Idlewild Album Promises To Impress (Warnings/Promises - Idlewild)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
Date:	15/11/07 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Melodic, Consistent, Exciting, Really shows the bands maturity.

Disadvantages: In places the REM similarities seem to get a bit tiresome.

Idlewild are a Scottish rock band that formed in the December of 1995, and since then have released six studio albums to date. Over the years, Idlewild have built up a large fan base and have impressed many with their brand of indie rock music. 'Warnings/Promises' was released in 2005 and I’ve read a fair few reviews where people have criticised this album from Idlewild, saying that with this release 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 producing the great albums that they once were. I would say that the people that say this are talking rubbish – sure the band progressed from their earlier sound here and tried out new things on this record, but I’d say it feels like a natural progression from their 2002 release ‘The Remote Part’.

The album kicks off inevitably with the bands début single from the album, ‘Love Steals Us From Loneliness.’ This is a great way to kick the album off as it was 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 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 exuberant 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 with this album Idlewild have lost the appeal they once had, I would say that it is an album which merely served to further it. This album saw Idlewild develop into a band far greater than I ever imagined they would.


Released: 7th March 2005
Label: Parlophone

Originally posted by me on my website Alt-UK.com
Source: http://www.alt-uk.com/modules.php?name=Reviews

Summary: A strong album from Idlewild packed full of terrific tracks.