Leaders of the Free World was my favorite before Seldom Seen Kid. The album is just the total package.

Its got to be TSSK, its just completely mindblowingly good

Been thinking about this one for the last couple of days. Sadly, I can't answer that question. It's an impossible one for me.

Cast of...

That said i have just rediscovered my old MP3 player and LOTFW there in!

I've been listening to a lot of LOTFW lately.. Hmmm I can't choose a definate favourite...it changes weekly!

For me it's got to be Asleep In The Back, because it was the beginning of my love affair with Elbow.

I get a similar thing with albums as 'demoitis', as explained on Guy's show where you become attached to the first version of a song you hear. The first album I really listen to of a band often becomes my favourite.

Changes frequently between LOTFW & TSSK, an impossible decision to make !!

Kim, I know exactly what you mean, and on that basis if nothing else it's AITB for me too - still right up there after getting on for 8 years now.

But I suppose I have to say my own "Elbow albums and favourite b-sides" (i.e. most of them ) iTunes playlist.

Glad I'm not alone! *hugs* No matter how much I love all the other albums, I always come back to AITB. Which makes the lyrics of Scattered Black and Whites even more special to me:

I come back here from time to time. I shelter here some days.

Guy is saying that about his home and his family. But I say the same thing about their music.

Kim what a lovely way of putting it. You could also go back to Presuming Ed,

This is why we are here...

Sarah does Brambles have cough medicine associations?

Yes, first version of Brambles.
My favourite elbow album is the triple cd+ of b-sides and rarities I collected from the singles and compilations I bought.
with Asleep in the back of the albums, very closely followed by COT.

leaders of the free world for me. station approach, great expectations alone make it my favourite. though only marginally, theyre all top class albums and some of the songs that didnt make it on them are amzing too

Asleep In the Back is my favourite, no questions asked. It is one of the most perfect albums I have heard.
I remember lying in my bedroom when I was about 20 and listening to it from start to finish and thinking it was just beautiful and I still do.

'Just as you are perfect, just as you are'.

It's still The Seldom Seen Kid for me. It's just so complete; I don't think I've ever heard an album that still moves me after hearing it so many times. It just connects on so many levels. Enoch Powell (yeah, I know, I know) once said that he didn't like listening to music because he felt it stripped him, laid him emotionally bare in a way that he did not welcome. Well, for once I understand what old Enoch was on about, although I am never one to resist the power of a good tune.

I think Leaders Of The Free World is a solid collection of tunes, though, it just didn't hit me the way The Seldom Seen Kid did.

Cast Of Thousands, I coming to grips with finally and I'll always think songs like Fallen Angel and Fugitive Motel are amongst their best work.

Asleep In The Back I don't have yet. I'm holding off for the deluxe edition now I know it's being released soon.