Description
Elbow – Giants Of All Sizes – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Elbow’s Giants of All Sizes, their eighth studio album released on October 11, 2019 via Polydor, casts a darker and more introspective shadow than much of their previous output. Recorded across studios in Hamburg, Brixton, Vancouver, Salford, and even at members’ homes, it was produced and mixed by Craig Potter. Frontman Guy Garvey drew upon a blend of personal grief and broader societal unrest while writing the lyrics. The death of his father in early 2018, followed shortly by the loss of two dear Manchester friends, profoundly shaped the album’s tone; themes of bereavement, political division, and injustice recur throughout. For instance, “Dexter & Sinister” confronts the UK’s Brexit schism, while “White Noise White Heat” responds to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Musically, the record balances jagged, angular passages with moments of warm tenderness. Opening track “Dexter & Sinister” immediately establishes an unsettled mood, with thunderous rhythms and lyric that addresses social fracture. Yet even amid the darkness, the album reaches toward hope—songs like “My Trouble” and “On Deronda Road” pay homage to Garvey’s family, offering intimate glimpses of love and consolation. Closing track “Weightless” bridges despair and solace, intertwining reflections on fatherhood, loss, and the renewal symbolized by his newborn son .
Critical response recognized Giants of All Sizes as a bold and necessary departure. Some reviewers deemed it “not an easy listen,” comparing its urgency to the turmoil of contemporary politics. Others praised its emotional breadth and sonic ambition and critics highlighted its “gorgeous melodies” and heartfelt vocals, particularly on “My Trouble”
Commercially, the album topped the UK Albums Chart—Elbow’s third consecutive number‑one—underscoring the resonance of their deeply considered work. Giants of All Sizes offers a compelling balance of introspective lyricism and powerful musicality: it channels the weight of personal and national grief while steadfastly reaching toward renewal, cementing its place as one of the most substantial entries in Elbow’s catalog.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Dexter & Sinister
Seven Veils
Empires
The Delayed 3:15
White Noise White Heat
Doldrums
My Trouble
On Deronda Road
Weightless
