I’ve read a few reviews where people have criticised this new album from Idlewild, saying that the band are devoid of what made them so great in the past, saying that they’ve now lost all their edge and are no longer the great band they once were. I would say that the people that say this are talking rubbish – sure the band have progressed from their old sound and are trying out new things on this record, but I’d say it feels like a natural progression from last album ‘The Remote Part.’
The album kicks off inevitably with the bands debut single from the album, ‘Love Steals Us From Loneliness.’ This is a great way to kick the album off as it is a fabulous single and by putting it right at the very beginning of the album it is possible to get stuck right into this album right from the very beginning. The excitement certainly doesn’t stop here, and the band go through their 12 track strong album with immense style and with impeccable precision. This is most certainly a remarkable album and Idlewild show off perfectly their maturity and increased security about their direction as a band.
There is never a dull moment on ‘Warnings/Promises’ – the band fire through many tunes with immense precision, intense power and a high degree of emotion. ‘I Understand It’ is most certainly one of the best tracks that the band has ever written, and demonstrates perfectly the bands new levels of greatness and is a perfect representation of their maturity. The band seem untouchable on this album, and when softcore classic, and album finale ‘Goodnight’ begins you realise just how great this band has become. This really is a track of epic proportions and finishes the album spectacularly with a high level of dignity.
Some say that Idlewild are the new REM – this may be fair, but depending on your view as regards to REM this comparison could tip you either way. You may love REM and desperately seek to check this new Idlewild effort out, or hate REM and be put off listening to Idlewild for life. Don’t be put off, honestly – Idlewild really are a good band and with this album have produced an exuberating album of pure finesse. Idlewild really have come of age, and this coming of age is certainly for the better as it has brought out an Idlewild at the top of their game, rather than one verging on excellence but seemingly never quite making that final step upwards.
Please do yourself a favour and check this album out – if you don’t then you really are missing out on a truly remarkable album. While some may say that Idlewild have lost it, I would say that they are just starting to gain it. They have developed into a band far greater than I ever imagined they would. This album should really fire Idlewild into the limelight of the mass media and have them reach the levels of stardom they have always verged on but never quite reached.
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UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.
