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idlewild new pic
Lineup: Idlewild
Date: 08/03/2005
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by Gen Williams
Forget for a moment the two most recent 'grown-up' albums - performances like this say far more about how Idlewild have changed. Almost exactly five years ago in this same bastion of primary coloured corporate glee, Idlewild's knowing, rambunctious noise set a crowd of fans pogoing across the store. A few of the same faces are here tonight but the pace is markedly different, and this time the only discernable movement is the synchronised nodding of heads from front to back.

Idlewild haven't abandoned loudness and strong guitars - it's just that the crescendoes spill slowly and deliberately over the stage, rather than exploding in a biro-scrawled, badly photocopied fanzine spazz. Even the bratty 'When I Argue I See Shapes', the one song of the set that one does wish they'd let rip and play at breakneck speed, has aged gracefully. Roddy Woomble's solemn, inimitable vocals wrap the song in a sense of elegance and restraint that would never have infiltrated 'Camp Idlewild' back in the day™, and the familiar chaotic coda becomes a orderly weave of harmonised, synchronised voices rather than the "SHAPES!!" squall of yesteryear.

Where other bands took up the yoke and wearily ploughed the Radio 2 furrow as their initial fire flickered and faded, and despite their slower direction in recent years, Idlewild have held the grinning spectre of M.O.R firmly at bay. By doing so they have maintained their identity. Admittedly, that identity now combs its hair, calls it a night after three drinks and is heartily fond of 'a nice tune' but Idlewild's idiosyncratic edge still clings confidently to the starry-eyed likes of 'Love Steals Us From Loneliness'. They may have settled down, but they haven't given in.

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Idlewild

I was at this gig too-Did you not find it terribly depressing the way in which all the energy has just gone. And I always liked the ramshackleness of it all. They look like proper musicians now, which is never a good thing.

Re: Idlewild

well. the last time i saw them, prior to last night, was when they played brixton academy, round about the time of the last album. THAT was depressing. enjoyable in places, but in retrospect, very depressing.

last night i was expecting to be somewhat bored, but willing to give it a go - and i did enjoy it in the end. i don't think they've lost their energy - just that they conserve it a lot more. it sounds like they sound the way they do because they've decided to, not because they no longer know how to do anything else. that said, i do miss the WAAAARCGH*smash* element of ye olde idlewilde, but times change, and so do bands.

xxx

Idlewild

I like the new album, I will remain live judgement for April 14th.

Idlewild

This is no longer the band I loved.

Idlewild

How can you say they've 'held the spectre of M.O.R at bay' when everything you say about their new identity and sound is exactly that!
Granted, times change, and so do bands, but you only have to look at the changing Idlewild logo to see what's happened here:
Hope Is Important: big scribbled messy 'rock' logo
Warnings/Promises: bland typed logo signifying nowt but blah...

I'm all for chance, but a band *can* grow up and still sound something like they used to. The reason the fans feel disppointed by W/P is that the band's changed way too radically. Where are the riffs?!

Re: Idlewild

put simply, i don't like their sound as much as i did, because i adored the spazzy old idlewild they used to be - but for all that the music's mellowed out, it still has soul, the melodies are still strong, it hasn't become bland, forgettable radio fare. they don't roll around onstage, but nor did they look bored. they just seem much more self-contained than they used to be.

xxx

Idlewild

new album is my favourite idlewild album. runner up, 100 broken windows.
they've not sounded like the band that made captain since, well, captain. if you want to listen to captain, its still in your cd rack. times change.
people who moan about idlewild 'changing' are boring, go away. i loved em in '98. i love 'em now!!

Re: Idlewild

Ooh, I agree, except that it's still only my second favourite behind 100 Broken Windows. I was a little worried after The Remote Part but like this a lot more and can't see how people see it as going further into MOR when it seems to be less so if anything.

Idlewild

"biro-scrawled, badly photocopied fanzine spazz" - genius.

Re: Idlewild

or, to clarify, a classy piece of writing. On the Idlewild issue I preferred the straddling they did for 100 Broken Windows. Love Steals Us From Loneliness may have fallen onto the ploddy side a bit, but I haven't heard the album yet and I'm hoping to be impressed when I see them in April.

Idlewild

Absolutly fantastic point someone made about the logos and more importantly what they connotate, to me its a shame Idlewild have become like this the new album's allright but you've gotta admit lyrically its gone down hill how can you can go from Gertrude Stein said that's enough (I know that that's not enough now) to I noticed your jeans where tucked into squares talk about from the sublime to the ridicilous. Another thing what's happened to the site? They took all the media of it and visually its appalling clearly had no thought about the visually impaired, I could hardly read it but in saying that I was quite pissed. I suggest that you lot start listening to The Futureheads, quality

Idlewild

i love the new album, bt il wait til after the Glasgow gig in may to make my final judgement of them as a band currently.

Re: Idlewild

I am waiting for those royalmail muppets to deliver the goddam album - it was sent to me the friday before it was released, and it still hasn't come!!

desperate to hear it - anyway Cd-wow are going to send me another copy if the letterbox doesn't rattle Monday.

AL

Re: Idlewild

To be fair its been getting very average reviews, 3/5 & 5/10 style, with only the NME really putting it over.

Seems like the lads have lost their way.




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