
5.0 out of 5 stars 染みる
Reviewed in Japan on October 12, 2016
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NOT A JOBが好きです。暖かくて、切ないメロディがいい。秋の夕暮れ時なんかに合いますね。夜とかも○
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Brownie
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 24, 2014
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Can't get enough of this band
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