Elbow are an English band from Manchester, who have been active from the late 1990s. Acclaimed for their innovative sound and frontman Guy Garvey's candid, evocative lyrics, Elbow has received vast critical acclaim and been endorsed by major artists Blur, R.E.M. and U2. The Velvet Underground's co-founder John Cale selected Elbow's "Switching Off" as one of his eight chosen records on the BBC's "Desert Island Discs" radio programme. Commercial success, however, has yet to match Elbow's critical acclaim and status among fans.   Wikipedia