Reasons why I want to obliterate Guy Garvey

[The Culture Bunker]

I bought first one, Asleep in the Back, after a glowing review in Uncut.

I'm guessing you were too young to know better. I know I made the same mistake around the same time with some band who were so bland, I seem to have wiped them from my memory. I only used to buy Uncut (from around 1999-2002) for the free CD, until the point came when I realised all the new stuff they were praising was generally wishy-washy crap made by over-earnest young with acoustic guitars.

[LordMorgan]

Very patchy output even on that debut album which is easily their best

Very dull most of the time
But definitely a few decent songs.


I always much preferred doves

[holyzombiejesus]

I remember one of the lyrics penned by this supposed wordsmith went 'Choose your favourite shoes and put your blues on cruise control', with Garvey emphasising all the 'oos'. A friend had the album and we used to get him to put that bit in when we were off our heads so we could laugh at it.
Also, my ex used to live with the guitarist and he used to hack up greenies and spit them in to empty mugs.

[jobotic]

I'm guessing you were too young to know better. I know I made the same mistake around the same time with some band who were so bland, I seem to have wiped them from my memory. I only used to buy Uncut (from around 1999-2002) for the free CD, until the point came when I realised all the new stuff they were praising was generally wishy-washy crap made by over-earnest young with acoustic guitars.

Young people bought Uncut? To hide Gardeners World magazine in?

[The Culture Bunker]

Young people bought Uncut? To hide Gardeners World magazine in?

I know I picked it up for the first time (around Spring '99) because there was an extensive New Order article/interview as the cover story (there was also a John Cale retrospective piece and interview). There was similar for acts like the Pretenders, Suede, Depeche Mode. It wasn't a bad read for someone with little interest in the contemporary "alternative" music of the time, until they settled into the cycle of Byrds, Beatles, Young, Springsteen etc that seemingly continues to this day.

Plus as I said, as a skint 18/19 year old, the cover CD was a relatively cheap way to hear stuff I didn't already have.

[Shaxberd]

I wouldn't say they're a favourite of mine, but I don't mind Elbow. As middle of the road indie bands go I'd take them over Snow Patrol or Kasabian.

Quite like this one about betting on the horses:

And their Destiny's Child cover was fun (presented here in grainy novelty flash vid nostalg-o-vision to remind you of the 2000s):

They should have featured the xylophone on more songs.

[Endicott]

"And why am I telling you this? Because you need to know."

[pigamus]

The only one I know is that throw those curtains wiiiiide song. I was asleep after the first four bars. Almost wilfully dull.

[ProvanFan]

I'm guessing you were too young to know better. I know I made the same mistake around the same time with some band who were so bland, I seem to have wiped them from my memory. I only used to buy Uncut (from around 1999-2002) for the free CD, until the point came when I realised all the new stuff they were praising was generally wishy-washy crap made by over-earnest young with acoustic guitars.

Turin Brakes?

[dontpaintyourteeth]

That era of Uncut was mostly "Americana" wasn't it? (Not the Offspring album)

[poodlefaker]

"And why am I telling you this? Because you need to know."

This is the aspect of his radio show that really grinds my gears. So deeply condescending. Now here's some more achingly beautiful, truly WORTHY music. By one of my great mates...a top bloke.

[LordMorgan]

I do quite enjoy the guy Harvey from the vaults programme on sky arts

Some fantastic footage

[sevendaughters]

band are prime liggers, proper bunch of Mr. Manchesters

[phantom_power]

Literally don't hear any resemblance to any era of Talk Talk either

The first album is a bit Talk Talk. It has moments of minimalism and is quite atmospheric. I think you can be influenced by someone without sounding like them though

Garvey is an odd sort to hate. He seems pretty harmless and seems to genuinely love music, even if you think he might be being over-earnest about it

[Stoneage Dinosaurs]

Lady GuyGar

[dontpaintyourteeth]

I think you can be influenced by someone without sounding like them though

I remember when they appeared and Q magazine made a Talk Talk comparison

[Kankurette]

I'm guessing you were too young to know better. I know I made the same mistake around the same time with some band who were so bland, I seem to have wiped them from my memory. I only used to buy Uncut (from around 1999-2002) for the free CD, until the point came when I realised all the new stuff they were praising was generally wishy-washy crap made by over-earnest young with acoustic guitars.

Ah, the New Acoustic Movement. Or NAM as the NME called it.

[sevendaughters]

I remember him saying he loved Laughing Stock once in Q probably, I mean it is good, maybe overrated next to Colour of Spring, don't know where I'm going with this, that he lacks the restraint maybe.

[dontpaintyourteeth]

Right, NME. Uncut was too busy kissing the hoop of Ryan Adams to notice any of that shite

[The Culture Bunker]

Not sure I need to add: the Q line caught my attention, but after hearing Elbow, I put it down to the journo being a lazy hack.

[Norton Canes]

Bought some Guy Garvey product by accident once - he sings on 808 State's Lemonsoul

[iamcoop]

I've got a really nice Talk Talk book and Garvey is one of the main contributors to it so he's obviously seen as an authority on them in the music world (sadly).

[shiftwork2]

I call his 6 Music show Guy Garvey's Self-Satisfaction.

I'm Guy Garvey the lead singer of Elbow and this is my Self-Satisfaction

[Eggy Mess]

'Should I get an Elbow CD?'

[Hobo With A Shit Pun]

I have a gob on me, yet I must scream.

[iamcoop]

I call his 6 Music show Guy Garvey's Self-Satisfaction.

I'm Guy Garvey the lead singer of Elbow and this is my Self-Satisfaction

He once did the smuggest intro I've ever heard which was about fifteen minutes of him going 'I'm recording this show from a beautiful hotel room in New York, my balcony is overlooking Central Park and the sun is beginning to set....' like who cares mate get on with your dross and play some more thuddingly dull Arlo Parks or something.

[Vodkafone]

Turin Brakes?

Turin Brakes were great you mad onion.

[Dr M1nx PhD]

A friend of mine years ago told me that his mum said she was watching a band on Glastonbury on the telly and texted to say that a pop star looked like like him.  Turns out she meant the keyboard guy out of Elbow.  "He's about 23 stone", he said in horror

I honestly thought this was going to turn out to be a "but doctor, I am the 23 stone keyboard player in Elbow!" thing about them being so dull their mothers don't recognise them.

[boki]

The only one I know is that throw those curtains wiiiiide song. I was asleep after the first four bars. Almost wilfully dull.

I have a crackpot theory that this song was pushed so hard so that Liam Gallagher would only be the second worst Manc at singing the word 'sun'.

[Elderly Sumo Prophecy]

He's from Bury, not Manchester.