Elbow's second album 'Cast of Thousands'. From the first strum you can tell something special is happening.

This is a dignified, important and beautiful album. Stand out tracks include 'Ribcage', 'Fallen Angel' and 'Grace Under Pressure'.

Heavy and atmospheric, but it's somehow more liberating, less cloying, than their debut album, 'Asleep in the Back'. Sure, there's the creepily sinister "I've Got Your Number" and they still have a proggy bent, like Radiohead but with uplifting songs.

But there's jazzy vibes, lovely electronica and in "Switching Off" they have another mega slowie. There's mad percussion, gospel choirs, beautiful poetry: all so introspective yet somehow anthemic. Sadness that makes you feel 10 foot tall? Now that's wonderful. And weird! Best of all is "Grace Under Pressure", so awe-inspiring it sounds like a hymn.

It ends with the crowd at Glastonbury chanting, "we still believe in love so fuck you!"

Ribcage
Fallen Angel
Fugitive Motel
Snooks (Progress Report)
Switching Off
Not a Job
I've Got Your Number
Buttons and Zips
Crawling with Idiot
Grace Under Pressure
Flying Dream 143