Idlewild Again

[iainjclark]

I have to say I'm loving this Idlewild album. It's entirely rekindled my enthusiasm for the band after their oddly lacklustre last effort (which I did enjoy in parts, but which was so turgid at times that it didn't really feel like an Idlewild album). I posted the first track last time, so here's the second track: Everything (As it Moves). The rest of the album is relentlessly up-tempo but blending from rock to pop (and even an unusually anthemic dance-tinged sound on 'No Emotion', which seems to be the first single) resulting in an album that feels energetic without sounding one note. It pulls off the tricky feat of seeming both familiar and fresh. The exuberance of the music is offset, as ever, by the solemn, overly-introspective lyrics; for some these might feel a tad pretentious but for me this is just about the perfect combination of cheery music and smart language. It all seems effortless. If you like the band and you haven't already bought Make Another World you should rush out immediately¹.

¹ And buy it. Not just rush outside. Look, at least put some shoes on first.

Comments

[tinimaus.livejournal.com]

*flutters eyelashes*

If you say so, pretty one...

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

lol

Janet says she's not sure you're allowed to do this. Me, I'm concentrating on being a lot more ornery.

[tinimaus.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like 'em sassy...


Janet, if you are reading this, don't worry. I'm just trying to see if I can make Iain blush repeatedly. I'll need a report of my success.

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

Aw, shucks...

[williamjm.livejournal.com]

I got the album a couple of days ago, it is a good album, so far I'd say it might be challenging The Remote Part for their second-best album - I still think 100 Broken Windows is their best.

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

I really like both 100 Broken Windows and The Remote Part. I find 100 Broken Windows a little formulaic in its song structure - the songs become a tiny bit repetitive by the end of the album - but at the same time the melodies are probably more interesting than The Remote Part and it's a brighter, less "worthy" album.

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

It's next on my list of things to buy. In turn, I can recommend Ballads of the Book", the Chemikal Underground project sparked by Roddy Woomble and Edwin Morgan. It's patchy, but the very good parts (Idlewild, Emma Pollock, De Rosa) far outweigh the more pedestrian efforts.

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that; I hadn't heard about it and it looks interesting. I'll give it a go.

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

Funny, I was thinking it was Roddy Woomble's solo outing you'd recommended. Which is very good! I'll have to try this too.