Idlewild

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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This is the bands first release as a 5 piece, and gives us a glimpse at why the band has scarcely been seen for the last few years. Idlewild have been busy writing material and practising up in a rehearsal room in the Highlands ready for a mammoth tour in April and May throughout the UK. This could well be the best album the band have ever written and I’m really looking forward to hearing it – you can always guarantee quality with a band like Idlewild, and I really hope that they deliver with ‘Warnings/Promises,’ having taken so long to get it ready.

New single ‘Love Steals Us From Loneliness’ isn’t an immediate classic like ‘You Held The World In Your Arms,’ however it is a cracking tune and the more you listen to it the more you will love it. This track has amazingly mellow verses, coupled with a really punchy, fantastic chorus that will put a smile on your face with ease. This band really does have a lot of talent and Roddy Woomble truly is a fantastic vocalist – I think this really comes through strongly on this single, and this coupled with the fantastic lyrics on display here really does make way for a truly exciting and exasperating listen. This track has storming guitars, some strong drum beats, and gripping bass lines which really help give the song real depth.

Although this single isn’t blessed with the power and instant catchiness of ‘You Held The World In Your Arms’ it does show great signs of maturity on behalf of the band and really is testament to how far the band have come in the last few years. Being away seems to have done them a lot of good, as they have obviously had a lot of time to reflect and really write an album that represents true emotion and feeling and produce something which really means something to them. If this single is anything to go by then when the album is released on the 7th of March it really is going to be something truly special.

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