The Breaking of Idlewild
So I wanna go on record and be the first to say that Idlewild, my favorite semiobscure Scottish rock band, might just be on the verge of breaking out. Or at leasting having a much-deserved hit.
I've been on board with these guys since 100 Broken Windows, which is much more than "the best R.E.M. album in years," if I can correctly paraphrase so many reviews. Yes, singer Roddy Womble's voice often resembles the, ahem, murmured cadence of the Enigmatically Gay Bald One. And yeah, the guitars jangled like nothin'. But these were some great songs. "Idea Track" alone is worth the price of admission - and is much more Nirvana than R.E.M. anyway.
But the following album, The Remote Part, is nearly as perfect as albums come. It's rock solid, which is a rarity these days. I can't recommend it enough.
And now Warnings Promises, which I've happened to hear an superadvance prerelease copy of. And damn skippy it's good. It's not as solid as The Remote Part, but it's not really a step back either. More than any of Idlewild's previous CD's, this one is aimed straight at your rock radio. The first single, "Love Steals Us From Lonliness", is more or less classic Idlewild, in a straight line from the first album through each subsequent one.
But from there the album breaks out into subtle variations on the Idlewild sound, with one obvious distinction - their clearest, most up-front vocals yet.. Womble's vocals loud in the mix, in crisp, unadorned harmonies with himself. It's wonderful. "I Understand It" sounds like a great outtake from Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend, with tight and sunny harmonies in wiiiiiide stereo. They'd be fools to pass it up as a potential single.
The entire program is full of potential radio songs. Of 12 songs, only 2 clock in at over 4 minutes. Womble's songwriting is coiling tighter, too. These are well, crafted songs. "As If I Hadn't Slept" and "Not Just Sometimes But Always" are fine examples. He's also branching out...into some odd territory: "El Captain" sounds like a Sunday with Jeff Lynne.
The ghost of R.E.M. is largely absent this time around except for "Disconnected," placed second from the last like the great early 90's Automatic for the People era ballads it channels. Songs like "Nightswimming," "Find the River," and "Everybody Hurts." They probably hate it when people bring R.E.M. up in reviews. They're really much better than all that. :-)
They close the album with "Goodnight," which is pretty but forgettable, but then there's a hidden secret track that's much better. Again, Roddy Womble's voice is beautiful and the harmonies are sweeter 'n honey. There's always room for good harmony. They shoulda closed the album with the hidden track instead of "Goodnight."
But I nitpick. Again, Idlewild is rockin' the evolution. And they might be famous soon! Yay! You heard it here first.
Oh, and Simba likes pudding. Who knew?
I've been on board with these guys since 100 Broken Windows, which is much more than "the best R.E.M. album in years," if I can correctly paraphrase so many reviews. Yes, singer Roddy Womble's voice often resembles the, ahem, murmured cadence of the Enigmatically Gay Bald One. And yeah, the guitars jangled like nothin'. But these were some great songs. "Idea Track" alone is worth the price of admission - and is much more Nirvana than R.E.M. anyway.
But the following album, The Remote Part, is nearly as perfect as albums come. It's rock solid, which is a rarity these days. I can't recommend it enough.
And now Warnings Promises, which I've happened to hear an superadvance prerelease copy of. And damn skippy it's good. It's not as solid as The Remote Part, but it's not really a step back either. More than any of Idlewild's previous CD's, this one is aimed straight at your rock radio. The first single, "Love Steals Us From Lonliness", is more or less classic Idlewild, in a straight line from the first album through each subsequent one.
But from there the album breaks out into subtle variations on the Idlewild sound, with one obvious distinction - their clearest, most up-front vocals yet.. Womble's vocals loud in the mix, in crisp, unadorned harmonies with himself. It's wonderful. "I Understand It" sounds like a great outtake from Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend, with tight and sunny harmonies in wiiiiiide stereo. They'd be fools to pass it up as a potential single.
The entire program is full of potential radio songs. Of 12 songs, only 2 clock in at over 4 minutes. Womble's songwriting is coiling tighter, too. These are well, crafted songs. "As If I Hadn't Slept" and "Not Just Sometimes But Always" are fine examples. He's also branching out...into some odd territory: "El Captain" sounds like a Sunday with Jeff Lynne.
The ghost of R.E.M. is largely absent this time around except for "Disconnected," placed second from the last like the great early 90's Automatic for the People era ballads it channels. Songs like "Nightswimming," "Find the River," and "Everybody Hurts." They probably hate it when people bring R.E.M. up in reviews. They're really much better than all that. :-)
They close the album with "Goodnight," which is pretty but forgettable, but then there's a hidden secret track that's much better. Again, Roddy Womble's voice is beautiful and the harmonies are sweeter 'n honey. There's always room for good harmony. They shoulda closed the album with the hidden track instead of "Goodnight."
But I nitpick. Again, Idlewild is rockin' the evolution. And they might be famous soon! Yay! You heard it here first.
Oh, and Simba likes pudding. Who knew?
leave a response